In my little world ( Completed )

ANOTHER REVELATION

Anjana's narration :
"What are you saying ?" My mind went blank for a second, and stopped tying my hair.😵
" You heard it right. They broke up" Shruti made a long face.
" How did it happen ?" I asked.
" I have no freaking idea. After your call, I went to Preeti who was in a meeting. After she came out, I asked about Rajesh and this is what I came to know" said shruthi.
So this was the reason for Rajesh landing up in hospital. Why did it happen to my favourite couple, whom I admire a lot. What made them part their ways !? 😳
**********
The next day in the evening, I saw Achyuth sir walking towards the parking lot. I ran quickly and stood in front of him. " Sir how is Rajesh ?" I asked.
" Getting better" he replied, with
withered eyes, and dark circles. He didn't sleep properly at the hospital !! 😰
" I came to know that Rajesh and Preethi broke up " I said.
" That's great " he smiled and continued to walk. 😏What's with that smile ? "You would have taken a leave for today " I followed him.
He sighed stating , "how can I break my own rules, of not more than 2 leaves ?"
If I had 1% of his determination towards work I would have excelled in my career !
" Take care sir, bye" I bid farewell after he yawned closing his eyes.
*******
After few days !
" Have it " pk placed a cake before me.
" No " I'm in no mood to eat.
"don't want ? You refusing a chocolate cake is like a mosquito refusing a blood meal" laughed pk.😁 I stared at him to stop his lame jokes. "Why so serious ?" he asked crunching his french fries. "Not serious, disappointed " I replied.
"About their breakup ?" Pk raised his eyebrows.
" Worse than that ! Preethi is getting engaged next week " I revealed.
" Engagement ? With whom ?" asked pk. " With some business man. Yesterday she announced it in her office it seems. Shruti told me " I sighed. 😥
" All girls do the same. At first they like, then love and finally leave to marry someone else. Rajesh bro is innocent he doesn't know all these things " quoted pk. 😣
" Hello sir ! I have been watching Preeti for a year. If ditching was in her mind then why did she take the pain to help me when Rajesh asked her ? "
"And How can you generalise all girls?" I yelled. 😤
" Sorry ! Does Rajesh knew about it ?" he asked.
"Probably No. He'll break down completely, if he comes to know ! It's just been a week and why is she in a hurry to marry ? Did she break up because of this marraige or wants to marry because of the breakup ?" I was left confused.
" So, this is what is bothering you ?" Concluded pk.
" What's more bothering is, yesterday I called her and asked to give a second thought about her marriage. She told me to talk about anything else except Rajesh. How did she become so cold and cruel " I said.
" hmm...well it's their issue , we'll leave it to them" said pk.
" I feel that Rajesh still loves her. why don't we ask them to sit and talk? I'm sure it'll be solved " I spoke.
"Forget all that ! Now eat the cake don't waste it" persuaded pk.
"I can't see them getting separated. Why not pitch in, when your so called 'bro' has hit rock bottom !" I debated.
"Why are you so disappointed ? you'll stop eating for them or what ?" he asked.
" why are you so bothered about me not eating?" I yelled. 😠
He answered with a grin, "what can we do after all ? Rajesh is already broken, he'll ruin his carrer if you tell him now."
" Why would I disturb him when he has interview after 5days. We'll do something after that" I said.
*********
Evening of 5th March :
This is my one last attempt to bring the broken heartstrings together. Let's see what happens ! 😔
" Akka (elder sister) start now, I'll pick you up in the middle" said pk on the call. The next moment I called Shruti for the update.
" She hasn't arrived yet " she informed. I got ready and left the hostel. This is the first time, I'm going to visit Rajesh's house after moving to Delhi.
*********
Achyuth sir opened the door dressed in casual shorts and t-shirts. Looks like he came out from his bed. 😴"What brings you people here ?" came his question soon after he saw us.
"Good evening sir. Don't you welcome your guests inside" asked pk.
" Guests don't come at this hour " he replied. Little did he know that we came to drop a bombshell. 💣
" Sir, we came for Rajesh" I said and he let us inside his flat. It was dim lit but well furnished house with open kitchen and not a messy bachelor's room as expected. Achyuth sir turned on the lights and pk sat on the sofa, without any hesitation👦 "Rajesh is sleeping, why can't you meet him tomorrow ?" said Achyuth sir
" Sir can you wake him up ?" I requested. 😏 He gave a wry look, I know it sounded wierd but can't help dear !!
