“Raj, Raj….” It was Aravind’s voice, he sound as if in deep distress.

“Hey Aravind have you people reached Tirupathi? How is the whether there?” Raj was half asleep when Aravind had called him.

“Raj listen to me careful. We met with a an accident on the way to Tirumala”

“What the hell are you talking? Are you people ok? How is Anu?” Only then, Raj realized the seriousness of Aravind. He could hear the ambulance sound over the phone.

“Anu is serious, I am ok. As we fell from the bike she hit herself against a rock. It’s a bad head injury. I am worried doctors say it’s really tough. I have no one for help. I am scared Raj will you come here?”

“I will start immediately Aravind, don’t worry nothing will happen, she will be alright. Have you informed her parents?”

“No Raj, I have not informed as yet. I wonder if they would understand the situation. Raj I will call you later doctor is calling me”

“Are you the person who rode the bike? Are you her husband?” asked the grave looking doctor.

“No doctor I am just a friend of hers, we came to visit the temple and on the way had a flat tyre, which lead to all this” 

“She needs a surgery immediately, please ask her parents to come as soon as possible” before the doctor could finish, they heard the nurse calling in for the doctor.

Aravind’s heart beat faster and faster, as he saw a team of doctors attending on Aun.

He quickly called up Raj, “Raj are you coming? I am very worried, doctor says surgery is a must” Raj could hear Aravind crying.

“I am on my way Aravind, you need to wait for few more hours don’t worry nothing will happen. What did the doctor say?...”

“Raj the hospital name is Sri Tirumala Hospital, please make it…” and the line went dead.

He quickly dialed Anu’s house and her mother picked up the call.

“Hello, aunty I am Aravind here”

 “Hello Aravind… I think Anu is not at home…”

“Aunty Anu met with an accident, nothing to worry she is ok, can you please come to Sri Tirumala hospital in Tirupathi?”

“What are you talking why did she go there? What is happening? She never told me anything about this trip? How is she now? Is it a serious accident?”

“No aunty she is ok nothing to worry, please come here as soon as possible” and the line went dead.

Anu’s mother with palpitation tried to reach the same mobile number again and again but Aravind never picked up.

“Mr., have you informed her parents? The more you delay the more we have chances of loosing her” said the doctor.

“I have informed doctor they are on their way. How is Anu now?”

“Well the bleeding is excess, I can’t say anything now. Trust in God”

Aravind was literally shivering. He was so scared that he was feeling his head spin.

After 15mins, a nurse came to Aravind,

“Sir, please sign in this form, we are going in for an emergency operation”

Aravind signed in the place where it said husband of the patient. He saw Anu being taken into the operation theater. She was unconscious. Blood trailed down the cotton which was kept on her head. He turned away as he could not hold the sight anymore.

Aravind and Anu were colleagues. They got along very well. Almost all of them in the work place talked that they were in love. But there was nothing like that between them. They were just good friends.

Anu’s parents Mr. and Mrs. Rajiv belonged to the high class society. They had no time for their only daughter. Mr. Rajiv was a business magnet; making money was his only aim while Mrs. Rajiv did nothing but spent all the money that her husband made, like all high class women. Their only means of talking to each other was the cell phone. They even conference calls, technological advancement, which has made poor relations.   

Anu was a down to earth person. She was never like her elite parents. As soon as she completed her engineering, she got through a company in campus interview. Her parents had hosted a huge party as she got through one of the most prestigious IT organizations. Anu enjoyed the work that she was doing. Aravind came into her life two years after her service in that IT Company.

Aravind was from an upper middle class family. A very coy person by nature, it was his second job in the IT industry. He was a very dedicated worker. And as fate would want it Anu also worked in the same team. Late hours work, delayed lunch and dinner made them friends very soon. Life was very smooth as they got along very well; they had the same kind of wave length. They went out together for shopping and dinners. They gelled well that most of their friends teased them to be lovers. Anu had introduced Aravind to her parents. But they didn’t show much interest as Aravind didn’t belong to their elite society. But Aravind never bothered to take her to his house. He was worried that she would not be comfortable in a middle class house.

