Another Half Of Me - Chapter 15

Siddha kept on looking at the ice swirling inside the glass. With every passing second, his heart plummeted in a dark cavern. Why hasn’t she called? He played in his head every single conversation and message he had had with Roshni in the past couple of days, but he still couldn't figure out the reason for her anger.

“What is wrong with you?” Amit, his business associate and long-time friend asked. “Why aren’t you drinking?”

Without answering him, Siddha kept the glass on the table and went out in the balcony. He needed air. 1 more hour and then he would leave for Bangalore, he decided. Please Roshni. Call me for God’s sake. Mentally, he pleaded.

Suddenly, Siddha heard his phone ring. Running inside the room, he started to look for his phone. Scrambling everything in his way, he finally managed to retrieve it from under the pillow.

Roshni! 

Trying to control his breathing and rising heartbeat, he answered, walking out to the balcony and closing the door behind him without noticing everybody looking at him with surprise and shock.

“Sorry, I know you are angry with me. Don’t know the reason but I am sorry,” Siddha said not waiting for her to say anything.

“I am not angry with you. And, I am sorry too for not answering the phone. Really sorry,” Roshni replied trying to control her distress.

“Hey, sweetheart, don’t be upset, please,” Siddha pleaded with her.

His heart melted as she started giving him kisses on the phone. Unable to suppress his emotions, he said, “Come back to me please, I can’t bear it anymore.”

“I will. It’s only 2 more days and then I will be with you that is, if you are able to find me,” Roshni said, reminding him about their deal.

Smiling to himself, Siddha replied in a confident tone, “I will find you no matter what.”

He spoke to her for another 10 minutes and then disconnected the call. Opening the door, he stepped inside and saw everyone staring at him with Rudy standing in the corner smiling mischievously.

“Who is it?” Prashant Srivastava, his friend since diaper days asked. 

“Who, What? It’s no one. Just a friend,” Siddha replied trying his best to hide the secret.

"You should never lie to your doctor," Prashant said convinced that Siddha was hiding something.

“Bhai, we know you are lying,” Sid observed. Turning towards Rudy, he said, “You must know. Tell us who is it?”

Shrugging his shoulders, Rudy shook his head vehemently.

Looking at everybody in the room, Siddha knew that his secret would be out soon if he did not leave now. Gesturing Rudy, he said his farewell and left much to everybody’s chagrin.

Sitting inside the car, he looked at Rudy through the rear view.

“Thanks!”

“Anytime Bhaiji. Your secret is safe with me,” Rudy said laughing out.

Not trying to control the exuberance he felt inside, Siddha laughed hard after a long time. Suddenly he asked Rudy to stop the car and the moment he did, Siddha changed his seat and moved to the front.

Rudy looked at him incredulously.

“Come on, buddy. Time for us to go for a night drive,” Siddha said slapping Rudy on the back.

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