Why Did You?

12. Some Progress

Lucknow, India

Aryan was in the kitchen, cooking pasta for his wife while she was busy packing her belongings. He had, after an hour of talking, convinced Meera to shift with him to a two BHK flat. She had agreed on the condition that she would bear half of the total expenses they would make. Reluctantly, he had agreed. He did not wish to hurt her self respect.

He took a deep breathe as he provided a finishing touch to his pasta. He wanted to pamper Meera. He wanted to shower her with all the love he had. And he had made himself very clear to her. She had just smiled. Finally, he had made some progress.

He left the kitchen with a plate of pasta and went to his wife. "Here you go, eat it." Meera took the plate. She looked at him and asked, "Why did you faint, Aryan?" Aryan looked at her and said, "When I saw that kerosene oil in your hand, I just.......I am afraid of fire. Not phobia but I just don't like the sight of it." Meera's eyes widened. He did not like fire. And still he had been cooking. "Then how did you cook?" she asked him. "I avoided looking at it," he said nonchalantly. "Are you insane? You are not cooking anymore?" Meera said furiously and Aryan nodded his head.

~...~...~...~...~...~...~...~...~...~...~...~...~...~...~...~

Seoul, South Korea

"What? Are you sure?" asked Rajat over the phone. His eyes held happiness. He continued, "Get me his exact location soon. Yes." He cut the call and relaxed on the chair. Aryan had no business in India, still he was there. Was Meera in India?

He had hired a private investigator to keep eye on Aryan. He knew that his brother-in-law was trying hard to find Meera. Rajat, himself couldn't trace her due to his father. But he could surely keep an eye on Aryan. He would reach Meera through him. Finally, he had made some progress.

Meera. His baby sister. His one mistake destroyed everything. He should have supported her. He should have been with her at that moment. He should have listened to her when she opposed her marriage. He shouldn't have let their father treat her like a business deal. He did wrong and he was suffering because of it. Suffering more than anyone else. Maybe less than Aryan but still a lot. In just one moment, he lost his sister and his wife. One left him and went far away while the other stayed with him but was far away. Taking off his spects, he rubbed his eyes. This was not the time to fall weak. He had to stay strong. He had to fight and end his sufferings.

He looked across the room where his wife was sitting. She was holding a magazine in her hand but her mind was somewhere else. He knew that she was aware of Aryan's visit to India. Aryan must have told her. And if his suspicion was right - if Meera was really in India - then surely Sapna knew about it. He sighed. Where are you Meera?

~...~...~...~...~...~...~...~...~...~...~...~...~...~...~...~

Somewhere in Lucknow

A woman was sitting on a rocking chair and was knitting a sweater. She was around sixty years old. An old man entered the room and looked at her smilingly. "He is in the city. He has become a big man now." The woman kept her work down and asked, "Is he here too?" The old man shook his head and said, "But we will soon know where he is. He will tell us. I know his weakness." They chuckled. Finally, they had made some progress.

The man forwarded a photograph to the woman. Photograph of a beautiful girl. Photograph of Meera.

________________________________________

So, how is it?

Who are these people?

What do you think about Rajat?

Do share your views...............

~Purnima