The Vows We Exchanged

Chapter 16: Beginning of a Bad Night

"You sure he'll Take the bait?" Tanmay's voice questioned through Mayank's earphones.

"If he really loves her they way he claims to, then I'm positive he will." Mayank replied in a deep voice. It had been two days since Aaruhi's interview and time was slipping away like the sand in a fist. Now he himself had started doubting his plan. 'It had proved to be a huge bargain already, and any more delay meant a total failure to his entire mission.

His eyes wandered around desperately to any bus. He was at his limit now and urgently needed his escape. His escape from reality.

"Dude, I'll call you later. The bus has arrived. Gotta go. Bye." He quickly mumbled in the microphone and disconnected the call. With Tanmay's voice gone, the songs on the playlist once again picked up the pace. Tonight was special for him. August 27. It was the day when he for the first time had peeped deeper into Aaruhi's life. Eight years ago, it was the day when he for the first time paid her a visit at her place and took a look into the life she actually lived.

As the music of the song 'Woh Lamhe' began recollecting those lost memories, he picked up some pace and ran after a bus which had slowed down for him. With a little effort, he grabbed the door handle and pulled himself aboard. He huffed a little and stood by the door until he caught back his breath. Stamina had always been an issue for him.

He lifted his head and took a look around the bus. It was fairly empty considering that it was about to strike 12 am. There was a simple family of three sitting by the door along with dozing conductor on the adjacent seat. A group of four men, two beefed up, a skinny guy and a scarred round dude; ruled the seats in the middle. Dressed in mud coated shirts and black tanks, the creepy crew gave clear signals of being drunk. At least 2 of them did. Nowhere to sit quietly, Mayank walked all the way to the back and landed himself on the corner seat behind the rear door.

A young lady with her face covered under her ice blue scarf gave him a stare for the minute before turning towards the window. Sitting on the corner adjacent to Mayank, she wore a Prussian blue dress and had her white leather handbag clutched tight to her chest.

By the expressions she gave him a minute ago, she didn't quite seem to be pleased by Mayank's arrival. Although, her concerns were the last thing Mayank was concerned about at that moment. With memories surfacing, he could feel the void inside him grow. It always did on occasions like these. Good or bad, any memory connected to Aaruhi served as a venom and ether as well, but tonight it was just venom. Plain, pure and dark venom. He grinned a little as the Marvel's Venom appeared in front of his eyes. Then diverting his attention to the night sky and the passing by street lights, he allowed himself to finally lose the sense of reality and to get lost in his own world.

***

"Mayur... Mayur..." Mayank heard a voice speaking out the name. The voice was familiarly soft and gently, but something was missing. Playfulness. It lacked the playfulness of Aaruhi's voice. Instead, it seemed to have hints of frustration and annoyance.

"Wh... what happened to your voice? Why does it feel so..." he murmured as he opened his eyes slowly just to find the answer to his question. It wasn't Aaruhi, but the girl dressed in Prussian.

"Oh... its you! Sorry I thought you were..." He tried to explain but a yawn compelled him to pause. "Oh wow! Who knew that you were such a dozing head!" The lady teased as she folded her arms against her chest and watched him rub his eyes.

It took Mayank a minute to come to his senses and realise that he was back to the real world and a lady dressed in a Prussian was teasing him. "Wait... do I know you.... or do you know me or am I supposed to..." he was steady asked her as he was starting to regain his consciousness, but a sudden scream knocked his senses back to their alert spot.