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The promise

Komal knocked on the door and called, “Atharv, can you please open the door.” No response came from the other end of the door. Sighing, Komal again knocked on the door and asked “Are you angry with me too? Are you not going to talk to me? Atharv… if you don’t talk to me then I will feel bad. Do you want to…”

Just then the door wide opened and Atharv said, “Drama queen. Always emotional blackmail. You know well I can’t see you sad.”

Turning around, he went inside and laid on his bed flat. Coming inside, Komal sat down beside him and started patting his head while saying “Atharv, I know you are not happy but try to see it from your Dad’s perspective. All these years he missed his family and several times he wanted to go back but the situation didn’t turn out in his favor.” She sighed deeply before continuing “This is a good chance for him to go back to his family and he doesn’t want to miss it. You can also come to know your family background well and there is no harm in knowing your origin. Furthermore, your Grandpa has a big business empire in India. Don’t you want to see that?”

Atharv rolled on another side of the bed far away from Komal and said “I don’t have any interest in his business. I am happy here and I don’t want to go there. End of discussion.”

“OK, got it… I am not telling you to stay there forever. We will go there for a few days and come back again. In that way, you can see how India is. What do you think?”

Thinking for quite a long time, Atharv finally agreed “Hmm…” He nodded and continued “Not bad… We can do that.”

Komal smiled happily and said, “Then cut your hairs. Don’t make your Dad angry, OK?”

With that Komal stood up and strode out hurriedly.

“Mom…”

Irritated, Atharv shouted from her back but she didn’t pay attention to him. Feeling annoyed, Atharv groaned and sat up on the bed looking coldly in the direction of the door.

At night, he called Tina and explained everything. Tina shouted excitedly from the other end of the phone “Really? You are going to India. Atharv, please, please, please… take me with you. This is my wish to visit India once. I want to see the colorful people there, different cultures, different languages, different colorful outfits… it’s so beautiful. Please take me also… please Atharv.”

“Hold on… think again once. I think aunty won’t allow you. She rips in the name of India. How will you go?”

“Umm…” She thought for some time before saying again “Idea… you talk to her and convince her. I am sure she won’t say no to you.”

“Huh? No… no… I don’t want to die at such a young age. Forget it, you don’t need to go to India.”

“I know you don’t love me. You can’t fulfill my small wish. Go, I don’t talk to you.”

With that, she was about to cut the call, but she heard Atharv saying “Hey… Hey… Don’t cut the call.” Sighing, he said, “OK my love, for you I am ready to crucify.”

“Yippee…” She shouted happily. “I am so happy. See you tomorrow. I love you, good night.”

The phone disconnected immediately after that.

Atharv looked down at the phone with his mouth wide opened. “Good night.” He mumbled and his face contorted. He ran his hand through his hair dejectedly.

The next day morning, Atharv went to a luxurious saloon with Tina to cut his hair. Tina was waiting in the reception area sitting on the sofa, surfing the net. Half an hour later, Atharv came out feeling disheartened. He mourned his hair.

Tina’s jaw fell apart and her eyes widened to see him. For a few seconds, she couldn’t tear her gaze from him. She came to the earth with his words “I know you don’t like this look.”

Slapping his arm, she said, “You fool… you look even more handsome.” She placed her hand on his chest, looking up at him shyly “I didn’t know that you are so attractive.”

Smiling widely, he pulled her into his embrace and smirked “Really?” He lowered his head and whispered in her ears “If you find me so attractive then kiss me.”

She giggled and said “OK.”

She tiptoed and kissed his cheek. Releasing her, he smiled and rubbed his neck. “I will drop you on the way to the office.”

“OK, don’t be late for dinner. I will wait for you.”

Atharv dropped Tina at her apartment before he went to the office. After a long hectic schedule, he finally finished his works and came out of his office. It was half-past 8 and after informing his parents, he directly went to Tina’s place. Tina was eagerly waiting for him while her parents had no idea what their daughter was planning.

Once Atharv came, they happily chatted and had dinner together. After dinner, Tina cast a meaningful gaze at Atharv and he started saying, “Aunty, the thing is that we are going to India for a few days and Tina wants to join us, so…”

But before he could finish, Tina’s mother, Shalini stood up instantaneously and shouted “What?”

“Shalu…” Tina’s father Pradeep called her name and said “Don’t get hyper. She is an adult now. Let her go. It is only for a few days.”

Shalini was not happy and shot a complicated look at Pradeep. Rubbing her hands nervously, she shifted her gaze to Tina and looked down at her worriedly. Her expression was very ugly as though something was disturbing her peace of mind. She then looked at Atharv and said sternly “OK she can go with you but promise me that you won’t let anything happen to her. You will protect her always.”

“Mom, I am going there only for a few days. Why are you overreacting?”

Tina was not happy with her mother’s words. Several times she asked her to take her India once, but every time Shalini rejected her sternly. By mentioning the name of India only Shalini’s face turned pale and she started behaving weirdly. Tina had no idea why her mother had so many problems with India.

Shalini didn’t pay attention to Tina. She raised her voice and snapped “Promise me Atharv that you will protect her.”

“I promise… I won’t even let her have a scratch.”

Present…

Pa…

“You promised me that you will protect her, then why didn’t you keep your words? If you didn’t take her to India, then this thing had never happened. You are responsible for this.”

This slap and these words were ringing in his mind again and again for the past year. Heartbroken, Atharv was sitting on his bed looking down at Tina’s photo. “I failed to protect you, Tina. I am sorry. Please forgive me.”

Tears dripped down drop by drop. His hand holding the album was shaking continuously. After shedding tears for a long time, he sniffed and closed the album. Keeping the album inside the cupboard, he took out some pills from a small container and swallowed it. Picking up a water bottle from the side table, he gulped down a few mouthfuls of water. After freshened up, he laid on his bed closing his eyes.

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