Author

******

He had changed and the sudden transition in his behaviour had not gone unnoticed by anyone, neither his family nor friends and employees.

They were worried thinking what was the reason for the gloomy appearance of their boss who always used to have a charming smile on his face no matter what.

He entered the office premises just like always but didn't spare a glance at anyone and headed straight to his cabin.

Although he was not rude to anyone, still his cold demeanor was sending shivers down the spine of everyone making them shudder.

Entering into his cabin he called Niharika through the intercom. Without wasting any second she was there in front of him.

"What's my schedule for today?" he asked while his gaze was fixed on the reports he was reading.

She narrated his schedule and all the while was looking at her friend's tired and pale face.

Everyone who had known him for a long time knows if something bothers Dhruv Kapoor then he takes the help of overwork and that's what he was doing.

The problem he was in had a very simple solution. All he needed was to go and take his muffin in his arms.

But then it's the love we are talking about, it only sounds simple but the reality is far more intricated.

******

Namit

******

I was feeling hot suddenly by the sudden change in the game. Both of them were right and I didn't know whom to support so I decided to be the silent spectator and let the result decide.

"Who do you think will win?" Arjun whispered.

"I don't know. They both are champions and you can never decipher their next move." I replied.

"So you are just a spectator this time?" Hredhaan queried and I replied, "Yeah, it's better this way only."

"I am supporting my sister," Kiaan said.

"And why is that?" Hredhaan asked him although I also wanted to know.

"Because she is gonna win."

"And how are you so sure? Grandpa will eliminate her in the next move."Hredhaan was also a champion in the game Sama and grandpa were playing so it was easy for him to discern.

"I wish grandpa wins because I liked his plan," said Arjun.

A few hours ago grandpa had told us a plan, that was supposed to reunite Dhruv and Saavi but Sama was reluctant. She wanted to let them find their way to each other. She was sure they both would end up together very soon as we had seen both of them yearning just for a sight of one another but grandpa wanted to play the role of a cupid in his stupid grandson's love life.

Well, grandpa was the one who called him stupid not me so don't blame me.

And since both the grandfather-granddaughter duo are stubborn, they decided to have a match of chess and the losing side would have to agree with the winning side.

I didn't choose a side because both grandpa and Sama were right at their point.

"You are gonna lose, my pumpkin." grandpa said smiling widely and Sama made a sad look.

Oh MY God! I knew this look. Kiaan was right, no matter what Sama would win for sure.

She had traits to confuse her opponent and that's what she did. Grandpa thought that he was gonna win but the case was contradictory.

"I win," Grandpa exclaimed.

'Wrong move grandpa.' I mumbled.

"It's my move now." said my dear wife.

"But I won."

"Not yet old dad." She replied smugly and played her move. Grandpa couldn't even realize what happened.

"Not again," he said a bit sadly while Sama giggled.

Ah! How much I love her.

Sama went out in excitement to tell Maasi that she again defeated grandpa when Arjun asked, "So you are not gonna execute your plan?"

Furrowing his eyebrows grandpa asked, "Who said that?"

"But you lost."

"Oh, I played the game for pumpkin's contentment. I am surely gonna execute my plan," he said grinning.

"yes, it will be so much fun." Arjun was very excited and Hredhaan too.

"Namit, don't tell your wife about this otherwise she won't spare either of us." grandpa warned me. Well, his fear was genuine.

"Don't worry grandpa. I will take care of that." Kiaan said keeping his hand on my shoulder trying to intimidate me.

Whenever she would get to know about it she would show hell to each one of us that was for sure. I thought to prepare myself beforehand, how to woo your wife when she is angry as hell. It was a must for me to better start working on that.

******

Saavi

******

Then days, our hour, forty-five minutes, five seconds, and four milliseconds were spent without him.

I was missing him.

'Did I hurt him that much that he didn't even care to text me or call me?'

