After the Last Goodbye (9).

 

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Manasi looked at Vipul, tears were rolling down her eyes. 

"Are you alright dear?", Vipul asked and Manasi stared at him. But Vipul was talking to Manavi. She was still hugging Manasi's leg with her hand, while the other hand was held by the lady. She lightly nodded at Vipul. 

"Why did you let her out?", Vipul said to the lady in a stern voice. The lady grasped Manavi's both hands and lifted her up. "Sorry Sir, she bolted out of the room suddenly. So..so I couldn't...", her voice was quavering. 

"Okay, now please take her to the playing room", Vipul ordered. As the lady was taking her away, Manavi kept turning back and smiling at Manasi.

Manasi stood there looking at the happenings. She couldn't fathom the situation. Wiping her tears, she sighed.

"How do you know her?", Vipul asked Manasi, in a rather aggressive tone.

 "Can we...talk ...Vipul?" Manasi stammered in nervousness.

"If it's about business, we've already discussed what was needed. If it's something else, not today. I've pending work", Vipul sounded reluctant. 

Manasi felt helpless, but couldn't argue. She quietly agreed and left his office. As she reached her car, she gulped down some water and splashed the remaining on her face. She got seated and wiped her face with tissues. Rubbing her forehead, she stared at the steering wheel. 

"Don't grip the wheel too tightly Manasi! Just let loose. You're doing a great job", she remembered Vipul's words. "I wish I had a few more eyes to watch the road, the steering wheel and you at the same time", Manasi had said.....And there flashed the smiling face of Vipul, the Vipul she knew!

"Should I text him explaining what had happened?", Manasi thought. "But it doesn't matter now. He has moved on and seems to have a happy family. That lady didn't seem like his wife though, the way he confronted her in front of me. Manavi! Why did he name his daughter Manavi? Why did my heart ache when she hugged me?", Manasi's mind was a total mess. 

Manavi's smiling face glimpsed in front of her eyes. "Can I really never be a mother? Can I never get a chance to hug my baby, who would be my own flesh and blood?", her thoughts were in no mood to cease. She caressed her belly and then started fidgeting with the strap of her bag. As she received a call, Manasi was startled and picked up the phone. "Hello!", her tone was subdued. 

"Hey! Are you not feeling well?", Kripa asked hearing her voice. "Yes...I'm..Kripa", Manasi replied. "Did you cry Manasi? We had decided no rona-dhona. Where are you now?", Kripa's concern for her friend was totally evident.

"Kripa, I met him...I finally met him", Manasi said and broke into an uncontrollable sob. "Manasi please pull yourself together. What are you saying? Whom did you meet? Him....ummm....Vipul Kapoor is it?', Kripa blurted aloud. 

"Who is Vipul Kapoor?', Kumar was standing at Kripa's desk. Kripa held her phone tightly as she looked at him.

There was a knock on the car's window. Manasi turned to see. Vipul was leaning at the window. She looked at Vipul, tears still rolling down her eyes.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is a fictional story. Resemblance of any sort in real life is purely coincidental. 

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