Interlude 9: Return to the Roots A/N: Hey there everyone! :D :D Here is the next update! :D :D
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"Wow... that was intense."
The diary nearly flew out of Ranveer's hand in shock. He turned to stare at Finch angrily, the latter raising his hands in surrender.
"Didn't your mother ever tell you that reading someone's diary was a very bad habit?" shot back Ranveer in question, disgruntled. Finch shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly.
"Eh... she must have," replied Finch, looking disinterested. Ranveer shook his head, annoyed, before asking curiously.
"From how long have you been reading?"
"From the time you got paralyzed," replied Finch awkwardly.
"Ah... well, so you now that story in detail now," stated Ranveer, looking faintly amused.
"God, that was... scary. You've always been like that now, haven't you? Reckless about your own safety for the people you love," commented Finch, and Ranveer looked at him dead in the eyes.
"Well, those five months were no cherry I admit," he said finally, pinching the bridge of his nose now. His temples had begun to ache because of the lack of sleep.
"How long did it take to lose the limp?"
"A year and seven months, to be exact. If you take the whole thing, it took me two years to be completely recovered from the accident," replied Ranveer, his tone now monotonous.
"Is that why you are so much into obsessive running?" asked Finch, his tone now serious yet understanding. Ranveer nodded his head in response, the headache intensifying. He had been an obsessive runner for fifteen years now, and more often than not it had helped him shelve his emotions to a certain extent.
"What went wrong, Ranveer? I mean you and Ishaani... The two of you sound so madly in love with each other... Then how-?"
"I was. She wasn't," whispered Ranveer, his voice now bitter.
"Don't kid yourself, your own words portray the depth," remarked Finch, now irritated. He couldn't understand why Ranveer had such an issue with accepting what was so evident for everyone to see.
"I was a fool... I mistook her emotions and forgot that at the end of it all, I was only ever a-"
"Don't start with me. I've had enough of that nonsense," cut in Finch, now angry. Ranveer shook his head with a rueful smile upon his face, resting his head upon his seat. He stared outside the window, the first pinpricks of the lights of Mumbai marking its own map into the night sky.
"Ladies and gentlemen, as we start our descent, please make sure your seat backs and tray tables are in their full upright position. Make sure your seat belt is securely fastened and all carry-on luggage is stowed underneath the seat in front of you or in the overhead bins. Thank you."
"Oh great, we've nearly arrived," muttered Finch, now sounding relieved. The awkward silence was broken once again by the airhostess.
"Flight attendants, prepare for landing please. Cabin crew, please take your seats for landing. Ladies and gentlemen, we have just been cleared to land at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. Please make sure one last time your seat belt is securely fastened. The flight attendants are currently passing around the cabin to make a final compliance check and pick up any remaining cups and glasses. Thank you."
Twenty minutes later, the flight landed softly upon the Runway 1 of the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. Local time is seven-fifteen in the evening and the temperature is a pleasant 23C. For your safety and comfort, please remain seated with your seat belt fastened until the Captain turns off the 'Fasten Seat Belt' sign. This will indicate that we have parked at the gate and that it is safe for you to move about. Cell phones may only be used once the Fasten Seat Belt sign has been turned off."
"Well, this is it," said Ranveer shakily, his face now nostalgic.
"Please check around your seat for any personal belongings you may have brought on board with you and please use caution when opening the overhead bins, as heavy articles may have shifted around during the flight. If you require deplaning assistance, please remain in your seat until all other passengers have deplaned. One of our crew members will then be pleased to assist you. On behalf of Singapore Airlines and the entire crew, I'd like to thank you for joining us on this trip and we are looking forward to seeing you on board again in the near future. Have a nice stay!"
Walking into the Terminal 2 of the prestigious airport, Ranveer looked around in surprise. Six years had indeed been a long time, and nothing was the same anymore. Finch looked around at the airport impressively, a low whistle escaping his lips.
"Wow, this is one beauty," said Finch, looking about the airport's rich and exquisite architecture, pleased. Ranveer nodded his head in agreement as they quickly made their way towards the immigration counter, managing to get ahead quickly before a long line formed behind them.
"Wait till we get outside. If you feel overwhelmed, it's alright. Indians do tend to get overwhelming," warned Ranveer, now chuckling softly. Finch didn't look like he believed him but he chose not to say anything. Passing through the immigration, they eyed the duty free shop before walking briskly towards the baggage belt.
"So, where are we headed to now?" asked Finch, remembering that they were now supposed to head for Ranveer's native town.
"Borivali. We'll need to take the Shatabdi Express from there to Surat. You might want to walk a little fast because we might very well be just in time for it," replied Ranveer as they picked up their suitcases and headed for the gate now, looking at his watch intently. 7:35PM.
