The Binding String

S E V E N T Y - F O U R

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YEAR 2015
JUNE
CAFE HENRICI, ZURICH SWITZERLAND

"Sir, here is your breakfast. Your fried bacon, patato pancakes, croissant and black coffee."

"Thank you." Raman replied with a crisp smile, head still buried infront of the screen of laptop. "Have a nice day, Raman Sir." Raman shot his head up listening his name from waitress who appeared to be an Indian. He fixed his reading glasses before taking a closer look to a woman who was standing few feet away wearing a soft smile on her face. He narrowed his brows, his facial muscles turned tightened first and relaxed few seconds later as he tried to recall the face he felt familiar.

"Sam, kannst du kurz herkommen?" (Sam, can you come here for a minute?)

"Kommen." (Coming.) "Samaira, previously Patel now Khanna, IIM-A Batch 2007-09. Nice to host you here Raman Kumar Bhalla " It was nothing less than a shock for Raman to find his former batchmate working in the cafe. He didn't remember much about Samaira except the fact that she is the only daughter of thr current chief minister of Gujrat, Mr. Anand Patel and got married to some NRI few years ago then what exactly happened with her which made her land in this cafe. Her sudden presence indeed intrigued him to dig more about her presence.

SAME EVENING

"It was unexpected to see you here Samaira." Samaira Khanna smiled genuinely looking at her old batchmate. "Congratulations, I heard you were promoted as VP. I always knew you will do some big one day." Raman shook his head and asked her to take a seat. "It's just a small achievement. Sky is a limit." Raman replied in a crisp tone and ordered two coffees on his behalf eager to have a conversation with her.

"I heard you got married to some NRI right after our college ended. Are you guys staying here?"

"Yes, my husband owns several retail outlets across Europe and some restaurants as well."

"Hmm...nice nice. Then what made you work here? It's quite shocking to find IIM Alumini working as a waitress."

"Nothing. Just like that......" Raman felt uneasiness in her voice but he said nothing. He offered her croissant and coffee which she took without creating any fuss. "Tell me something about you. Married or still single?"

"Pretty much married." Raman pointed towards his wedding band with a curt smile. He wanted to ask her more about her life but her phone went off meanwhile and she took a cue to leave. It was first meeting of Samaira Khanna and Raman Kumar Bhalla which left Raman in a deep thinking and he was sure they are going to meet quiet often.

ELEVEN DAYS LATER
TRIEMLI HOSPITAL, ZURICH

"Raman thanks for helping this out. I can't tell you what this help meant for me. If you didn't paid the bills athan I might lose him today."

"It's okay Samaira. I am glad that I able to help you in some way." Raman squeezed Samaira hand and took her towards cafeteria. He handed her a glass of water and took another for himself as they settled on the chairs. "What happened to your husband? And why he is in such condition?" Raman dared to invade her personal space today, hoping if it didn't made her feel offend.

"He met with a deadly accident an year back while driving back to home. It was a terrible accident which left him in coma. I was devastated seeing him vulnerable and bedridden, Raman I tried my best to give him best possible treatment but nothing worked. Our continuous absence from the company started affecting his business, his business partners who were always jealous from him named everything after them leaving us penniless.