In Search of the past days-4

Neha went to live with her sister Ragini who was working and living independently in the same town..she told Ragini everything..Ragini did not know what to say to her whether her decision was wrong or right but one thing that she was very clear about was that though Neha had made a tough decision..she was completely broken and shattered inside..and she was in need of a lot of care and support..Ragini hugged her and said.."Don't worry Neha everything will go fine..I am there with you"..

Rahul on the other hand was going through his own set of conflicts..everything just happened too early for him to realise or do anything..he was sitting absolutely motionless on the couch...and his face lacked an emotion..just then his cell phone rang..it took him two minutes to come out of his trance and receive the call.."Hello..hiee Rahul, Ragini here...".."oh hie..how are you?"..he replied....she said"Rahul actually Neha had asked me not to tell you saying that it did not matter anymore..but I thought I should let you know that she is here with me..so don't worry alright...".."hmmm...the thing is..."Ragini interrupted him and said"Rahul you don't need to explain things to me...I know everything..and I leave it to you guys..just wanted to inform you that Neha is with me and she is fine..you take care as well ..byee"..."okie thank you...bye"...saying this Rahul disconnected the call.

Ragini's call actually made him realise that Neha had gone...he thought to himself..."why did I let her go????"..."I should have stopped her...".."I cant live without her...how can she do this to me...she says she loves me..and knows very well that I love her too...then why??"...these thoughts broke him completely and his eyes were flooded with tears..after an emotional outburst that lasted almost an hour he got up had some water..went to his room...lay on his bed and fell asleep.... It was 6.30 a:m when the door bell woke him up...it was the milkman..he took the pack of milk...came inside...made a cup of tea and sat in the living room...today was his first morning without Neha since two years...everyday Neha would wake him up with a smile and a cup of tea...today he had the tea in his hand but Neha and her smile were missing..the loneliness of the house was slowly and slowly creeping into his heart,he was restless,irritated.disturbed.."why did she have to do that "he thought to himself...but this thought was not of grief but of anger..."well if she thinks she can live alone...then so can i...when she doesn't feel the need to carry on then even I won't beg her to return..she will regret her decision and will come back to me on her own...when she will realise that some things are easier said than done...she will come back..."...he thought over and over again...and gave himself a reassurance.."yes...she loves me...she can't possibly stay away she will come back..."...after several attempts of self justification..he managed to reduce his dissonance a bit..and when he felt a control over himself ... he got ready and left for work..

Throughout the day he made a sincere effort to keep himself distracted so that he does not think about her..and kept assuring himself that he is right and that she will come back on her own in a day or two...every time his cellphone rang he expected her call...but when he saw some other name flashing on the screen...all his hopes would crash in a second...He carried on like this for the 5 days..every morning he used to get up creating a strong front thinking to himself"that he is doing fine...without her..and she will come back realising her mistake.."..and every night he used to go to bed disappointed and upset..With each passing day his hope of her coming back faded.. Today is Sunday...Rahul..got up...piked up the newspaper and sat down with a cup of tea in the balcony...

[to be continued....]