8

The wet, desolate streets of Ahemdabad rested in silence as the plane crescent moon shone like a silvery claw in the night sky. The water from the rain collected in the potholes shimmered by the glow of the bright, yellow street lamps and the small, green trees on the roadside swayed as the strong breeze hit them. Amidst this lifeless silence, were seen two strong built tall men pedalling their way across the street laughing and talking with each other on the way.

Anuj had asked Vikram to stay at his place on Sunday night to help him with the extra work that had arisen due to the shifting of head office from New York to Ahemdabad and Vikram had happily agreed owing to Rittika being out of town for a couple of days.

It was four in the morning and both Anuj and Vikram were overworked and tired. Wanting to get some fresh air, both decided to go cycling before getting started with their day.

As they ventured into a familiar street, Anuj stopped in his tracks while Vikram pedalled a few metres ahead of him.

Seeing Anuj not by his side, Vikram paused and looked back to find Anuj blankly staring at the road ahead.

Vikram:- Anuj, kya hua tu ruk kyu gaya acchanak se?

He asked retreating back to him.

Anuj, who was still lost in thoughts, didn't pay any heed to Vikram's words as a few memories from the past flashed before him....

The beautiful sight of Anu walking in the college corridor in a pink suit with her hair tied up in a pony tail and books in her hand....

Anuj running upto Bunty in college canteen shouting....

Bunty.....meri jaan mujhe pyaar ho gaya hai.....

Devu.....pakka na....Aaj Anu college aayegi na?

Anuj waiting for Anupamaa at college gate on Valentine's Day.

Anuj...Anujj.....tu kha tha itne dino se....Anu ki shaadi tay ho gyi hai...aaj hi hai (Devika's voice)

Anuj breaking down in college's washroom seeing Anu walk in through the college gate with a nuptial chain around her neck and her hair parting filled with vermilion....

Anuj..... Anuj......

Vikram called from outside the washroom.

Vikram:- Anuj....

He called again making Anuj come back to the present.

Vikram:- Tu theek hai?

He asked worried seeing his friend's expression change from happiness to sorrow in a matter of seconds.

Anuj:- Hh....haan....mai theek hoo.

He answered trying to supress the restlessness swirling inside him.

Vikram:- Pakka?

He inquired looking at his uneven breaths.

Anuj:- Haan pakka...

He replied in assurance taking a deep breath to calm himself.

Vikram:- Chal chalte hai phir....

He stated waiting for him to go ahead.

Anuj:- Bunty....wapas chalte hai...

He said turning his bike around.

Vikram:- Kyu?

He asked perplexed seeing him turn.

Anuj:- Kyuki un galiyon se guzarne ki na aab mere andar himmat hai aur na chahat....

He answered looking back at the road baffling Vikram.

A confused Vikram looked at Anuj and then at the road wondering what is stopping Anuj from going ahead when the realisation dawned upon him.

A few metres ahead on dark grey road covered by trees on both side, lied their college, a place that has not only witnessed Anuj's happiness, friendship and love but also the sorrow and two years of suffocation that has followed it.

Understanding the reason behind Anuj not wanting to walk down the same path again, he turned his bike around and followed suit.

As they cycled back home side by side, Vikram spoke.....

Vikram:- Tere bhaagne ki aadat abhi tak gayi nahi na?

He asked with his eyes fixed on the road.

Anuj:- Bhaag nahi rha hoo....bas khud ko wapas se us ghutan me nhi daalna chahta.

He replied in a melancholic voice that troubled Vikram.

Vikram:- Accha to Anu ko project me help karna aab tere liye ghutan ho gaya hai?

He questioned shifting the conversation to a lighter note.

Anuj:- Tu acchi tarah se jaanta hai mai us cheez ke baare me nhi baat kar raha tha....

He answered with a smile knowing well what Vikram was trying to do.

Vikram:- Jaanta hoo lekin.....janane se mera sawal nhi badal gaya hai.

He stated still firm on knowing the answer to his question.

Vikram:- Tu aur Anu aab dost hai.....fir bhi parso raat tune uski help nahi ki.....kyu?

He asked again and Anuj just replied him with a one liner.

Anuj:- Usne maangi bhi to nhi...

