Departed Souls

Prelude

A man in his mid-twenties. A perfect example of turning riches from rags. Hard work, passion, determination...these are the reasons for his success today. And above all, his undying love.

"Are the consignments ready to be sent?" he asked, his hands inside his smooth grey pant pockets.

"Yes sir. It is" Puneet answered, in a moderate tone. He was his assistant. A man in his early twenties, who was striving to excel in the field, someday, just like his boss. He was thin in physique, medium complexioned and of a normal height of five feet and five inches.

"Good. I need the reports of the annual stock on my table in another half an hour's time. Will that be fine?" his voice, in a diplomatic tone.

"Sure sir." Puneet answered.

Life would have taken a full circle, in his opinion. Yet, the only thing which was unchanged was his love. Love for her. The unconditional love which he had and still has upon her makes him a successful man, today. She might have asked him to get out of the house, back two years ago when he confessed his childhood love for her. But, truth be said, she still tries calling him, once in a while and get the phone cut, without an answer. Friendship is still dangling on in their torn relationship. It was like that one drop of water in the whole droughty area.

It was as usual. A mundane morning for him, devoid of her. The last time he heard her voice was on his birthday, back on the fifteenth of January and today, it was twenty second of September. Nearly nine months. Nine months without her voice into his auricles and lobes. Life was indeed rude to him. She did not make a call after his birthday nor did he try to make one.

"Sir?" Puneet's voice made him live in the office and the recorded voice of hers made him live in his lavish mansion. He was the only person in the whole castle. Sadly, he was left alone by his parents too, after her. They left him tangibly a year back, in a bus collision.

"Yes?"

"The reports are ready. Do you want to have a look at them?"

"Yeah. Keep it aside." he said, hardly paying attention to Puneet.

"You've got a call, sir." Puneet said, his hands tied behind his back, just like a school kid.

"Call? I don't think so." he checked his phone.

"Landline, sir. Landline." Puneet rephrased his statement as he was asked to leave the cabin with his boss' one eye sight.

Seeing through, checking whether he had gone, he took the landline and put it into his ear.

"Hello?" his voice, sober than usual.

"Hello!" he heard her voice, exactly after so many months.

"Ishani?" his voice, sparking out from the den. His own den of sorrows.

"Quite attentive, I must say!" he heard her squeak.

"Yeah? How're you?" he started the conversation on a lighter note.

"I'm good. How about you? All good?" she asked him, her joy, higher than usual.

"Good, I guess" he said, smiling carelessly after a gap of a few months. Though he did smile a few times in these few months, those were mechanical. This was natural, from his heart. "how about Chirag?" the last word was too low that she hardly found it audible.

"Who?" she asked him, incomprehensively.

"Chirag...How's he doing?" his heart sank with his name being uttered.

"Chirag? Chirag who?" she asked him, mystified.

"Chirag! Your fiancé!" he shrilled as Ishani continued, "Oh please! I broke my marriage with him. I'm not in a relationship anymore. I found him..."