Chapter 11
Disappointments and Misunderstandings- Final Stroke
It was almost 12.30 and she was really hungry, she thought of treating herself and paying the kind the people indirectly by buying their food would be perfect match, as she settled down in the restaurant... and started having her lunch... Feeling satiety she headed back to the car... She filled up the car with diesel and added the cycle on top of the car... She was indeed lucky that none of it was stolen in her absence ... she chuckled at the thought... It was almost 2.00 as she started her car and headed towards the Sipla and dropped the cycle... Man was glad she was fine and happy...
Kalpana was somehow feeling strong pain in her back and leg ... but she ignored it with the aim of driving as fast as she could. It was for sure not possible for her to reach the place by targeted time, but she would travel as fast as she can and get there... It was only in the mid journey had she received the call from ... She went to her purse and seeing the name "Dada" on the screen, her happiness knew no bound, she took her car to side and halted as she received the call happily, "Dada!!! I hope you have packed your bags and are all set for your visit to see baba soon...!!" she exclaimed happily... But next sentence from the phone wiped off any happiness she had felt just 2 minutes back on seeing his call... and tears formed in her eyes feeling of hurt took over... "How can You Dada??" she questioned as some of water droplets rolled down... "Dada, he is your father too... And he is craving to meet you...!!! I am feeling disgusted to tell you ... You are most selfish person I have ever seen..!!" she screamed crying... "Yes, dada, only you and bhabhi has some work, we all people here are jobless and have nothing else to worry about... Wish just sending money would always be enough..." she objected at any reasons she was thrown with... "Do you realize it's been 6 years... 6 hell years since you have met them... and virtually as well you have just been around once in a week...!!"... she paused... "But you know what dada!!! All the best, I can never imagine, if Kittu ever does that to you... When he grows up and leaves for good for his own self-centric reasons, you won't be able to survive... cuz... you have no daughters to take up your burden..!!! Nor would bhabhi be able to do anything... You might be all alone... But don't worry, he will be richer than you to send you money almost every week... but busier to not even meet you virtually..." She finished... cutting the call... and cursing herself for blurting out bitter prayers for his own brother... She leaned her head down on the steering as she let herself cry... and cry enough to break down... For few minutes, "No Kalpana... You have to be strong and up..!! for no one but your baba, now he will need you and has only you...!! His own hopes will be broken... Soon...!!!" Kalpana thought as she restarted her car... Giving pause to the time running out of her hand...
On the other hand... Raghav's meeting got delayed, from 3.00 to 3.30 and he was expecting Kalpana to be there already... With already delayed meeting and her not reaching there, made his pulse raise out of control as the range in him started building with delay in every minute, his mind as diverted with ring on phone, flashing the name Sapna... Sapna was assistant manager ... that is assistant to the person who was at highest post below him in his New York Branch...
Sapna: "Sir, I would like to take a leave... for three weeks...!" Came the request from other side...
Raghav: "And we had discussed this earlier too... That You are not granted any leave for any so called family problems!" went the reply with equal urgency...
Sapna: "Then I would like to quit the job, I have to leave for India day after tomorrow, as my father-in-law is unwell, and I cannot back off from my part at this point..!!!" came the stern reply shocking Raghav...
Raghav: (got up angrily from his seat...): "So if that is your final decision, what is the point for even calling, REMEMBER once you leave it you will never be welcomed back!!"
Sapna: "Sure sir, thank you... it was pleasant working with Singhaniyas..." Came the quick reply.
Raghav: "And you need to serve your notice period..."
Sapna: "I cannot help it sir, I cannot be available from tomorrow... till 2 months as planned earlier, but I guess ... maybe for good now...!!"
Raghav: "You won't be provided letter of appreciations Mrs. Jadhav... Just think and decide... Just one letter of experience..."
Sapna: "That would be enough sir, Thank You..."
"Beep Beep Beep beep"
She had cut the call... "How dare these employees...!!! We have done so much for them, and how do they behave in return..." Raghav thought angrily... So what if she had asked for leaves and breaks for so many times and has been asking, she should have realized the position at which she is working has huge responsibilities... He said, banging his hand on the table...!!
