A Unique Gift

PART ONE One, who is not disturbed by happiness and distress and is steady in both, is certainly eligible for liberation. —Sri Bhagavad-Gita 1| The Malhotra Residence Delhi, December 12, 2015 2:30 hours, The Malhotra mansion was buzzing with happy chatters as prominent people discussed business monotonously, clinking glasses at the occasion. There was a wave of enthusiasm in the air that made the environment more pleasing and delightful as the party slipped over its c****x, making sure to become a talk of the town afterward. 'Congratulations, man!' The men yelled barging out of the living room where guests were exchanging pleasantries to the pool area where the host of the night was sitting. The loud chatter of the guests faded in the background once they closed the glass door as they sauntered to the loungers where the Malhotra family was sitting, chatting animatedly about something. 'Are we disturbing something?' Vishal asked, looking somewhat ashamed for bickering his way amidst the family moment. His cheeks flamed in embarrassment when he caught Mr. Karthik Malhotra's eye. 'Not at all, child. We were going to attend the guests anyway and since when my children become so formal around me.  You boys are my cats as Viraj and Vihaan are. Feel at home!' Mr. Malhotra shrugged off the formalities, nonchalantly patting Vishal on the back. 'I can't believe this asshole is a father now.' Arpit exclaimed, engulfing Viraj, his childhood best friend, into a bear hug. He patted his back while smiling charmingly at Kratika, Viraj's wife, who returned the acknowledgment with a polite smile. She took Vera from her mother-in-law, Gayatri's lap while Viraj took Virshu from his father, Karthik's lap. 'It feels like yesterday when we went on the school trips and helped him deliver his lover letters. I can still listen to the loud echo of the slap that had imprinted across his cheek. I remember my father's hue and cries when he got to know about Viraj's wedding,' Arpit added as he eyed the two infants and cooed at the bundle of cuteness. 'And now we are here in his children's christening ceremony. Time has wings. It flies in a blink. Everything has changed, Jesus! I cannot believe my eyes. It has been seven years.' 'Trust me, man! I am in a daze too. They are hypnotizing.' Viraj replied as he paced back and forth, adjusting Virshu, a baby boy, in his arms. The infant made a gurgling noise amidst the conversation, but fortunately never cried. 'It's a blessing to watch them blink. They are so innocent. I am so thankful for you, Kratika. I cannot be any happier. Life's heaven after you stepped in! I love you more each day.' He added, glowing with happiness, bowing at the Lord mentally. Kratika smiled at her husband shyly. 'You should be, Jerk. You are the first father in our group. God forbid, I have lost twenty thousand bucks to this shithead in this bet. We thought Nakul would be the first one. He is way more smitten and careless to through off protection.' Vishal punched Raj on the shoulder and simultaneously blinked at Nakul who was eyeing his wife, Niharika with a meaningful look who blushed under her husband's intense gaze. 'Under construction, friend. Soon very, very soon.' Nakul winked snaking an arm around Niharika's waist and pecked her cheeks lightly. The men adjusted comfortably on the vacant loungers and the old couple excused themselves, giving space to their sons and their school friends. 'It is useless now, you dingledick when the milk is split over the surface. You should have hurried before. I do not know how you are spending your nights without making babies. For f**k's sake, Use your d**k!' Vishal exhaled. 'Who told you to make a bet? Didn't you know our rowdy Romeo? I knew this Satan would not resist. I mean who would. I was even surprised to see Kratika walking comfortably when I went to pick them at the airport after their honeymoon. I was expecting...Anyways, How are you feeling, Kratika?' Arpit asked, observing her crimson face, making his friends chuckle. 'Coping up!' Kratika said as she handed over Vera, the baby girl to Vihaan who made faces at the blinking infant, trying to make her giggle. With time, Kratika had become used to their absurdities and learned to live in it. She enjoyed their bickering too and had mingled with their companions, enlarging the cozy circle.  'Where is Rohan?' Vihaan questioned looking everywhere for any sign of his best friend who had gone on extinct after being engaged. It had been a while they had had some celebrating moments. Fortunately, the ceremony had provided them with an opportunity to have some leisure time apart from their hectic schedules. Vihaan was desperately hoping to have a good time reuniting with their old friends when his phone rang to inform him of a mysterious phone call they had received citing the death of a young entrepreneur, Agastya Singh Aharya. The news of mishappenings wasn't new for him anymore. He had become accustomed to curses and misfortunes.  'Haven't you investigated the spot yet? What's the update?' Vihaan demanded in an authoritative voice after listening to the otherwise carefully as he excused himself from his kinsmen and walked till a distance.  'Duty call at this time?' Viraj sighed at Vihaan's hopeless expression when he was simply nodding his head. 'I so despise his profession, dude! He had to choose the police service over the million-dollar empire father has created. What kind of dream is that? It makes you apart from your family at all the occasion. No specific time, no specific schedule and no security at all. I do not know how he has convinced Dad to let him has his ways.' Viraj muttered observing his twin from afar who was talking sincerely on the phone. 