"I thought you said we are going to your native place," replied Finch immediately, now looking confused.
"My parents shifted from our village to Surat once they quit working at the Parekh Mansion. So, Surat is my second home city now," answered Ranveer, giving him a small smile. Finch nodded his head as he understood now how Ranveer's father managed to outsource so many contacts in Surat.
"Now it all makes sense," whispered Finch to himself as they finally walked outside the airport, the animated masses of Mumbai meeting their eyes instantly.
Ranveer and Finch sat in the first class coach of the express - the former looked amused, the latter slightly uncomfortable. The two of them were swarmed by Mumbai's overwhelming traffic the moment they had stepped outside the airport, Mumbai's warm, humid air welcoming them to the Land of Opportunities. From there, it had been a taxi to Borivali, the taxi barely managing to make its way through the peak-hour traffic of the city where commuters now headed home after a long day's work.
They managed to reach the station at exactly twenty past eight and had lost hopes of catching the train that was supposed to leave ten minutes ago. However, to their utmost relief, the train was twenty minutes late. The two of them made their way to the coach amidst a suffocating crowd, hawkers yelling at the top of their voices to buy merchandises from them at the platforms.
Ranveer dragged Finch through the entire mass, their grips strong upon their suitcases as the former's natural instinct from navigating through the place several times from many years ago came to his defense. Successfully getting aboard the cool coach, the two of them took their respective seats opposite each other by the window.
"Is it just today, or are things over here always like this?" asked Finch, slightly breathless. He was still staring at the excited occupants of the train in complete amazement.
"I did say it was overwhelming," said Ranveer, giving Finch an 'I-told-you-so' look.
"I take you for your word. It's quite a lively place, rather curious," remarked Finch as he heard a couple beside them gossiping in a language that he didn't understand. Quite a lot of attention was attracted to him since he was the only foreigner on the train, and the attention seemed to amuse him all-the-more. Ranveer observed Finch's expression closely, giving him an exhausted smile.
"It's your first time, no?"
"Yeah, it is. How long do you think it'll take to reach?" asked Finch, now trying to stifle a yawn.
"Three and a half hours approximately," replied Ranveer, now massaging his temples once again.
"That's past midnight till we reach at your place. Do you even know anything about where your parents live? You haven't been over here in six and a half years," asked Finch, now looking slightly unsure.
"Yes, I do remember," assured Ranveer, sighing. "Relax. Have a nap," he added. However, his voice was suddenly slurred, the change in tone catching Finch's attention.
Ranveer's eyes shut in tiredness as he sighed again slowly, his head now drooping. Finch caught hold of his shoulders just as Ranveer's head was about to hit the glass on the window, snapping the latter out from his spell of darkness. Finch now looked irked.
"Vaghela, you're the one who needs to sleep. Since how long are you awake now?" asked Finch, looking visibly livid.
"Thirt... thirty-six hours," replied Ranveer slowly, his fingers counting off the hours lethargically. "I'm alright," added Ranveer lamely and Finch scoffed.
"How does your brain even function?" asked Finch, his tone displeased at his friend's carelessness. Ranveer cocked an eyebrow at him, zoning out for a few minutes before snapping out from the reverie. He gave his now-exasperated friend a reassuring nod.
"Well, thanks for the compliment," replied Ranveer softly, while Finch shook his head at him in evident disappointment.
As the train began to move, Finch looked at Ranveer staring out from the window with a tired yet faint smile upon his face. He could not remember when he'd last seen his friend smile in those many years.
"Some things never change now, do they?" asked Finch, his voice laced with an undercurrent of reasonability. Ranveer caught on to the implied meaning of his sentence as he turned his attention away from the rapidly moving platform, his face now impassive.
"Some things never remain the same either now, do they?" shot back Ranveer as their eyes met, a cold smile upon his face.
Ranveer knocked upon the door tiredly, Finch behind him trying to stifle a yawn. The lights in the living room went on after a few minutes as the door opened suddenly, revealing a balding man with spectacles, a rolling pin in his hand. He looked astounded at the sight of the two men in front him before a woman came to stand beside him, her look of bewilderment quickly changing into one of shock.
"Surprise," said Finch awkwardly as Ranveer stared at his parents, looking slightly flushed.
Now that he had overcome his initial shock, Kailash's features softened into a broad smile. However, Amba remained blank faced, her bun half opened while her eyes looked sleepy. Before anyone could say anything further, Amba pulled Finch ahead and gave him a hug, who looked momentarily surprised but let her hug him nonetheless.
"It's good to see you, Gregory," said Amba softly once they separated, Finch blushing slightly at the use of his first name.
