Waiting...15

Sujata felt excited, Amit was returning from his business trip today. She fussed about in the kitchen, a place she seldom visited. Her recent visits to her village had reminded her of all the delicious stuff that her grandmother used to cook up with simple vegetables and she had decided she would make some of that for Amit.

His trip this time had been exceptionally long. Almost a month and she imagined that he would be craving simple home cooked food. She checked her watch yet again….she needed to hurry to be able to take a bath before he came.

Sujata often wondered about her relationship with Amit. Her own feelings puzzled her. The only two occasions she could remember when Amit had held her really close were during her labor pains and two months back when they had both rushed to Mussourie on being informed that Deeksha was being followed by an unknown man.

That was also something she was curious to know about. Amit had been receiving regular updates from the detective agency that had been hired to find the man and ensure Deeksha’s safety. He had not passed on all the details to her. Since he was away she had not pressed for details however now that he would be back she could ask for more information.

The familiar black gates opening to allow the car entry reminded Amit once again of a cave, his own den which protected him from all that happened in the outside world. His mind went over the past month and he couldn’t believe that he had actually stayed on hunting for a young man, whose name also he wasn’t sure of.

What madness had gripped him! The boy’s behavior had infuriated him, puzzled him and at last made him feel humbled. He was not used to charity and that’s what the boy had done towards him. He couldn’t come away without repaying the gesture in some manner. So he tried his best to find the boy. But try as he might he couldn’t find the boy. He had gone back to that pub every evening for a week but the boy never showed up again. He was afraid to ask after him, it would raise too many eyebrows. And there was the bigger question of who to ask after; he didn’t even have a name to start on.

Only the mails from the detective agency had the power to drag him back home otherwise for how long he would have continued on that hopeless pursuit even he wasn’t aware. The mails mentioned that the stalker was back after having disappeared for almost ten days.

Through all his passions and problems Deeksha remained one string that could pull him back. He still remembered the first moment when the nurse had taken him to see her. She had her eyes closed tightly and she seemed to be sleeping. A little red bundle with a very brave face. As he stood looking she had opened her eyes and smiled. He had fallen in love and that love helped him tide over the most turbulent and sad moments of his life, always.