Living in a Mirage

Chapter Six

"Whatever is a reality today, whatever you touch and believe in, and that seems real for you today, is going to be, like the reality of yesterday, an illusion tomorrow. You too must not count too much on your reality as you feel it today, like yesterday, it may prove an illusion for you tomorrow."

~ Luigi Pirandello

* * * * * * *

"... The fact that you already had a visa helped a lot. So don't worry, the rest is done," explained the voice which was currently being ignored by Cabir, his mind occupied elsewhere.

"And what about the tickets, Metali?" Cabir asked again, after coming out of his thoughts.

"As I said, you and Nandini, both are all set to go to London. Everything is done, don't worry!" Metali patiently responded back.

"Sorry, Metali. I have so much on my mind that I am asking the same thing again and again. I will stop now and thank you, for everything," Cabir breathed out, grateful.

"Not a problem, Cabir. I understand. Take care of yourself and Nandini. If you need anything, you can call me," Metali offered, somewhat understanding the situation her kind seniors were in.

"Okay... Wait, from where did you say that I can pick up the tickets?" Cabir cried out as he remembered the most important question he'd forgotten to ask.

"Let's do this, I will meet you at the airport, I'll see to everything. You just be there before 8 pm." Metali said as she let out a sigh of defeat. It was better to do everything herself and see them off, rather than explain her absent-minded senior things that he could not pay attention to.

"Thank you so much, Metali, I owe you one. We will be there before time," Cabir promised as he ended the call, grateful to the kind girl.

'Okay, this part is done,' Cabir thought as he checked 'done' on the list he had made in his mind. As he packed his bag, more like stuffed everything he found clean; he couldn't help but hope, with all his heart, that whatever Nandini believed as the reality was the truth.

Conflicted as Cabir was, his heart couldn't help but daydream of all the fights he was going to have with his best friend for disappearing on him. While his mind told him to be ready for any situation, to be ready to hold Nandini together if - when - the illusion will break to give its place to reality.

As he closed the zip of his bag, his mind wandered again to that night, trying to find any clue which could lead them to the truth, to what really happened to Manik.

He closed his eyes again to re-analyze what happened that night. He recalled every minimal detail, Manik's voice ringing in his ear...

"Nyonika..."

'Nyonika - that damn woman!' he thought, looking at the guy sitting next to him, Cabir let out a tiring sigh.

"What did she do this time?" He asked his best friend.

"Cabir, I want to talk to him about Nyonika, as soon as possible. I am done with her crap. I am done. I want her out of my life." Manik told him, his voice hinted how tired and tensed he was.

But as he heard his best friend talk, the difference Cabir could feel in Manik got clearer when the destructive rage and anger went missing in the voice of the one who has always masked himself behind it as if he was cable of feeling nothing but rage and anger.

'Why was everything in his life was happening all of sudden?' Cabir thought as he looked at the guy who seemed lost and disheartened with everything that was happening around him.