ALL IN THE MIND

4. Hriday

Taksheel might not like that. He'd want to have all of it to himself but I hope he'll understand this little thing. I still have no idea why am I doing this. It must be to distract me more from my wife. It kinda hurts to see her this way. I cannot even help her.

I take a quick shower before heading out for a walk. I usually don't bother much about any of it, but the day felt good except for this weird feeling I had in the pit of my stomach. It was as if, I'm going to lose something very precious to me.

The thought made me rush to my bedroom to see Adya still peacefully sleeping. Relief immediately took over me as I headed back to my office. Something was missing, even though everything was there physically. I finished my day's chores before rushing off to my office.

It must be so for I won't be working here anymore. My mind suggested as I stepped into my cabin, the tricky feeling constantly nagging me somewhere.

"Sir, Mr.Sameep is waiting for you." Someone spoke through the telephone kept on my desk. I took that as my cue to focus on work than anything else. Time flowed away and it was evening when I snapped out from the work zone.

I felt like talking to Adya for I was still uneasy about something. I knew she has a busy lifestyle due to her profession, and hence I really couldn't afford to call her just like that.

"Sir, the ground is dolled up for the event." The choice of words irked me but then, thank you, you! I showed the employee a thumbs up as he walked off and I called her.

"Hello." Her voice was...fresh.

"Hey!" I called because I wanted to listen to your voice.

No cliche, Hriday.

"I hope you remember about the party we have to attend tonight."

"Of course, I do, Hriday." She must be having that little frown on her features as she tried to sound sweet.

"Great! So, I'll see you super soon, gorgeous!"

"Sure."

I often hate myself for so being in love with her.

"Ready for the big day, Hriday?" Sameep inquired as he sat on the chair in front of me.

"Of course. I have been thinking about this for a couple of months. Nothing will go wrong."

"You're great, my man! Will see you later, then." He leaned closer to hug me, lingering around more than I would like.

Sick.

I immediately pulled away and walked off without a word, going straight towards my car, and drove off home. I made sure to shrug off my anger. I don't want to dump it on my wife.

The watchman was kind enough to park the vehicle on its spot and I rushed to our room. I was excited to see her all decked up for the day, enhancing her beauty.

I could see her reflection in the mirror from the doorway. With a sigh, I walked to where she was standing and hugged her from behind.

"You're looking beautiful." I never knew I'm this sleepy until now.

"You could've worn something more appalling, no?" My thumb caressed the fabric around her waist.

"Hriday, will that make a difference?" She turned around in my arms, her expression ever so soft as she hugged me softly.

"Adya! Well, as you like it." I kissed her forehead before we left for the venue. Before we could even step in properly, Taskheel was kinda cruel enough to take me away from my wife. I knew she won't mingle with people on her own, even after all those days of constant arguments due to the very same.

"The papers from the car, they say ten percent goes to Sameep. What about me?"

I get his impatience and furiousness, but was that the extent of his unfaithfulness for me?

"I guess we should wait till Sameep is here."

"Talking about me, you both?" Sameep joined the two of us, handing me a glass of scotch and a glass of wine to Taksheel. Taksheel gulped his in a go and got himself a refill.

We were talking about something random till Sameep decided to bother Adya.

"Congratulations on the deal, Adya!" He raised his glass at her.

"What deal, Hriday?" She looked at me, her gaze expectant.

"The collaboration I presented the other day. We closed that yesterday." Sameep spoke, her eyes constantly looking at me.

"I thought we won't do that." Her voice was faint, the calmness before the storm.

"It is for our good, Adya." I interrupted. And it was. We won't have to see these people again. I would be saved from hearing crowds talking shit about her.

"Good from evil is always destructive." She huffed out.

"Adya–"

"KEEP IT AWAY FROM ME."

I should have done that in the very beginning.

"Adya!"

"We need to talk, Hriday. RIGHT FUCKING NOW!" Is Sameep out of his freaking mind? Before I could protest, he dragged me to one of the rooms in the corner of the hall. Somehow, Taksheel was already there.

"You promised me you'd take that incident and video to your grave." His face was red by now, more red than a tomato.

"I have kept my promise, Sameep. What is wrong with you?"

"THEN WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS?" It was some digital news article with a couple of blurred images. The device shook violently in his hands and it fell on the floor.

"YOU RUINED EVERYTHING FOR ME!" He was a kicking and punching mess till it dawned up on me.

"I swear, Sameep, that thing is gone. It's not there. I don't know where it is." I knew though. It was in some pendrive which was kept through the archive section of the paperwork. I saved it for something major. I didn't do that.

"That's the problem," And out of nowhere, a pistol was pointed on my forehead. "Enough of you and your crap!"

That's when everything went blur for me. Taksheel maybe got in to take away the weapon but Sameep hit him too. Something loud echoed through the room. I felt something trickling down my leg. My head went lighter as I blinked through the darkness which was adamant to take over me. A scorching pain reverberated through my abdomen and my knees gave up.

And so did I.