It had been five days. Five sunrises.
Four walks out of class. Five chances for her to glance toward the same spot near the gate. And five moments of bitter disappointment. Vikram hadn't come. Not even once.
And yet Thabal still looked. She didn't want to. She told herself not to. But every afternoon, when her class ended and her bag slung over her shoulder, her steps instinctively slowed near the entrance.
Just in case. Just in case he changed his mind. Just in case he forgave her silence. Just in case he missed her as much as she missed him. But every day, the space beside the gate stayed painfully empty. No black jeep. No tall figure leaning casually against it. No wave, no smile. No Vikram.
And still, she waited. Even if only for five minutes or lees. Even if her heart told her the answer before her eyes did. Just like the other days, this afternoon too, she paused under the waiting shed, the exact place she used to spot him from. She stared ahead, holding onto a breath she hadn't meant to keep.
An auto honked. A vendor pushed his cart lazily across the street. Still nothing. She exhaled and looked down at the ground. Why did it hurt more now than it did the day she told him to walk away? Maybe because the first time, he was still near.
Still within reach. Still looking at her like she mattered.
Now, all that remained was space. Heavy. Quiet. And cruelly respectful. She looked down at her foot and kicked it against the floor absent mindedly.
"Chale kya? Kafi time hogaya hai" Meera asked behind her. Thabal didn't respond immediately. She took a pause and looked up. Her eyes fall upon a couple who were laughing as they walked together, hand in hand. Their shoulders brushing against each other as they nudged it playfully. A small sigh escaped her lips as she watched them with soft eyes.
"Chalo" she murmured to the two and walked out of the shed, shoulders a little heavier than they had been in the morning.
Each step away from the shed felt like closing a door a little more. And yet, a part of her still left it slightly ajar. Just in case.
🦋🦋🦋--------------------
"Hmm, go through that" Vikram commanded slowly, humming to himself. His eyes droopy and cold. He sat on his sofa, legs spread a little one free hand twirling the pen absentmindely. Shinde sat infront of him, carefully arranging the files. Careful enough not to make any mistakes. Knowing how bad he would be regretting it if he did-
"Aur, woh Sahu Pandey ka case ka kya huwa?" Boom! Shinde gulped hesitantly. His hands shook a little. He looked at Vikram to see him looking at him with a raised brow.
Oh he was dommed for sure.
"Ah! Sir woh mein. I mean woh uska-" he stammered but was cut off.
"Saaf saaf bolo" his cold voice cut through the air. Causing a chilling air to run through Shinde's spine. He shivered a little and straightened himself.
"S-sir woh sorry. Suspect ko trace nahi kar pa rahe. Meine constable lagaye the uske piche par woh bohot shatir hai. Chakma de gaya" he hesitantly uttered, scared of his reaction.
Silence filled in the environment. A tensed one. Shinde shook his leg in nervousness. Vikram was awfully quiet. His quietness was more scary than his shouting version. He gulped a lump down, his heartbeat racing faster than a horse.
The silence was broken by Kavita when she entered in with a smile, hands holding a tray filled with food.
"Atharv beta. Meine tumhare liye khash mooga ambat banaya hai" she smiled at Shinde. The latter just passed her a nervous smile. Feeling extremely uncomfortable. He couldn't even sit properly in fear.
Vikram kept a hand on his face and rubbed his forehead. Without looking at Shinde he stood up abruptly. The latter immediately stood up as soon as he did, in respect.
"Jab mein wapas aawu tum yaha dikhne nahi chaahiye" was the only thing he said before marching out of the hall. Shinde just stood still, gulping before looking down.
"Beta Vikram ko kya hogaya?" Kavita asked seeing the tension between them. Shinde looked at her and shook his head with a forced smile.
"Kuch nahi kaku. W-woh sir thode gusse mein hai. Aap ek kam kijiye. Yeh ek tiffin pe pack kardijiye jaldi" he said in a rush. Kavita looked at him in concern.
"Par beta-"
"Nahi nahi kaku. Idhar aur ek minute rukha na toh meri arthi uthegi. Aap please jaldi se pack kardijiye" he requested, feeling like peeing his pants thinking of the consequences if Vikram would see him there when he returns back.
"Achaa rukho" saying that Kavita went to the kitchen and grabbed two tiffin. She walked out and entered the hall. Bending down slightly, she poured the curry in the tiffin. The other one for the rice.
While pouring she asked.
"Beta, Vikram ko huwa kya hai. 4 5 din pehle khush tha kafi. Fhir achanak se woh pehle jaisa hogaya. Na hasta hai, na dhang se jawab deta hai. Dekha jaye toh pehle thoda thik bhi tha. Abhi aur bigar sa gaya hai. Kuch baat hai kya? Kya huwa hai usse" Shinde let a sigh hearing it. He scratched his head not knowing where to start from.
