How can he forget?! It was 9th anniversary of their relationship and as usual he has forgotten. ‘I don’t get it?!’ Rishav exclaimed in his mind and chastised himself at the same time. Rishav certainly remembers thinking of buying a gift and reaching the restaurant on time last night, before going to bed.
‘THEN HOW CAN I FORGET?!’ He chastised himself once again and this time loudly without giving a second thought to his employees’ opinion. Actually Rishav doesn’t need anyone else to answer the question he has been asking himself. As usual his day has started with his mind in business and only business. Khanak, his girlfriend or their anniversary hasn’t even crossed his mind.
Khanak, his sweet and beautiful girlfriend. Rishav knows he is in for a big time lecture. But as always she will forgive him. The thought bringing a frown on his face. Lately she forgives him too easily as if she expects him to disappoint her. The thought starts suffocating him.
Rishav shakes his head as if brushing off the thought. Maybe she understands how busy he gets with business. He still have time to buy a gift for her and reach the restaurant on time. She will forgive him because she is sweet and loves him not because she has started to give up on him. ‘How can I even think like that! It’s so ridiculous’ And just because she will forgive him easily doesn’t mean he isn’t going to grovel for his mistake.
Yes that’s what he should think about – his peace-offering instead of unbearable thought of Khanak giving up on him.
He looks around his office as if his gift for her will appear out of nowhere. No, ceiling to floor glass on his left isn’t of any use. Neither is book racks filled with files and some show items on his right; or the small meeting table with 10 chairs and a mahogany table, few feet away just in front of his office desk. Nothing is helping. Frustrated with looking around his office, he goes to the attached rest room.
‘What should I give her?’ Rishav kept chanting in his head while splashing water on his face. Then suddenly his pen drops from his shirt pocket. ‘Damn! This is what I just needed! To lose the pen given by Khanak on the day before I signed his first deal’ He talks sarcastically with himself while looking in the mirror. With a groan he goes on his knees to get the pen. Just as he is about to get up with the pen in his hand, he notices the position he is in and the gift he was looking for her comes in a flash. What’s better way to grovel than being on your knee with promise of a beautiful future in hand, in the form of engagement ring.
He can’t believe he didn’t think of it before. Yeah, marriage doesn’t fit into his plan now but they can have a long engagement.
With a bounce in his steps he goes back to his office to call his assistant. ‘No, I will choose it myself!’ He thinks and leaves his office, informing his assistant that he is leaving for the day and instructing his assistant to arrange a grand party on coming Sunday. Whole world should join in their celebration.
With happiness clear on his face he goes to the nearest jewellery story wishing that he finds something she will like. And thankfully he didn’t have to look a lot. He found the perfect ring for – a heart-shaped topaz stuck beautifully in a platinum band.
With the ring box in his pocket, he starts driving toward their date restaurant. A smile fall upon his face when he thinks about how easily it has become their norm to meet at the same restaurant at 8 pm on birthdays and anniversary. But Khanak still thinks it’s duty to remind him on the evening before of the scheduled time. He looks at his phone, thinking has he missed her text or she hasn’t bothered to text him. Again the unbearable thought of her giving up on him comes into his head but again he shakes it off. And he knows this is also his fault because ever since their relationship has started he has been busy, first with college and then with starting his business, and have very rarely made it in time. She has always been the one waiting.
Maybe that’s why she hasn’t reminded him. Maybe she has decided to test him that whether he will even remember if she doesn’t remind him.
‘You are in for a great surprise, my Khanak’, he smirks thinking of his gift for her. ‘I bet she wouldn’t expect this!’.
He looks at his wrist watch, ‘shit, I am going to be late’. He thinks of calling her for telling her that he will be late but then changes his opinion. Let her think that he forgot. He smiles thinking how she will start her rants even before he will have taken a seat.
‘Again, really?! I am not even going to say anything this time. Let’s just have dinner’.
Then after a few moments when she won’t be able to not say anything, she will again start, ‘Do you have any idea how long I’ve been waiting? But what does it matter. I am not going to say anything’.
Then again ‘You don’t compliment me! Heck, you don’t even apologize’! Then, when he will begin to say something she will stop him with her ‘I dare you to apologize or give compliments to me now’ and he won’t be able to say anything.
He frowns thinking of the new line she has added ‘sometimes I think only I want this relationship not you, Rishav’ which is wrong… so very wrong. He wants her! He wants this relationship! Ever since he has known that girl doesn’t have cooties instead they’re rather beautiful. He has wanted to be with her and only her.
He smiles, thinking of how she won’t have this complain anymore after seeing his gift. Seeing this ring she will believe that he loves her though his actions sometimes say otherwise he truly does love her.
Unwilling to try her patience anymore than he already had, he is twenty minutes late as it is, he runs in the restaurant as soon as he parks the car. But as soon as he enters the restaurant he knows she isn’t here. Maybe because his eyes doesn’t have to do much effort in order to find him or may because of the dreadful feeling of losing something precious has started creeping into his heart.
He shakes his head to not lose his focus. Maybe she hasn’t even come yet. Or maybe she is so angry that she has just left. But no matter how much excuse he tries to give himself, he knows this is the day…. THE DAY HE LOST HER.
CHARACTERS:
1. RISHAV MEHRA: 28 years old. BBA from University of Delhi. MBA from IIM, Bangalore. Has started his own business of real estate at 24 which provide beautiful homes with interior decoration of clients’ choice. By the age of 27, his business was hit. Male protagonist.
– Dinesh Mehra: Step-father and paternal uncle of Rishav, has few shops of furniture in Delhi and Dehradun.
– Anjana Mehra: Housewife. Was pregnant with Rishav when her then husband died in accident and her in-laws thought it fit to get her married to her husband’s brother i.e., Dinesh.
– Anish Mehra: 25 years old. Half-brother. Helps Dinesh with his business.
– Shaili Mehra: 22 years old. Half-sister. In 3rd year of AIIMS MBBS.
2. Khanak Negi: 28 years old. B. A and M. A in English Literature from University of Delhi. Part time lecturer in University of Delhi. Does workshops on literature, Fiction Writing, News writing. Female protagonist .
– Suman Negi: Mother. Has opened a boutique nearby her house after her husband’s death.
– Prakash Negi: Was in Army and died on duty.
3. Ankan Rawat: 28 years old. Richest among 3. Studied business from University of Delhi along with Rishav and has done his MBA from Harvard Business School. Manages his grandfather’s hospital. 2nd male protagonist.
– Kirti Rawat: Mother. Head of neurology department in the same hospital.
– Ajay Rawat: Father. Law Professor.
– Sanjay Rawat: Brother. Junior partner in a famous law firm.
– Anita Rawat: Sister in law. Senior associate in the same law firm.
4. Ragini Sharma: (will enter later on) 26 years old. Completed her law degree from Indian Law Institute.
– Sangeeta Sharma: Mother. Assistant branch manager of a bank.
– Vipin Sharma: Father. Head accountant in a private company.
– Karthik Sharma: College student.
5. Friends:-
– Rishav’s and Ankan’s: Shivam, Abhishek, Siddharth, etc.
– Khanak’s: Saumya, etc.