Part 30
"What are you doing inside the room? Where is your colleague?"
'''''''...
"So it is you."
"Mayank."
"Mayank please. I am ..so sorry I didn't let you in the loop...I know it's a big mistake...I am so sorry Mayank." I broke into tears.
"You knew it. It was always you. That day in the park..."Your job ...'problem"...OH my gosh...all now makes sense to me."
I tried once again through my sobs."Please understand Mayank...it was never my intention to hurt you...I can never do that."
"No I am not hurt. You'd been carrying so much with you all this while. Can't still believe it! My poor baby...come here...you badly need a hug."
The guilty knot throbbing loud inside my chest subsided as the weight lifted off my heart.
"Mayank..." I flung myself into his arms to be engulfed in his warm tight embrace relieving me of all my pains. I silently let my tears fall as gently comforted me with the back of his hand.
"It's alright now. Everything is fine Nupur."
"Mayank.."
"I know you love my name a lot but I wouldn't mind if sometimes you'd choose to speak some other words."
"Mayank!" I playfully punched him still intact in his arms refusing to let go off the relief that has enveloped me after so long.
"Easy kung-fu girl! It's really commendable Nupur that you carried through all this on your own. But still I wished you'd have thought me capable to share your problems."
"Mayank it was you who'd been guiding me all along. I knew you'd never allow knowing it's me but when you thought it's my colleague...you wished her to be brave and face that bas***d and I found inspiration in that and tried doing the same."
"You can't blame me for being possessive for you. I really wonder why you didn't directly tell me though."
"You were not there at first when I needed you the most. I was unsure of myself if trusting you was the right thing."
His firm fingers slipped into the shivering cold digitations of my wrist clenching my hand tightly." Never let unsurity cloud your instinct."
"I'll always remember that. I told the Morgan fiasco to Liu. She was a copy of you. Be the 'brave-girl mode'."
"Oh so she was the only one who knew before me."
"She's my batch mate at the hospital. I had to fill in with her. Next I told Dia & Aman."
"Wait. So everybody knew about this except me?"
"Mayank I told you. I had some major trust issues."
"Last night in the inn when we got so intimately close you didn't seem to have any trust issues after that. Everyone freaking knew you were going to serve yourself as bait except me!"
"As far as I know you, you wouldn't have let me do this if I had already told you."
"You are absolutely right. Even you can't deny that I am right. If I hadn't reached here in the nick of time, god forbids anything could have happened with you."
"But nothing happened! You were here for me."
"That's not the issue. You told that dick Aman before me. Right?"
"Mayank , Aman is my friend just like Dia is."
"Yes or No?"
"Yes."
"Now I am hurt."
"Mayank. Mayank please don't leave like this. I am so sorry for hurting you. Trust me it was unintentional."
"Looks like the trust issues have cropped up again. Good bye Nupur."
"Mayank!!"
...
The neon billboard flashed 'THE GRILL' in twinkling bright red light. The bouncer outside eyed me suspiciously as I stepped hesitantly inside. THE GRILL was infamous as one of the raunchiest clubs in town. Liu had sighted Mayank going inside. I needed to find him to sort out the issue before it could escalate and become intangible to be sorted.
"WOOT-Woot...!!" Some guys were hooting and whistling at me. Ignoring them I strained my eyes around for him.
He was at the bar in a red leather jacket gulping down his drink.
"Mayank! Over here!," I waved at him.
His hazel eyes turned in my direction and went back coldly to his drink. I ran towards him.
"Hey...Umm...How are you doing?...We need to talk."
"Do I even know you?"
"You are drunk."
"No I am not. Well..yes...m just a little drunk. A tiny bit only."
"There are nine empty glasses before you and obviously you are but a tiny drunk."
"Such an analytical mind. Impressive."
"Thank you Mr."
"But with a stony heart. So sad."
"Mayank I am really sorry for that."
"Every time you do something you say sorry. Sorry seems the legal license for a person to break someone's heart and simply get away with it."
