Part 1 - Page 1
Part 2 - Page 6
Part 3(a) - Page 11
Part 3(b) - Page 13
Part 4(a) - Page 18
Part 4(b) - Page 22
Epilogue - Page 26
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Part I
1 November, 1997 – 9 Pm, Local Telephone Booth, Asiad Village, New Delhi
"Ma, stop harassing yourself so much. I will come back on my own. Please, I am not a baby! (Giggles) My tuition just got over; I will take an Auto and reach home in 20 minutes. Keep the food warm, hope it's not Gobhi Aloo again."
"Yeh lijiye Bhaiyya, 2 rupees. Yahan, auto kahan se milega?" The young girl was busily looking into her duffel bag for something as the Shopkeeper told her to cross the intersecting road and she would find an Auto stand. Taking an auto was an exception for her, as she always took the local bus back home, but it was very late today and the night was getting foggier than usual. Thanking the shopkeeper, she hopped across hurriedly, bringing her hand knit sweater closer to her delicate looking body. The November chill had thrown a mist all around and visibility was at a low level. Shivering slightly, she held her duffel bag and started crossing the deserted road, her mind preoccupied to the piping hot food that her mother would have prepared.
Bani smiled to herself as she thought of her Mother. Kiran Dixit was the best mother a girl could have. She adored Bani and even though their means were tight, did everything in her measure to give the best to her oldest daughter! Bani, at 13 was the oldest amongst three siblings, her younger sister Pia, who was 10 and the baby of the house, Rano, who was 9. Her father, Nishikant was a junior clerk in a Government Office and his monthly pay could barely meet the family expenses of 5 people. But Kiran had been adamant on giving the best of education to their three daughters and Bani had never failed her trust even once. An outstanding student and a brilliant all-rounder, Bani made through all her school years on full scholarship, topping every subject.
But it was music that made her heart soar and gave wings to her imagination…though she knew that she could not even dream of affording a career in music. But Kiran in her indulgence for Bani had scrimped and saved some money from her monthly expenses and had enrolled Bani into a Music School, where she learnt to play the Piano. This Rs. 60 an hour, weekly class was Bani's utopia, when she could forget everything else and sing to her heart's content. Bani's music teacher was confirmed that she was destined to rule the world of music, but Bani knew that, this was only a fantasy that she was living and that she had other practical obligations to fulfill.
"I have to make it through the medical entrance in my first attempt, Papa and Mummy will be so pleased. And once I become a Doctor, all our financial problems will be solved." Lost in her own innocent world, she did not see a speeding SUV coming her way from the opposite direction…
1 November, 1997 – 8 Pm, Nasha Discotheque, MG Road, Delhi
The sound of loud music drowned out all traces of conversation, as trendily dressed young men and women danced in gay abandon. Nasha was the hottest ticket of the season, the place to be! And today's party was the ultimate of all.
"1-2-3…19-20-21…Happy Birthday" A loud 'swoosh' sounded as 21 bottles of champagne were opened together and the liquid spilled all over the dance floor, as boisterous and riotous laughter filled the crammed discotheque overflowing with revelers.
In the centre of all the brouhaha, were four young men, laughing wildly as they clinked glasses and drained them in one go. It was the gathering of the rich and the famous and the young of Delhi.'
A young couple watched the ostentations celebration of a birthday party from a secluded corner and the curious star-struck girl asked her rather sullen looking companion on who were these young men. The young man looked a bit surprised and then said softly, "Oh, you are new to the party circuit, that is why you are asking who these guys are? In two months time, you will recognize them with your eyes closed!" The girl looked more interested than ever and without taking her eyes of the birthday boy, who's was being almost drenched in the expensive bubbly, asked her companion, "So, who are they?"
The companion took a swig of his drink and went on a monotonous rendition;
"The guy in the Maroon Jumper is Tarun Sablok – The only son of Yashwant Sablok, Delhi's topmost lawyer. Every rich, famous & notorious of this city is a client of YS!
The bespectacled guy is Gaurav Sharma – The youngest son of the owner of Delhi's renowned Private Hospital, City Heart Hospital. Dr. Shashank Sharma's son. He just got honored with the Padma Bhushan.
That plump looking chap is Mohan Khandelwal – Son of Delhi's most successful and richest builder, Naveen Khandelwal. Half the building in this city are either built or owned by this chap's old man."
