41. Triple Good News

This is my favorite part of the book. I enjoyed writing this part. I hope you'll enjoy reading it. Don't forget to hit on a Vote button and leave your thoughts in the comment section.

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Three Years Later

"This haircut is giving you a whole new look." The young girl who was doing my hair commented.

It was the beginning of the season of flowers, the cold temperature transiting to summer heat gradually. It was my favourite time of the year, so I thought of getting a new look. My friend, Carol recommended me a new hair salon, saying that they had skilled and experienced staff. Her good reviews about the place impelled me to witness it by myself.

She was right to some extent. The service was good, staff was cooperative and polite and the warm layout of the salon made the environment calm. The fresh, light cooling of the air conditioner relaxed my limbs.

"Are you sure?" I asked for an assurance.

"Of course, see it by yourself." She combed her fingers in my hair for one last time and then, stepped back.

I stood on my feet, slightly pushed back the rolling, swivel chair and looked myself in the mirror. Previously I had long hair, so I thought of going for medium length this time. I turned on my side to see a full view of my hair.

Ciara was right. I looked different with classic layers that made my chestnut hair bouncy and voluminous. She even highlighted my few layers with a warm copper shade. The combination of new hair colors and cut really complimented my oval-shaped face.

Arranging them through my fingers, I framed my face by them to see a final look. I was hesitant with short hair idea, thinking that it would not look good on me, but, I was wrong. This medium haircut totally suited me. Putting aside my fascination for my hair, I turned to the girl who was waiting for my response, "Thanks a lot, Ciara. You did a good job."

Her lips curved upward into a full smile, "It's a pleasure, looking forward to see you again."

"Sure." I said, returning the smile.

I paid the cash to her and hurried out of the salon because I was getting late for my lunch date with my friends. They all would've reached to the restaurant by now.

Almost twenty minutes later, I arrived to the restaurant where all of us decided to gather for the lunch. I pulled opened the glass door and stepped inside. The scent of spices and burning cinnamon sticks struck my nostrils, making my empty stomach growl in response.

I danced my eyes around to locate my friends. They were there. All of them. My eyes caught them. I ambled towards the table, pulled back the vacant chair beside Carol and joined them.

"Sorry guys, I'm late." I said aloud.

"This is-" Ryan stopped in mid-sentence when he noticed my new haircut, "Woah, Sanaya. What happened to your hair?"

"Show it to me." Carol touched my arm. I turned my head to her.

"I went to the salon you suggested." I shrugged.

She observed my hair thoroughly before saying, "My God. Sanaya, this hair color making you look beautiful and young."

Tessa laughed, "I agree with you. I also want to do my hair now."

Ryan held her hand, "But, I like your long hair, baby."

"I know." She said with a blush.

"Oh, stop you both." Carol slapped the table. Ryan glared at her and left Tessa's hand.

"Can we order something now? It's 3 o'clock in the afternoon and all of us didn't have our lunch yet." I suggested.

"Let's order then." Ryan announced.

So, they were my group of friends. A considerably small group, but, we all loved and enjoyed each other's company. Carol was not familiar with Ryan and Tessa before, but I introduced her to them as my high school buddy and my ex-roommate. She felt awkward around them in early days. But after sometime, she became so comfortable with them that one might think that all three of them knew each other since ages.

We placed our orders and then, chattered endlessly. We barely got time to hang out together due to our busy schedules. Even though, I lived with Ryan and Tessa, but still we hardly talked because I stayed at my workplace most of the hours of the day.

Today, all of us were gathered here because we all have some good news and we wanted to share it with one another.

"So, who's first to break the good news?" Tessa, Ryan's girlfriend asked to all of us.

"I should begin first." I suggested, giving glances to all of them.

Carol placed her arms on the table, "No, I'll tell first."

"Okay." Ryan agreed, "First you, then Sanaya, then we'll tell."

"Agreed." I said.

"Okay, I like it." Tessa responded.

"Spill, Carol." I asked to Carol and all of us turned our attention on her, waiting for her to disclose her big news.

She giggled and took a deep, loud breath, "Finally, I got a license to open up my flower shop."

"Goodness, what." Tessa said in a surprised tone.

"This is great." Ryan chuckled.

"Finally." I reacted astonishingly.

Our food was placed on the table. I inhaled the fresh aroma that further increased my appetite.

After completing her college degree, Carol worked temporarily at few companies, but then, she came to us one day and said that she was tired of doing boring and dull tasks. She wanted to start up her own small business that would be something different, something creative and more colorful like; opening up a flower shop. Since months she was trying to get a license for the shop. Now finally, she achieved her reward.

Carol clapped her hands in excitement, "Soon, I'll be inviting all of you for the shop inauguration. Oh my God! This is crazy... I'm so excited, guys."

