You Are Missing In My Heart!

Thanks Sachini.. Answers on the way, posting the next now!

 

Thanks dear Leena! Lets see what Anita does!

 

Thanks dear Sofea! Posting it now!

 

Ipo coming!

You can stop breaking your head and read further dear PS

Thanks Adisum! Posting now!

Thanks Aswathy!

Sorry all! was held up with a hectic schedule in office, hence the delay!

 

Part 27:

Rishav, Abhinay’s roommate was waiting for Abhinay at Hotel Samrat’s lobby. As Abhinay entered the hotel, he spotted Rishav and rushed to him.

“Where?” he asked.

Rishav bobbed his head gesturing to follow and went into the hotel’s lounge. The Shrio in Hotel Samrat was one of the famous night-outs in New Delhi. The Huge Buddha statue at the center, which would have inflicted tranquility at any other place, set a mysterious theme in the red background and dim yellow light. The giant statues that stood near the walls added to the eerie effect. His eyes half closed as usual, Lord Buddha continued his meditation, oblivious to his surroundings. None of this caught Abhinay’s attention. His eyes were fixed on the table at the center of the restaurant, on the girl in Navy blue lace off shoulder dress that clung to her voluptuous body and ended just above her knees. She sat there cross-legged talking to the man opposite to her. Her bold red lip colour and nails contrasted her ivory skin and the dark navy blue of her dress.

Abhinay stood there frozen, his eyes fixed on her. A restaurant hostess approached them and enquired whether they needed a table and escorted them to a table of two across from the table where Anita and her new companion were sitting. Rishav followed her pulling Abhinay along.

Sitting at the table, Abhinay looked at the man sitting across from Anita. He looked tall even while he was sitting. His dark moustache turned slightly upwards at the corners contrasted his fair complexion and the designer suit he wore proclaimed his affluent status. The way his eyes grazed on her made Abhinay’s skin crawl. His eyebrows knotted and his eyes narrowed in pure fury. The man moved his hand and taking her hand that rested on the table squeezed her palm. At the same instant, seeing Abhinay’s raging face, Rishav hastily held his hand, preventing him from getting up or going to them.

“Leave me!” he told Rishav not taking his eyes from them.

“Abhi.. don’t do anything rash here.. this is a posh place and he looks like a big shot.. let’s go” said Rishav

Both of them came out and Abhinay convinced Rishav to leave. After Rishav left, Abhinay walked around and stood in the hotel’s parking area. The fact that Anita was cheating on him was unbearable to him. In the dim lit parking with no one around to watch, tears rolled down his cheeks. He did not know how long he stood there like that, but a movement caught his attention and he saw Anita walking towards the parking, alone. As she neared and was just a few feet away from him, he emerged from the side and stood on the way, straight opposite to her.

Anita stopped midway, her eyes wide in shock and her fingers tightened around the matching clutch she carried. Abhinay walked slowly towards her, his eyes piercing into hers all the while. He stopped a foot away from her and looked down at her.

“Feels great to meet you like this! Where is he? Wont you introduce me to your new friend?” he asked, his every word heavy with sarcasm and rage.

She looked away unable to bear his accusing gaze.

He continued, “Tell me just one thing.. So how long is this going on? Had I been a fool for very long or did this just start after you discovered that I am a pauper now?”

“By the way, nice dress… and accessories.. all expensive gifts!” he added.

“Don’t create problems now! I have to go.. move” she said not looking at him.

“Creating problems!” he repeated between clenched teeth and said, “this very moment I want to break your neck with my own bare hands, yet I just asked you a question and you don’t think I deserve an answer, do you?”

“Answer? What answer do you want? You know it already. Money is important Abhinay! for everyone!” she said vehemently.

Abhinay caught her throat with one hand and his grip tightened and at the same time the man who was with her in the restaurant came towards them along with two other men. Seeing the scene before him, he ran towards them and Abhinay released her as they neared.