Pausing for a while, he took another sip of his drink and with his eyes placed both admiringly and enviously on the fourth of the quartet, he said in a voice which was almost resentful as well as awed.
"And that my dear, if you don't know already is Jai Walia. The lone star shining of the Walia Group of Companies, the scion and heir to Uday Walia's multi-millions. Its his 21st birthday today. Tarun, Gaurav, Mohan and Jai have been best buddies for years, schooled out together from Doon and graduated from Stephen's together. They stick to each other like glue…I guess money and power attract one another."
The girl kept staring at Jai, who was now on his 6th glass of champagne, as pretty looking girls of all shapes and sizes kept coming to him and wishing him for his birthday, some of them, making a rather show of it. While the other three of the group looked highly amused and entertained, Jai seemed to be astonishingly withdrawn and discomfited, trying to wriggle himself out of a scantily clad girl's clasp.
The girl noticed that Jai was tall with a built that was proportionate to his height, he was dressed in a simple but very well cut White Shirt and teamed with Blue Jeans. It was tough to describe him, while not classically handsome; there was something maddeningly attractive about him, especially about his sooty black eyes, which were both shy and confident at the same time. They were the eyes of a poet…soulful and deep! There was something so distinguishing about him, that even in the unruly celebration where his friends were making a complete show of their wealth and power, he stood out with an aristocratic dignity…A part of the crowd, yet far removed from it!
The girl just could not take her eyes of Jai Walia and shot into her companion's ears. "How do you know them so well? Are you a part of their group too?"
As Aparajit Deb drained his drink, his eyes burned with a deep hatred and giving one last look at Jai and his group, he tugged at his girlfriend's sleeve and said in a raspy tone, "Let's go home. I am not feeling too well and anyway, the place is hogged by Jai and his cronies."
Pallavi would have given anything to stay put, but she did not want another fight with Aparajit and resignedly went along with him.
As the noise of music drowned behind them, Pallavi snuggled close to her boyfriend and placing her head lovingly on his shoulders said, "I don't care if they are the rich and mighty of Delhi or anyplace, I have you and that is good enough for me!" Aparajit smiled cynically but gently kissing Pallavi on her forehead, kick started his second hand Yamaha.
"Guys, I think we have had enough. I can barely see anything in the room." Jai finished his 10th glass of champagne and could barely get up from the couch, where a nubile young thing had wrapped herself around him. Shrugging himself free of her with great difficulty, he walked towards his best friend Tarun, who was snogging some stranger in a corner. Wildly shaking Tarun out of his cosy comfort, Jai, bleary eyed and irritated said, "Tarun, lets hit back home yaar…my head is splitting. If dad sees me in this condition, he will ground me for life. Chalte hain yaar, lets go back home and continue the party." Tarun hesitatingly got himself untangled from the girl and along with an equally sozzled Gaurav and Mohan, the four friends made their way, wobbling across to the Car Park, waving good-bye, as the crowd cheered on Jai for his Birthday.
"Shit…Who the hell will drive? I can barely see anything properly." Gaurav rubbed his aching head, as the four of them stood near Jai's shining new Pajero, which had been a birthday gift from his Father. Tarun was out of question as he couldn't even drive a bicycle properly and Mohan had never driven beyond a Maruti 800 and he felt that his drunken condition did not warranty a change of wheels, that too on such a foggy night.
Jai took a deep breath and tried to ignore the throbbing headache that seemed to pound him away with excruating pain. Clutching the gold embossed Car keys in his hands, he motioned the others to go inside the Car, as he almost threw himself on the Driver's seat.
Gaurav looked warily at his friend and asked, "Jai, are you sure, you can manage us till home? We can always call any of our driver's and wait for some time…"
Jai waved away his hand and starting the Engine said in a drunken voice, "Don't worry guys, I will drop you to home, safe and sound, in one piece! If anyone does get hit today, you won't be the one, as you are already inside the Car."
The four of them burst out into wild laughter as Jai hit the wheels and speeded along the deserted highway, which connected MG Road to Delhi.
"Hey, play some music man…No, not Elton John for God Sake...Ya, the Heavy Metal one." Tarun leaned from the rear seat and taking a Cassette out, roughly jutted it inside the gleaming new Music System and the loud, bass voice rebervated in the plush interior of the Pajero.