"It's good to see you too, Mrs. Vaghela," replied Finch graciously, Amba smiling at him with love. In the background, Ranveer 'tcched' irritably, catching everyone's attention. Amba looked at him curiously.
"Who's your friend over here?" asked Amba, cocking her eyebrow in Ranveer's direction while Kailash looked bemused. Ranveer, in turn, rolled his eyes at his mother while Finch smirked.
"He's RV, one of the world's leading business tycoon. Very popular bloke in Sydney. Recently crowned as Australia's leading diamond tycoon as well. But I'm afraid he's very boring and a nut-case too," replied Finch with mock sincerity, while Amba laughed. Ranveer grit his teeth and spoke in protest.
"Maa..."
Amba turned to look at him in feigned surprise.
"Well then, Mr. RV. I'm Amba Vaghela," she said as she put forward her hand in a handshake. Ranveer now looked thoroughly disgruntled.
"Maa, stop being so dramatic," he retorted, his tone vexed.
"I'm only being honest," replied Amba sincerely, while Kailash shook his head. "Your secretary wanted me to leave a name the last time I called," she explained, understanding now dawning upon Ranveer.
"Wait... that was you? You were the mystery caller?" stuttered Ranveer, taken completely off-guard. Amba shrugged her shoulders in response.
"I didn't think that I needed to leave a name for my son when I was calling him," she replied earnestly, while Ranveer now shot her a guilty look. He hadn't spoken to his parents for three months now.
"I was on a no-phone protocol that day and David-" explained Ranveer but Amba cut through his speech.
"Yes, he explained the scenario to me, thank you very much," she replied, her tone slightly edgy. Ranveer sighed, knowing that there was no way out now.
"I'm sorry, Maa," he said finally, while Amba smiled at him. "Is there any way that I can make it up to you?" asked Ranveer further, while Finch and Kailash both looked at the mother and son curiously.
"You could sleep upon the terrace tonight," suggested Amba playfully.
"Maa!" protested Ranveer while Finch laughed uproariously. Ranveer shot him a dark look, but Finch missed the cue.
"You may be RV to the world, but to us you are our son first," spoke Amba intelligibly. Ranveer gave her a soft smile now.
"Well, then a hug would be more appropriate in that case, don't you think?"
Amba scrutinized him carefully before pulling her son into her arms, a warm smile upon her face. Ranveer sighed drowsily into her arms as he took in her scent, something that he always loved doing since he was a child. He separated to give his father a hug, who had the same never-wavering smile upon his aging features and took his son into his embrace lovingly.
Finch smiled softly at the family's reunion. It wasn't too much time since the last reunion happened four months ago. Amba and Kailash visited him in Australia twice a year for a month. It was only Ranveer who refused to come to India.
Separating from the hug, Amba and Kailash smiled at Finch, the four of them finally entering the house. The helper took away their suitcases and settled it into the rooms as Finch and Ranveer looked around the place in interest. The house was a lavish one-storey structure with three rooms and a back garden - not too small, not too humongous. Just perfect.
Quickly sending Ranveer and Finch to the dining room in spite of their protests, Amba made the two of them have a late dinner, both of them yawning their way through it even though they were both consciously aware of one fact.
This is what home was supposed to feel like.
At two in the morning, Ranveer and Kailash sat at the coffee table in the former's room. The two of them sipping on their respective glasses of country liquor, two short and stout bottles devoid of their contents standing upon the window sill in vain. Ranveer smacked his lips in appreciation as he turned to look at his father fondly.
"I'd almost forgotten how country liquor felt like."
"You feed me all the scotch you have, Ranveer, yet I'm never going to find a replacement for this little fellow," replied Kailash, looking at his glass lovingly.
"I thought you'd stopped drinking," remarked Ranveer a little pointedly to his father, while the latter smiled at him abashedly before chuckling. They were both intoxicated.
"Well, the occasional drink doesn't hurt now, does it?" he replied and Ranveer shrugged his shoulder. "So, what are you doing here?" asked his father suddenly just as Ranveer turned to look at him fill sleep-loaded eyes.
"What do you mean?" asked Ranveer groggily, his eyes half-closed.
"You haven't been here in six years. What made you change your mind?" asked Kailash, draining the remaining content of his glass in one go.
"I'm here on business," whispered back Ranveer, his voice barely audible. "It's a very profitable brokerage company, and if we get it, it'll be a huge plus for us."
"How many days will you be here for?" asked Kailash, looking at Ranveer curiously.
"Three days. Then Finch and I will leave for Mumbai. The deal is going to take place over there. Finch decided to join me because he recently caught up with one of his friends from back in Oxford and he lives in Mumbai too. So I didn't mind him accompanying me over here. I wasn't originally supposed to come here... but I don't know, I just felt like it. So I thought of surprising you," replied Ranveer, now feeling fatigued.
