DREAMS AND NIGHTMARES...

DREAMS AND NIGHTMARE... Chapter. 24

               Finally guys I fixed my schedule to take out some time from my responsibilities. Early morning is best time for your mind exercise and what is the best other then reading or writing. Now I don't want to bore you with my common life chit chat, so here we go with emotional ride again.

Riddhi 's P. O. V.

            Unexpected moments turn our life' s track and change our route to our destination, sometimes that one moment make so much impact on our life that we not only change the route, but also the destination. I can say this for myself, there was a time when my only destination was to do Masters and make my family proud of me, but a single unexpected news report changed the path, and now I am here infront of unknown door, which I don't know what it's behind. When I said Anuj about whole lost-my-phone thing. He scolded me like I'm some prep kid who lost his book, I felt really bad because I have always been a good child without any flaws, even my father also has never scold me in my life, but those words of Anuj as he has all rights to school me, somewhere deep in my heart sparked the emotion of love to free thousands of butterflies, right now also his simple action of playing drum with his knuckles on the sidewall of doorbell, waiting impatiently to enter in this unknown house.
      I didn't expected a least, after a long time I am seeing this face again, but with different look no more long hair but trim well mannered gentleman haircut, specs and checks shirt, with shock written alll over his face. The most unexpected person right now is standing in front of me, Steve, Anuj's best friend and crush of my one and only friend Navi. I can't believe it. Anuj went in the house house like he owned it without any word and after few minutes when Steve recovered from his shock he nod his head to allow me in, once I'm in he locked the door as fast as he was able to. Anuj went somewhere inside the house and after we heard the sound of door clicking shut, Steve grab my hand and lead me to more secluded room which I think was his bedroom. He pause for a bit after leaving my hand, and that pause was copied by my heart beat also. Then he faced me with his arm crossed, oh my God Navi please save me. If she would be here, but she is not and I have to face Steve.
            "Would you like to explain why the hell you are with that dodgy?"

           Dodgy? How can Steve use such a word for his best friend, or I am interpretating it wrong, maybe he just being his sarcastic self.

           "Riddhi, you know very well I have never treated you less than Kenny when you were around, so please..."
         
           "Steve, please try to understand Anuj has nothing to do with this murder case, he has just entangled himself in well woven conspiracy."

         "And how you are so sure about it, May be he is fooling with you to get out from law Jaws."

        "Steve!"

        I don't know what happened to me. Me, a girl who was nervous and reserved around Steve, who have always look up to him as elder brother, shouted at him. As if he has hurt me hard. His eyes soften and moisten, filled with care and fear, fear not from me but for me.

         "I don't know why are you saying this, he is your best friend Steve. He trust you so much to come here when we are completely stuck up."

        "My best friend yah, my best friend that is the reason I am boiling up so much, no one else knows him as well as me, try to understand Riddhi. He is not what he looks like, you can't trust him."

         "Do you trust me?"
        
          I don't know why I asked this question but at point I understood that Steve doesn't trust Anuj, and if he doesn't trust him he can't trust me. Unexpectedly he nod his head and it was greatest relief because right now we need Steve badly and other than that I want my brother to believe me. Finally he smiled still worries written all over his face and put his hand on my head, this small gesture washed all my wanness, as if I was standing with the shield in my hand for a long time in the battle and someone just took that shield and said 'Relax'. Suddenly door opened to reveal Anuj.

            "There you both are, was finding you both all around. Sorry it was long journey and I really needed to use wash room--"

             "We need to talk."

           This small sentence with anger essence mixed with each and every word was my que to leave the room.

            "Steve if you don't mind can I use your cell phone? I need to make some calls."
 
             He did not even once break the eye contact with Anuj to look at me, when he was handing me his phone, as if he was guarding me from something horrendous. I left the room to give them some space and dial one and only one number that I can remember.

           "Hello? May I talk to Hetal aunty?"

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           "Strange? Your daughter is out of reach since three days and you are as calm as our street in midnight, isn't it strange?"
           
                  Harshad asked his for a changed mysterious wife, who is not being her normal mother self.

          " I trust my daughter Harshad, and her friend too, to whom you take as your second daughter. "

         " Navi is my daughter too but Riddhi have never been without us. I trust them both but, I don't trust the world around us, and what's with you? Remember? Once you saw her with a group of boys and that time she lied to you because of your possessive self, you were so hyper and you scolded her so badly that she was drown in tears for two days. "

             Memories flashes in Harshad mind, he have always been more close to Riddhi then her mother. She was the only reason why Harshad left his criminal law practice. He can't forget those terror filled eyes of his innocent six year old daughter, who was just inches away from mob's attack.
         
          "Harshad, she was not mature enough those days and one of the boy was mocking about her on her back, that's what geared me."

          Harshad knows her wife since they were teens and he can easily say that his better half is being fishy, and hiding something from him, other then that she would never be so confident and calm, but one question still clouded his mind that if she is so not bother by her out of contact daughter, then why she was awake last night for around till morning. May be she is worried but acting in front of him just so he won't worry about their daughter.

           Phone ring get Harshad out of his queue of assumptions, when he took out his mobile phone from his kurta's pocket, he found an unknown number flashing on its screen

         "Hello..."

         "Hello! Dad, its me Riddhi, I am so sorry Dad I lost my new phone. Navi got me new phone but, this is my temporary number will get new one soon."

        Riddhi' s renting was giving Harshad much relief. After two sleepless nights he would finally be on rest and peace

      " Calm down dear, I am not at all angry I was just worried about you, now that I heard your voice, I'm much relieved. "

       "Is it Riddhi? let me talk to her."

       Harshad was smiling at her now impatient wife who just snatched the phone from his hand. It was so funny, uptill a woman who was acting so calm and steady is now start roaring at her poor daughter. His wife is such a bad actress.

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