Because he loved him..

11. Angst

*Samar's point of view*

It had been a week since the night I saw Amay. I could't believe that he had the nerve to show up to my room, that late at night.

If it wasn't for my colleague Sally who heard the ruckus I was making and came out of her room to stop me, I don't know what I would have ended up doing.

I took to alcohol after Amay left me to marry that criminal but then I met Sally Argent who was already an officer.

Somehow, she saw through all my miseries and with the help of mom, I broke through my addiction.

Till a week ago, I had been sober for four months but just one visit from him crumbled my will. I hated that he had this much influence on me.

On that night, Sally was alloted the room, three doors down the hall, on the same floor.

When the receptionist told me about Amay wanting to see me. It all came back to me. The hurt, the anger and a car crash of other emotions.

I just couldn't deal with it so I drank from the bar in the room and kept drinking till I heard the doorbell ring.

I thought that he would apologise and I would finally get closure over his betrayal but he still acted as if I was the one who had hurt him.

It made me mad but I still loved him. I know that he loved me too. I tried getting close to him but when he screamed, I realised just how deranged I had become.

I tried chasing after him and fell on the floor. Incidentally, Sally came outside and took me to her room.

Her eyes held so many questions but when I told her that Amay came to see me, she sighed and told me to go to sleep.

I don't remember much after that but when I returned to my room the next morning, it was a mess.
The furniture was broken and some files were lying across the floor.

I picked them up and went through them with Sally's help. She told me that they were the files for the school that we were investigating.

After perusing through them, she told me that the paperwork was exemplary and we would have to let the school be. I had no option but to concur.

When I was about to check out from the room, a twinkle near the door caught my eye. I bent down and picked it up.

It was a ring. Amay's ring. I don't know what did I hope to gain from it, maybe another chance to see Amay but I pocketed it.

I had it with me since the last six days. A part of me wants to keep it because it was Amay's; the innocent friend who loved me.

This new, shrewd Amay didn't deserve it but neither did I. I had no right over it so I decided to go to his school to return it.

I went over the school in the guise of checking up on it's functioning. The principal, Mr. Rutherford greeted me and walked me across the school.

It was so nostalgic and a bit hurtful watching Amay's dream become a reality. It was his dream so naturally, it became mine too. It became our dream.

When I learnt that he went ahead with it without me, it filled me with envy.

So, I decided to investigate it's sources. It was just a way to get back to Amay for hurting me.

It was an airy building with a few classroom but the compound bore Amay's signature touch.

The trees, the flowers, the hills and even the pond reminded me strongly of the time I spent with him in the church's garden.

I asked Mr. Rutherford about Amay and he said that I must be the friend he had mentioned. I didn't know what to do so I smiled in affirmation.

He told people about me?

He thanked me for the school and told me that Amay wasn't there but I could talk to his son if I wanted to.

His son? Amay had a son?

He chuckled at my bewildered expression and walked me to a boy around 4-5 years old who was feeding the ducks.

He introduced me to the boy, Arlo as Amay's officer friend and walked back inside the school.

Arlo stared at me with wide innocent eyes. I was about to ask him how he was doing but he cut me off.

"Are you the friend that da went to see last week?" He asked as if he had caught me doing something wrong.

Da? Of course, Amay told his family about where he was going.

It caught me totally off guard but I nodded.

"Yes, he visited me in the city."

"Did you fight with my da? It's not good manners." He asked crossing his hands.

"I didn't ...what makes you say that?" I stammered worriedly .

Did Amay tell them about the hotel as well?

"I woke up when da returned. He looked bad. Then daddy fought with him too." He said sadly.

I felt guilty now so I enquired further.

"Daddy was upset that da lost his ring." He looked around warily and then added in a low voice.

"I don't like my daddy now. I think he hit da. Da was crying loudly. I went to stop him but uncle Ray locked me back in my room."

It was a lot to process.

Amay's husband was abusive. Serves him right for betraying me. Wait, was I actually thinking that?

I couldn't help but feel bad about a child witnessing such a thing.

"Is that why Amay has not been coming to school?" I asked him.

"Daddy has locked da in his room. Sometimes I am allowed to see him. He looks sick." He nodded.

I was about to ask him more when my driver appeared and told me that I was getting late for the meeting in the town.

I shook hands with Arlo and asked him to take care of himself and his 'da'.

He waved at me and asked me to visit again soon.

I didn't know it back then but it would be months before I would get to see him again.

I couldn't afford to get embroiled in this mess anymore. I had to get away from it all if I wanted to stay sober.

I swore to move on from Amay and look ahead.

Weeks passed. I was promoted at work. One day, Sally proposed me and we got engaged. Mom moved in with us and it was all going great till we decided to get married.

*So, Samar is about to get married too! Who would you like Amay to end up with? Samar, Karim or someone entirely new?*