Love or Game (Complete✅)

Chapter 9 - "Demons of past..."

Cabir is lying supine on the bed staring at the ceiling with vacant eyes.

"Why SHE wrote that letter is still a mystery to me."

Nandini's voice is hammering in his head. He stirs a couple of time and keeps on tossing and turning but nothing is giving him the desired peace. Being frustrated he eventually gets up and sits squarely on the bed. He turns to the side table to reach the glass of water but the ajar drawer forces him to open it more. He reaches to the bottle of the sleeping pill but a black diary catches his eyes. With a hesitant hand, he takes out the diary. He caresses its cover and with trembling hand, opens a particular page. There is a folded paper having some brown scattered spots. Seems they are dried stains of blood. Cabir sighs and opens it by taking too much of time. There are some words written on it. Some of them are faded perhaps due to water contact.

Cabir,

I couldn't say it face to face that's why I am writing this to you. Cabir, I don't think I will be able to continue this relationship anymore. We are very different by nature and I think a love relationship can never flourish on compromise. I know it will be difficult for you to move on but trust me time makes us forget everything. Thank you for everything you have done for me but I have my own dreams which I think can't be fulfilled being with you. Please don't try to meet me or convince me because this is my final decision. Hope I cleared myself very well. Goodbye.

Yours once Madhubala.

"Madhubala"

Cabir mumbles. Tears prick his eyes.

"I want to forget you...I too want to move on but this heart...this treacherous heart is my enemy. It won't allow me to forget you...these sleepless nights...the deafening silence kills me...ahhhh... am I going to be mad?...it's hammering..."

Cabir presses his both temples with fingers and grimaces. He closes the diary with a thud and opens the bottle of the sleeping pill. He takes a handful of pills and keeps on staring at them. Suddenly an innocent face flashes in front of his eyes...his sister..the reason for his survival.

"I can't pain her because of you. You are the wound of my life and she is the heal. And love is more powerful than hatred. I don't hate you as much as I love my sister."

He murmurs and again puts all the pills in the bottle. Sleepless nights with someone's painful memory are the worst feeling. Cabir again lies back with a heavy sigh.

..............................................

I enter the conference room in a hurry. Nandini told me to prepare the presentation before lunch and unfortunately, I am not getting my bloody Pendrive in which I have already saved the 75% of that ppt. Suddenly, I remember that I might forget it in the conference room where we were having a meeting yesterday. I work as I think. As I enter the room my phone rings. I take it out and find the home calling notification.

"Not now...I can't listen to Shanti's blabbering right now."

I wave away the thought and again engage in searching. However, the disturbing electronic device again starts ringing.

"Shit...give me a break yaar..."

I can't control my pique and violently cut the call but it seems that Shanti has some courage and persistence to disturb me. I again try to cut the call when my cynic mind nudges me.

"What if it is urgent? If Navu is in any trouble?"

I immediately swipe the green button.

"Manik Sir, Navu is not eating anything since the morning. She is so adamant. She wants to see you...I tried to convince her so many times that you are in the office but she...."