Drafts Of Her Heartbeat

Pensive Thoughts

Standing in my balcony, looking at the moon, I remembered that fateful night when Dad had called me in the US, informing me that it is time for me to take over the company completely, thus shifting my base back to India. I also remembered how much angry I was at dad's sudden demand to return back after building a life for myself in the US for past sixteen years. I remember the fight how I and dad had on the topic, the condition that dad put forth for me, inorder to gain complete control. And how ultimately he got me agreeing to it. How a decision that changed my life.... My future plans.... My perspective.
And here I am, standing infront of a past, not knowing whether to turn back around or move forward. Confusion, conflict, anger, guilt, happiness, all feelings coming all together creating a mess in my head. Damn girl ! Always have been a trouble. Whether she was infront of me, or away from me. I punched the wall nearby, my temper getting the best of me.
Why must my life be a mess?
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One face, bringing back all those locked up memories. One meeting, was all it took, to unlock those demons, who ate me back in the past. No one knows what it was, but I know it is bothering them too. My silence, it was always a cause of botheration for my team. But I can't help it today. I don't know what to say? I have always been crystal clear for my team, completely transparent for them to read me. It scares me too sometimes, they can always guess when I am upset or angry, though they can never tell the reason, but they can always tell if something is wrong with me.
I know it's only a matter of time, when they come rushing asking me for answers. What will I answer them? How can I tell them truth? What about Abhi? I know he will go straight away mad, at me, for keeping this from him.
God everything was going fine, until his entry. He always had been the cause of storm and predicament in my life. Why did I even meet him?
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Seeing her alive, after two years of believing that she was dead, I can not even express my extent of happiness. My first reaction was to call Ashok. It rang for a while till he answered it.
"Hello" his voice sounded sleepy. I looked at the watch hanging in while, 12:30am it read, of course he would be sleeping, but my excitement was too much to be contained, I had to share it with someone.
"Ashok, our Arohi is alive."
No response.
"Do you hear me Ashok? Arohi is alive, healthy and breathing." I repeated.
"Ohh. How... How come you know this?" His voice low and cautious.
"She is the captain of ECI Team, Rebel Angels, the one representing India in I.C. Can you believe it our little doll is healthy and a captain!" I exclaimed of happiness.
"Oh. Good. Good to know. Yash, I'll call you later. Goodnight." And he had disconnected the call.
I could sense something wrong. He was neither happy, nor excited. It was as if the news did not arouse any sort of joy in him. His only daughter is alive, and this is not enough to bring happiness to him? Sure enough something has to be wrong. If Arohi was alive why didn't she contacted us? How did she end up at ECI? I could also sense a tension between her and Dhruv. But why? Shouldn't he be happy to see her? Shouldn't had he not scooped her in his arms, thanking the Almighty? But there was nothing like this, not in any of them. Infact Arohi's attitude was somewhat hostile, but why?
Even Ashok's reaction right now. Things don't add up. Are they keeping things from me? If yes, then what? I need to find out. I picked up my cell, "Hello Aviral."
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Sitting on my bed, I flipped through the pictures, taken few years back. Me and Dhruv, in our college days. Dhruv, my friend who used to bed a new girl very week, if not every day, for whom parties were his life and alcohol, his lifeline. He was one who never believed in settling down. New girls, new party, non-stop flowing alcohol, that was life for him, a perfect future plan. Then came she, flipping away all his plans.
A bubbly girl, with dreams in her eyes, aspirations in her mind, and unfathomable love in her heart. Truth, trust and faith were three pillars of her life. A girl loving fun and life, she was completely opposite of Dhruv.
I don't even know how they came together, all I knew was it was like mixing fire and water. She was a blessing for Dhruv, everything that he needed in his life, everything that could feel the emptiness of his life, help him build a great future. But then my friend is also a bull-head. In his fit, he never understood what he had, or what it could become. He let the diamond in his hand slip away.
I don't even understand how they came as far as spending the time as much as they did. Maybe that is life and destiny!
Now that they have a second chance, I wish he will use it wisely. Then again knowing my stubborn friend and her, they will stick to their Orthodox ideas. God help them! I prayed again.
My cell rang, I checked the time, 1:00am, who will call me at such an odd hour? Looking down I saw Yash Uncle's name flashing.
"Hello uncle"
"Hello Aviral".
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It's 10:00am now, while I should have been in my training session, here I am, sitting in the coffee shop.
"Hello sweet pie" I looked up and there he was standing, Yash Uncle, a second father figure to me.
"Uncle" I got up and hugged him, "Pranam".
**Early morning, 7:00 am**
I had just got up and was going to get ready, when my cell rang.
"Hello Sweet Pie" I froze on hearing the voice.
"I am not going to hear any argument, meet me at 10:00am sharp, in coffee shop, near your college. I will be waiting." And the line went dead. I looked at the cell in my hand and then the clock. Soon I was in washroom, getting ready for my meeting.
**Present time, Coffee Shop**
"So how are you, beta?" He asked getting settled. This is going to be long hour.