Chapter 1
Gratitude.
Is this all I’m feeling now? Is it more? Why does your voice seem familiar? How
do you look then?
Well, more than anything, I have one important question for you. How did you take me
to the hospital? Wasn’t I heavy for you? I want to find you, thank you and
that’s it, yes that’s all it.
The letter brought a wide smile to Raghav’s face. He placed the letter beside him
and looked at the bunch of handwritten letters spread across him. Every letter
is named with a roman numeral. There were 5 of them. He took his phone and
called “Tara”.
Admiring the rain, sitting by the window, Tara seemed lost in looking at her engagement
ring. Her phone ring brought her back to this world. She immediately stood up
jumping seeing “Raghav”. She lifted the call, “Hi Raghav!”.
“Tara, I found some letters here in the cupboard while setting up the shelf. Do you
know anything about this?”
“Letters? I recollect nothing. The space you are living is a holiday rental so it could
be anyone’s Raghav! Are those love letters? Tara asked.
“Not at all. I haven’t read completely. Thanks. I’ll have to go out for dinner.”
Raghav said.
“How much more time you will stay cold with me? We are engaged now. We should sort this out,” Tara concerned.
“We? How convenient! There wouldn’t be any mess if you had respected my consent. Now don’t blame me for this, you chose this life. I didn’t. there is a difference.”
Raghav blunted.
“I always loved you. My life, preferences, habits revolve around you. Why don’t
you understand any of this? You know me for more than a decade. If you don’t
understand me, then who will? Tara asked.
“Unnecessary that people who spend more than decades get married. Why couldn’t you understand me? I don’t want this relationship at all. If it was not for your
father, I would have walked away from this when I came to know this arrangement.” Raghav threw the phone away and sighed.
Tara’s eyes filled with tears. Roomi entered the room and saw her sister’s situation.
“For what are you mourning? Respect of yours is already buried 2 months back during your engagement.” She asked Tara.
Tara stared at her. “I won’t blame Raghav. He was clear then and even now. It’s you
who are behind him like a parasite all your life. Just because he made you read his first copies doesn’t mean you are his priority. He is a writer and you are a vivid reader. His line of work is fiction and you are the biggest shipper of it. You are just a perfect audience to him. How many times you want me to give this reality check?” Roomi showed her annoyance.
“You will never understand, my love! I don’t mind because at least dad did!” Tara sighed.
“That’s the joke of the year. Raghav has cleared said that this is not happening
because of your love. First, this is not love, this is an obsession. You have held Raghav as a captive. Have you ever, for once, given a strong thought on moral ground for which Raghav is against this arrangement? Roomi asked. Tara glanced at her.
“Dad’s only concern is about the business. Uncle and dad want to strengthen their
business partnership and you and Raghav are the scapegoat for this. If Raghav doesn’t respect Dad, I’m pretty sure he doesn’t have any reason to tolerate
your madness,” Roomi said.
Tara rushed outside the room without answering. Roomi is disappointed and tired of making Tara understand.
..
Raghav sat at the corner restaurant table with his eyes closed. A guy in a white full
sleeve shirt tucked inside the formal pants patted his shoulders. Raghav looked
up at him and greeted him with a hug.
“Ah, finally you remembered I exist!” Raghav said.
“Serving long shift didn’t make me look as tired as you are right now, Raghav, all
well?” Dhruv asked.
He then loosened his tie and sat before him.
“Dhruv, actually. I don’t have a lot of friends here. I can’t thank you enough for
helping me settle down here. I have spent my teens in US and finally when I thought I will come back to home, my parents shocked me with my engagement. You
don’t know how fed up I am with life now.” Raghav sighed.
“Wait, where did engagement come in between? I thought you were in this city to meet Tara often, but you didn’t look good at all. Long hair, hoodies, this heavy beard. What happened to you?” Dhruv asked.
“Okay, so you might not know the story. I met you a day before my engagement and I just hooked on you by then. The story is I know Tara from my childhood, but not
once I lead her this way. She has always been a great friend to me. She, in fact, understood even my silence. She stood up for me and my passion when my dad forced me to join his business. I always adored her but never thought of her in love! This is a business setup. They used Tara for it because they very well know I’m not that innocent to come in their words. I explained to Tara as soon as I was informed about the engagement. But she bluntly said she won’t be of any help. How selfish she is?” Raghav seemed impatient.
Dhruv is still in shock at hearing this. He again asked him, “so you don’t love her,
it’s all one sided? “
“No, I’m dying for her. Can’t you see me? I left my home in a rage against this and
ended up in staying in her father’s apartment. Only if I could look at uncle and resist. Growing up, he had always taken care of me like his son. I can’t upset him!” Raghav said.
Dhruv laughed at him. Raghav looks at him, confused.
“Sorry Raghav, I shouldn’t have laughed, but Tara seems nice. What’s your issue Dhruv asked eagerly.
“I don’t know. I just don’t see her that way. Anyway, don’t take her name. Let’s chat about something else,” Raghav said.
Dhruv’s eyes went into the letter placed on the table, named II. He extended his hand
towards it when Raghav picked it up and opened. “What is this?” Dhruv asked.
“I don’t know, someone’s nonsense, but I found it in my cupboard, looks like some
guest would have left it behind, who knows. This is the second letter; I have 3
more of them. Let’s see what is in this!” Raghav opened it.
“Is it okay to open someone’s private letters?” Dhruv looked concerned.
“As long as that ‘someone’ is not with us!” Raghav winked. Dhruv stared at him.
Today has to be the most beautiful day of my life. Finding you was simple. I had to
go to the hospital again and asked the Nurse about you. She told me your name.
I was lucky enough to meet you in the street later. Looks like you would like to spend more time in the library. It’s been 4 hours and still you are not out of it. Your voice doesn’t do any justice for your looks. Big eyes, long hair. I don’t know how my words would do justice, but my eyes are captured. I wish I can look at you closer, as if my heart has the courage!
Well, you don’t look studious, so it has to be the imaginary stories you are fond of!
Raghav looked at Dhruv confused and continued reading it impatiently, as if he knows what is written already.
This is interesting. I would like to dream on my own, and you are obsessed with other’s dreams. My universe is gracious enough to show my dreams to you for you to be obsessed over it, Tara!
The letter slipped from Raghav’s hands; Dhruv’s eyes widened to see Raghav’s
shocked face. He then called Raghav’s name, holding his hands. Raghav uttered,
“Tara?”