Chapter-23 He is Leaving

The morning was almost the same as yesterday. Muskaan woke up on her usual time, arranged for his lunch and made breakfast, got ready in a black and red embroidered suit with a red cardigan, and ran between kitchen and room nth times whenever he called to choose his cloths, then in search of his wallet and socks and finally slipped the blazer over his broad shoulders.

In between breakfast time and then in the way of her college they chatted and she got to know that he grabbed a golden opportunity to participate in a very big trade event held in Mumbai, and that's why he became very busy all of a sudden. She also gave him her list of books and some other things, which he promised to bring before evening. She wanted to talk some more but couldn't as college be there, but consoled herself thinking that she would do this in the evening. But the rest of the day, in fact the next two days went just the same and their talks had been huddled in breakfast and drop of time only. He was skipping his dinners, coming not only late but always with someone along.

Now both were restless. But at one side Kabeer was habituated of all this and the presence of Muskaan, even for a second, was only adding a pinch of pleasure, there for Muskaan, this was a very sudden and unexpected situation and the absence of him by her side was not only adding the panic but actually the loneliness was haunting her. She was getting more restless day by day.

And in between all this, when she was just trying to understand and cope up with the situation, the shrill ring of phone shook the air of the room but whatever he said, had Shaken her soul. Throwing the blanket aside, she almost ran to pick the phone as very sure it's of him, and said a hello.

Of course, it was Kabeer on the other side, he said in his usual soft and warm voice, "Muskaan, do me a favor please."

She wondered why he actually fumbled at words, and asked gently, "what happened? Tell me. Is there anything wrong?"

Kabeer took a deep breath, thought something and said slowly gathered his courage, "Muskaan, Please, pack my travel bag for one week."

Kabeer's dilemma was how to break the news to her. And now this was not easy for him too. But couldn't help as he had to go.

His half-completed news was like a bomb for her. She felt herself numbed, closed her eyes, and clutched the receiver with both hands. She wanted to ask but words seemed frozen in her mouth only. But Her lips shivered and slowly somehow controlled herself she asked, fumbled, numb, and trembled, " Where are you going?"

The tremble and restlessness were not hidden from Kabeer and he was about to say something, but just then his account manager knocked to come for some discussion, and might he get his distraction so replied softly and calmly, "Mumbai, I told you about the trade event, right? Actually, someone else was scheduled to go as our representative, but he suddenly. Now, I have to go. Please pack a bag for one week. I will come home in two hours, then leave after another one hour. Rest we will talk at home."

"Hm... Talk at home. '' she repeated his words in whisper and saw the receiver in her hand with disbelief. First it seemed like a nightmare to her, but the receiver in hands was telling her that it was not a nightmare but a bitter truth. She sat on the bed with a thud, feeling so clueless that she didn't even register when her eyes welled up and started to flow vigorously. With one hand clutched the bed sheet tightly but in actual wanted to clutch the moment very tight in her hand. At once she didn't even understand what was affecting her most, his tour leaving her alone, the tension of living alone in this big mansion or it's that unknown but strong feeling that she couldn't see him for the next few days.

Amid all this tension her heart was sinking, craving but consoling her too. Suddenly her eyes fell on a photo frame of him on the side table, and in the next moment some questions got their respective answers. She knew that his trip that too leaving her alone was making her condition miserable, and just a thought of living in this big house all alone was actually scaring her heart but the fact that she couldn't see him for next some days was actually not only scariest in itself but somehow, she was not at all ready for this.

To live alone is scary but to live without him was like to live without oxygen and she knew that it was impossible. She was so lost in her thoughts, when again some answered questions made their way in her mind that," why. Why he became so important for her and when he became so important for her, that it seemed like impossible to take a single breath without him now." But before she could find answers for herself, the tick-tick of the clock brought her to reality and somehow composed herself, she started to prepare herself with the task in hand to pack his belongings.

She stood collecting herself and first went to the washroom, washed her face and eyes mentally making a list of things that she needed to pack. She called Radhe and told him to bring his suitcase from the storeroom and clean it, as they were temporarily shifted in the guest room and the extra bags and luggage were in the store room. And assigning Radhe his work she quickly started to collect his things somehow keeping a check on herself. But she wanted to scream, when she pulled out his shirts, her heart cried when she was choosing his suits, she found herself in tears again when packing his toiletries in small travel bag, she felt herself weakest when collected his socks and hankies, her hands shivered when she was stacking his night suits on bed, her heart sank when she went in kitchen and quickly pack some snacks and asked Radhe to do some preparations for a quick snack before he left and also some for his dinner, and she numbed completely when Radhe brought the bag and she started to arrange his bag. wiping her tears carelessly with the back of her palm, she was arranging his bag.

Once the work was done, she sat on bed, took some deep breaths and tried to calm herself down. Her heart was sinking with every breath, and she was feeling so restless, so helpless. Her eyes fell on the mirror and shockingly she saw her image, her hair messed up, eyes went red and puffy and her nose too went reddish. She saw herself and didn't know why but had a strong feeling that he shouldn't see her in this devastated state. Wiping her tears, and taking deep breaths, she quickly gulped some water, sat and thought. She recalled her talks with principal mam on her first day of college,

"Muskaan, you are actually very lucky to have such a loving and supportive life partner. You too, Always stay by his side and support him in all his responsibilities."

And though she didn't get answers for her questions but now knew what she had to do. Never in life she wanted to be his weakness and as much as she understood him, she knew that if he saw her in this state, it would be very difficult for him to leave. With firm determination and strong heart, she gathered her lost spirit and stood to change and get freshen up.