“Aravind, what happened to Anu? Where is she? Why didn’t you get some first aid done for yourself?”

Raj had reached Tirumala earlier than the stipulated time.

“Raj, they have taken her for a surgery. I am scared, what would happen” and he broke into heavy sobs.

“Aravind control yourself. Have you informed her parents and your parents?”

It was only then Aravind realized that he had not informed his parents about it. He gave his cell phone to Raj and asked him to inform his parents about it.

Just then they heard a loud screech of a Mercedes car pull by the hospital entrance. Mr. and Mrs. Rajiv came running inside the hospital and started enquiring in the reception.

“Raj that’s Anu’s parents” Aravind felt his body shiver with nervousness.

“Uncle, I am Raj Anu’s colleague”

“Where is my daughter? What happened to my daughter? Why did she come to Tirupathi?” and a line of questions were asked to Raj by Mrs. Rajiv.

“Aunty she came with Aravind to visit Tirupathi by bike…” before he could finish Mr. Rajiv held Aravind by his collar and said “You rod the bike did you? How dare you. How dare you think of eloping with my daughter? She is a rich business man’s daughter so thought you will get all the money ah…”

“Uncle mind your words, we are just friends, and we came to the temple…”

“For getting married. I know you cheap minded middle class people” and he hit him hard on his cheek.

Aravind was already weak with his open bleeding wounds and so he fell down to the floor.  

“Uncle please control yourself they are just friends, it was just a casual visit to the temple. I work with Anu I know them both”

“You stop it bloody fellow. You are also a culprit” and the argument continued until

“Will you all stop this; this is hospital not a fish market. Now stop all the commotion, do you have any idea how serious the patient is?” said the nurse who came out after hearing the noise.

Aravind got up from the floor and asked the nurse, “How is she?”

“Your wife is not that well. Doctor says it’s quite critical. Doctor will call you” and she went back.

“So you got married to my daughter, how dare you” and Mr. Rajiv came to hit Aravind again.

“Who is the patient’s husband here?” asked a doctor

“She is my daughter, she is not married” said Mrs. Rajiv

“Well I am sorry madam we couldn’t save your daughter. She is in her last moment you can see her if you want to”

“Oh! My God” and Mrs. Rajiv swooned to the floor.

Aravind started to cry aloud saying that it all happened because me. “Aravind control yourself, she is in the last moment, go and see her for the last time.” And Raj held him by his hand and took him to the ICU.

As they walked closer to the ICU, Aravind walked back, “No I can’t see her like that, leave me Raj, leave me”

Raj dragged him inside they saw Anu’s weak face, flushed with pain, with so many equipments around her. She blinked her eyes once when she saw Aravind never to blink again. The doctors came and closed her eyes. Aravind cried bitterly and loudly. For Mr. and Mrs. Rajiv it was a huge loss.

Anu’s body was taken by an ambulance to her house. While Raj and Aravind returned home. That evening they went to Anu’s house to attend the funeral. Aravind could find the rage in Mrs. Rajiv’s eyes on seeing him. She even shouted at him “He is the murder, he killed my daughter, he killed my daughter…”

Aravind walked off the house as he didn’t want to create any commotion in the funeral. The next day police arrested Aravind in his house, for eloping with Anu. He was also charged with a murder case. Mr. Rajiv was the person who had launched the complain. After a prolonged struggle and explanation, Aravind was released from the police custody. According to Mr. Rajiv, Aravind was the person who had killed his daughter for money. He had seduced her and taken her to Thirupathi to get married. He refused to believe anything from others.

His money could not hold Aravind back in the jail but it could remove Aravind from the job that he was in. And it could throw Aravind from any job that he joined in.

“This can not go on like this Raj; any job I get this man does something and throws me out. Something should be done Raj; I can’t go on like this. My career is spoilt because of this. How long can I ask my parents to support me for my needs? What sin did I do Raj?”

