aurore - an unusual love story √

part twenty three

Siddhi knocked on Jai's door, which was half open. Jai lay on the bed with his hand guarding his eyes. He raised his head with the knock.

" Mom.... " , he sat up while Siddhi walked in.

" You are all dressed up Jai, had you been out? "

" Yeahh.... Just went to have some tea outside, since I woke up early... " , he half lied.

" And why did you wake up early? Is everything alright? "

" Work out, Mom. " , Jai got down from the bed and settled on the couch.
Siddhi sat on the bed.

" Maya... told something of you having troubles with life... that day..
I wanted to come over, but hesitated, since you chose not to share with me.... "

Jai kept quite, because brushing aside things might invite his mother talking of business next. And he wanted to delay that as much as he could.

Saving him almost, the phone began ringing.

" Mom, can we talk in the evening? Som's calling, might have some job. "

Siddhi turned pale, but as was her nature, she slowly left the room.
Jai cursed himself for hurting her, though he never intended to.

Anyways, he picked up the call.

Som talked,
" Jai, I have an interview today. Come down. I'm outside the gate. Will talk for a few minutes. "

---

Jai hugged Som. And wished him good luck for the interview. He was choosing to shift from freelancing to the editorials, with a leading magazine, if he got selected, which mostly he would be, given his prospects.

" I just wanted to ask you something.
Bhoomi called last night.
You both sorted out I guess. Is it? "

Jai nodded with a smile.

" Great that way. " , Som adjusted his specs. " Just make sure, you really want this. Because, the more days you take of her life, and end up hurting her at the end of each, the more you'll be tagged, her guilty. Life's not a game, there ain't numerous chances, and you don't have the right to hurt someone who loves you, so much, to give up her everything on you. "

Som's Royal Enfield vanished round the corner of the road, while Jai stood, motionless.

---

Bhoomi cut a piece of cheese omelette and tucked into her mouth, when someone wrapped her eyes from the back.

" Som! " , she smiled while feeling the hands.

" Wow! Do you even have other friends? " , Som grinned as he settled on the chair before her, in the cafeteria of The Blues Airlines.

" As if! I was just informed that I have a friend as a visitor. " , she curled her lips.

" That's what I'm talking, you weren't informed my name because I asked them not to. It could be anyone else, leave alone others, it could even be Jai! " , he winked as he gestured the waiter.

Bhoomi remained silent for sometime, chopping the omelette to pieces unmindfully.

Som watched her.
She then said lowly, " He would never come. In fact, he doesn't even know I've joined The Blues. "

Changing the topic, Som said immediately,
" By the way, when you could directly join as the managing director, or even as a general manager to your dad's company, why did you care to join just as an intern? "

Bhoomi smiled,
" Because I want to learn the job first. I don't want to be proved inefficient, and then myself feel guilty of, you know, nepotism. "