I laughed and nodded my head. We took our orders to ourselves and began enjoying our food.

"You should be." Tessa commented.

"So, it's your turn, Sanaya." Ryan looked at me while I drank some water.

I saw all eyes were on me, looking at me curiously, "I got a rental place for myself and the apartment is quite nice."

"No way." Tessa put her fork down and leaned back in her chair, "Sanaya, this is wrong."

"Exactly." Ryan agreed with his girlfriend, "I told you, you don't have to go anywhere else. Why you want to waste money?"

Since I shifted to California, I was living at Ryan's place. At that time, Tessa was not living with him, but after six months, as their relationship got stronger they thought of living together. I was uncomfortable at his house and thought that I was disturbing their privacy. Although, Tessa was always good to me and never got bothered by my presence, but, I should not take advantage of their supportive nature.

At that time, I couldn't do anything because I didn't have money to rent a room for myself, but now I could. I had enough money to get a place. I was not going to be a burden on Ryan and Tessa anymore.

"Come on, guys, this is good news. I'm getting my own place. Why aren't you happy?" I knew they were not going to accept my decision readily. Ryan always took me as his responsibility.

He knew I was lonely in this big world. He thought that way because he also had no blood relative. However, Ryan was no more lonely. He had Tessa. Anyways, I was now twenty-two. I could take care of myself.

Carol turned to me while her fork was between her fingers, "Where's this apartment? Is it far away from their house?"

"Half an hour drive from Ryan's house." I answered.

"I'm not happy with your decision." Ryan retorted.

"But, this is what I want. Be reasonable. I can't stay at your house forever." I tried to knock some sense into him.

"Let it be, Ryan." Tessa put her hand on top of Ryan's, "This is what makes her comfortable."

He was not convinced, but, he didn't say anything further. "Thanks, Tessa." I smiled, "Let's talk about your good news. Enough discussion on mine."

"She is right." Carol raised her finger towards them.

Ryan and Tessa looked at each other, then Ryan said to Tessa, "You tell them."

I curiously looked at Tessa, waited for her to tell their big news. "Ehm." She paused. A tinge of pink shade appeared on her cheeks. I wrinkled my forward confusingly.

"We've planned to get married." She blurted out.

I blinked in astonishment, "What."

"Is this true?" Carol covered her mouth with her palm dramatically and looked at Ryan for confirmation.

He laughed at our surprising looks, "Yeah, this is true. We've decided to arrange it after two months because Tessa wants to do some preparations."

Back then, Ryan thought that Tessa broke up with him, well, it was not true. She came back to him and then, they settled their differences. Since then, they had been together. Ryan was crazily in love with Tessa and she felt the same. I was a witness of their eternal love for one another. I had observed them for three years. Marriage was their ultimatum, indeed, but, I didn't know that it would happen that soon.

"I'm going to make a wedding bouquet for you." Carol announced zealously.

"I'm looking forward to see that." Tessa giggled and turned her gaze on me, "I'm a bit sad about your decision. I thought you would help me in my wedding."

I smiled, "It's no big deal. It's not like I'm shifting to another country. Call me when you need my help."

She nodded in response, but, looked unconvinced. I mentally sighed and thought that they would need sometime to accept my decision.

"Tell me one thing." Carol looked at Ryan, "Did you actually propose her?"

I laughed at her question. Indeed, it's hard to imagine him going on his knees and giving a ring to his woman. Ryan was shy in such matters so I was curious as well to know what technique he used to ask Tessa for the marriage.

"Of course. Your question is silly." He gave her an angry look.

Carol quipped, "You should've done that in front of us."

"I agree." I teased him.

Tessa was blushing the whole time. She seemed happy and excited. It would be fun and relaxing to enjoy a friend's wedding. I was surely going to ask Tessa in private about how Ryan proposed her.

He shook his head, getting irritated, "Shut up now. Anyways, we have triple reasons to celebrate. So, what's the plan?"

"Let's hang out this weekend. I'll choose the place." Carol suggested, tapping her lips with her fingers thoughtfully.

Everyone agreed. We all chattered for the next whole hour before leaving to our own separate ways. Spending time with my friends always lightened up my mood and relaxed my mind.

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"Did you contact the client and ask him the information we need?" I asked from Tanisha.

She was one of the interns from the contact department of iAdverts. It was an advertising agency where I worked. However, I was from the research dept. My main task was to proofread, edit and analyzed all the obtained data from researcher, investigators or data collectors and then handed over to the head of the department for their approval.

Five months later after shifting to another state, I requested transfer papers from my previous college. I got admission in the college here in California and completed my studies. Ryan and Tessa helped me in this matter because they had a know-how of Californian colleges and what were their requirements.

"Yes. It's on my desk. I'll bring it you." Tanisha replied.

