Fate

 Raj turns off his car. The AC soaked up too much petrol. He starts playing with the keys. He's come to the bar alone for the fifth day straight. He's been waiting for quite a while. All alone. There wasn't a single car parked outside, except for his of course. Quite odd, maybe I should go in and check. But he didn't. He didn't have to, for soon enough, Nitin arrived. He didn't notice Raj, or his car for that matter. Went in just as any other guy would. Why is the bar so quiet?! Raj reverses his car and drives away.

Nitin and Raj had not been on good terms for quite a while. A week, seven days, to be precise. They had a scuffle at that same bar. Nitin had apparantly cooled his head by the end of the week, but Raj wasn't done yet. He wanted to finish the duel, which, to him, was started by Nitin. A few more kilos of muscle and he thinks he's the boss! Guess I gotta show him the reality. The reality, however, resided on the other pole. Raj never got to gather the guts to confront Nitin all by himself. But that wasn't backing him down! He'd asked a few friends to help him out, but they never turned up. Cowards. "Friends"!

Raj went to a park. There wasn't a soul anywhere. Perfect. He was flaming in anger. Punched the seat hard. Sat down on the ground. Tore apart a few grass strands. Screaming like anything, enough to put an hound to shame. He stayed there for quite some time. Growling, murmuring and tearing grass. The anger subsides. Why am I angry still now? Then it dawns upon him. Realised he was stressed, maybe. Breathed the last few blows of hate out. That's it?! He got up and drove back home.

"What happened?"
"Nothing, dear"
He'd brought home flowers for Ankita. She knew something was wrong about him. Speculated that would be stress from work, and had let him be himself for the week. The flowers were something she absolutely didn't expect. 
"Just thought you'd like them!"
"Really. You.. are you alright?!"
"Where's dinner?"
"In the microwave. I've had mine. Do you want me to serve while you freshen up?"
"You're the boss. Whatever you wish!"

"Can you please do the dishes?"
"Sure"
"Am going to bed. I've taken a day off tomorrow. Will be getting up late"
"You're unemployed, by that definition!"
"Shut up!!"

*********

Ankita was sleeping. Raj lay wide awake beside her. Gazing at her. His eyes shining. His former girlfriend, and his wife. Love marriage. No family nonsense. Just as well as things could ever be. He strokes her hair. Tickles her nose. Puts his arm around her, and pulls her closer. Cuddles her, falling asleep himself.

They both woke up the next day. Really late. It was afternoon. I PM. Ankita missed her appointment at the salon, and Raj, a meeting at work. They stare at each other for a few moments, giggle and burst into laughter. It was too late now. Raj mailed his boss asking for a leave, which was immediately granted. He's such a cool dude! Ankita went to the kitchen. She always started her 'day' with  a glass of orange juice. Raj went to shower. Soon enough, Ankita joined him, with a toothbrush sticking out of her mouth.
"Eh?!"
"Bathing date. Don't act like you don't know"
"Atleast spit the paste out!"
"Wait. Would you really kiss if my mouth smelt?"
"You know what? I've gotten used to that!"
Ankita throws the brush at Raj. He dodges, and pulls her closer. Presses his lips against hers. Their tongues tickle each others'. Smearing the minty toothpaste foam all over. Raj takes in and spits the foam out for her. "Gotcha!". "Thanks babe!", and they resume. They, their lips, tongues, palms and fingers.

It was over an hour when Raj realised how much water they wasted. Both came back to senses. Bathed together like sane people, actually cleaning themselves up. Once fresh and ready, their stomach rings. The brains gets horny, the stomach doesnt! 
"Maybe we should dine out"
"The boss agrees!"
"I cant starve till then though"
"There's bread somewhere in the fridge. Should be enough. I'll be ready by then"
"Won't you eat?"
"I already have"
"How could you do that?!"
"Cuz I'm the boss!"

*********

Evening that day. A cute, little, not-so-posh restaurant. Quiet. Never crowded. Excellent ambiance. Heavenly food. A few of the things that brought them together. There was a distant piano jingle coming with the breeze. Amidst all these, they lose themselves. Completely. They feel their souls merge into one. Bliss. Still the stomach had the last laugh, with the taste buds, obviously. Not a microgram of food was wasted!

They then walk to a nearby park. Quiet as ever. No people around. Just the thing they liked. Raj sits on the grass. Ankita lies down, her head in Raj's lap. He plays with her. Both smile, without uttering  a syllable. The crickets stop chirping too. With stars shining across the clear sky above, and the good old soothing breeze all around; velvet grass beneath and Ankita by his side, Raj knew he was blessed. Blessed beyond anything. The perfect date. Ever. 

All of a sudden Raj finds himself being pulled up, and gets a blinding blow on his face. Turns around with a bruised cheek to find Nitin.
"You didn't come that day. Chicken'd out eh?" Nitin knew Raj wouldn't come. He was proud of himself. His bulk. "I know the other fools left you alone. Well, they aren't fools though. Atleast they're smarter than you! Here babe, you're mine now!". 

