The Conversation - 2

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Rohan woke up, and his eyes, with very less effort, focused on the wedding card lying on the table near the bed. His mind informed him that he had one day left for the wedding.

'Are we going to the wedding?'

A question his mind had been asking him for the past few days. But still, there was no answer from his side.

In fact, he was not answering most things. He just wanted to be quiet for a few days to come out of this phase.

He was waiting for the moment when he need not lie about his dull eyes. Where he need not fake his attention. Where he need not have disturbed sleep.

He managed to complete the office work smoothly. It was time to return to his flat.

"Hey buddy, are you alright?" asked his colleague.

"Fine man, thanks for asking."

"Maybe could you just come over to the party we are hosting at my flat? If you really want to come, then only say yes."

"Definitely, I will come", replied Rohan with a smile.

But his colleague understood that he would not come. It was not the first time Rohan had accepted a party invite and did not attend.

The colleague smiled and left. Rohan felt sorry that he could not meet the expectations of his colleague and felt happy for the efforts to make him more active.

Rohan went straight to his home, and quickly got freshened up. Sitting in front of his laptop, he browsed through some news and his personal mail.

Eagerly, he opened his social media accounts for new messages. He did not see any. He then closed his laptop and tried to meditate for some time. He closed his eyes.

***

Rohan did not depend on the Alarm the next day to wake up. His eyes made him see the wedding card.

'Are we going to the wedding?'

He remained silent and moved ahead to quickly freshen up and complete the breakfast. 

He boarded his cab and reached the office before the actual time. He quickly indulged himself in the pending works from the previous day.

'Maybe it's the last time we see her' - He ignored.

'Maybe it's the last time we talk to her' - He ignored.

'Maybe it's the last time we hear her' - He couldn't ignore.

He left the office early and reached the room. He did not care about anything but the location of the wedding and how long he could spend at the wedding.

***

He was a little anxious when he reached near the couple for a formal greeting. They are busy with the marriage proceedings. Apoorva observed Rohan and wished with a smile. Rohan smiled back.

If he chose to sit too near to the bride, she might observe his troubled face. If he chose to sit too far there was no point in coming to the wedding - he could not hear her soothing voice.

He sat there. Still. Observing all the proceedings. He kept a smiling face although he was feeling nothing inside. He wanted to etch every moment into his heart permanently. Apoorva was looking at him sometimes.

The moment had come. The groom started tying sacred knots to her. The first one, the second one and finally, the third one. The three knots joined the two souls into one. They became the cute-looking husband and wife, officially. She was blushing and looking at the sacred necklace. Relatives clapped and blessed the pair.

***

"Come on sis, why do they have to tell you to convince me?", asked a frustrated Rohan.

"Because you won't listen to them. It's an obvious truth our parents know bro. Just a meeting right, what will happen?", asked Abha, his sister.

"I think it is too early sis, I am not sure."

"No one ever is. In my view, it's time you stopped sticking to the other side of the road. You have to cross it. You have to start another journey. You have to.."

"Really? You think I have to make the move?"

"Yeah, bro."

"Okay, fine. When and where I should meet her?"

"Yeah, she has been living in the same city as you. She is on leave now to visit home. I have sent you her details on your WhatsApp."

"That information did not answer my question exactly, sis."

"It did, my dear bro. Now given that you have her details and she has yours, you both can have a small talk about your date!"  - Abha hung up the call.

While Rohan was analysing various possibilities of disastrous outcomes by the dare his sis set him, his mobile notified him of a message from Abha.

He opened it and saw the photo and the name below that.

***

"The name is Rohan, my dear", said Ridhi's father.

"Ok Dad", she replied with an awkward smile.

His father showed her the photo of Rohan. 

'Not bad though', Ridhi told herself.

"Ha dear, they have agreed to your conditions. You can meet him any number of times. You can say no if you want. You can also yes.."

"Ok, Dad, why are you highlighting them as something special? They are the minimum things I can have right? I can't keep my head low and listen to whatever your elders decide"

"Ha child, right. You can meet him once you reach the location. See, you both are working in the same city!"

"Dad, thousands of people come to work there."

"Yeah, right, right. I think that's all I want to say. Have a nice sleep child!"

"Yeah, good night Dad", she hugged her father.

'So, Rohan it is. Let's see then', told herself before she closed her eyes.

***

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