“Aravind control yourself. Mr. Rajiv is under the impression that you are solely responsible for Anu’s death. Give him some time, he will understand things.”

“How long Raj, it has been 6 months since this incident happened. I am under mental torture, I can’t take it Raj. I am still not able to sleep properly. All I can remember is her eyes, the way she saw me. Loss is not only for them. She was a very good friend of mine.” as he said this, tears rolled down Aravind’s eyes.       

“Can I meet Mr. Rajiv?” the next day Aravind went to Mr. Rajiv’s house.

“Please wait here, I will ask if sir would see visitors now” said the butler

Mr. Rajiv came down the stairs. Aravind could not recognize him at all. He had grown very lean and dark. “You, how dare, how dare you come here to my house, you murderer..” and he rushed towards Aravind. He held him by the collar and said “What harm did my daughter do to you? You have killed my daughter and made my wife bedridden you have broken my family into piece. And how dare you come into my house?” 

“Sir, I understand your pain. But please understand my pain also”

“Why should I listen to you, you scoundrel, Ram Singh bring my revolver immediately”

“Sir please listen to me”

Hearing the commotion the butler came and held his master and asked Aravind to leave before he could become wild.

Aravind left without explaining what he wanted to say.

After few months he heard that Mrs. Rajiv had died of heart attack and that Mr. Rajiv had become more vigorous in avenging the deaths in his family. All his anger was towards Aravind and no one else.      

“Amma I got a job in Hyderabad. I will have to join in two weeks” Aravind thought that he would be happy, if he relocates. So did everyone in his family think.

Soon it was time for Aravind to leave his home town and go to a place where he knew nothing about. He didn’t know the language, or the place. For a week he was given an accommodation in a hotel, but later he had to fend for himself.

He found a paying guest accommodation and settled himself. Life was very smooth. He liked his job and didn’t have any trouble for a month. He got adjusted to the new environment and he started to slowly forget his past.

“Hi, I am Anu” a tall, fair, good looking girl stood before him stretching her hand to shake hand with him. The name brought flashes of memories to Aravind. But he managed to smile and introduced himself to her.

“I am your new team mate. I have come from Chennai. I was told that you are also a Tamilian. Am I right?”

Aravind’s mind passed through his buried memory about the Anu whom he knew. “Hello, Aravind, Hello???”

“Sorry, ah! What did you ask?”

“Well are you a Tamilian?”

“Yes I am. I am from Chennai. If you don’t mind I have some work”

 And he walked off from her. The next day he didn’t go to work. He spent the whole day smoking and drinking. By evening he decided to forget everything and live his life forgetting the past.

“Hey didn’t see you yesterday? Are you ok?” Aravind looked her in astonishment; somehow he associated her with the friend he lost a year back.

“I.. I.. I am ok” and he went back to work.

Anu thought that there should be something wrong with him and never bothered his presence the next day.

“Hey, Anu would you like to join me for lunch?” Anu was surprised to see Aravind talking to her. She pinched herself and smiled, “oh! My I am not dreaming” and they went together for lunch. They felt comfortable in each other’s company as spoke in their mother tongue. Days passed by and they started liking each other’s company. Life was very smooth for Aravind. When he called back home they told him that Anu’s father was not in good health and that could be the reason that he has forgotten his thoughts of avenging his daughter’s death. Aravind felt safe in the job that he was in, there was no question of Mr. Rajiv’s money working out against him now.

A year passed by, Anu and Aravind became good friends. They talked about everything on earth. But Aravind never discussed what had happened in the past about the friend whom he lost in the gory accident and all that happened after that.

“Hey, you know Aravind after a long time we are going to Chennai”

“Oh! Yeah! Work was so hectic that I couldn’t even think of going home.”

“But Aravind I didn’t miss my home at all, you gave me such a good company, that I even forgot my folks back in Chennai, ha, ha”

They were traveling to Chennai together, it was a 14hours travel, from Hyderabad to Chennai by train. They kept talking the whole night, sitting by the bogie entrance. Aravind took out a cigarette to smoke.