Vikram:- Maangi to usne pehle bhi nhi thi.....fir bhi tune initiate kiya tha na.....fir mere aur Devu ke aane ke baad aisa kya hogaya?

He argued.

Anuj:- Kuch nahi hua......Bunty....har cheez ke peeche koi problematic reason nahi hota......she neither asked for my help.....nor did she need it....she just needed some guidance which I did provide her.

He explained that there was no hidden reason behind him not helping her further.

Anuj:- Aur waise bhi.....agar mai uski help karta and she would have gotten good grades on the project.....use lagta ki yeh grades use khud ki mehnat ki wajah se nhi.....meri help ki wajah se mile hai. I want to boost her confidence.....not feed more into her self doubt.

He reasoned knocking some sense into Vikram after his irrational question.

Vikram:- Ohh....humne socha humari wajah se sharma gaya tha us din....

He teased making Anuj give him a side glance.

Anuj:- To tum dono sochana band kar do. Waise bhi tera aur Devu ka na aajkal kuch zada hi ho rha hai.....yeh jo tum dono stupid plans bana rhe ho na mujhe Anu ke paas laane ke liye.....sab dikh rha hai mujhe.....and let me tell you....it's not gonna work....Anu and I are just friends.

He rebuked Vikram for devising stupid plans with Devika and asked him to put a stop to it.

Vikram:- Waah.....we are just colleagues......se leke.....we are just friends....tak pahunch gaye tum dono....aur tu abhi bhi keh rha hai ki.....our plan won't work.

He bragged about the success of his plans while Anuj just gave an annoyed expression as he pedalled the bike.

Anuj:- Ho gaya tera?

He asked in exasperation.

Vikram:- Come on Yrr Anuj....iske liye to hume thanks milna chahiye.....aur tu hai ki jab dekho tab daant lagata rehta hai.

He complained removing his hand from the handle and giving a punch on Anuj's biceps from the side.

Anuj:- Haan haan theek hai.....thank you.

He replied in a nonchalant manner pretending not to care.

Vikram:- Finally.

He smirked after successfully forcing a thank you out of Anuj.

Anuj:- But isse zada nhi hn.....tum dono yhi ruk jaoo.....kyuki mera to pata nhi....but agar Anu ko iske baare me pata chala na.....to tum dono ki chutney bana degi.

He warned Vikram about Anupama's anger and Vikram let out a chuckle.

Vikram:- I prefer acchar to chutney.

He remarked bringing a smile on Anuj's face.

Anuj:- Haan yeh information mai us tak pahucha dunga.

He said pulling Vikram's leg.

Vikram:- Sambhal ke.....kahi wo kick maar ke tujhe seedha US naa pahucha de.

He retorted wanting to annoy Anuj more but Anuj was reminded of something else.

Anuj:- Isse yaad aaya......mai kuch dino ke liye US jaa raha hoo.

He said leaving Vikram shocked.

Vikram:- What?...Why?

He exclaimed as he stopped his bike in astonishment.

Anuj:- Are itna overreact kyu kar raha hai....kuch dino ke liye hi jaa raha hoo.....humesha ke liye nahi.

He replied doing the same.

Vikram:- Rehne de Anuj....Jab tu pehli baar gaya tha.....tab bhi tune yahi bola tha.....aur fir kya hua.....yeh tu bhi jaanta hai aur mai bhi.

He complained reminding Anuj of the first time he went to US for a few months and ended up not coming back for twenty three years.

Anuj:- Tab ki baat alag thi Bunty.

He assured Vikram that this is different from the last time and Vikram understood knowing that this time.....Anuj has a reason for coming back to Ahemdabad.

Anuj:- Aur waise bhi.....I really need to sort everything in US as soon as possible......peechle ek mahine me sab itna jaldi me hogaya ki.....mujhe wha ki cheeze wrap up karne ka mauka hi nhi mila.

He stated his concern about some unfinished business left in US.

Vikram:- Anuj....but kaam to tu yha se bhi kar sakta hai na...

He said asking Anuj to wrap up his work from India itself.

Anuj:- Baat kaam ki nhi hai Yrr....Donna needs my help....maine sab kuch itna abruptly decide kar liya ki usse baat karne ka mauka hi nahi mila...plus.....she has been an important part of my life and most importantly my good friend for fifteen years.....I can't just shift here permanently without saying a goodbye. I need to go back for her and.....

