[][]NOTE: NO PROOF READING. PLEASE IGNORE THE MISTAKES.[][]
||CHAPTER 1||
||UPSIDE DOWN||
Arjun
I was on my way back to my cabin when my cell rang.I picked up the call without checking who it was
"Hello?"
"Arjun?"
A small smile appeared on my lips as I heard the familiar voice. It was my sister Mayra
"Hey! You called me after a long time sis! Don't blame me if I seem rude to you cause your brother has a right to be angry."
"Arjun. .."
I frowned as I realised her tone was a bit serious
"Mayra, is everything alright?"
"Arjun. .. Radhika. .."
Hate passed like venom through my veins at the mention of that name. I hate her! Suddenly my heart questioned
Do you really hate her?
I ignored. It's been a long time since I've stopped thinking with my heart and instead listened to my brain. I literally snapped loosing my temper
"What did she do this time? Did she hurt you?"
"Arjun no. .. Radhika. .. she is..."
"She is what?"
"Arjun..."
"For God's sake Mayra will you please tell me what is wrong?"
"Arjun I...we should talk. .."
"Yeah that's what I'm saying Mayra. Speak up. Tell me what's wrong."
"No Arjun. We should meet. Let's meet in the cafe near your office."
"Mayra you're scaring me. What happened? Is mom ok?"
"I'll meet you in an hour."
And with that she hung up. Strange, I thought. I've never seen Mayra so serious. Something is really wrong. And it's related to Radhika. Wait! Did something happen to her? My heart squeezed. What if she is not ok? What if something happened to her? Well, I don't care.
Really I don't?
I felt like banging my head. Anyways I have to meet Mayra- I thought as I tried hard to keep Radhika out of my mind.
******************************
I run my fingers through my hair as I give Mayra a blank look. Our table is at a corner of the cafe. It's been one and a half hours since we're here. I folded my arms when I realised my palms are sweating. I let out a shaky breath, my heart beat fast and pulse rapid. I tried to analyse what Mayra just revealed to me.
Radhika is innocent
She is innocent
The words echoed in my ears. I don't know what to do. If I let myself believe what I heard then I would rather die out of guilt
How could I not believe her?
How could I be blinded to such an extent that I didn't trust my love?
How could I hurt the person I love the most so badly?
How?
Whom did I believe instead?
The importance that Radhika held in my life was for no one else.
No one else could ever replace her in my life.
Then how couldn't I see the truth?
I could feel tears brimming my eyes. It all seemed surreal. Like I was in another zone. The time had stopped and the world around me was spinning. I felt like I was in a
haze, a maze. I was trying hard to find a way out but couldn't. I opened my mouth to speak but nothing came out. As if I had lost the power to speak. As if a strong force was holding my voice from coming out
"Whe... where is she?"
"I don't know Arjun. But wherever she is, only I can hope that she is safe at least."
Safe...
Oh no... is she safe?
Please God please no...
Please keep her safe...
Please don't let anything bad happen to her
Suddenly my mind voiced
You are the worst thing that happened to her
I closed my eyes as I gulped down the lump formed in my throat. I realised my whole body is shaking
"How did you come to know... about all these?"
"You know my friend Caroline? Remember how she always used to support Radhika and say that she was innocent?"
"Well how did she know?"
"I don't know. Maybe Radhika told her everything. We..."
I closed my eyes as I heaved a sigh. I could still remember Radhika's pleading voice
"Arjun, please trust me. I didn't do anything. I don't know what is happening. I have no idea..."
"Enough Radhika!"
I shouted as I turned to look at her tear stricken face. Hatred filled my heart
"I loved you Radhika...and you...you broke my trust."
I whispered. Radhika looked at me in disbelief. As if she couldn't understand what I said. As if I was speaking in an alien language. And as if she suddenly got back to her senses, she shivered
"Arjun, I'll leave. If you don't want to be together I... I understand."
And with that she walked away- from me, from my life.
"Why did Caroline tell you all on a sudden?" I asked in a low voice as I came back to the present
"She didn't. I confronted her. Only then... I had a doubt for quite a time now. I had accidentally heard their conversation one day and that's when it all started. I began to follow Caroline to find out more. And then I decided to ask her straight... but..."
"But what?"
"She said that she herself was planning to reveal it all. She said she couldn't hide it anymore as..."
Her voice choked at the end
"As?"
"Arjun... Radhika... she's..."
"She's what Mayra? For God's sake please tell me."
"She's been diagnosed with cancer Arjun. Not recently but a long time ago. And she's in the third stage now. She barely has any time left Arjun."
Mayra literally whispered. I didn't move. It seemed like my world is shattered all on a sudden. The same feeling I had when she betrayed me or I thought she did. Slowly, very slowly I stood up and started walking. I could hear Mayra's voice calling me
"Arjun... Arjun.."
It sounded like it was coming from miles away. I didn't pay attention. When I came out of the cafeteria, suddenly my head spun and I was about to fall when I felt a pair of arms gripping my shoulders tightly. I looked blankly at a worried Mayra who was struggling to hold me
"Arjun.. Arjun please get a grip. Let's go inside. You should sit and have water. I can't hold you like this.
Please calm down. Let's go."
I walked into the cafe once again. Actually dragged by Mayra- I am blank, lost and my world is upside down.
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