The Rules Of Pursuit

68. Memories

I was having my dinner with the girls, at the hotel's restaurant when my phone started to ring. My lips arched into a smile noticing the name of the caller.

A WhatsApp notification dropped in before I could answer the call. It was from Vrinda.

Avinash found out about our call. He heard the recording where I told you about dad. He is furious.

The momentary joy I had felt noticing his call, was replaced with fear, while my phone kept ringing impatiently.

"Aren't you going to answer that?" Mia asked. "Is everything okay?" She must have noticed the colors draining from my face.

"Hey Avi," I tried to sound normal, "Had your dinner?"

"You knew." There was venom in his voice. "You knew about Dad, yet you lied and kept me in the dark." His cold voice felt like whiplash.

"Avinash you were already so distraught..."

"And you thought I wouldn't be able to handle myself. Huh?" His voice rose with each word.

"Avi...I was worried...you were driving..."

"I guess you haven't noticed that I am the one arranging everything here, I am the one who is helping my mother in shifting. I am the one who is making the preparations for the Tervi and the Shokh Sabha(Condolence meet)." Natasha, Olivia, Mia and Fatima were all staring at me. Avinash was practically screaming now, making his voice audible to my companions.

"Meenakshi did you ever have ANY FUCKING FAITH IN ME. OFCOURSE NOT." He roared into the phone.

"Avi you are misunderstanding me." I whimpered.

"I am understanding you pretty well Ms. Banerjee. DID YOU REALLY THINK THAT I WOULD HAVE ALLOWED YOU OR BRUTE TO ACCOMPANY ME IF I WASN'T SURE I COULD ASSURE YOUR SAFETY. HUH!" I had to hold the phone away from my ears, while he yelled.

"You knew my father was dead, yet you sat there on my passenger seat, consoling me that he was going to be alright. What an actor you are Meenakshi? What a freaking great actor? Can I ever trust you again?"

"Avinash what is wrong with you." I heard Vrinda speaking on the otherside of the line. "I had told her not to tell you."

"Why Vrinda? Because you thought I was weaker than you? I am the one who is taking care of everyone's mess while you are busy bickering with Dadi. I was the one who got his body discharged. I was the one who fucking lighted the pyre. I am the one who is looking after Ma, Dadi and YOU."

"Avi calm down mate. Have a glass of water." It was Danish's voice.

"I AM DONE WITH YOU ALL VRINDA. Each of you lied to me. Each of you kept me in the dark. I cannot trust anyone anymore." He screamed.

Suddenly the line went dead. I was numb with fear, my fingers trembling, while I tried to call Vrinda. She obviously didn't answer my call.

"Wait, I will call Danish." Olivia said worriedly. All of them had heard Avinash screaming from the other side of the line. She put the phone on speaker so that we could all hear her conversation. After a few ring Zoravar answered Danish's phone.

"Oly, he will call you back." Zoravar sounded distressed.

"Zoro don't hang up. Is Avinash alright?" Olivia asked earnestly. There was a short silence before Zoravar replied.

"No he isn't. He just hurled his phone at the wall, and broke it. Danish is trying to pacify him. His mother is terrified, so is his sister. None of us have seen him like this. He had been throwing every cuss word he has known at his family. Even that irritating grandmother of his is scared to shit." Zoravar whispered. "I will tell Danish to call you. Meanwhile please ask Naxi not to call him tonight. He isn't himself. He may say something he will regret tomorrow."