"Hello!"
My voice gets overlapped by my over-anxious sister.
"Bhai! What is this? You are not picking up your phone for the last four days. Hotel staffs know nothing. You didn't give us the number of your collaboration company. Do you have any idea how helpless we were feeling? I was about to board the next flight if that lady didn't call me and inform me about you. Now, tell me how are you? How did you get your mobile back? In any case, Bhai, if your mobile had been lost, still, you could have called me from other numbers. Sometimes I really wonder if you are a business magnet or a forgetful professor."
Navya's express train almost deafens my ear. However, a line of her entire ranting attracts my attention. I recline on the soft pillow and ask,
"We were feeling? You mean you and Cabir? Cabir was worried about me? Give me a break, Navu!"
I giggle out the last line. Some seconds of silence linger on the line and she replies with a suppressed sigh,
"He is not heartless, Bhai. But he can't forgive you either. I can understand his dilemma. Neither he can entirely blame you for Nandini's leaving nor he can forgive himself for that."
Nandini's reference makes me alert that until now, I haven't told her about Nandini. I have met her and I have even talked to her and....and about Maan. I didn't tell anything about my son too. Navya's eager voice breaks my reverie,
"Bhai, are you there? By the way, when are you coming back? It's been 20 days. Don't say that you are planning to stay in Salvador permanently. Then I have to plan otherwise too. I can't leave my handsome brother alone among those sultry Latinas...ha...ha."
She tries to lighten up the conversation. Suddenly something strikes my tired brain. What did she say? A lady told her that I lost my mobile. Well, who is this smart liar and who is interested to save me and my family from worry? I interrupt her,
"Navu, who told you that I lost my mobile? I mean who was that lady?"
Navya immediately replies,
"I don't know. I asked her but she didn't tell me her name. She just said that she works in the company with whom ELYSIAN is going to collaborate. After that, she assured me about your well-being. But I must say, she had a very melodious voice."
She sounds teasy and I calculate the whole thing in my mind. There is no doubt that Nandini only called Navya and told her about me. Lest Navu worries that's why she lied to her. Oh, God! This girl thinks so much about everyone but still acts so impassively. An indebted smile curves my lips. Navya again asks impatiently,
"Bhai! When are you coming back?"
I scratch my nape and reply with determination,
"I need some time, Navu. I am...I am in a dilemma. Need to be sure about something. Without that, I can't return. I won't."
She may whiff something from my tone.
"Bhai, are you okay? Are you hiding something from me? Should I come?"
Her concerned voice alerts me again. No...if she comes then Nandini will be under pressure and perhaps will take the decision to return to India. But that won't be her spontaneous decision and I don't want her to make her mind under some emotional influence. If she goes, she will go by her wish...wholeheartedly. She will go with me with full conviction.
"I am absolutely okay, Navu. I just need some time to wrap up this collaboration thing so that I won't have to come back again. I want to leave this place with full assurance. Please give me some time."
I plead. She takes a deep sigh and replies,
"Take your time, Bhai. Sort out everything. But I want to see your smiling face whenever you come back."
I chuckle at her childishness. I wish I could tell her about Nandini. But she has to wait. Even I have to wait to know Nandini's ultimate decision. Only then, Soha's words echo in my mind.
"Nandini has a stable present and can have a beautiful future with my brother."
Really? Will Nandini be happy with Aryamaan? I cut the call by saying a bye to Navya.
"Bullshit! She only can be happy with me. I have seen love in her eyes only for me."
My stubborn mind chides. I get up from the bed and stand on the ground. Soha told me that very soon I will get proof that Nandini loves Aryamaan.
"Impossible! She only loves me and I don't need any proof."
My mind feels exploding right now. I approach the glass window. This room is feeling stuffy and gloomy. I need some fresh air. I reach the window frame and remove the heavy curtain. Sunrays invade through the clear glass. I look downwards. From here the reception is partially visible. Only then, a disturbing sight catches my eyes. Nandini is hugging Aryamaan and swaying like a bunny. I unmindfully slide the glass and slightly open the window. Now, I can clearly hear her because she is quite loud.
"This Chudail loves you to the moon and back and nothing and nobody can come between us. Love you..love you..love you."