Laughing gaily without a worry in the World, they chatted and sang alongside, the speedometer spiraling upwards. Jai's eyes were fuzzy and all that alcohol that he had consumed was disarming his normally alert senses rapidly. He kept blinking his eyes to see the road clearly, but the November Fog was building up swiftly and visibility was lower than usual.
As the Car cruised at 90 Km an hour on the stretch that let Shri Fort Road towards South Delhi, out of nowhere, a figure appeared on the deserted road and as a shocked Jai screeched his Car to a halt, he knew that he had hit someone.
"Oh My God. We hit someone. Did we hit someone? Shit…Shit… Papaji is going to kill me…" Tarun panicked as Gaurav and Mohan came out of their slumber and suddenly all the four of them were on the alert, wide awake and dead frightened. Jai was white-faced as he kept sitting still on his seat and suddenly, some sort of force rushed through his body and all his senses became aware once again. He pushed open the door with force and with an unassailable dread, walked toward the front of the Car and the sight he saw, recoiled him back with a shock wave.
On the cold, dark road laid a young girl…Her tattered brown duffel bag thrown across a few meter away, a music book lay open…along with a lunch box, the contents of which were spread alongside the bag. The headlights of his Car were powerful enough to show that the girl was lying in a pool of blood, face down on the road.
Tarun, Mohan and Gaurav stood behind Jai, their face blank and the cold seeping inside their bones. All the four of them stood still, the shock still not registering enough to make them react.
Mohan broke the silence as he spoke in a low voice, "Is she dead?" Gaurav inhaled deeply and closing his eyes, nodded his head, said in a strangled voice, "I think she is." Tarun groaned and said in an urgent voice, "Jai, lets move yaar. Before anyone see's us…Chal yaar, what the hell are you doing here. Come one, before someone informs the Police." As Tarun motioned the still shocked Gaurav and Mohan to sit in the Car, Jai stood there staring at the frail body and with a numb expression went besides her and kneeling down, placed his shivering hand on the side of her face…It was still warm. The blood from her face stained his hand, as Jai crumbled down on the ground, his face buried in his hands.
Tarun looked at his friend and shaking him roughly by his shoulders said urgently, "Jai…What are you doing? Lets get going from here…Have you any idea what deep shit we will be, if someone gets to know of this. She is dead anyway, lets just leave."
Jai looked up with blood shot eyes at his best buddy and a deep surge of anger built in him. "You want me to leave her like this, alone, helpless, to die?" Tarun could not comprehend what he had just heard and said with desperation, "Well, if she is not dead, she will be in a few minutes, look at the amount of blood. Even if she does survive, we are still in big mess. Jai, come on, someone will help her out. Lets go…For god sake, its your birthday."
Jai got up and closing his fists tightly, said in a chilling tone, "I was a s***e enough to get drunk, drive and hit that poor girl…I am not a b*****d enough to leave her to die here. You get lost if you are so scared; I am taking her to the hospital." Jai waited to breath and then said with determination, "And save her life."
Tarun could only gape at his friend, as Jai lifted the lifeless body in his arms, and took her to his Car, placing her in the back seat and then went to collect her bag. As he walked towards his Car, he said softly to the three of them, "You guys can go…infact you should go home right now. I was the one driving, it was my mistake." As Jai sat in the Car, Tarun opened the door opposite to him and placing himself, along with Gaurav and Mohan in the backmost seat, said to Jai, "We were s***e enough to leave that girl to die but we are not b*****d enough to ditch our friend." Jai managed a watery smile at Tarun, who patted him comfortingly, as Gaurav directed the way towards his Father's hospital.
As the Car sped away, a young couple watched the whole scene from a distance. Aparajit and Pallavi stood stunned, near their broken down bike, as they kept staring at the pool of blood which spread in front of them. Aparajit walked slowly towards the accident spot and gingerly picked up a shining piece of metal that was lying there. It was a broken piece of Jai's key chain, the initials of his name, 'JW' gleaming in gold. "Come Pallavi, let's follow them." Aparajit motioned to Pallavi as he pocketed the piece of metal in his pocket.
