31. Of friends and lovers
Aaryan came to the pantry yo find the lunh hour in full swing. Ajay, Neha, Boxer, Zubeen, Junhui and Rajashree were sitting, at a table, eating and chattering away.
Deepika was sitting farther away, moodily picking at her rice. She seemed to be lost in her own world, oblivious to the din in the pantry.
As he came in, she got up, still in a daze and excused herself, brushing past him.
He thought for a moment, debating wether to follow her or not.
As he retraced his steps back to the office, she was nowhere to be seen.
Pantry
"Subroto…nahi hain?" Rajashree asked, haltingly.
"Maine usse poocha, par use bhook nahi thi…." Ajay replied unconcerned.
"Tum usse fir pooch kar aaogi?" Neha asked her, pushing her specs up her nose.
"Zubeen jao na."
He ignored her point blank.
"Tumhi jao na Rajashree…" Junhui too insisted.
Noticing no other option, she got up, to search for him.
Lab
Shotgun was sitting in a chair, noting observations in their report.
"Maine kaha tha na, main khatam kardoongi."
He looked up at her and then back to the folder.
"Main kardoonga…"
"Mujhe samajh nahi aata hain, tum sab karne ki zid kyun karte ho? Pichle baar tumne hi poora report kar diya tha, maine kaha tha, ki main iss bar karoongi."
She came close to him, and tugged the file out of his hands.
"Main kardoonga, waise bhi tum aaj kal bahut busy rehti ho." He said bitingly, and pulled the folder back.
Surprised by the tone of his voice, and unable to understand him, she let go.
He opened the folder again, and started writing.
"Kya matlab?"
"Kya naam hain uska…Haan…Pankaj, right? Wasie bhi yahaan ke timings odd hain…Thoda work load kum ho jaye toh tum usse mil-"
"Mujhe usse fir se milne main koi bhi dilchaspi nahi hain, Samjhe?"
He did not reply.
"Maa kaisi hain?"
"Acchi."
"Subroto, main tumse baat kar rahi hoon. Meri taraf toh dekh sakte ho."
He threw the folder on the desk and looked up at her.
"Ye tum itni…."
"Main kya?" she asked dangerously, her plait swinging.
"Nothing….just forget it, okay?"
She tossed her long plait over her shoulder and walked towards the door.
"Insensitive jerk."
He nodded his head gloomily.
32. SHOW ME THE MEANING
Meanwhile
On a sudden inspiration, Aaryan went up the stairs to the terrace.
There was a slight wind, and the sun was shadowed by clouds.
And right on instinct, he saw a dark figure standing at one corner of the terrace, looking out at the city spread below.
He walked upto her silently.
"Deepika?" he said quietly, placing a hand on her shoulder.
She hurriedly raised her hand to wipe the tears streaming down her cheeks and tried to move away from him.
"Deepika."He repeated quietly, but with firmness.
Unable to control her emotions anymore, she turned around, placed her head on his shoulder and started sobbing inconsolably.
Srprised, he just held onto her, patting her head.
A few minutes later she, extracted herself.
"Aaryan…I am sorry…"
He still held her arms and said firmly, "Are you okay?"
She nodded silently, and said again "Sorry…tumhari shirt…"
He looked down into her eyes. "Deepika. Kya hua?"
"Apne ek dost ke baare main, kuch aisia pata chala…..Jo main soch bhi nahi sakti thi…Do you know the worst part?"
Without waiting for reply, she continued, "Main itne saalon se Parth ko jimmewar thera ti thi…I lost both my friends….One to God and one to mistrust."
"Parth hamesha hain tumhare saath Deepika….jo log jaate hain, wo wapas nahi aate….par umeed hamesha saath rehti hain..Tumhi ne toh kaha tha na Deepika?"
She looked away.
Placing a hand on her shoulder, he said, "Aur main bhi toh hoon na, tumhare saath?"
She rested her head on his shoulder, and they stayed in that position for some time.