“Aravind I thought you quit smoking”

“Well, yes I did quit but sometimes when I am happy I smoke one or two” and he smiled after lighting a cigarette.

“Happy? What makes you so happy?”

“Well, hmm…may be your company, the travel together, your cute smile”

“Hey stop it” and she blushed

“Anu this is the fact” and his eyes spoke something which she could understand, only she could understand. They stood there for a long time looking into each other’s eyes.

“Well, Aravind…ah!..”

“What?” and he held her hand tight.

As if in a freight, she pulled back her hand and walked away from him. He held her from behind and she didn’t resist.

“I Love you Anu. I don’t want to miss you in my life” he slowly whispered in her ears.

She had no words she was waiting to hear these words from him. She turned back to look into his eyes and say her consent. When she turned his eyes were so stunning, she could see his love for her in it. “Aravind…I” and they heard someone come. She moved away from him. An old man passed by to the next compartment. The stare that the man guy was so annoying that they thought it was time to get back to bed. It was almost dawn.

They had reserved the upper berth. They looked at each other even after going to their respective berth. In the dim light, Anu seemed like the most beautiful woman that he had ever seen. He stretched his hand out and held hers. They didn’t know how long they were holding hands, suddenly the train stopped and she pulled back her hand as everyone started getting up.

“Hey we have reached Chennai, so soon” Anu never realized the passage of time. It was the best of all the trips that she had. They both took out their luggage and walked out together.

Anu’s parents were waiting for her. She introduced Aravind to them and Aravind left after a brief introduction and inviting them to visit his house sometime.

“Aravind call me after you reach home” and she left with her parents, while Aravind went by an auto to his house.

Everything seemed good. Anu told her parents about Aravind and their decision. Anu’s parents were never against her wishes they readily agreed and asked her to invite Aravind to their house. In immense happiness, she called Aravind,

“Hey, what are you doing? Went home and forgot me ah?”

“Anu, how will I forget myself? That’s not possible sweetheart”

“I spoke to my parents about you”

“And...”

“And what”

“Anu stop this tell me what did they say”

“Well they asked you to come with your parents to my house”

“Wow! Anu that’s fantastic”

Few days after that, the two families met and fixed the date for the marriage. Anu and Aravind left back to Hyderabad as a happy couple after their engagement. Back in their office everybody was happy to know about the engagement.

“Hey, Anu, what suddenly you decided? Or was it a something something between you both for a long time?”

“ha, ha”

“This fellow Aravind also he never told about anything. He used to sit like a good old school boy, and see within few days engagement and marriage”

“ha, ha”

This was the common topic in office. Anu would always blush when her colleagues talk this to her. Aravind admired that pink cheek of hers and he encouraged his colleagues to tease her more. Life was beautiful.

Soon it was time for them to go for their marriage. The invitation cards were distributed to everyone and things were smooth. They left by the same train in which they first decided their future. They kept awake the whole night and kept talking and talking. When it was time to retire to bed, both of them got into the same berth and continued their romantic talks. It was the first time that Aravind saw her with lust and neared her for his first kiss.

“Aravind lets wait for few more days, after all I am all yours. Let’s do all this after the marriage”

Aravind smiled and went back to his berth to sleep. The next day morning there was a huge crowd to welcome them both, the bride and the groom. All arrangements were made for the grand wedding to take place the next day.

“Hey Aravind, how are you? Long time since we met”

“Raj, how are you? Oh! My God how long has it been since I met you. Come let me introduce you to Anu”

“Anu, it’s such a coincidence that my would be’s name is also Anu”

“How is Anu’s father? I heard he was not keeping well”

“Well, he is doing well. I heard that he had a huge profit in his business”

As they talked as they walked to the bride’s room.

“Hi, Anu, this is a very good friend of mine Raj”

“Hi”

“Anu and I work together in Hyderabad”

“Oh! You guys worked together and then..” Raj winked at Aravind.

“Hey Raj”

Anu blushed.

“Aravind you are still here? Go get ready, its late already” said Aravind’s mother.

