Foresight

Chapter XLIX

I would like to start by a heartfelt thanks to all my readers for your utmost support with wishes for my exam and for waiting patiently for the update. Thanks to your prayers, i was able to perform really well in my exam.
Once again, thnx a million
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The blaring sound of alarm brings Rajesh from his world of dreams. Sleepily, he runs his hand, hoping to find Pallavi. To his dismay, he finds the other side of the bed empty. Thinking she might be in washroom or kitchen, Rajesh gets up, stretching his body and twisting his body, to wring out the sleepiness. Slowly he makes his way to washroom to finish his morning chores.  On knocking, he finds the door unlocked. Thinking that Pallavi is seducing, Rajesh enters with a sly grin, only to find the washroom empty.
"Huh. Maybe she is reading newspaper or working on some last minute update. Better finish up with my morning chores" he mutters to himself as he shuts the door. 15 minutes later, with a tune in his whistle, Rajesh heads to the kitchen to have his morning milk. Heading for the refrigerator door, his attention goes towards a folded note, attached on a kitchen magnet. Taking it, he opens up and starts to read

'Dear Rajesh
Today early morning, I had a miscarraige. I didn't have the courage to tell to your face. So I have written you a note. Hope you can forgive me. I couldn't stay at home and face you. So I have gone out. Its just that I need some space. Don't worry about me. I will be safe. Please don't search for me. I will be back as soon as I am clear. Please forgive me Rajesh.
Love Pallavi.'

Rajesh feels like the ground beneath had split open, as the letter falls from his hand. For a second he loses his balance, as he finds himself crumpled on the floor, with tears starting to flow. Hastily he calls up Tarun. Tarun doesn't pick up the call, owing to his sleeping in late. So he rings up Neeraj , who luckily picks it up in the second ring.
"Yo Rajesh. What happened? You are calling this early." Neeraj sounds little groggy, gesturing that he had woken not long ago.
"Pallavi is gone man." Rajesh replies, breaking down at the end of the sentence.
"Whoa, what are you talking man?" Neeraj jolts up  with a deep concern for his friend growing inside him.
"Yeah man. She is not here. I don't know what to do. I need you guys here man." Rajesh replies in between his sobs.
"Hang tight man. Me and Tarun will be there as soon as possible. Meanwhile, call your parents and inform." Neeraj instructs, jumping from his bed, racing to the door. Knowing that Tarun won't wake up from a measly call, he runs down to get his cycle, pedalling down the road, clad only in his tee's and boxer shorts.

Rajesh tries to make his way to the hall with a glass of milk, with his shaking as to how he will inform his parents. Opting out, he waits for Tarun and Neeraj to show up and get their views. Unable to comprehend the miscarraige and Pallavi's absence, the milk doesn't make its way down his throat. Knowing that he has to keep a saner mind, he tries to force the milk down his throat. But the shock of miscarraige doesn't let him keep a calm mind and he ends up breaking down again uncontrolably. Twenty minutes later, he hears a loud bang on his door and Neeraj's shouts from out. Wiping his tears off, he heads to the door, to find his friends in their nightwear. Infact, Tarun had showed up in just his boxer shorts, with nothing on top. Looking at them, again brings out the helpless feeling inside Rajesh and he ends up crashing onto them for a hug, breaking down on the process.
tIts ok bud. We will sort it out" Tarun calms him down and heads inside.
"Spill the beans" Tarun hisses, lighting his cigarette. Rajesh hands the letter, not looking up once to meet Tarun eye to eye, for the guilt of not opening to his friends starts to eat him up. Tarun reads the letter in dead silence, not taking in a single puff. The moment he finishes it, he hands it to Neeraj, who comes from the kitchen with with three cups of coffee. He keeps the tray on the table, before taking the letter from Tarun's hand and reading it. He drops down next to Rajesh, holding his shoulder and comforting him, as Rajesh sobs silently.
"First things first. Her friends. We need to contact her friends and ask them about her. Temples which might be far, places of her intrest. Chances are that she would in one of these places" Tarun suggests as he walks through the living room.
"Tarun, first lets concentrate on getting Rajesh upto a normal mindset. Then we will search for Pallavi." Neeraj suggests, lighting his own cigarette.
"Yeah. I am onboard that. But searching someone in this huge city, that too wthout any clue about that person's personality and friends is tough. We need to get started ASAP. Otherwise we are looking at a wild goose's chase. Plus, Pallavi is broken right now. Leaving her with anyone else other than Rajesh or her parents is risky." Tarun retaliates back.
"Pallavi had ectopic pregnancy for the past week" Rajesh blurts out while still hanging down, causing Tarun to whip a look back. Tarun storms to Rajesh, with clear look of anger in face.
"And why did you hide that fact from us?" Tarun screams out at the top of his lungs.
"Whoa easy dude. Don't rain on him at this time. And what is ectopic pregnancy by the way?" Neeraj pushes Tarun of a little, as Rajesh looks up.
"Ectopic pregnancy is when the embroyo does not attaches with the womb. It is dangerous for both mother and child. But with proper medicines, it can be countered." Tarun explains to Neeraj, glaring a look to Rajesh.
"We did consult a gynacologist. She prescribed medicines. But she also said, that I should not get my hopes up too high. So I was expeting a miscarraige. But I didn't expect that Pallavi would vanish. It feels like I failed as a good boyfriend." Rajesh replies, almost breaking up in the end. But before he can finish the sentence, Tarun and Neeraj pull him for a hug.
"Hey. You did the best you could. And you were never a bad boyfriend. Infact you are the best amongst us three in relationships" Tarun pacifies Rajesh.
"Don't worry man. We will find her. That too at the earliest" Neeraj chimes in. The trio share a final group hug....before heading out.