10 PM – City Heart Hospital, Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi
As Gaurav explained between gulps of deep breath and fear, engulfing his bespectacled face, his distinguished looking Father gave a cold stare at him followed by one to Jai, Mohan and Tarun and then proceeded to give some hurried information to a team of Doctors. Tarun meanwhile called up his Father from the Hospital Reception, hurriedly explaining what had happened. Yashwant Sablok assured his son that he would have their bail applications ready by the time the victim's family arrived. Mohan stood near to Tarun listening to his conversation, thanking his stars that Naveen Khandelwal was traveling out of country for a few days.
Jai stood like a statue, frozen in time, in front of the Operation Theater, where the girl was wheeled in. His crisp white Daks Shirt was stained in her blood and the passerby in the Hospital Corridor stared at the young man, who stood motionless, his hand and face daubed in a bloody red color, as he had carried her inside the Hospital. As Jai closed his eyes in agony, there was only one thing that went on his mind. Not the fear of his Father, not the fear of law, not the fear of guilt…only the fear of losing that girl…for as he had taken her in his arms, that very instant, he knew that he had to save her at any cost…
2 November, 1997 – 2 Am, City Heart Hospital, Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi
As a battered Jai looked up from the corner of his bench, he saw a middle aged couple rushing by and just looking at that lady, he knew that she was the girl's Mother. Jai had a fleeting glance of the blood stained face before he had handed her over to the Paramedics…and he knew it was a face which would haunt him for the rest of his life.
Kiran Dixit was convulsed in sobs and between gasps asked the attendant doctor, "Where is my daughter? How is she now? I want to see her right now." The young doctor looked sympathetically towards Kiran and said in his professional tone, "Madam please. Calm down. Your daughter is in the Operation Theatre…She has lost a lot of blood…Our team of Doctors is trying their best. Please have some patience." As Kiran crumbled into a sobbing heap on the Hospital Bench, a dazed and shaken looking Nishikant was ushered by the Doctor to fulfill the paper obligations.
Mohan had retched due to the overtake of alchohol and the accompanying strain and he had been packed off home along with Gaurav, after Jai's insistence, as they did not want to leave their friend in his hour of trouble. Tarun assured them that he won't desert Jai and both of them stood in the corner, waiting for some news from the OT.
Yashwant Sablok arrived with his retinue, striding along arrogantly and on meeting with Jai and the other three, had not mentioned a single word about the accident. Only handed them the bail application papers and told them to sign it. Without a single word, Tarun, Gaurav and Mohan had signed on the dotted line, assured by YS that no one will be able to harm them. As YS handed over the pen and the legal document to his biggest client and close friend, Uday Walia's son, Jai gave one cold look at YS and said in a calm voice, "I won't sign it." YS looked as if he had misheard Jai and urged him to do the needful. "Jai beta, don't get hassled, just sign these, I will manage everything…Your papa need not even know. We will wrap off the case here and now." Jai just kept staring with vacant eyes into the shrewd and practical one of YS and in a steely voice, reminiscent of his father repeated slowly and determinedly, "I won't sign the papers, unless that girl comes out of danger and gives her statement to the police." YS kept staring at Jai and said in an irritated tone, "You might end up in jail…what your Father will think…Don't be a sentimental fool Jai beta, just sign these papers, I will take care of everything…" Jai cut him short and said coldly, "I have already informed my Father, he is arriving shortly. And if I have to go to jail for what I have done. I will." YS could only gape at Jai in reply!
Jai did not know how the hours went by, till the wee hours of dawn, when an exhausted looking, Dr. Sharma came out and heaving a deep sigh, motioned Nishikant and Kiran Dixt towards them and took them to his Office. Jai too advantage of their absence and rushed towards the OT and catching hold of a harried looking nurse, asked her in a hopeful voice, "Is she ok now?" The nurse replied in a tired voice, "Difficult to say…lost a lot of blood and such a young, frail thing also. She is under observation." Jai caught his breath in his throat and said, "Will…Will she live?" The nurse looked up curiously and said, "I think so. Lets hope for the best…Were you the one who got her to the hospital?" Jai felt his eyes moist and walking away from the nurse, almost whispered, "Yes…I was the one who got her to the hospital…"
The Hospital was abuzz as the news of Uday Walia's arrival filtered through the corridors. UW was not only one of the most known faces in India, but also the senior most trustee of the Hospital...he was almost a legend, a demi-god to his workers and employees and a living inspiration to the millions of his admirers.