"Okay." I began walking towards the elevator because my office's desk was on another floor. After completing my college degree, I did few internships here and there to gain some experience and to also get a proper job that could bear my allowances. I was now currently working in the iAdverts which was a prominent advertising agency and we had big and small brands as our clients. This agency was paying me a good amount and I was more than satisfied.

Sometimes those brands even gave us a bonus if they got boost in their sales because of our ideas. So, I also get a bonus in my salary occasionally.

"Good morning, Sanaya." When I reached to my floor, one of the employees here greeted me.

"Good morning, Derek." I passed him my courteous smile and walked over to my desk. Creativity, new ideas and unique concepts were the keys to impress the officials here. All the staff here was trained to be creative and think differently. If our client would get impressed by us, he would come again for his next ad campaign.

I settled on my desk and began going through the pile of folders that were brought on my table. Since past three years, I had been working endlessly, without breaks, even skipped lunch breaks. My work was actually my escape from the perturbing thoughts that were always there at the back of my mind.

Sometimes I even slept on my desk and didn't go back to Ryan's house. But last night, I went home because I had to set up my new place otherwise, I usually slept in my office.

I was not getting a raise for working extra hours and I didn't even demand for that because no one asked me to spend extra time at work. It was my choice. I wanted to remain engrossed in my work. My friends sometime scolded me being like this, but, when I told them that I liked this routine, they somehow understood me.

It was like a punishment I chose for myself for abandoning my newborn. I didn't deserve to sleep comfortably or have a good life.

"Here, it contains all the answers you asked for." Tanisha stood in front of my table and extended a plastic file.

I smiled and took it from her, "Thanks. I'll check."

"Hey. What are you doing here?" Derek appeared and asked to Tanisha.

"I was just delivering the information to Sanaya." She replied, "I should go now. I'll catch you guys later."

She began taking steps towards the elevator when Derek shouted, "Have a good day." then, he put the coffee cup on my table, "Here's your morning coffee."

"I like your morning coffees. Thanks." I instantly grabbed the cup and took a sup.

My limbs got relaxed as soon as that liquid started doing its job. I was tired because of setting up my small apartment. Ryan and Tessa helped me in packing my stuff and Ryan also lend me his car to transfer all my belongings to my new house. Then, I went there and called Carol to give me a hand. It was exhausting. The place I had got for myself was a one room apartment, but it was better and bigger than the one I had in New York.

"Of course." He chuckled and sat on the chair that was there at the other side of my wooden table, "I know you need this. Anyways, I'm here to get your opinion on my idea."

Gulping the warm liquid inside my throat, I closed the file folder that was opened in front of me and gave him my full attention, "Okay. But, your ideas are always good. I'm not that creative to polish your thoughts."

"Sanaya, you're an expert in research and have know-how about current market trends. You can tell whether my idea will survive among consumers or not. And besides, there's nothing wrong in getting a second opinion."

Derek had forest green eyes, copper short curls and small lips. He was one of my friendly colleagues. We had worked together on many projects so that's why we had developed mutual understanding for one another related to our job tasks. He was hard working and had high professional standards. He had dual jobs in the same advertising agency because he had creative and research skills both.

"Right. Tell me then." I put the coffee cup on the table.

"There's this clothing store. They just started, so I was thinking..." He began explaining his concept.

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It was almost midnight when I finally thought of leaving for home. Like every day, almost all staff left, excluding the two interns who were helping me. I asked them to stay. I completed all my today's tasks now heading back to my new apartment. The interns went home before me.

The tendrils of my hair began tickling my face due to the soft, spring breeze, so I just loosely tied them through a hair claw and resumed walking towards the subway station.

I made myself engrossed in work to run away from the guilt feeling that had been with me since years. I even skipped meals, rest and didn't much hangout with my friends and colleagues.

I didn't wait for sleep like normal people; lying on a bed and waiting for the sleep to engulf you because I avoided being alone and free. I was actually escaping from my dreadful thoughts. That's why, I slept at random and unexpected times like in the middle of the assignment, during a lunch hour, or when I got some free time at office.

Other than that, I broke into tears whenever I was alone in a room, sometimes in the middle of office meetings or tasks, even sometimes when I was with my friends, every time when an image of newborn crying for me popped up in my head. I couldn't control on my tears after that.

It would be a joke, a lie if I said, I'd moved on, I didn't, I could not. I was here, far away from that family, but still my mind was never with me, my heart was still somewhere inside that mansion.

"Do you work till that late?" A gentle, male voice disturbed my chain of thoughts.

I stopped walking, feeling baffled. With a deep frown on my face, I turned around to confirm whether that question was directed at me or not.

My brows shot up. Shock crossed my face when I recognized the face who was standing just few steps away from me.

Ashar.

"Or is it just today?" He quizzed. In the middle of the silent night and hushed roadside, his voice was very clearly reaching to my ears.