It was hurting excessively. It hurts like hell when the only person you love ignores you. I wanted to apologize, wanted to express my feelings but he was not giving me any chance so that I could even meet him.

I was in some confusion from the last few days but a few of them got cleared, all because of Dhriti.

******

FLASHBACK

******

I was pacing in anticipation waiting for Dhruv. Time passed by but he didn't come. I had sneaked out of my room to the garden just to have a glimpse of him.

A few moments later I turned around and found Dhriti there.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

"I couldn't sleep." I lied not meeting her gaze.

"You and Dhruv both are the same you know. None of you knows how to lie." My lie was caught. I pondered over why was I such a terrible liar.

"Dhruv is going to stay at Arjun's place tonight," she said breaking the silence.

"He is avoiding me." Before I could realize what I just blurted out Dhriti had already heard it.

She sat on the chair placed in the garden and asked me to join her.

"You know, sometimes we do something thinking it as a selfless act but that only brings pain to the people we care for."

"But isn't being selfish a cowardly act?" That's what I had known all my life.

"Not every time. Sometimes you need to be selfish. Your inner demon will always try to pull you back, your inferior complexities will never let you breathe but at that time all you have to do is listen to your heart."

"What if your heart's decision will bring pain in other's life?

"Assumptions complicate things and right now you are making assumptions." Her words hit me hard.

"Can I ask you something?"

She nodded and I continued with that one question I was yearning to know the answer to ever since I had heard grandpa that Dhruv was lost when I left. I wanted to know what exactly he meant.

"What happened to Dhruv when I left?"

"I can't tell you this," she replied.

Holding her hands I pleaded, "Please. I want to know." Tears were already brimming into my eyes and she said, "I don't know much as I was not in his life at that time and only those who were with him can tell you about it. But I would suggest you should not hear it."

"I want to." Sensing the determination in my voice she said, "Fine, you will know it tomorrow. I will do something about it."

******

I was in my room when Dhriti came.

"Are you ready?" she asked. I nodded and she took me to the garden where I saw Arjun.

"Hey, Chubby Cheeks. Dhriti told me you needed my help."

"I want to know something. I want to know what happened to Dhruv when I left."

Hearing me Arjun's eyes widened and he almost yelled, "What?"

"I...I can't. I am sorry." he said and got up from his seat.

"Arjun, please. I want to know."

"You need to help her Arjun." Dhriti supported me.

"Why didn't you ask Namit?"

"He will never agree to it even my stubbornness will not work on him regarding this matter," Dhriti said and I was glad that she was trying to help me out.

"Dhriti, I can't do this."

"Please Arjun. For God's sake just look at her. How does she look? Happy? She isn't. And about Dhruv, do you like how he has become these days? They both are suffering and by telling her you will only help your friend."

At last, Arjun had to give in.

"Dhruv is going to kill me," he said and took his seat again.

Taking a deep breath he started to narrate what happened to Dhruv after I left.

"And that's how he became crazy for you. He had stopped singing, he used to paint in his free time and the letter you left, he used to read that letter every alternate day only to remind himself that you were really gone. I have seen my friend drowning into the pit of grim sadness Chubby Cheeks."

In the end, my tears were rolling down freely. Every word of Arjun pierced my heart just like a needle.

"You are the only one who can keep him sane." With that one statement, I had broken down. I ran inside my room and had cried my heart out after closing myself between the four walls of the washroom.

How can I be so selfish?

How can I decide to take my life?

How can I overlook his love for me?

Those questions rang in my head over and over again.

I was feeling ashamed of my act that I perceived as selfless was not even close to that word.

I was naive of the fact what I meant to him. I presumed going out of his life would only bring harmony to him but was heedless that it would create havoc and will destruct him further. But not anymore. I had realized my mistake and I was ready to repent for all my deeds. I prepared to ask for his forgiveness until he forgives me.

'I will not let you hurt yourself Dhruv, not anymore. Your muffin will reinstate the lost smile on your lips and the shine of your eyes.' I vowed.