The distinguished looking man knocked on Dr. Sharma's door, where Nishikant and Kiran sat, ashen-faced. Shashank Sharma immediately got up from his seat as he saw UW near the door, "Mr. Walia…Please come in." UW was ushered in and seated next to the Dixit's, who were too lost to even notice his arrival. Dr. Sharma said in a somber tone, "Er…They are the parents of the girl who got hit by…This is Nishikant Dixt and his wife Kiran." UW turned to face the middle-aged couple and said in his authoritative but kindly tone, "I heard that the Operation went through and your daughter will survive. I really don't know what to say…It was my son who was responsible." Their was a strange, uncomfortable silence in the room and it was broken by Dr. Sharma. "Mr. Walia, I was just telling them that the accident was rather severe…the right side of her body is paralyzed…and she might not be able to walk again." As the words sank in, UW closed his eyes and inhaling deeply said, "I am really at a loss of words, Mrs. Dixit…I can understand your pain…I am a parent too and I know that my son is responsible for this. But please, there must be some way, I can compensate, some way I can help you out." Kiran Dixit looked with dead eyes at UW and said bitterly, "Maybe if your son could lose his leg…That would be a suitable compensation." Nishikant looked at his wife hastily and tried to hush her up and turning to face UW said, "It was an accident…atleast, he brought her to the hospital…our daughter is going to live." UW never felt more grateful in his life than now as he looked at Nishikant and said, "Please don't take me for wrong…but I want to offer every financial assistance I can, to compensate for this unfortunate accident. My son is young, he has his future ahead…If he gets arrested…his whole life will be marred…I…I hope you understand." Kiran was on the verge of screaming, but Nishikant held her hand tightly and giving her one look, silenced her and said to UW, "Dr. Sharma was saying that we can get Bani…our daughter to walk again, if we could have her therapy in the US…" UW immediately took out his cheque book and asked Dr. Sharma, "Shashank, how much do you think an operation in the US will cost…the best hospital, the best doctors. I want that girl to walk again." Dr. Sharma giving a rather distasteful look at Nishikant said in a formal tone, "It will cost a lot…Anything between 10-15 lakhs." UW nodded his head and proceeded to hurriedly scribble down something on the cheque and then handed it over to Nishikant, "Here is a cheque for 30 lakhs…please gets your daughter operated immediately. If you want any help with the arrangements, here is my card, contact my office, they will help you in every way possible."
Nishikant stared at the cheque….30 lakhs…that was more money than he had ever imagined to earn…this would ensure their own home in Delhi…he could get that gold chain Kiran was eyeing so lovingly a few days back at a jewellery store, Pia could have all the clothes she wanted to, Rano could finally join swimming lesson and he could even buy a Car, a second hand maybe, but still….as Nishikant sat staring at the cheque, he forgot that he had a disabled daughter lying in the OT. "Its all for the higher good…one sacrifice could be the good of so many…" As Nishikant clutched the cheque and Kiran watched in a disgusted, resigned silence, UW got up and said, "I hope the police will be managed…" Nishkant hastily put the cheque inside his shirt pocket and said, "Don't worry…Once Bani is conscious, we will explain everything to her…She is an intelligent girl…she will say that it was her mistake…" That was the last straw for Kiran, as she stormed out of the Office and Dr. Sharma giving a cold glance at both the men in front of him, walked away, shrugging his head.
Away from their sight, Aparajit stood near the window, having heard the entire conversation and whistling slowly under his breath, said to himself, "A small piece of information goes a long way…" Pallavi stood behind him, disgusted and upset, both with what she had unintentionally heard and with the deviousness of her boyfriend and giving one glare at Aprajit, stomped away in anger.
Jai met with his father in the hospital and on seeing him, crumbled into a sobbing heap as he threw himself across his Father's shoulder…"Papa…" UW gathered his beloved son close to him and said soothingly, "Hush…Its alright Jai…I have spoken to Shashank…the girl is going to live…It wasn't so serious after all…and I met the girl's parent's also, they don't hold you responsible…I have given them a generous compensation…I will take care of all the hospital bills and expenses also…you don't worry. Everything will be alright."
Jai looked up teary eyed at his Father and said, "Is she really alright? I thought the nurse said her leg…" UW cut short his son and said firmly, "Shashank has said that she needs to undergo some therapy in the US and she will be fit as before…I have given them 30 lakhs for the expenses…now come on, lets go home. You look as if you need hospitalization yourself."
