MIRA

26. Disappointment📛

Jyoti opened the door to find Mira sitting on the floor and weeping.

''Mira!'' she said running up to her.

Mira looked up at Jyoti and shook her head while crying. Jyoti embraced her in a hug and said,

''Sshhhh, ssshhh, it's okay. Stop crying...''

Mira remained silent for the whole of next day. Apart from Jyoti, she didn't talk to anyone. When anyone asked her if she was fine, she made an excuse of feeling sick. Occasionally, she would speak to Jyoti who tried to console her.

''As soon as we go back to office tomorrow, we will go to the Wellbeing department and tell them everything, it's high time you take action Mira.'' Jyoti said on the flight back to Boston.

Mira didn't say a word. Jyoti even tried cheering her up, but it didn't work. She's only known Mira for a few months, so she didn't know what else to do that would maker her friend feel better. Perhaps it was best to leave her alone for some time, she thought and left it. When they landed in Boston that night,

''You'll be fine? You can stay with me tonight if you want.'' Jyoti offered.

Mira looked up, slightly smiled and said, ''Thank you Jyoti for everything, I will be okay. Don't worry.''

''Sure?''

''Yup''. Jyoti smiled warmly at Mira and hugged her.

Mira reached her apartment, had a warm shower, and heated some frozen Mac & Cheese for dinner. She checked her phone to find a missed call from Vikranth the previous night and realised that she probably didn't hear it when she was crying in the hotel room. There was also a text,

Vikranth: Hey Mira! Hope all's okay. What time you flying back tomorrow? Let's go for some Pizza when you're back? 😊

She let out a sigh & typed a reply,

Mira: Hi. Just got back. Talk tomorrow? Night.

...and sent it before she went to bed that night.

***

Next day,

It was the second night in a row that Mira couldn't sleep properly. She called up the office and told them that she won't be coming today. She checked her phone and realised that Vikranth had not seen her text. The remainder of the day, Mira survived on frozen food and curd-rice as she was short of grocery and didn't feel like going shopping. After lunch, Mira just slept until late evening. She felt slightly better when she woke up, so she called her parents. She told them everything about New York except Kavin, trying really hard to not let her parents know about her state now. Even when her mom asked her,

''Mira? You sound dull, are you okay?''

She brushed it off saying that she was just tired and decided to take the day-off to rest. After her call with parents, Mira dialed Vikranth, but the call couldn't connect. She also saw that he had not seen her message either. Mira dialed Abhi, who said,

''Oh Vicky! Don't ask Mira ji, you know he dropped his phone in the sink at home? Maybe that's why you couldn't reach him...''

''What? How?''

''I don't know, but even I text him on Facetime to communicate...so yea''

''Oh, okay thanks Abhi. Can you just tell him to call me when he's free? Thanks.''

Mira went on to send him a text on the Messenger App but then hesitated. She realised that if she texts him now, he would call her and ask why she hadn't attended his call in New York, and she would have to make an excuse. Mira didn't feel like lying to him, at the same time she felt guilty of hiding things from him, because she had promised him as a friend to share her problems...but this was too personal. The best thing to do was wait until he contacted or called her, hopefully by then she would be in a state to talk.