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Wanting to
prolong their togetherness, Rohan suggested that they go for a long drive and
then go home. “Let’s just enjoy tonight, dear. I’m not in the mood to hear your
darling sister’s tantrums. Neither do I want you to feel miserable after the
wonderful time that we’ve just spent together, this evening! If you’ll feel any
better, let me promise that I will always be YOUR Rohan, in totality! Only,
trust me.” He pulled her close and she rested her tired head on his comforting
shoulder.
After a while she relaxed. She was
making a mountain out of a mole-hill, she mused. She regained her composure. As
she made out the tall silhouette of the Kutub Minar, in the far distance, she
suddenly giggled.
As Rohan looked at her enquiringly, she said, “You are as
dependable as the one and only Kutub Minar. You have always been a pillar of
support to me and yet I act peevishly. I’m so sorry, darling.”
He was amused and indulgent, as he
took his hand off the steering-wheel for a moment and ruffled her soft hair. "It’s O.K. It happens sometimes, when in love. I understand that you love me
more than anything else in this world. Just loosen up a little. No one is going
to steal your husband from you and nor I am going to let anyone do that! So
tear that F.I.R of yours, immediately!”
At this Amisha burst out laughing
uncontrollably and Rohan joined in, happy that he had assured her of his
commitment towards her.
When they reached home at 3 p.m.
both were too tired to do anything else than flop onto their bed, after changing
quickly into night-clothes. Both slept soundly, wrapped in an embrace.
Samaira’s incessant calls went
unanswered as Rohan’s phone had been switched off. The next morning, Rohan and
Amisha woke up at 10 a.m. when their maid-servant rang the bell. Rohan saw his
cell-phone and remembered switching it off the previous evening. Hastily, he
turned it on. No sooner had he done that, than it rang.
Seeing Samaira’s name
on the screen he winced. Stupid girl! She
was really getting on his nerves, with her obsessive behavior! Why couldn’t she
just leave him alone? he thought crossly. Amisha had gone to the bathroom.
He pressed the key twice and ended the call.
As was his habit, he switched on
the T.V. set to watch the news. Samaira’s gorgeous face pounced on him, from
the screen. She was clad in a multi-colored bikini. Her beautiful eyes looked
at him accusingly. The next snap-shot showed her lying in a pool of blood on
her bed, with her cell-phone beside her. The news-reader was stating in an
emotionless voice, “Sultry siren, super-star Samaira is no more. She ended her
life with her licensed pistol, early this morning.…..”
So it was Samaira's maid-servant who had been calling him to inform them
about her mistress’ death!
Rohan felt as if his heart was
being wrenched apart. He gasped and turned towards Amisha who had silently come
and stood behind him with their mugs of coffee. He held her as she swayed, took
the tray with mugs, placed it on the side-table; and made her lie down on the
bed. She was shocked as hell! Rohan saw her stony face and called the doctor.
Their life had come to a
standstill.
THE END
Explanatory notes: Terms in the Hindi
language
Bibiji – Madam
Sahibji – Sir
Jiju – Short for ‘jijaji’- Brother-in-law
Pitaji - Father
Maaji – Mother
Didi – Elder sister
Bhaiyya - Brother
Dudhi halwa – Sweet pudding made of
bottle-gourd
Biryani – Spicy rice dish
Ghaas-phus – Slang term/Derogatory
reference to vegetarian fare
Bakshish – Present
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The copyright of this novel is with Mrs. Priya Ramesh Swaminathan.
This novel is also available as an e-book at
www.freeditorial.com.
This novel is also available as an e-book at
www.freeditorial.com.
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