Ankita was dumbfounded. Nitin quickly grabs her hand, but she slips away. Somehow. Runs towards Raj, holds his hand and drags him to their car. Raj hurriedly starts and drives away. Once she was assured they were not being followed she asked Raj to stop. His left cheek was already blue. She was almost in tears. She grabs Raj's hand.
"Do you know him?"
"He's my ex"
"Whoaa.. you never told me?"
"It was never necessary. I'd moved on a long time ago. I despise every single moment I spent with him"
"I see"
"Raj"
"Yes?"
"You're the best, Raj! I love you. Never wanted to bother you with such crap. So hid everything within me"
"I understand". He pulls her head closer to himself..
"I just hope we never cross paths again"
"Me too"
In some darker corner of his mind, Raj knew they would be meeting again- very soon.

*********

A month had passed since that day. Nitin never showed up. Maybe he was just drunk that day. Whatever may the reason be, both of them were relieved. Still hoping, that he never shows up. Raj's face had healed, after staying blue for one whole week.

"Shall we have a vacation?"
"Um.. yess!"
"Beach or the hills?"
"The hills! It's winter. No people"
"You're right. Okay then!"
"The boss is always right!"
"You still don't know if you want the green shirt or the yellow one"
"Why don't you just shut up?!"
They would leave after a week, the first trip after their honeymoon. Both of them were excited beyond measure. Raj went one step further and surprised Ankita with a beautiful kiss on her neck once he was done packing. She grinned. 

Day three of their trip. Decided to do some heavy stuff after being lazy for two days. Trekking. Nothing better than a good long sweaty trek! Decided to hire a guide. The trek wasn't the most comfortable one. It went through jungles, somewhere you wouldn't like to get lost in. Consulted an agency. The guide would join them at a checkpost about a kilometre away. They hiked up there. The view was surreal. No nosy tourists. No random plastic. Just a tent with a stove, coffee and milk. The guide wasn't there. They sat down and waited. 
"On a trip?"
A voice caught them off guard. Was it their guide? But the voice was remarkably familiar. They turn around, Nitin!

*********

Nitin bursts into a laugh. A wild laugh. 
"Are you guys coming?"
They stare at each other. Blank. None of them were sure of anything.
"C'mon, I won't push you off the ledge. I don't want to lose my job!"
He keeps laughing. The other two were confused as ever. On one hand, they were not at all comfortable with the idea of having Nitin around. On the other, they had paid quite an amount to the agency. They should have let us choose our guide! And is this dude really a guide?! Anyway, it was too late to make any decision, and they followed Nitin. 

They kept walking. Clicking pictures along the way. There wasn't much snow, but the view was amazing. So were the trees, the flowers and the insects. They kept a 'safe' distance from Nitin, although never letting him go out of sight. The trek was strenous, and Nitin didn't seem to be tired a bit. They were sweaty all over, panting their lungs out. Okay then, he IS a real guide. Both were relieved.

About an hour later they reached a small peak. Well, not technically, but that was the highest point the hill could offer. A few minutes' break, and then they walk down back to the tent. Raj was clicking on his camera like crazy, and Ankita was busy searching for flowers in the grass. Nitin was squatted on a rock, and lit a cigarette. 
"Shall we go a bit higher up?"
"Only if you take us"
"That's true"
"But we're supposed to go down, right. I mean, we paid only for this"
"Are they any different?", and Nitin pushes Raj off the cliff. He was almost on the edge. No one shouted, no one laughed, and no one screamed. Nitin stood grinning out into the valley,  and Ankita was still busy with the flowers in the grass. She didn't notice a thing, or hear a thing.  Nitin comes to her.
"Where's Raj, Ankita?" and breaks out into his laughter. The same old vile laugh. 

Ankita took some time to come back to senses. The place was so good that she'd forgotten who Nitin was. She glances around. There was no Raj. Nor his bag, or his camera. She starts screaming. And trembling. She's scared like hell. "WHAT DID YOU DO?!" Nitin was still laughing. In absolute frenzy. 

Ten more minutes. Raj is gone. There's no way he's coming back. Crying is futile. Ankita stops screaming, but sobs occasionally. She doesn't make a move. Keeps staring at the grass. It's over. It's all over. She doesn't know what awaits her. She isn't interested. Nitin stares at her from a distance. Lowkey impressed with himself. She'll get over the grief soon enough. His week-long training had been worth it. Why does she look so cute when she's sobbing?

Beyond the cliff, however, things were a bit different. Raj didn't make a fall all the way down. He somehow managed to fall on a ledge of mud, and crawl his way back up. He did hear Ankita's screams. Nitin has to go. Now or never. Once he was up, he could clearly see Nitin and Ankita. Stares at her for a while. For you dear. I love you. With utmost stealth sneakes close to Nitin. Pounces on him. Caught off guard, Nitin falls hard on the rock. Raj pulls him up, grabs him tight and launches himself off the top. Taking Nitin with him. Ankita still sat motionless. Oblivious to everything.

.

.

A month later two rescue parties arrived. The couple had been missing and their neighbors were worried. Nitin didn't go to the gym for the month. Soon after, the police gets called in. Two days pass by, before a headline goes viral. Woman killed husband and boyfriend, later commits suicide.