Viren Khanna
Six months.
Its been six months since she's gone. No one knows where she is or how she is? It's all because of me. If I had controlled my anger that day, I wouldn't be sitting here alone dwelling in her thoughts. Even though I was the reason for her disappearance, both the family didn't say a word to me.
I'm almost living like a dead person, just the difference is that I breathe. My bedroom and my office cabin, these two are the places I go to. Where ever I go, it just reminds me of her. Sometimes I just cry in solitude. How my life was when she was there. Because of her, I started to live again. I started to smile, laugh, crack jokes just because of her.
My thoughts were broken by a knock on the door. Dabbing my tears I replied a faint 'come in'. I saw Sharav entering my cabin. I don't know what happened to him. He kinda looks lost. I feel guilty, even to see him. He cleared his throat and started speaking.
"Viren, these are the papers, regarding the new company being opened in London. I want you to make sure everything is right. Just skim through the files, and then give me a call", saying this he kept the file on the table and turned to leave when he stopped on his track hearing my voice.
"I'm sorry Sharav", I told him, with my gaze meeting the floor.
"For?", he asked me, turning to face me.
"Because of me, Pari is not here. If I hadn't yelled on her the other day, she might not have disappeared. I'm really sorry Sharav", I told him sincerely.
"You know whats your problem Viren, you jump to a conclusion without hearing out the other person's explanation. From childhood, you do this. I always asked you to be mature, but you wouldn't change yourself. You speak whatever comes to your mind, then feel for whatever you spoke. At least change this behavior of yours", saying this he left my cabin.
I still remember the day, when everyone told me what happened after I left.
"Why Veer, why didn't you hear what that poor girl wanted to say?", dadu questioned me with tears in his eyes.
Everyone including her now parents, Deeksha mom, and Navjot dad were sobbing. Preeti stood in front and glared at me in a way, that I felt my mother was glaring at me.
Then Nila and Preeti told me everything. From Pari's amnesia to all the plannings. I just slumped on the floor and cried my heart out. I let go of my Pari again. I could never forgive myself for what I did to her.
I fucking hurt her. Sahil, Sharav, and Daksh pulled me in a hug and cried along with me.
"Don't worry we'll find her together.", said all the three of them. I wonder, how they're controlling their anger.
It's been six months and still, we couldn't find her. I don't know where she is? Whenever I close my eyes, it's her image that pops. Her smiling face, her confession every single thing. I closed my eyes and a single tear escaped my eyes. Just then my cabin door burst open to see, Sahil and Preeti fighting over something.
"No.. he won't come ", Preeti told him in a challenging way.
"He will come", Sahil retorted at her.
'Who will come? And most importantly where?', I thought.
And I also wonder, how did they fall in love in the first place. They are worst than cats and dogs. They fight like kids, then patch up like nothing had taken place. And no one will believe they're gonna get married in the next two weeks. I sighed at them.
"Now guys will you calm down please!", I begged them getting up from my chair. Glaring at each other, they sat on the two-seat that were placed in front of my desk. "So now tell me what happened and why you guys were fighting?", I asked them.
"We were not fighting!", Preeti exclaimed on the question. Of all the things I said, did she really hear this?, I mentally face palmed myself.
"Yeah.. we were not fighting, instead we were discussing", Sahil said narrowing his eyes at me. Even him? Seriously? I thought Sahil was mature enough to handle both, seems both are immature...but they love each other so much.
I woke up from my thought-land when I heard Preeti call me. "Yeah! So what were you guys discussing about?", I asked them this time cautiously and stressing more on 'discussing'.
"Well since only two weeks are there for our marriage, we both thought that we six should go to someplace before all the rituals start.", Sahil told me, whilst I just hummed in response.
"But I'm not...", even before I could complete my sentence Preeti, cut me off.
"Bhai... she won't be happy if you're behaving like this. You barely don't eat anything, you just eat when we blackmail using her name. Please bhai...come let's all go... what if we meet her?", Preeti said.
The possibility of meeting my Pari made me happy. We used the best private investigators to find her. But every clue met the dead end. When we all came to know Sahil's and Preeti's love for each other, the elders decided them to get married. But both of them refused, saying they won't marry without Akruti's presence.
That time, I felt so guilty for doing that to her. She was the reason for everyone's happiness. And I told her many hurtful words. Then one day we got a letter named Akruti.
Hey everyone!!
