Bittersweet

Chapter- 14

"You should call me every day," Sathya said when Raghu was neatly arranging his clothes inside the bag.

"I will and you don't come late at night. You know right, it's not safe to travel alone in that time," Sathya nodded hearing the advice.

He zipped his bag after packing, Sathya looked at him, she is nervous to see him leave and started missing him already.

"Two months is not going to be long, right?" He asked her.

Sathya smiled and nodded her head. She didn't speak much because if she did she might blabber her heart out. So she attempts to pretend like everything is fine and going to be fine.

Looking at her face Raghu felt disappointed. She isn't showing any signs of missing, but he already started having a thought to cancel this travel. He doesn't realize this is going to be very hard.

Taking his bag, Raghu went out. He sighed looking at his watch, the time is not passing too, and he couldn't stand here anymore. The more he looks at her the more his heart desires to stay with her.

"Don't go to work if you feel tired," he said.

"Okay," she agreed and looked at him.

He conveyed how much he is going to yearn for her through his eyes. She hugged him tightly, and leisurely chanting, don't cry! Don't cry!

Raghu draws her to meet her face. "I will miss you," he told which made Sathya's eyes to grow wider.

He is saying it for the first time in these two months. Even yesterday when they were talking about this travel after making love he didn't show any sign of missing, even if he said in that time she felt bad thinking he might miss her only in the bed. Now out of nowhere, it has caused too much emotional rush in her. Her tears have already surged.

Raghu leaned in for a kiss and Sathya closed her eyes. When their lips are about to touch his phone started ringing.

The call taxi driver informed that he is waiting before their house. He left his grip on Sathya clenching his jaw in frustration, with much regret and confusion Raghu walked out of the house taking his bag. Sathya followed him locking the door behind.

She fell into the pool of sadness after missing his kiss; they seated in the car after telling the destination to the driver. Sathya was silent, she doesn't know what to talk and Raghu was looking out without trying to initiate a conversation. This silence is unbearable to feel. She couldn't cry, she couldn't talk and she couldn't have the courage to ask him to stay.

"Sathya?" he called bringing her back from her thoughts.

"Umm?" she looked at him not wanting to look.

"Should I have to go?" his question made her eyes to roll.

"You have to," she said since he told this will be helpful for him if he starts his business in the future. His dream has to come true one day and she wanted to see his happiness.

Raghu without saying a word got down from the car. He paid for the taxi and walked inside. Still, there are twenty minutes left for the flight. So they waited looking at the taking off flights at the airport.

"Being silent doesn't mean that I am okay with your depart. I am sad," she confessed when he showed no interest to meet her face. She can feel he is pissed off by her attitude.

"It's okay if you are angry now, but after going to Germany you shouldn't show this same face to me," Sathya said. Raghu smiled. "I am not angry on you, I just can't leave you," he told.

"I can understand," Sathya blushed.

"Everything is going to be fine," she assured him giving a bright smile.

He smiled nodding his head. When they announced about his flight Raghu prompted to leave. He hugged Sathya all of a sudden, "I love you," he whispered near her ears.

"Bye, take care," he said with that longing tone. She had tears in her eyes but she let it out when Raghu turned to leave. Sathya stood there until he's out of her sight.

She came out of the airport. The sun was about to the set, and the sky was colored in crimson red which is so beautiful to look while waiting for the bus. More than sadness, more than nervous Sathya had a strange feeling that there is something big and unexpected going to happen in her life.

***

"I am tired, going to sleep, you?" Sathya replied when Raghu asked what she is doing. She was sitting on the bed and Raghu was sitting on the couch in his hotel room.

"I came back to my room, just going to look around the city with my friend here," he answered.

Sathya nodded her head. "What you are going to eat for dinner?" she asked.

"I don't know," he gave a clueless expression.

"Try some good restaurant," she suggested.

"Okay," he nodded.

"Then?" she asked.

"Are you going to work, tomorrow?" he asked.

"Yeah tomorrow I am getting my salary, so I have to go," she said.

It's been ten days since Raghu went to Germany, she is terribly missing him and was praying every day to pass this two months fast.

"Do you miss me?" Raghu asked.

"Hmm," Sathya smiled nodding her head.

"I miss you so much, it's very lonely to stay here without you," she added which made Raghu happy and yet sad. Happy to hear how much he means to her and sad because he feels the same way.

"I will come soon," Raghu told to brighten the mood. "Okay, I will talk to you tomorrow,"

After hanging up the call, Sathya stared blankly at her room. In this separation, she decided one thing that she shouldn't allow him next time or she has to go with him too.

She tossed off to sleep hugging the pillow. She really misses Raghu's arms hug that her tight against him.