"How'd you like the house?" asked Kailash once again as he stared at the moon shining brightly at the sky, his heart filled with the joy of spending some quality time with his son.
"It is home," replied Ranveer and Kailash chuckled in understanding,
"Is it for you? Home is where the heart is. Your heart isn't here," remarked Kailash sagely, while Ranveer looked at him languidly.
"Baba..."
"What is it, Ranveer? What's wrong?" asked Kailash softly as he stroked Ranveer's head.
"Nothing, really. I'm fine," replied Ranveer unconvincingly as he took another sip from his glass, shutting his eyes as the liquor made fiery contact with his throat.
"Had Ishaani been here, she could manage to coerce an answer out from you," commented Kailash, and it had its desired effect.
"But she's not here now, is she?" retorted Ranveer at once, his voice now aloof.
"No, she isn't... but we did meet her a few months ago," said Kailash softly, and that captured Ranveer's attention completely.
"Where?" asked Ranveer sharply, his fogged senses suddenly razor-clear.
"She'd come for a diamond conference over here a few months back," said Kailash as Ranveer listened quietly. "They had their dinner party in the same restaurant Amba and I had gone to dine in. The moment she saw us, she left her associates and came to greet us. She touched our feet," said Kailash proudly.
Ranveer arched his eyebrow at him.
"She hasn't changed at all in so many years. Ofcourse she's an independent and self-made woman now, handling such a big company single-handedly since Maalik passed away. Word has it that the Parekh Empire is one of the most reputed and prestigious companies in India, and the best in Mumbai. I always knew that girl would become something good in life. It's a shame that we haven't been able to keep in touch with her once she got married."
Ranveer chose to give no comment.
"She asked for you too, you know," mumbled Kailash, now yawning softly.
"What did you tell her?" asked Ranveer, his voice now slightly unsteady.
"That you were doing well and were well-settled in Sydney. We barely had two minutes to talk before she had to leave us, which was understandable. Amba and I were both happy to see her," he said happily.
"Maa?" asked Ranveer in surprise.
"Oh yes. Obviously we knew that you were heartbroken when she got engaged to Chirag and your mother was upset about your heartbreak, but then again she never had any issue with Ishaani," replied Kailash reasonably.
Ranveer shut his eyes. If only his parents had known what had truly transpired between them and why they hadn't spoken to each other since that fateful night... Ranveer took another swig from the glass, draining it in one go.
"I'll leave you to sleep now. You've had a long day and you must be having a jetlag as well," spoke Kailash, snapping Ranveer out from his thoughts.
Ranveer's head hurt badly now and he pinched the bridge of his nose as he felt his vision swim. Kailash looked at Ranveer worriedly, catching him by the arm and making him sit upon the bed just as he was about to collapse upon the floor. Ranveer opened his eyes and looked about the room, disoriented for a while, before his eyes landed back upon his father once again.
"How did I get on the bed?" asked Ranveer, looking confused.
"I made you sit down," replied Kailash sternly. He knew that this was what happened every time Ranveer went through an insomnia episode. "You need to sleep. You're losing focus now. Finch tells me that it's been above forty hours since you last slept. And that's enough you've had for tonight," reprimanded Kailash as he made the take the glass away from his hand. Ranveer held on to it.
"Let me... let me finish this," begged Ranveer groggily.
"Ranveer-"
"Please. Just one last glass. I'll go off to sleep, I promise," pressed Ranveer stubbornly.
Kailash looked at Ranveer and sighed despondently. Switching off the lights in the room, he bid Ranveer goodnight before he shut the door behind him without another word. Ranveer gulped down half of the glass in one go, his hands now shaking slightly. Forty hours was indeed a long time to stay awake. Apart from the six month treatment for his chronic insomnia where he would manage to stay up constantly for three days straight without any sleep, he managed to get a minimum of two to four hours' worth of sleep most of the days, sometimes maybe after not sleeping for a day at a stretch.
He shut his eyes as his father's words regarding Ishaani not changing rang in his ears. How innocently his father had said something that he knew nothing about. Everything had changed in one night, and neither of them could remain the same after it. Gone were the days when they protected each other from the world's cruel hands waiting to drag them into a ruthless world. She was the cruel hand that had thrown him into that world.
He suddenly felt sick as the first half of the twisted memory from their inglorious farewell crossed his mind, his grip upon the glass suddenly strong.
Constructive criticism will be more than welcome and sorry for any typos. :D :D
Next chapter:
Interlude 10
Edited by LadyMeringue - 8 years ago
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