'I bet, it helps him forget about her or maybe it is regret for not helping her out. She would not have parted from him if the police had acted more sincerely at the right time, Viraj. He was looking for a change. It is high time! You should find someone for him. Someone who will occupy his heart and head. He cannot continue living like a broken heart moron.' Nakul said as they watched Vihaan walking back and forth at some distance. There was the volume of expressions on his handsome face as he yelled orders over the phone. 'You think I didn't try? I tried so many times, but he isn't ready to get over her. It's like an invisible shell is covering him, pulling him apart. She is a past that is shadowing over his future and is destroying his present. I have never felt so helpless in my whole life. I'm going to kill that girl if I ever see her again. I can't sit back and let him ruin his life.' Viraj heaved a long sigh, shaking his head at his twin brother's relentless pursuit for a forbidden dream. Within a few seconds Vihaan walked back and excused himself to get dressed in his serving uniform—Duty before self—was something they were taught while training in Hyderabad and so far he was living up to it or so he had wished for, but things were only turning hard for him when destiny was again getting in the way. I do not know who I am and what am I to you anymore. I do not know if we can ever switch back to what we used to be. I do not know if it is the right decision or not, but I know that my heart can never be wrong, Komal. Each night when I put my head to my pillow I try to tell myself I'm strong because I've gone one more day without You, without Your love then why can't I be helped once.  Not every love deserves a satisfactory conclusion, not every story ends with a happily ever after. With time, I have understood that it was never meant to happen, I have learned to live without you but I do not know why our destiny is pulling us back together when we had promised to never bump into each other again. It makes me feel petrified that I can only feel sorry...for you. I'm sorry that I loved you. ♣ The Rajput Residence Delhi, December 12, 2015 3:52 hours, The phone rang for sometime before it woke Komal from the deep sleep. Even a casual glance at the bedside clock couldn't flatten the deadening feeling crawling inside her heart while picking up the call at the unearthly time of the early morning, making her shiver. The early calls only bring bad news, which was her firm belief. Living in a conservative environment, She had been brought up believing in omens, universal signs, and luck.  Unknown number. The screen read, churning her stomach in anticipation and such that, with a thumping heart at an uneven pace and dry mouth craving to feel wet, she slides the green arrow to receive the call. 'Miss Rajput? Am I talking to Ms. Komal Singh Rajput?' The familiar manly voice spoke, almost panting. The voice was deep, nevertheless felt familiar as if she had heard it countless times. It reminded her of someone who, although, wasn't a part of her life anymore, yet meant the world to her. It reminded her of her past lover and unrequited love.  Who are you? Are you back? Komal thought and voiced out half of her suspicion, feeling excitement burning within. 'Am I talking to Ms. Komal?' The man questioned again instead of answering to Komal's inquiry, making her heart skip a beat. She wasn't feeling well after all as the recognition was hitting her hard. 'Yes, Vihaan? Is that you?' She whispered, tempted to hear more of the voice. The line went deadly silent for sometime before he spoke again. 'Ms. Rajput, I am Vihaan Malhotra – Assistant superintended of Delhi Police...' A gasped had echoed in the otherwise vacant bedroom as she heard Vihaan spoke on the other side and glanced at the wall clock, rubbing her eyes in an endeavor to get over her drowsiness. Fifty-five past three. It read. 'Are you there, MS Rajput?' He questioned, maintaining a professional demeanor while Komal made lame attempts to control her emotions. 'Officer Vihaan? Police? How? Why? After so long?' A quivering female voice questioned, alerting her instinct. She sat up on the bed and gulped down a whole glass of water, waiting for the man to speak further. 'Umm...why are you...calling now? Seven years,' She tried to speak anything when her brain denied helping, keeping her caught off guard. 'Look I have told you, I am over you, Vihaan. Your persistence won't change anything. There is nothing left...' Komal was about to yell when he cut her off in a stern voice. 'Ms. Rajput, I have bad news for you...your brother is under our custody and your fiancé is...' 'What? What happened to Agastya? Why is Bhai under custody? What is happening, Malhotra? If it is one of your sick methods, I am going to kill you. You hear me!' She could sense the hesitation in his voice at her outburst before he further spoke. 'Ms. Rajput, I guess there is no easy way to say this. Your fiancé has passed away. It is drowning until death whether accidental or intentional is yet to be decided. It is still unclear. I am expecting you to reach the police station. We will need you to identify the body.' There was a knot in her stomach. The tears struggled to flow but an inexplicable numbness overtook her. She could not understand the meaning of Vihaan's sentence for a while nevertheless, he continued speaking. 'Your brother was the last person spotted with him in the mansion before your fiancé's demised. We will proceed with our interrogation and I would recommend you reach the police station and call a lawyer. It may take a while. We may need to ask a few questions.' Vihaan paused to let his word sink in.  'Ms. Rajput, are you there?' He urged a response when he didn't hear anything as he yelled on the phone a few times before actually earning a response. 'Huh! Yes.' 'Make it to the police station, I am extremely sorry for your loss. ' He whispered concerned and paused to take a deep breath.  'I will be there.' Komal gulped. 'I have been waiting.' Vihaan responded before the line went dead. ————