He reasoned jogging Vikram's memory about Donna and how he needs to go back for her and a certain someone that he refrained himself from mentioning.

However, Vikram knew exactly who he was talking about.

Vikram:- Mukku.

He stated completing Anuj's thought for him.

Anuj:- Yeah she needs to know ki uski family aab kha rehti hai.....in case she wants to....

He nodded trying not to be too hopeful about his sister's return.

Vikram:- Lekin tu us tak yeh info pahuchayega kaise?

He asked knowing well that Anuj hasn't been in contact with her in years.

Anuj:- Harvey ke through.

He answered looking away from Vikram.

Vikram:- Anuj.....it's been ten years.....why don't you visit her yourself and sort things out?

He suggested leaving Anuj surprised.

Vikram:- Kab tak tu use andhere me rakkhega.....she needs to know that whatever happened.....it wasn't your fault.

He added requesting him to tell her the truth but Anuj was adamant.

Anuj:- You know better than anyone else that it was my..... solely my fault.

He stressed on the incident being his fault and not anyone else's which vexed Vikram to the core.

Vikram:- Just Shut up Yrr......us din jo bhi hua.....usme naa teri galti hai na Mukku ki.....so stop blaming yourself for it.

He reprimanded Anuj and asked him to stop blaming himself for everything wrong that happens around him.

However, Anuj was in no mood to listen.

Anuj:- Mujhe is baare me koi baat nahi karni hai.

He stated and pedalled a few metres ahead not wanting to discuss the topic further.

Vikram:- Anuj.

He called out to him but he didn't stop.

Seeing Anuj continue to ride without halting, he followed mumbling to himself.....

In dono bhai behan ko bas bhaagna aata hai.....wo isse bhaag rhi hai aur yeh khud se....kya karu mai in dono ka kanhaji.

Vanraj was angrily pacing the length of his room arguing over the phone with a lawyer who transferred the case to her junior without informing him.

Vanraj:- Madam aapne kaha tha ki aap mera case ladengi....

He complained in annoyance on the phone.

Lawyer:- Maine aisa kuch bhi nahi kaha tha Mr. Shah......aap cheeze assume kar rahe hai.

The woman on other side of the call said.

Vanraj:- Mai cheeze assume kar rha hoo?.....You clearly said that you will take a look at the case.

He argued still stressing on the fact that she agreed to take his case.

Lawyer:- Maine bas aapse itna kaha tha ki aap agar mujhe innocent lagenge to mai aapka case lungi.....but since you are not....I have no intention of taking this case.

She denied his claims and told him that she wouldn't be taking the case of a culprit.

Vanraj:- To yeh aap mujhe bol bhi to sakti thi.....aise insaan ko case transfer karne ki kya zarurat thi.....jiske pass koi trial experience hi nahi hai.

He whined about her transferring the case to her junior and the woman on the call was clearly annoyed.

Lawyer:- Mr. Shah....maine aapko yeh clearly bola tha but shayad aapko dhang se sunayi nahi diya....that's not my fault.

She stated in exasperation and went on to defend her intern.

Lawyer:- Aur rahi baat....Mr. Tripathi ki to.....wo ek bahut hi versatile lawyer hai.....yeh unki galti nahi hai ki aapke case me thoda bhi dam nahi hai.

Vanraj:- Case me dam laana lawyer ka kaam hota hai.....jo aap karna nahi chahti......mujhe to lagta hai ki aap mera case isiliye nahi lad rahi kyuki isme Kapadia industries involved hai.

He tried to challenge her ego knowing that she has a reputation of fearless lawyer famous for taking small yet difficult cases.

Lawyer:- Enough of your nonsense Mr. Shah........Mai aapka case isiliye nahi lad rahi kyuki aap galat hai......aur mai ek galat insaan ke liye dusre galat insaan se deal karna bilkul nahi pasand karungi.....isiliye....

She chastised Vanraj for his behaviour and was about to inform him about dropping his case when he spoke....

Vanraj:- Dusra galat insaan matalab.....aap Anuj Kapadia ki baat kar rahi hai?

He said inquiring about the one line that stood out to him and wondered if the woman somehow knows Anuj.

Lawyer:- Mai kiski baat kar rahi hoo.....kiski nahi.....that's none of your business Mr. Shah.