I hope all are doing good. Don't worry about me, I'm fine. I heard that Sahil and Preeti are in love. And you guys are not marrying because I'm not there. Please don't do this. If you want me to be happy get married as soon as possible. I miss you guys so so much. I'm sorry for leaving without informing you people. I'm not holding a grudge on anyone. I just want you all to be happy. And I have my spy to check on you guys. So don't ever try to block the happiness that comes in your way. So get up and start preparing for the wedding. I love you guys.....
Yours,
Akruti...
PS: There's another letter. That's only for Viren...not for anyone else.
Sahil handed over the letter to me. And the letter went like this.
Hey Rey...
I hope you don't mind me, calling you that. I still don't know the reason why I call you 'Rey', maybe you could tell me one day if we meet. And I'm really sorry for whatever happened to mom and dad. I wish it was me, instead of them to die. At least you would have a perfect family, rather than mine. And one more thing, don't stop living your life. I want you to be happy, the way you used to be when I was there with you. That will make me happy. Don't ever feel guilty for whatever you said to me. If I were in your shoes, I would have told the same. So please live your life for me Rey.... take care of everyone and you. And more things I wow you always...
Yours,
Pari.
I cried after reading the letter. She always called me 'Rey' when we were kids. She said everyone called me with the name that everyone knew, so she came up with the new name 'Rey'. How much she cares for me, whilst me on the other hand. Everyone started the preparation of the wedding for Akruti's happiness.
I felt someone shaking me. It was Sahil. He had pity in his eyes. After all, Akruti was his sister too. I had even noticed Nila, Daksh and Sharav have entered my cabin. I wonder for much time I was zoned out.
"Okay..I'll come", I said and everyone smiled at me. Sahil and Preeti hugged each other, whilst Daksh jumped in happiness. I saw Sharav giving me a faint smile and assured me that everything will be okay with his eyes. I just nodded my head in response. Even though both the brothers of her are angry with me, they don't show it to me. Guess, I escaped because of Akruti.
............
The next day we six boarded the flight, to reach Gaggal Airport, Himachal Pradesh. We were going to Khajjar, the mini Switzerland of India. On reaching the airport, we booked a taxi to take us to our destination.
We all booked a room and stayed in pairs. The girls shared a room, whilst the boys, Sahil and Sharav shared a room, then Daksh and I shared a room. After refreshing ourselves, we all visited the famous Khajjar lake. The place was so beautiful and calm. That's what I needed now. Calmness.
I looked around the place. It was full of green everywhere. Tall trees are standing straight in a way trying to touch the sky with the tip of their branches. Birds chirping, which sounds like a melody to me. The lake in front of us, shining like a diamond, with traces of blue hue in them.
Turning my head to my left, I saw the two couples, Sahil and Preeti, and the other Nila and Daksh. It was just Sharav and me without anyone. After enjoying our themselves, the couples came and sat near us. Suddenly Preeti started to talk about Akruti. Everyone was reminiscing our memory of her.
Then Nila asked me how I proposed her to be my girlfriend. I told them everything, except for the kiss of course. But I badly needed to clear my doubt.
"And also one more thing... it was kinda weird", I told them. "What is it?", everyone questioned me.
"She told me ' I wow you ' something like that?", I said and everyone looked shocked with their eyes wide.
"SHE WHAT?", My people yelled. Everyone in the lake looked at our direction, they surely know how to embarrass me. I felt like a deja vu, because the last time, I was embarrassed, I met Pari in the park. I hope I'll meet her this time too. Then I focused on the wide-eyed people in front of me.
"Why? Does it mean anything?", I asked them worriedly.
"It's for us to know and for you to find", they all replied at the same time, grinning at me. I looked at them skeptically, but they just shrugged their shoulder in response. After having our dinner, everyone retired to their room. I was just walking not knowing where to go. I heard my mobile ring. It was Sharav.
"Hey where are you?", he sounded worried.
"Just taking a walk Sharav, I'll reach within an hour"
"Okay...come soon", saying this he cut the call. I was walking when I saw a silhouette of a girl. From she looked like her. I just shook my head on the thought. I was about to turn when the girl turned. I felt stopped breathing. There she was again dressed in a white dress, looking as beautiful as ever. She was looking exactly the way I met her.
The moment her russet brown eyes met mine, it grew wide as a saucer. Her mouth formed a perfect 'O' shape. Guess she didn't expect to see me here. Even I didn't. Chuckling at her reaction, all I could do was whisper her name with tears brimming my eyes.
"Pari"
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