Page 96 of That Same Old Love

She curled up into a ball and cried herself to sleep that night. Just like the past fifteen nights.

CHAPTER 36

It was the second weekend of July and Mahi was at her house, working late in the evening. She got back home the previous week, knowing that Samrat would not be at the opposite house. He was travelling to San Francisco for the yearly tech conferences. She had known that because she was supposed to join him there to celebrate their first year anniversary of being together. Two months ago, when they were still together, they had made the reservations at the same vacation house they had taken the previous year.

“Not that he would be waiting or pining for me at his home even if he was there,” she muttered.

When she got back home, the week before, she had seen a large box in front of the main door. It had all her belongings that were accumulated at his home since the past year.

Sighing, she decided to skip dinner and crawled into bed.

She had been fast asleep when she heard her phone ring loudly next to her. When she saw the caller id, she groaned. It was the CIO, Amit. She and Samrat had socialized with his family on a few occasions. Even her latest project that she was currently managing was a high visibility and a high profile one, and Amit took a special interest in it.

Must have been another crisis at work, she thought tiredly and answered her phone.

“Mahi… ” she heard Amit say in a very weird tone, almost scaring her.

“Amit, is everything okay? I know we had some issues with the testing, but we resolved most of them early this evening. We are ready to launch—”

“No. It’s not about work, Mahi… It’s about Samrat,” he said gently and she heard him taking a deep breath.

Her heart began to thump loudly in her ears.

“It’s not been made public yet, because it would cause a commotion with our shareholders. Mahi… Samrat’s flight has been missing since the last six hours. They are not able to make any communication with the jet and they are presuming the worst. But please know that there is no formal confirmation yet. I know that you were together, so I thought you would like to be informed. I’m sorry Mahi,” Amit said softly.

Her mind went blank with shock.

“Thanks Amit, for letting me know. I-I appreciate it,” she said and hung up.

Her hands were shaking and she began to get chills. She quickly dialed Jhanvi’s phone, not bothering to check the time.

After a lot of rings, Jhanvi answered it with a sleepy, “Hello.”

“Jhanu… Samrat… they are saying that Samrat is missing… that his flight is missing… that they don’t know what happened… I don’t know what to do… I was so horrible to him… oh my god… I don’t know if he’s okay… no one knows if he’s okay… I really hope he’s okay… ” she rambled mindlessly.

“Mahi, are you home?” Jhanvi asked firmly.

“Yes… but should I go somewhere to find out more. I need more information… I know nothing happened to that flight… .I know it will be okay… I know I’ll see him again and hold him again… ” she said, while the chills got stronger and she was having difficulty to even speak coherently.

“Mahi, stay where you are. I’ll be right there. Okay? Do you understand me?” Jhanvi asked.

“Yes,” she whispered.

She ran to the top floor towards the prayer room where she hadn’t visited even once after moving back to India. She collapsed on her knees inside the small confined room.

Sweat stuck her palms together and her body trembled violently, while she prayed like she hadn’t since her son was on the death bed. Back then, she had believed that somehow god would listen to her pleas and save her son in form of a miracle.

He hadn’t.

And she lost her son, who was the only person she loved more than her life. And now, Samrat was in a similar crisis and he was also the only person she loved more than her life.

“Oh god. Please… I know I never pray enough, but please let him be okay. I swear I will do anything he asks. Please, let him be okay… ” she began to beg and plead.

She didn’t know how long she was there rocking on her knees and begging god, when she felt Jhanvi next to her.

“Oh Mahi… let’s find out more. Do you have Ananya’s phone number? I’m sure she’ll know more,” said Jhanvi.

“My phone… I don’t know where I left it,” said Mahi, still rocking on her knees staring blankly.

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