Anita staggered coughing and gasping for air and the man caught her in his arms and the two other men caught Abhinay.

After she regained her balance, he rushed towards Abhinay and held him by his collar and asked, “who the hell are you? Misbehaving with a woman..”

Abhinay shrug off his hands and pushed him. “Ask that woman who the hell I am”, he said.

“Honey! Do you know him?” he asked turning towards Anita.

She swallowed slightly and said hastilly, “No! I don’t know who he is.. He just blocked my way and talking non-sense”

“You liar! What are you trying to do with her?” the man shouted and jumped on Abhinay. The two other men also rushed and held him on either sides.

As Abhinay fought to release himself, the man took out a pocket knife from his jacket and plunged it at the left side of Abhinay’s abdomen.

Abhinay staggered and fell down, his hands clutching the wound. Blood rushed out, flowing through his fingers that were pressed against the wound and as he fell, he saw them walk away, his hand hugging her hip. She turned to look at him and as if preventing a child from watching a horror movie, he held her and led her to his parked car!

Abhinay’s hand moved from the steering wheel and his fingers traced the four inch stitch mark on the left side of his abdomen. His jaws clenched.


Arjun stirred the gravy, that was on the stove boiling. He took some in the ladle and pouring a few drops on his left palm, tasted it. “Wonderful! You are an awesome cook Arjun… AC stands for Awesome Cook too!” he laughed at his own comment and the door bell rang.

He walked towards the door with the ladle in hand and opened it. His eyebrows rose on seeing the person waiting outside and at the same time Abhinay too looked at Arjun and also the ladle in his hand. He looked way too younger in his khaki shorts and sky blue t-shirt.

“Looks like I disturbed when you were at an important task!” Abhinay said looking at the ladle in Arjun’s hand.

Laughing Arjun stepped aside and said, “Please come in Abhinay.. You caught me by surprise!”

“Please sit down.. Just a minute” he said, as Abhi sat on the sofa and went in.

In less than a minute, Arjun came back without the ladle carrying a glass of water.

He handed the glass to Abhinay and asked, “You didn’t tell me you are coming to Chennai, even when we spoke on Friday! What brought you here?”

“You! You brought me here of course!” Abhinay said.

“Me? Interesting Abhinay! I am glad that you are visiting me, but may I ask what did I do significant enough to bring you here?” Arjun asked.

“I believe by now Assistant Commissioner would have rightly guessed it”

“Maybe, but I have to confirm the facts before taking action”

“If you say so! Ok, let me confirm the fact. Not very often, I hear about people enquiring about me Arjun and when that happens I tend to find the reason for their interest in me!” Abhinay said watching Arjun’s face intently.

“I see! But let me just ask you this.. If there is nothing on your part to worry about why should someone enquiring bother you?” Arjun countered.

“You are mistaken! I am not worried about what you heard about me, but I would like to understand the reason for your profound interest on me!” Abhinay said.

“I believe by now you would have rightly guessed it” Arjun said repeating Abhinay’s earlier words.

“Not exactly! I have my theories.. yes, more than one! So, I am here to confirm the facts” Abhinay played along repeating Arjun’s words.

“Hmm.. I see.. Ok, let’s consider a hypothetical situation.. There is this girl, whom one had known all his life, right from the school days, he was with her in every phase of her life, protecting her, caring for her.. he was with her in her toughest days.. nothing came between the two..” Arjun paused and looked at Abhinay. Abhinay’s face has reddened in anger, his fists tight.

Arjun continued, “and suddenly.. there comes a third person.. trying to take her away..”

“Oh! But why should that bother him? If another person comes in her life, why should it bother him if she is just his friend? Unless..” Abhinay stopped not wanting to continue.

“Unless.! Yeah unless..! Abhinay, when a boy and girl were friends, as time passes, the friendship grows and there comes a particular phase where it ripens and attains the next stage!” Arjun said his eyes and voice turning soft.

Abhinay sprang from his seat and stood up unable to sit there anymore!

(Contd.)