"sir we have very less time,please can you call ?" groaned pk.
Achyuth went into one of the bed rooms and came out after 10 minutes with Rajesh.
"Hello ! What's up " said Rajesh still dozed off. "Bro ! how was the interview ?" asked pk.
Achyuth sir moved to study table in the corner with his laptop.
"Hmm....not bad, not good, glad that it ended" sighed Rajesh. " How is your ankle? " I asked. "All good. Wanna have coffee ?" asked Rajesh. 
"We don't have time bro" said pk. 😋
" Pk, you're saying the same thing since you came. You don't drink,then what important work do you have on Saturday evening?" questioned Achyuth sir. 😎
This pk talks with no head and tail, and this Achyuth sir won't stop his interrogation and the matter ends somewhere else !😑 I signalled pk to sit quitely. With lot of hesitation I started, " Rajesh ! I'm forced to ask this question and you're forced to answer." Knitting his brows Rajesh asked, " about what ?"
" Preeti. How did it all happen ?" I asked. "Does it matter now?" he spoke with glazed eyes.😌
Pk and I tried our best to convince and make him speak up the truth behind their break up.
He explained that, a month ago Preethi's parents met a guy at their family gathering and wanted her to marry to him. The next day she insisted rajesh to meet her dad and tell him their matter. He wanted her to wait ! She wanted him to marry ! They argued for many days and reached a point where Preeti believed, that all the love Rajesh was showing is just fake. One fine day she broke up on a phone call and everyone knows what happened thereafter.
" Do you still love her ?" I asked.
" When did I stop loving her ?" he replied. "I don't understand about you men. You give your 100 % in love , not even a cent towards commitment " I sneered. 🙅
Rajesh frowned, " commitment ? Do I have a job ? Will her father accept a guy who couldn't get through the exam which he's been attempting it since 2 yrs, with no income and not financially strong than her daughter ? My father who is against love marriages in the first place, how can he say yes to a girl from other caste and culture ? I'm just 26 and doesn't want to rush into things. Anyhow I have decided to face all these problems and the only request I made to her is to delay things, so that I could workout on them one after the other. Is it so difficult for her ? And blamed that i used her. Tell me anjana ! Should I go running behind her father for acceptance, instead of preparing for exam ? Or fight with my dad who forced me to take up this bull shit exam ?! "😬
His words - loud and enraged, a quavering and strained tone dwelling in helplessness, eyes displaying the emotional turmoil, brought a lump in my throat.! 😕
A brief silence invaded and I moved to sit beside Rajesh, " I didn't mean to hurt you. It's a tough spot and I know how much you love her. Put yourself in her shoes and think in her perspective. She equally has all these problems and as an elder one among the 3 daughters, she has an inherent burden from her family, relatives to marry early. How  successful a women might have  progressed  in her carrer, still  she gets  a limited freedom to choose her partner in our society ! What can she do, if you don't stand by her side in this situation ? " I put my point.
" Yes, bro ! She is getting engaged" said pk. Widening his eyes Rajesh rested his neck back on the sofa and closed his eyes. He no longer had control over his tears and they flowed out from the side of his spectacles. 😫
I erased them and Achyuth sir, who was silent all this while, came running, " Rajesh ! Cool down man ! It's her loss, why are you crying ? Open your eyes" he pressed his forearm kneeling infront of Rajesh.
" Rajesh, be strong ! " I consoled him.
🙋 Pk pointed out at his watch that it's 7.30 pm. Taking out his spectacles he spoke, " it's all over !" 😥
"No Rajesh. Preethi's engagement is day after tomorrow at Chandigarh and she's leaving tomorrow. Listen ! If you truly love her, this is your one last chance to meet her and don't let her go. You might become an IAS, have money fame whatever you want, but nothing can fulfill the emptiness in your life if you loose her. Respond on time " i pleaded. Don't know why Achyuth smirked at me after my conversation. 😣
" She won't listen " he groaned. 😖
" It doesn't mean you should stop trying. You'll regret it later for leaving this opportunity. It's upto you to decide. I'll take leave for now !" I got up and was about to go out.