Next day, Sathya woke up earlier, she slowly entered inside the bathroom, took a hot shower. Her body is kind of aching and she is feeling too tired but she has to go today. She came out wrapping a towel around her. Wearing a normal salwar, she tied her hair in a ponytail. Her hair was not great to see, her face was devoid of a smile. Preparing herself a cup of coffee and toasted breads she sat on the couch. Except her munching sound the house was silent. She can hear her own breath echoing sometimes which kind of eerie.

How he has been lived in here? she wondered. Yeah, she also likes to be alone but not like this where you could only hear your own breath.

He must be lonely for all his adulthood, Sathya now understood why Raghu always embrace her tightly while sleeping. Not because he likes her body, it's to shut down the loneliness that haunted him for all these years.

There will be a lonely side in each person which is not really understood by everyone even by that person himself. It makes you dangerous, anxious and turn you something which you don't want to be. The darker side of your heart is the castle of that solitude. The brighter you became, the darkness will go out of your life. Raghu's life became brighter once Sathya entered his life. He always feels she is something magical.

Sathya wasn't a depressing person as she seems; in fact, brighter than anyone else. She came to this far after facing all her struggle. She was the strength to her parents and now she made the headstrong Raghu fall this madly in love with her.

Sathya put a song from her cell phone to eradicate this silence, she changed the mood of the ambiance instantly and head to the balcony. Today the sky was teeming in dark clouds. She smiled looking at the city and got ready to face everything briskly even though she is feeling bushed.

Taking her bag and locking the door behind Sathya walked to the bus stop. She messaged Raghu that she reached the hotel once she entered inside. There's something off from morning, Bhuvan and Karthik kept discussing something without working and no one seems to bother about it. In the lunch break, the head chef Velayudham called her to talk. She eagerly went to get her salary, 

"Sir?"

He handed the cover, this was the first time he is giving the money in her hand, he usually transfers to her bank account. He looked at her apologetically, "Sathya, from now on don't come to work," he announced all of a sudden.

Sathya was stunned, she thought he is just joking. "Sir, are you telling this for real?" she asked in a low tone.

"Hmm," he shook his head.

"I've lost a large sum of money in the real estate business. Now I need to sell this place for compensating the loss. I told this to Karthik and Bhuvan in the morning. Don't worry, soon I will start once I became stable. I will inform you. Till then you look for some other place, sorry," he told and Sathya hands shivered to hold that money.

She can't be unemployed again, she has to look after her parent's. "Fine, Sir. Call me if you start again," she said which made him smile.

She came out of the room and headed to the kitchen, seeing her distraught face and money cover. "Did he said?" Bhuvan asked.

"Hmm," she nodded.

"All have left, and the hotel is closed now," he told.

"Oh, then I will leave too," she uttered looking down.

"Sathya don't be sad. We were waiting for you, this is our last day together, let's go to the coffee shop nearby," Bhuvan suggested.

She looked at Karthik who smiled lightly. "Hey, don't be afraid. Just half an hour. I don't know whether we will meet again, so..." Bhuvan smiled genuinely. Sathya knew they aren't the type of men to avoid.

"Yeah, Sathya," Karthik for the first talked with her.

"Okay," Sathya agreed.

She went to the locker and took her bag and removed her apron. She came out of the hotel where Bhuvan and Karthik were waiting for her. Giving one last glance she walked with them to the café nearby.

Sathya ordered a normal coffee, and Bhuvan ordered a latte and Karthik wanted tea. 

"So, what you are going to do?" Bhuvan started.

"I don't know, I got this job after much struggle and thinking about I have to struggle again really depressing," Sathya said looking at him.

"I am going to Dubai, you know right I got an offer from there and Karthik also coming with me." He told, hearing that Sathya regretted being a girl. If she was like them then she will have all the freedom to work anywhere.

"Oh, great," she smiled.

"I know you can't, but if you want to work there I will arrange for you," Bhuvan said.

"No, my husband won't allow me and I can't step out of this Tamilnadu," she chuckled telling that.

"Okay, I can understand," Bhuvan beamed.

That time their orders came, "We have worked together for a year but we never came together like this right?" Sathya nodded in yes hearing him.

"Don't worry, you will get a job soon. I have asked my friends, they will inform me if there is vacancy and I will forward it to you," Karthik said.

"Thanks," Sathya smiled and sipped her coffee.

Talking some random stuff about their ex-boss they decided to leave. Bhuvan and Karthik walked back to the hotel to get their bike and Sathya sauntered to the bus stop.

How I am going to tell this to Raghu? How I am going to find another job and how I will manage if my mom asks money since all her savings were used for the wedding now she has no penny except this forty thousand.

The dark clouds started shedding the rain drizzles. She simply looked at it thinking this. She missed almost five busses and when once got back to this world she looked at her watch, it's showed past five thirty.

She got on the next bus and went home. Stumbled on the bed Sathya left out a big sigh. 

You can do it Sathya! Don't lose hope! She said to herself and laid back on the bed.

That time her phone started ringing and it's none other than Raghu. With much reluctance, she attends it fearing how she is going to hide her grief.