Part 4
Rey stare at her, he could not take in what she was saying.
"Marry Shivam? How can you do this?"
"He wants to marry me, but we will have to wait until I'm out of mourning."
"How can you do this to me?" he asked.
"I'm sorry Rey but you have to understand."
"What I need to understand."
She hesitate.Then he knew the answer.
"You mean because Shivam would inherit 51% of stake holder."
But she didn't reply.
He felt as if his head was spinning.Then as he realised that they had reached Taani house, he knew she had timed her revelation very cleverly.A min later the door open and she went inside the house.He came out of the car, took the keys from the driver & drove towards the club.When he came inside the club, he was sure that he was shaking with anger.
He had loved her & he had believed in her protestation of love.By the time he reached the club & drank an inordinate amount of tequila.That's when Swayam had found him.
"Listen Rey" he said."I have a suggestion & I want you to consider it seriously."
"The most sensible thing I can do is to jump into Thames!"he replied."I'm not likely to drown because I'm a strong swimmer, but I may die of the cold!"
"I have a better suggestion"
"What is it?"
"You come with me to Africa"
"Africa?"
There was a note of surprise in the question which made Swayam think that he was at least curious.
"I'm going there to find material for my next book." he said."I'm going to explore parts of desert & Morocco.We might have some game-hunting too.We could also lose ourselves in a sandstrom or be killed by some hostile tribe!"
"That would solve my problem, at any rate!" Rey remarked.
"I agree it would save a lot of trouble & would be interesting & unusual way to die."
There was silent.Then Swayam said:
"Come with me I know you would not regret it, & at least you will not have to sit here crying over Taani & wondering what she is doing with Shivam."
He paused before he added:
"You are much likely to be feeding off reptiles or other dangerous animals, thinking of how draugty & uncomfortable it is in a tent which is likely to blow away any moment!"
"You certainly make it sound unattractive"
"I can't promise you a feather-bed or the exotic pleasure of east." Swayam said."But it will gave you something to fight for & I think that is what you need at this particular moment."
There was silent.
Then Rey said:
"Alright if you want me, I will come with you.But you do all the arrangement, while I become disgustedly & I hope obliviouly, drunk!"
-------Flashback Ends-------
Rey thought how can he be so stupid as to love a woman who rejected him for money.
And yet after 1 year, the letter made him disturb something within him that he thought he had forgotten.
But why the hell had she written him now?
For a moment the words on the letter seemed to dance infornt of Rey's eyes.
Then he read:
Dearest, Most Beloved Rey,
How could you have gone away so cruelly without telling me where you were going? I couldn't believe it when I learnt you have left Vancouver.
I knew then how foolish I was & that I had been swept away by a sort of madness which I can't explain, but which had made me temporarily insane!
Now I have time to think over I know there is only one man in my life & that is You!
I love you, & I can only beg you on my knees if necessary, to forgive me.
I can't believe that I have really lost something so precious, so marvellous, as your love.My only excuse for not appreciating it was that I had never know anybody like you before.
Your uncle tells me you are somewhere in Africa & he has no address, so I can therefore only send this letter to Paris where I have learn you will stay first when you return.
When you read it, darling, forget my stupidity & think only of how happy we were before we went to Singhani mansion, & let me once again creep into your heart.
Forgive me & let us know the bliss we both felt when you first kiss me.
I love you! I love you!
Your very penitent & humble
Taani
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