Then she pecks his left cheek making my heart feel a sharp pang. My eyes shift to the right side where Soha is standing. Our eyes meet. She has a triumphant glint in those. My eyes prick for a second. I close the slide and flip to return.
"Even friends hug and show affection to each other."
My optimistic mind comes with a satisfactory answer. I head to the bathroom and enter.
"Nothing and nobody can come between us. What did she mean by that?"
A part of my mind becomes sceptic and pessimistic. I stand straight in front of the washroom mirror. The reflection mocks at me.
"She means that you couldn't see, over confidant Manik Malhotra. At last, you got the proof."
My inner God taunts me. I meet my sceptical eyes and mumble,
"She unloved me. Then why can't I feel that?"
A soft knock on the closed washroom door pulls me back to reality.
..................................................
"Capthan Amelica...Capthan Amelica..." (Captain America...Captain America)
Maan is continuously wriggling in my lap while nagging on the same lion. Soha has already left as she has to arrange the evening get together. I watch Arya from the corner of my eyes. We can't leave without this little monster meeting his hero.
"Arya...I have some formality works in the billing department."
I take a pause and continue,
"Manik...I mean Mr Malhotra will be discharged by tonight. So, can you...."
Arya doesn't let me finish and take Maan in his lap from mine.
"I will make him meet. You carry on. Come, Buddy. Let's meet your superhero."
Arya utters with a smile. I embarrassedly smile back. Why can't I get me out of this mess? Arya approaches the staircase and I turn to the billing counter. Manik is quite fine now. They will discharge him by tonight. After that, I will tell him to return to India. Enough is enough. I can't take it anymore. And when there is no point to stay then he should go back.
"So, you have made your mind."
My inner Goddess asks me. In response, I just harden my jaws. There is no second thought.
"I have nothing to do with him anymore. Not with my past."
My determined mind chides.
"Then why did you get emotional to hear Navya last night? Wasn't it a call from your past? Didn't you feel to forget everything and telling her that you are Nandini? Didn't you feel like hearing your brother once?"
My inner Goddess hammers my brain. I know she loves to hit me below the belt. Tears prick my eyes. I gulp the saliva and up my chin. I have already talked to Mr Morrone that I want to leave this job. Because I know if I stay here, Manik will involve me in this project at any cost. And I don't want to face him anymore. Today is the last. Once he returns to India, I will also leave Salvador...even Brazil and will be lost again amidst the crowd of this world. Sorry Arya...sorry Soha. But I have to. I know I am running away from my past but I have no other option. Manik's presence is weakening me and before I lose the battle between my brain and heart, I want to be lost again. Far away from him. Far away from my past.
"Su cuenta, señora. 7,550,28 Real." (Your bill, Ma'am. 7,550,28 Brazilian rs)
The billing accountant breaks my trance. I nod at her with a smile and take out my debit card.
"Aquí está.(Here it is) Por favor prepara todos los informes.(Please get ready all the reports.) Las recogeré esta noche después de su descharga.(I will collect them tonight after his discharge)
I request the girl. She nods and takes the card for payment. I glance at the wristwatch. Should I go upstairs or leave? After a brief thought, I choose the second option.
"No, Manik. It's better not to meet you again. Not In front of Arya for sure."
I make my mind up and head to the exit after finishing the bill thing. Before leaving the nursing home premises, I turn and look up for the last time. Manik's cabin window is closed and covered with curtains. He must be busy with his son.
"His son?"
My mind arches its brow. With a sigh, I get in my car. Some things are not in our control and neither we can deny them. Still, we try to fight with our fate. As I am doing right now. Sorry, Manu. I know I am not doing justice to you by separating you from your father. But it's not just about you. It's about me too. I know your father loves you but he didn't do any good to your mother. I am sure you will understand my dilemma when you will grow up. I veer the car to Decoración office. I need to submit my resignation. I look up at the cloudless blue sky. Goodbye Salvador. It's always painful to say goodbye. But sometimes it's the only option left.
Author's note: So, Nandini decided to leave her past behind again. Is she doing right? Will Manik leave her too forever? In the next, some emotional twists and turns will take their places. Some reality will come out and some heart-breaking incidents will happen. Stay tuned to witness. 🙏❤