It was not a very huge crowd but it was a bit unmanageable. When the groom and bride arrived on the stage, an old man dressed neatly walked up to the stage. Aravind could not recognize him until he came closer to him. It was Mr. Ranjiv. He went closer, bent down to Anu and said something that Anu got up from the stage.

“Aravind, I want some clarifications. This gentleman says you are already married to his daughter”

“Anu, that’s not true”

“Then what is the meaning of these photos?”

Mr. Rajiv threw down few photographs that his daughter Anu and Aravind had shot few years back.

“Anu, do you believe these photos?”

“Then explain me Aravind, who is this girl so close to you?”

There was a big confusion around and everybody started talking amidst themselves.

“Aravind, are you married?” asked Anu’s father

“Uncle you don’t believe me? Do you believe some guy who had appeared all of a sudden?”

“Aravind, answer my question” said Anu after removing the garland that she was wearing.

“Anu, I am not married. Anuradha, Mr. Rajiv’s daughter and I worked together in Chennai. Raj knows about the whole thing that happened”               

By that time Raj walked up to the stage.

“Yeah! Aravind and Anu were friends nothing more nothing less”

“Anu wont you believe me?”

“Then why didn’t you say about this girl before?”

“Anu this was a bitter part of life. I didn’t want to tell you about it”

“Oh! Then what all have you hidden from me? You have not been loyal with me Aravind. You have never been true to me”

Mr. Rajiv just stood and watched the commotion that he had created. It was only few days’ back that he found those photographs in Anu’s room while he was searching for her cheque book. He thought that it would come to use some day or the other to avenge his daughter’s death.

Aravind tried to convince Anu. But she just walked of the stage and the marriage was stopped. The next day Aravind went to Mr. Rajiv’s house. But he was not allowed to go inside. So he shouted from the gate.

“Mr. Rajiv, what harm did I do to you? I never got married to your daughter. You are insulting your daughter’s soul by associating me with her. We were just friends. Mr. Rajiv, Mr. Rajiv won’t you listen to me?”

But there was no response. When he was about to leave, the door opened and the butler came out,

“Sir wants to meet you”

Aravind walked inside and as he did so he was clear that he had to make things clear with Mr. Rajiv before he leaves to Anu’s house. Somehow he was sure that everything was going to go on fine.  

Mr. Rajiv was wearing a white kurtha and he looked very grave. “What do you want to say?”

“Uncle” Mr. Rajiv stared at him.

“Sir, Anu was a good friend of mine that’s all nothing more sir. Please trust me.”

“Then what is the meaning of this?” Mr. Rajiv threw a book on Aravind. It was Anu’s personal diary. As Aravind flipped the pages, each and every page had a photograph of him and something written below about that day. The last day that she wrote before her death, read, “I am crazy about your Aravind. Somehow when we go to Thrirupathy tomorrow I am going to propose to you. I want to live with you and get married to you Aravind. I love you Aravind”

Aravind was stunned to read it. He never knew that Anu had such thoughts in her mind. She was just a good friend to him. By that time the butler brought some cool drinks and served it to both of them.

Aravind was so shocked that no words came out of him.

“Drink”

“Sir, I never knew Anu loved me. If you see in this also…”

“I Know, relax yourself. Drink”

He quickly drank the juice and continued.

“Sir, see she has mentioned in her own words that she loves me and has not even proposed to me. I swear I didn’t know anything about it”, as he said that he felt a little dizzy.

“I know it Aravind. I have given all that my daughter had asked for so far. Now I am giving her what she wanted. Her last wish you.” And he grinned.

By this time Aravind felt very dizzy and things were fading from his eyes.

“I had missed poison in your juice. Go to my daughter and live happily with her. Tell her that I will come after sometime”

Aravind fell down on the floor vomiting blood. In few minutes, he died.

There was a loud sound of a pistol trigger. When the butler came in, he saw Mr. Rajiv in a flood of blood, he had shot himself dead. And near by him was Aravind’s dead body. When the other servants rushed in an asked the butler, he just said “Everything happened UNEXPECTEDLY”