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From his private balcony, Sahir watched the waves gently lapping into the soft sand. The gentle breeze caressed his stern, handsome face.
He had always loved water - so much so, that he had had a small, shallow swimming pool installed in his spacious bedroom back home. This beach house, in a secluded, expensive enclave in Goa, was his personal, private sanctuary, an escape from the relentless stresses at work and the noisy, colorful chaos that was Mumbai.
His mother had quietly offered to accompany him, but Sahir had politely refused. As much as he loved and respected Alvira, he needed to be alone.
"Are you sure, beta?" Alvira had asked, cupping her son's face.
"Ji, Ammi. It's only for a few days. I'll be fine," Sahir replied, forcing a smile that could not fool his wise and observant mother.
Alvira looked into Sahir's beautiful brown eyes; it broke her heart to see the fathomless depths of sadness that they carried. She remembered the happy, adorable baby he once once and a tear slipped from her eye, unbidden and unexpected. Sahir wiped it away, kissed her on the forehead and went back to his room without looking back at his mother.
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He thought of his mother and how she had been there for him during those dark days seven years ago. Sahir closed his eyes and remembered a happier time...
2007
"Sahir...wait up, man!" It was Rafiq Hussain Siddiqui, Sahir's friend chasing him down Chestnut street. They had met one another during orientation for their MBA at the world-famous Wharton Business School in Philadelphia. Now, two years later they were getting ready to graduate.
"Do you have it?" Sahir asked,
"What?" asked Rafiq, with mischievous innocence.
"Someone is about to meet 'Mukka' Hussain Siddiqui" retorted Sahir, with mock anger, making a fist and bringing it close to Rafiq's nose.
Rafiq dodged and chuckled.
"Of course I have it!"
"Show me...now!"
Rafiq pulled out a small box and handed it to Sahir, who opened it. Inside was a dazzling chocolate hued diamond ring.
"Sahir, it's about time you proposed, yaar," Rafiq said solemnly. Sahir knew his always jocular friend wasn't done. He was right.
"Sahir...I'm going to have your baby!"
Sahir grabbed Rafiq in a headlock as both friends burst into laughter.
"Seriously, Sahir. She's going to love it. It's beautiful."
"Not as beautiful as Zarine," said Sahir, grinning. Rafiq nodded in agreement. "Thanks for picking it up, Rafiq."
The two friends decided to have dinner at their favourite Thai restaurant; they then had delicious gelato at Capogiro's before going to Reading Market. Afterwards, they walked back to their two bedroom apartment near Rittenhouse Square and stayed up late talking about the unforgettable two years they had spent at the University of Pennsylvania.
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TO BE CONTINUED...
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