3. Wait
888 Words
Rahi anxiously glanced at her wristwatch and swallowed hard.
It had been over an hour, and Anant still hadn't returned. She hugged her chest tightly, wearing a jacket as she paced in the balcony. What was taking him so long? He had promised to be back within an hour, and now only ten minutes remained to complete two hours. Irritation and restlessness grew within her, so she grabbed her mobile phone and called him, only to find it switched off. Panic surged through her, and she quickly dialed Assistant Neeraj's number.
"Hello! How may I assist you, madam?" Neeraj answered the call politely, already at his home engaging in intimate activities with his wife.
"Where is he? Let me speak to him. I need to talk to him urgently," Rahi nervously requested. On the other end, Neeraj narrowed his eyes, reclining on the bed.
"Madam, he left before me. He should be there by now," he replied.
Rahi's body trembled upon hearing his response.
"His phone is off, and he hasn't returned. Please try to contact him and inform me as soon as possible," she pleaded weakly.
"Alright, madam. I will check. Please don't worry," Neeraj quickly ended the call and hurriedly dressed himself. His wife looked at him with sadness.
"Why are you leaving in the middle of it?" she asked sadly.
"It's an emergency. I'll be back. Good night," he replied and swiftly left the house.
Rahi couldn't find a moment of peace as she anxiously waited for a call or any news about Anant. She kept staring at her mobile phone, her breathing heavy with sadness. Fear gripped her heart, and her throat felt dry from panic.
In the past three hours, she had consumed five cups of coffee, hoping for some news from Anant.
An hour ago, she had called Neeraj, her anxiety growing with each passing moment.
"Anu..." she whispered his name, leaning back on the couch and tightly closing her teary eyes.
Just then, her mobile phone rang, and she opened her eyes quickly. She wiped away her tears and answered the call when she saw 'Neeraj' on the screen.
"Hello..." Her voice was filled with anxiety, causing Neeraj to hesitate before continuing. He was drenched in sweat, trembling slightly.
"Ma'am..."
"Where is he, Neeraj? Tell me..." she demanded.
"Please come out of the villa. The driver is there to pick you up," he said hesitantly.
Rahi quickly rushed towards the gate, her mobile phone pressed against her ear.
"What happened to him, Neeraj? Where is he? Where is he?" she repeated, her voice quivering.
Miss Morrison stood in the living room as Rahi dashed out of the villa.
"Miss Morrison, take care of Ansh. I'll be back," she said, running out of the gate while still on the phone.
"Ma'am, please stay calm and cooperate with the driver," Neeraj advised before hanging up.
Rahi spotted a man in a black suit standing near a car at the gate. The driver opened the backseat door, and Rahi got into the car without asking any questions. She wanted to reach Anant, her heart filled with anxious panic. Tears filled her eyes as she looked out the window, unable to see clearly due to the intense rain pouring down.
After half an hour, Rahi arrived at the spot where Anant's car had veered off the road. The police and rescue teams were investigating the scene. The driver's body was being retrieved from the collapsed truck that had collided with the hill, while another team worked on the wreckage in another ditch. Despite the heavy rain, Rahi took in the devastating sight as she stepped out of the car. She couldn't comprehend why Neeraj had called her so late at night or what was happening there.
As soon as Rahi emerged from the car, Neeraj, who was talking to a police officer, noticed her. He hurried over to her, his body trembling with fear and sweat dripping from his forehead.
"Neeraj..." Rahi quickly approached him, her voice trembling and low.
"Where is Anu? Why did you call me here?" Her words were filled with fear. Neeraj noticed the vulnerability in her voice and panicked, swallowing hard.
"Please, calm down. Let me explain," Neeraj pleaded, his own voice shaking with helplessness. He was worried that the news he had to deliver would shatter Rahi mentally. He had seen her broken before when she faced a miscarriage, and it took immense effort from Anant to help her heal. Now, he feared that Anant wouldn't be there to console her, leaving her at her weakest.
Rahi's eyes, red and wet, fixated on Neeraj as she awaited his explanation, seemingly composed despite the heavy rain.
"The president left the airport alone in his car, and... he had an accident here," Neeraj revealed, his words hanging heavy in the air.
"..."
"The car plunged into a chasm, and the president was inside. The team hasn't been able to locate him yet."
Rahi's sharp gaze turned hollow, and tears streamed down her face like a waterfall. Neeraj had anticipated an extreme reaction from her upon hearing the news, but instead, she stared at him silently, tears staining her red eyes.
In the blink of an eye, she closed her eyes and stumbled weakly, succumbing to the overwhelming weight of the situation.
- Writer