As UW dragged a reluctant Jai away, he prayed to god to forgive him for the lie. UW was a man of principals, someone with a strong sense of justice…but Jai was his only son…and Uday loved him more than anything else in the world. He knew that Jai's sensitive nature would cause him to be mentally tortured over the girl's fate, if he had told him the truth. For looking at Nishikant, UW had at once guessed that greed would overcome any paternal obligation he felt and he knew that the only way to save Jai from self-destruction was to strike a deal with Nishikant. UW silenced the surge of guilt with a determined feeling that what he did was his duty as a parent, morality and justice be damned.
Try as he might, Jai could not get over what had happened that fatal night. He woke up with a start, as that innocent, blood stained face appeared in his dreams every night, haunting him, calling him…torturing his mind and soul. Jai had tried to visit the hospital but UW had arranged for his visit to be blocked by stating that the Parents of the girl had specifically requested for Jai not to see their daughter. As Jai returned disappointed from the Hospital reception, he realized with a start that he did not even know the name of the girl.
Jai went back home and started packing his clothes, he was to leave for the US in two days to join a Management College. His eyes fell on the blood stained shirt that was lying in a crumpled heap in his cupboard, as he took the shirt in his hands, he could imagine her again…Jai knew that she would never leave him alone…"I hope she is alright…Papa said she will be fine…" Jai only wished he could see her once, maybe he could go to the Hospital and just sneak upto her room.
The Receptionist smiled coquettishly at Jai and said in her sing song voice, "Oh, I am sorry, Mr. Walia…but the Accident case you are talking about…they checked out yesterday." Jai asked breathlessly, "Is that girl alright now?" The Receptionist had no idea and said, "I guess so, that is why she was discharged!" Jai asked if she had their forwarding address, but the young lady replied in negative. She had been specifically told to not give any information to Uday Walia's son on the accident case and she sure did not want to get into trouble. "But…you can surely tell me the name of that girl?" The Receptionist blinked back and said, "She is only addressed as Room 312…" Jai looked unbelievingly at the young lady and walked away disappointed…Maybe after all the Parents really did not want him to contact their daughter…maybe she herself did not want to see his wretched face…
Jai hugged his UW goodbye, as Tarun, Mohan and Gaurav stood behind, all somber faced. "Bye dad…Take care of your health and do be available on the phone. Hey guys, in between your partying and merrymaking, call on dad once in a while and yeah, do write to me."
The three young men grinned and proceeded to bear hug Jai. Later, as UW walked Jai towards the Terminal gate, he took his son's face in his hand and said lovingly, "I have great hopes from you Jai…Do well and take care of yourself…and yes, put the past behind you." Jai nodded his head and replied back, "If you ever get in touch with that girl…will you tell her, that I have never regretted anything more in my life, than to have crushed her so carelessly and that I am truly very sorry…and that I swear not to touch a drop of alcohol ever again. Tell her that the accident changed not only her life…but mine too."
UW smiled at his son, as his eyes filled up with tears, watching his son go through the departure terminal, as Mohan, Gaurav and Tarun waved from behind.
Will continue in Part II and conclude in Part III!
Cheers,
MT
PS: Since "The Outsider" is going to be finished in the next sitting, I started out on another FF (Yes, I am certified mad now!😆 The 'Divine Light' has finally blinded my senses!😆)
An idea that had been floating around…thought of writing it as a Short-story but somehow couldn't get it squeezed in one go. This one won't ramble around for too long though, will be wrapped off in 3 parts. I have already written the second part, but wanted to post the one to test the waters, as they say!
This is in a completely different vein from "The Outsider" and has a sensitive, emotional but still sexy as the devil Jai in it!😉 (You just can't tamper with the man's good looks, how many ever FF's one may write! A good looking JW is constant in all of them!😳)
Sorry for the extremely uninspiring title...just couldn't think of anything else that would fit suitably in the subject holder!😕
Just wanted to mention that I read a post about how many readers do not bother to write back their comments on their FF! I think differently. It makes me happy enough to write and post here, knowing that I have a place in the world where I can go and express my thoughts. Its great if people read it and reply back but its alright if they chose not to. Just like writing a FF is a personal choice, so is reading and commenting on it! (Strictly my POV!😳)