It was almost 4.30 and there was no sign of Kalpana added to his frustration, and that's exactly when he saw the taxi entering the premise of the head office... "So this was your own way of revenging?" he lashed out, moment Kalpana stepped down from her car... Shocking her totally... Already hurt by her brother's behaviour and guilty about cursing him and bitter prayers, was not enough to be added with another blame... She looked on at him, as he continued, "Yes, so now you have planned to delay my reach to hotel so I cannot attend my video conference on time...? Am I right Ms. Jadhav??" he spoke... As Kalpana just continued hearing his resentful accusations, holding back all the remorse she had carried along all day... As Raghav continued his outrage, "You all Jadhavs are filled with the same cheap mentality, of disloyalty and ungratefulness," he shouted more...!!! As Kalpana's heart just sank in more to bear more and more of these hurtful words to build a shield around herself... And make herself stronger... After completely draining out his anger for delay in meeting, Sapna's resignation and delay in her arrival, he looked at her, as she looked back at him, both of them throwing daggers... "Ok, can we settle down now or you have more to say?" Kalpana asked... Raghav angrily got back in the seat behind the driver's seat... As Kalpana started her car, "We need to first halt at Vasai," Raghav ordered, "and then continue to hotel..." Saying so he wrote down the address on piece of paper and threw it in front to her...
She looked at it fallen, and stopped the car to pick it up and read... "Ok sir" was the only reply she gave.
Raghav looked at her angrily... as he closed his eyes and kept his head to relax in upper position resting on the seat... It was after some time when his anger had cooled down, and he looked around to find himself still travelling, "Where have we reached?" he asked holding his head down which was really heavy. "Virar," came the cold reply from driver... Raghav looked at her, "And how much more time will we be taking to reach the place?" Kalpana's eyes still focused on the road, "30 minutes for your relative's place and Three and Half hours for hotel!" came again the reply from Kalpana... Her word to word talk and short replies was not something going well with Raghav, but he decided to ignore it, as she would be back to her normal mode soon. After dropping the parcel, Raghav settled back in the car in front seat next to Kalpana... Who was now completely focused on driving... With no other expression on her face... Raghav looked at other side, i.e. outside the window.
Almost 2 hours had passed by, and they would be near hotel soon... It was almost 8.45, and she hadn't spoken a word... making Raghav completely restless, just to break the ice he wanted to say something, that something was "I need a break, halt it at best place around..." Silence was he got except for a nod from her. Kalpana drove in near best restaurant, completely posh and expensive place, "Ohhh Nice..." Raghav said, "Finally something good and healthy to eat..." he said... in a tone of taunt... But still her expressions were plastered same ... "EXPRESSIONLESS" ... Raghav got down and looked back at her... She just pulled back her driver seat in resting position... And he headed inside to restaurant... He was sitting there waiting for his order while his inner side was still unsatisfied... On the other hand, Kalpana's phone rang, she saw screen and cuts the call, as fresh tears of dull reality rolled down... It rings again... and she ignores, then she sees messenger messages, she takes the phone and puts her net pack off... Few minutes later messages are being received, she finally switches off the phone and puts her head down crying her out... She sobs, till no end... She is hurt, she is upset, but she is for first time, helpless, she wants to run to arms of her loved ones... As soon as possible... She cannot take it... But she wipes off her tears again, "Just few more hours Kalpana, you will reach home to your Aai-Baba..." She told herself... and consoled herself... Raghav came back, feeling heavy, he settled down in the car and looked at Kalpana, she appeared different, in whatever light was available he had easily made out, her eyes were red and puffed, she seemed to have cried, but this time he didn't have that courage to even ask her for reasons, all he felt he could do is sit there silently... Sooner he played the song in front radio with the thought of helping things go smoother, but that as well failed miserably, as Kalpana had no intention of speaking even a word or giving him any cue... Raghav had no intention of apologizing her considering it was STILL her fault to be late, that too by 2 hours, and decided to just dozz off, till things are fine...
Soon they had reached the place, and Kalpana halted the taxi, "Sir we are here," is all she said facing straight, waking Raghav up... Raghav collected his stuff and got down from the car, and stood there still, as Kalpana without even looking at him drove off... Leaving him stand there like statue...!! Left him wondering her behaviour towards him? "Chuck, just two days, day after tomorrow, we finally move back..." He thought trying to ignore her behaviour... But it was difficult... For him to forget her now... As he recalled events of the whole trip... In car, walking around, getting into bullock cart and then boat ride, them sleeping in the truck hugging each other, a smile appeared on his face, as he turned back to leave... But disappears soon, as he remembers her behaviour while returning.
He enters his room, only to be greeted by Sammy, who informed that meeting went great, and Raghav gave a small "Formality" smile... A smile with no real happiness, as his mind was just lingering elsewhere...
Precap:
Prem: What happened to your leg Kalpi?
Kalpi: (Smiles) Nothing Much prem, just some injury from peddling cycle...
Raghav comes from behind trying to talk to Kalpana, but only to be ignored by her with extremely formal and point to point talks, disappointing him.