Locked in love

Chapter 2

The sun was just rising and its yellow rays flooded the balcony and the studio. Vicky stood there in the balcony talking to his best friend Tejas.Tejas worked in the Royal Bank of Scotland in Chennai.He was married and had two kids.Vicky was clueless about the biggest news of the nation.

"Lockdown? What lockdown?". Vicky stood there,his eyes still swollen, wanting to go back to sleep.He would have, but he had to get back to the hotel and get work done, some last minute details into his last project here before leaving the country.

"What were you doing last night?A hot date with your ex girlfriend perhaps?"

"Cut your sarcasm.I'm not in the mood". Vicky bit out harshly,gritting his teeth.His ex girlfriend ,made it clear to him last night that she was happy without him in her life.

Tej chuckled.

"Ok listen.At 8 pm last night ,which apparently happens to be our beloved prime minister's favourite hour of the day, he appeared on the national television and announced a complete lockdown in the country.Total travel ban, no schools ,colleges, no public gatherings.Only essential services in the country will run.A total curfew of sorts.Am I clear?" Tejas explained to him in a very dramatic fashion.

"But I have a flight to catch to London in a few days Tej.How am I going to reach Chennai.?

"Dude.I guess you haven't understood what I have been saying. It's a total  speed breaker in our lives. International travel ban.No flights will leave the country." Tejas went on to elaborate details of the lockdown, the possible economic repercussions and other things to Vicky ,who listened to everything with a scorn on his face, muttering monosyllables intermittently.

"But how can he take a decision like that?So many people would be stranded!" Vicky At the most inconvenient places.He added mentally.

"All for the greater good Vicky. India might just beat the covid 19 virus with this twenty one day lockdown.Smaller inconveniences can be ignored".

"God ! What a mess I'm in. Twenty one freaking days!!?I'm at Ruhi's place Tej."

"Were you drunk last night?"

"I was not drunk".Vicky growled into the phone. He was not much of a drinker anyway and Tejas  knew it.

"Then how could you have missed something like this? But good that you have a place to stay atleast."

"Provided she doesn't kick me out like Maradona's football".

Vicky loved football.Not surprising considering his Bengali roots.He spoke Bangla and Tamil fluently.His dad, Mr.Parambrata Banerjee, was a pioneer in furniture business and had shifted from Calcutta to Chennai shortly after Vicky was born.When Vicky was ten , his mom died due to complications of malaria leaving him in a void.He started having nightmares and would wake up in the middle of the night drenched in sweat.His dad had suffered too.So ,much that his business got affected.After a lot of pressure from his immediate family,he agreed to remarry but only after asking his son's opinion.

"I won't call her 'Ma' but I will call her 'mom'.That's what Vivek calls his second mother". Vicky had told that day to his dad about another boy in his class.

Contrary to the popular image of a stepmother, Shobha was an extremely loving lady who took great care of Vicky.Vicky however was never overt with his display of affection towards her or for that matter anyone.He had a tremendous respect for Shobha.His stepsister,Maya ,twelve years his junior was an adorable girl who literally hero worshipped Vicky. Vicky loved her with all her heart and had always done everything for her as an elder brother would do but their relation bloomed into a very strong friendship only in the last couple of years. Infact he had told Maya everything about Ruhi and what went wrong in his relationship.Maya was more than happy for her brother when he told her he would try and sort out issues with Ruhi.