"Pata nahi kidhar se shuru Karu kaku. Woh aapko pata haina ek ladki ke baare mein jisko sir-"
"Mujhe laga hi tha" Kavita suddenly said snapping her head towards him, looking at him with wide eyes.
"Aage batawo, aage batawo" she urged him curiously. Shinde cleared his throat before starting to narrate.
"W-woh. Pata nahi kya huwa hai. Lekin lagta hai dono mein koi jaghra hogaya hai. Sir roj dopehar ko unko lene jate the. Par 5 din se nahi ja rahe. Aur 5 din se unka mood bohot kharab hai. Pehle se bhi. Toh mujhe lagta hai issi wajah se hai" he provided his view. Kavita nodded knowingly.
"Mujhe bhi laga hi tha ki uss ladki ka hi kuch chakkar hoga. Vikram bohot khush tha kuch dino se. Abhi alag sa hogaya hai. Woh bohot kam pita tha. Abhi roj raat ko pi raha hai. Meri baat bhi nahi sun raha" she sighed in distress. Shinde kept quiet for a moment.
"Kaku. Yeh toh kismat ki baat hai. Kismat ne chaha isliye dono mile. Agar chahe toh wapas mila bhi lenge. Yeh hamare haath pe nahi. Force nahi kar sakte. Lekin agar jyada huwa, toh mein khud dekhunga iss chiz ko" he said, his voice not low or hesitant any more.
"Bas abhi toh bappa hi dekhe kya karenge woh. Mein bas aasha karti hoon ki dono bache khush rahe" Kavita sighed. Shinde nodded in return.
"Chalo tum yeh aaram se kha lena ghar pe. Aur kuch bhi dono ko leke baat ho mujhe batate rehna" she said handling her the tiffin boxes. Shinde smiled at her and nodded.
"Chalta hoon kaku" saying so he bend down and touched her feet to which Kavita immediately moved back abruptly with wide eyes.
"Aare Atharv kya kar rahe ho beta" she looked at him in surprise. Shinde just tilted his head with a puzzled look.
"Kya matlab. Per chu raha tha kaku" he said with an obvious tone.
"Aare lekin mein hoon hi kon. Agar tum bhul gaye ho toh yaad diladu mein Vikram ke ghar pe kam karti hoon" she reminded him softly. Shinde chuckled hearing it.
"Kaku. Sir ka koi nahi hai. Aap bhi yeh baat jante hai. Aur ek aap hi hai jinhone sir ko maa ki tarah khyal rakha. Toh family toh aap huwi hi na sir ke. Mein jitna sir ko respect deta hoon utna DGP ko bhi nahi deta. Toh apne toh sir ko khilaya pilaya hai. Aapka pair nahi chuwunga kya?" He raised his brow at her playfully. Kavita smiled at him with eyes filled with love.
She caressed his head gently.
"Veda mulga" she chuckled to which Shinde just grinned.
(Silly guy)
"Chalta hoon kaku. Khyal rakhna" with that he fastened his steps towards the door.
"Dhyan se jana. Aur fhir aana" Kavita shouted a little, seeing him almost sprinting.
"Sir ne jinda chora toh aawunga!" He yelled back making Kavita laughed at his words.
Meanwhile,
Vikram stood in his room, standing straight looking out of the balcony. Clutching a glass of liquor in his hand. He raised his arm and gulped some down, letting the bitter taste settle in his throat.
It had been five days. He has been growing crazy without her. Everyday feels too long without her. He swallowed down the tears that pooled up in his eyes. His heart ache painfully.
In just few weeks he became too attached of her. He got so habituated by her that now it was almost impossible to get rid of this habit. Every part of him cling to her thoughts tightly, not letting any go or fly away. His whole life has been filled with hardship and loneliness. When finally a ray of light entered his dark life, it got snatched away.
He brutally threw the glass on the floor in frustration. His eyes bloodshot. The sound of the glass breaking echoed against the walls loudly. It got shattered into beautiful pieces, flying everywhere. Vikram dropped on the floor, his hand clutching his head.
"Pagal kar diya hai tumne mujhe. Pata nahi tha tumse dur hojawunga toh itna taklif hoga" he muttered to himself painfully. His lips shaking.
"Taras gaya hoon tumse baat karne ke liye. Tumhari hasi sunne ke liye" he muttered looking at the floor.
"Wapas aajawo. Aur nahi seh pa raha" a tear rolled down his cheek.
He never blamed her for her decision. He just wanted her. Wanted her back. He missed her like hell. It felt like letting a kid taste a candy for the first time and snatching it away. Letting him lost and deprive of the taste he just got.
Somewhere he felt if he never met her, maybe he would continue his lonely life comfortably. But her sudden entrance, completely shook his disciplines and morals.
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Hope you liked it
Stay safe sweeties😁✨
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