"How else am I supposed to show that I regret not trusting you enough?"
"Just tell me why you told that Loony over me Missy."
"Aman...well I know him from long before...we are high school friends after all...It's not that his view mattered to me more than yours. I already knew what his reaction to this matter would be. I was sure he wouldn't stop me from facing Morgan."
"Well you are wasting your time here. Go back to him again and get his precious advice."
"Jealously doesn't suit you."
"Who the hell cares?..#..It's a beautiful life...m having my while...#... One more drink waiter!"
"Drinking doesn't help you solve the situation. Talking does."
"You wanna talk now after you'd blabber everything to that dick?"
"Don't you trust me?"
"I should be the one asking you that question."
"I do now Mayank."
"Guess I stopped trusting now."
"You aren't drinking anymore." I snatched the drink from his hand.
"Na..Na...no one bosses me around."
"I am helping you."
"Help yourself then, Nupur." He snatched the wine glass back hurting my fingers in the process."
"Ouch!"
"Don't manhandle her!"
"Ah..Aman. We were missing you so badly. Atleast one of us for sure. Right Nupur?"
"Stop it Mayank. Hey Aman. How come you'r here?"
"Liu told me about today ...whatever happened in the hotel. Dropped in to check on you."
"I am alright I guess."
"Even he doesn't think I can keep you safe. Major trust issues with everyone...CHOP-CHOP!"
"Just because she likes you don't forget I can't rip you off if you dare roughen her like that."
"I am scared for my life. Hasta la Vista baby."
"Aman! I can handle this. He just isn't in his right state of mind now."
"Your fingers are bleeding dammit! He better watch it!"
"It's just a tiny cut..."
"Or else I'll beat the pulp outta him...snap his neck...punch him out,,,blahh..blahh..blahhh...get one thing straight Mr. Wannabe. Stay out of others business."
"Don't forget I am her friend first."
"And it'll be way better for you if you'll always remember that she chose me over you!"
"Guys I am leaving. I'll be back when you both start acting your age."
"You are NOT going anywhere Nupur." He held me by my arm.
"It's hurting Mayank. Let go off me."
"You are not leaving me now." His fingers dug hard unto my skin. His hazel eyes where shining more than ever before. They were moist. His teary eyes stopped my heart for a moment. Something was majorly wrong.
"AAarrrghhh..."He fell down as Aman punched him in the face." Can't you hear the girl when she said let go??"
"Aman DON'T!!"
The moisture faded away as his eyes turned ruthless with anger. He jumped back to his feet at once. Stopping his body from swaying he steadied himself and wiped his nose-bleed. "You'll regret this."
He smashed the wine-glass on Aman's head. Both were now engrossed in a full blown fight ready to kill each other in their fury.
I jumped between them to stop them."Are you guys gone crazy?" I shouted at the top of my voice." STOP THIS FIGHT. " I stared intently at them.
"Apologize to each other. You both are acting so dumb and silly today that I feel ashamed to be associated with you. I didn't expect this from atleast you Aman. You aren't drunk like Mayank tonight."
"Nupur...I am..."
"Mayank what should I say to you? Look how Aman is bleeding from his head.. how can you smash that glass on him just like that??...Maybe I should stop expecting anything from you."
"Now say sorry to each other. NOW."
"Look I am sorry. Relax dude. We both got carried away...Is it ok , Nupur?"
"Sure is it Aman. Your turn now Mayank."
"Mayank."
"Get the hell lost you guys."
...
#...main tenu samjhawan ki
na tere baju lagda jee
tu ki jaanay pyar mera
main karaan intezar tera !
tu dil tuhi oo jan meri
main tenu samjhawan ki
na tere baju lagda ...#
"Hello Dr. Nupur Saxena here."
"It's me Alicia. I have something important to talk to you."
"Alicia. Do know you?"
"No. But I do know you. Alicia. Alisha Sharma."
My jaw dropped.
"I am Mayank Sharma's sister."
Udne Ki Aasha
272