She rebuked Vanraj in anger and the thought immediately went off his mind.

Lawyer:- I m just informing you ki ya to aap Mr. Tripathi ko yeh case out of court settle karne dijeye ya fir koi dusra lawyer dhund lijeye.....because hum dono ko hi ek haara hua case drag karne me koi interest nahi hai. Goodbye.

She stated and hung up the call before Vanraj could answer.

Vanraj:- DAMN IT.

He yelled throwing his phone in frustration leaving Kavya,who was silently listening to the conversation, petrified.

Kavya:- Kya hua V?....us ladki ne kya kaha?

She asked anxiously walking upto him.

Vanraj:- Bol rahi hai ki hum yeh case out of court settle kare ya fir koi dusra lawyer hire kar le.....use humara case ladne me koi interest nahi hai.

He answered feeling irked at the woman.

Kavya:- Aise kaise koi interest nahi hai.....agar wo phone pe nahi maan rahi hai.....to uske office chal ke baat karte hai.

She suggested and Vanraj sighed in vexation.

Vanraj:- Us mandam ka koi office nahi hai.....pata nahi kaisi lawyer hai.......aadhe time kisi dusre sehar me hoti hai....bas koi important case hota hai to aati hai.....uska intern....wo Tripathi sab kuch handle karta hai.

He informed leaving an already worried Kavya in despair.

Kavya:- Uska humara case na ladne ka matalab hai ki......aab hume case wapas lene ke liye Anuj ke saamne gid gidana hi padega.

She said in a dejected tone that infuriated Vanraj even more and he looked at her in anger.

Kavya:- Ghur kya rahe ho V......sach to keh rahi hoo mai......Out of court settlement jail jaane se to kahi behtar hai na.

She retorted looking at Vanraj giving her a death stare.

Vanraj:- What are you saying Kavya?.....tumhe idea bhi hai ki out of court settlement kitna mehnga ho sakta hai.....humare pass utne paise nahi hai.

He stated reminding her that they are financially not in a position to settle.

Kavya:- Nahi hai to intezaam kar lenge......tum ek baar try karke to dekho.....kya pata Mr. Tripathi humare liye ek decent deal leke aaye.

She requested him with pleading eyes.

Vanraj:- Kavya.

He tried to get out of it.

Kavya:- V.....please....yeh tum bhi jaante ho ki hum yeh case nahi jeetane wale.....isiliye please ek baar apni ego ko side me rakh ke socho.....agar humare baare me na sahi to apne baccho ke baare me.....apne Baa bapuji ke baare me......unka kya hoga agar hum jail chale jaayenge.

She begged reminding of his family and the things his parents and kids might have to go through if they both end up in jail.

This made him realise that as much as he doesn't want to cower down and accept defeat from Anuj.....the real defeat would be him loosing his parents and kids to Anupama.....which he won't be able to tolerate in his life.

Hence, he reluctantly agreed thinking that it wouldn't be him but his lawyer negotiating a deal with Anuj Kapadia and this relieved Kavya of some stress.

Kavya:- Theek hai.....tum Mr. Tripathi se baat karo.....Aur mai Baa se baat karti hoo....unhe bolti hoo ki wo ek baar Anupama se baat karke dekhe......shayad wo Anuj se kehke hume acchi deal dilane me humari help kar de.

She said devising a plan to get the best deal but Vanraj didn't seem to like it.

Vanraj:- Don't you dare do that.

He snapped seeing Kavya think of involving his mother in the matter.

Vanraj:- Main tumahre kehne pe Mr. Tripathi se baat kar rha hoo na.....to tumhe kya zarurat hai us Anupama se bheek mangne ki.

He expressed his displeasure at Kavya's idea of asking Anupama for help and asked her not to do it.

Kavya:- Lekin Vanraj...

She tried to protest but Vanraj glared at her and she stopped.

Vanraj:- Maine bola na Kavya.....tum Baa se baat nahi karogi to nahi karogi.

He ordered in a firm tone while Kavya sighed in frustration and left the room.

This whole scene was witnessed by Baa who was lurking outside Vanraj's room wanting to know more about the case.

The elevator door opened.

Anupama walked in and pushed the 30th floor button. She waited with nervous impatience in hopes of reaching the office as soon as she could.