Foresight

Chapter L

It has been a week since Pallavi has gone away. With the search efforts by Tarun and Neeraj bearing no fruits, Rajesh decided not to let the gloomyness affect his venture, he tries to make it to the work everyday. But with Pallavi missing back home, his days just drag by. With just ocassional hums to hisfriends and entire silence and smoking away cigarette's, the intern get the image that something has gone terribly wrong. They start asking unrelated questions to Tarun, as if they are closing up or something. Being the true friend, Tarun waves off all those rumors and handles all the interns single handedly, while Neeraj keeps a close eye on Rajesh's health. He even handle's Rajesh's parents, who were constantly calling him up. He made some excuses all the time that he had gone to meet the client or he went for market and field research. But he knew that he couldn't keep Rajesh's parents at bay for too long. They both knew that if Pallavi didn't return soon, Rajesh will crumble and end up in a mess. Hoping for the best, they kept going, one day at a time.

"Hey bud. I think you should really tell your parents what happened. They will have some solutions." Neeraj interven's Rajesh smoke time.
"Naah dude. My dad will think of me as a loser. I mean who loses their girlfrind after just one month of getting her pregnant. I can't face my father" Rajesh replies back, looking far off.
"That's all in your mind. Knowing your father, he will do just the opposite, He might come up with some suggestions for our search methods, while your mom holds you." Tarun chimes in, lighting his cigarette.
"I might even muster up the courage to face my father. But I will never be able to see eye to eye with my mom ever again. Pallavi was her daughter and I let both of them down" Rajesh replies disturbingly.
"But you gotta move past it bruh." Neeraj nudges him, as they return back to their seats.
"I know. But without Pallavi, my life has become empty. I don't find no reason to get up and come to work." Rajesh mumbles off, as he sits on his chair, turning towards his computer.
"Tarun, I need to have a word with you in private" Neeraj whispers into Tarun's ears, heading out of the office. Tarun gets up and follows him out.

"We need to get a hold of Rajesh before he goes all broken. Last time his parents called up, they were hinting that they are in contact with Pallavi's parents and the plan for their marraige is in going on in full gear." Neeraj hisses out.
"Hmm. In that case it would be bad, if we dont show up with the bride real quick" Tarun replies sarcastically.
"Shove your sarcasm and come up with some new tactic" Neeraj orders.
"Yesss SIR" Tarun mimicks a salute, as Neeraj makes his way back in.
The day rolls by uneventful till the evening. With the work for the day done, Rajesh begins to pack his bag. Just then, an unexpected visitor opens the door.
"Rajesh" a familiar voice trails in, making Rajesh pop out from under the desk. But the excitement on hearing his name is not there, for he knows Pallavi's voice very distinctly and this person's voice is nowhere near that.
"Jenny" Neeraj pipes in, with a hint of disgust in his voice.
"Hi Neeraj" she replies weakly, glancing towards Tarun, who is in own world of music and coding.
"Tarun, we have a visitor" Neeraj calls him, throwing a paper ball at him. "What the he....." Tarun stops in between as Jenny's face comes into view.
"Hi Tarun" she waves at him.
"Hi Jenny" he replies back, with no remorse or anger in his voice. On the contrary, she is able to find a small hint of compassion and love for her still in him.
"How did you find us here?" Neeraj chimes in, the disgust now absent in his voice, replaced by surprise.
"Rajesh spotted me couple days back at a restaurant. He handed me your card." Jenny replies.
"You have grown little weak from the last time I saw you." Tarun commets as he makes his way towards her.
"I have been through a lot" she replies, taking a step back.
"Hey Neeraj, want to grab a cup of tea before I head back home?" Rajesh chirps in, hoping to make the situation less awkward for everybody.
"That won't be necassary. I wanted to talk to you as well Rajesh." she responds back.
"With me?" Rajesh asks back, perplexed by her reply.
"Yes. I belive this is Pallavi?" she replies back, showing a picture of Pallavi with another girl on her phone.
"Give me that." Rajesh snatches the phone rather forcefully, as Neeraj huddles next to him, while Tarun and Jenny share an awkward eye contact.
"Where did you get this?" Rajesh asks back, with a quiver in his tone.
"That is my cousin. She studies ancient hindu practices and had gone to Rishikesh for a relaxation cum research trip. Turns out she knows Pallavi from school and they both decided to have a click." she replies.
"Rishikesh? I don't understand why she would go there of all the places" Rajesh replies, wiping his tears.
"I don't know. But from what my cousin told, Pallavi looked quite lost the first day my cousin spotted her. Thus was actually taken the next day they met and my cousin told that she looked better day by day."
"Looks like I need to head to Rishikesh right now"
"That won't do any good Rajesh. My cousin told that Pallavi left Rishikesh the day they clicked this picture. And this picture itself is 4 days old." she replies back consolingly, taking a step towards Rajesh, who is again on the verge of breaking down, knowing that he missed Pallavi again.
"It will get bet better Rajesh. My cousin did tell me that Pallavi is recovering." she consoles him.
"Come on dude. Lets get some fresh air" Neeraj escorts Rajesh out of the office, leaving Jenny and Tarun alone.

"How you have been Tarun?" Jenny asks meekily.
"I have been ok. How bout you?" Tarun asks, taking a step closer.
"Not so great Tarun." she replies honestly, looking down, not being able to bear Tarun's strong gaze.
"Talk to me Jenny. You know I have always been there for you" Tarun says, keeping his hand on her shoulder.
"Its ok Tarun. I just came by because I wanted to convey about Pallavi to Rajesh. See you some other day." Jenny says, turning back and heading for the door with a lone tear escaping.
"Jenny please. Tell me what happened. Maybe we can find an amicable solution." Tarun stops her, holding her hand.
"Really Tarun? I thought I broke your heart into a million pieces" she speaks up, still not facing him.
"That is all in the past Jenny. I am sure, we all have come out more matured from our past experiences." Tarun comforts her.
"Those words mean a lot Tarun. But maybe not now. I still feel very guilty around you. I need some more time to heal." she replies, trying her best to hold up her tears.
"Its ok Jenny. I understand. Take your time." Tarun leaves her hand, gesturing that he is comfortable to have her in his life again.
"Take care Jenny."
"You too Tarun. I will be in touch" she bides aideu and leaves. Mean while, Neeraj drops Rajesh back home as Rajesh was in no condition to drive home. Owing to improper rest during the whole week, Rajesh slips into heavy sleep as soon as he hits his bed. Setting him properly, Neeraj takes a cab back home.
'pallavi....pallavi' Rajesh mumbles uncontrollably, as the main door opens slowly. A silhoutte enters the house, tiptoeing to the bedroom, where Rajesh is mumbling out Pallavi's name. The silhoutte makes its way, to the bed, and lies next to Rajesh and runs its hand over him hair.
"Shush Rajesh. I am here. Your Pallavi is here. Everything will be allright now..."