It was Maya’s birthday everyone surrounded her for a cake cutting celebration and coffee, Jatin too joined them. Maya could see tension building inside her the moment he approached the table for cake. It was an unavoidable situation for both of them, Maya took the cake from his hands with thanks and turned away to check her ringing phone.
It was Sushma’s call, sensing something isn’t right Maya immediately left the party to talk with her friend.
‘Where are you going, birthday date?’, piqued Jatin.
‘Not in mood, Jatin, not today, please back off’, she replied and left office in hurry.
Sushma was inconsolable over the phone, Maya couldn’t comprehend clearly when she called her. All she kept repeating was, ‘he is gone.’ Who is gone, who left her, that oldie boss of hers? The thoughts were running wild in her mind when she arrived at the hospital Sushma mentioned over the phone call.
She was pacing back and forth in the corridor when Maya arrived, ‘what’s wrong, Sush, and why are you here? Are you alright, I couldn’t understand anything when you called me? Did he hurt you, talk to me, please!
Sushma looked at Maya’s face and directed her to the emergency ward, it was her father’s body wrapped in a white shroud.
Maya took a deep breath seeing the reason why Sushma was frantic, she was unable to decide if this is good news or bad and how should she react to this situation. It was her 39th birthday, and she is sitting next to her best friend who just lost her abusive father. She closed her eyes to take a few deep breaths, but all her mind showed were Jatin and her raunchy night together.
Confused and irritated she went out in the lobby, after a few lonely moments she got her composure back. Sushma joined a few minutes later, ‘I don’t know what to do now, shall I cry or celebrate that he is gone forever?
Maya didn’t reply but held her hand tightly, ‘last night he threw beer bottle on me, I ducked to save my head. Today, he is lying here lifeless, and I get to know he left 25 lacs in fixed deposits and bank accounts for me,’ said Sushma with moist eyes.
A father is a father, no matter how bad he was when alive, in the end he came useful to Sushma in getting rid of the troubled pact she made with her boss.
‘Now you don’t have to listen to anyone, Sush. You are free from all the chains, and contracts. Nothing is more important than your self-esteem,’ explained Maya.
Sushma nodded in agreement and called her boss to inform him – she is resigning from the job. Clasping Maya’s hand she thanked her for the support and hugged to say, ‘Happy Birthday darling.’
‘I think you should give him a chance’, Sushma remarked looking at Maya’s phone screen which was flashing – Jatin calling. ‘Don’t let your past haunt your today and future, just because somethings didn’t work in the past, doesn’t mean they won’t in the future! Talk to him, he never gave you any reason to hate or doubt him.’
Maya picked the phone, and they talked. Within a few minutes, Jatin was at the hospital helping them with the hospital procedures, with the sense of belonging for Maya & her best friend – Sushma.
With this story, I wrap the Blogchatter’s Half Marathon challenge. To read the beginning of this short story, click here.
‘This post is a part of Blogchatter Half Marathon‘
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27 Comments
Sometimes, you reach a point where you are confused so as to be happy or sad. Life is full of such crossroads and everyday we solve them.
As usual, you wrote so beautifully.
Sometimes life throws such moments to us when we don’t know what to do or how to react. But that’s what is life. Sometimes it show us a new version of ourself.
Wow you have written fiction for #blogchatter half marathon. it is really awesome. I did not read the first part of story but loved this second part. your narrations and expression style is so amazing.
The story so well written and the way you have created the special bond between Sushma and Maya is incredible.
Wow-what a positive ending to the tale. Seems I have missed all the previous chapters. Let me catch a wonderful read. I truly admire your fiction writing skill Deepika.
I know your are very good with Fiction but as I haven’t read the first part it is difficult to comment but yes this story sounds intriguing and positive ending is what I always look for.. Going to your previous post to read first half.
Dipika, very much liked the take on Sushma & Maya struggles, decisions of life and the final message in the story.
Loved the weave, very well narrated and it keep hooked till the end. I also loved how the two tales are entwined, you are so good at fiction darling
I have followed the entire story and loved it . Each character is curated so beautiful. The bond between Sushma and Maya is amazing too .. A very nice fiction which i came across in recent time
Oh! Oh! I read the final chapter of the story before I could read the first ones. Nonetheless, all’s well that ends well, like it did for both the friends.
Some stories are heartfelt and beautiful. This is most definitely one of them. Sushma and Maya had their own set of worries, but the support they gave each other way the most precious and powerful.
Glad you like it, thanks
Wow, Dipika that was a wonderful wrap of the story. I have read few chapters and still to catch some more. Will pick on the other chapters to get the correlation in place. It surely is a captivating story and great plot surrounding the characters.
Story writing is an art and you have done an excellent job at it. Loved reading this fiction. keep it up.
That’s so beautiful story penned down. It’s so heartfelt story. Life will inspire positivity and good, happy feelings. Great thoughts.
Very interesting story that tells about the dilemma of human emotions. It is a very poignant plot that has been handled very sensitively.
Glad you like it.
Being by your friend’s side as she lost an abusive father and then by your past love (I guess) when she seems like she needs it are both so reassuring and well- expressed. I would love to read the earlier parts of this story.
That’s very intriguing crisp read. The storyline and narration is crisp and increases curiousity. Like that story ends on positive note
The story of Maya & Sushma is very heart touching. I must say you should continue writing on fiction. You have written this story very nicely
This story is so crisp yet heart-touching. A true friendship, a long-lost love …everything expressed so nicely. Looking forward to read more such fictions from you.
Glad you like it.
Your fictional stories are always a delight to read 🙂 Loved this short story too and hoping to read your novella soon.
Thank you so much, Kavita. You always inspire me with such kind words
The bond between Sushma and maya is so special indeed. I love the way you go around narrating a story in words.
you have written this so beautifully. enjoyed reading it
Life is all about such experience where at times you don’t know you should be happy or sad about a situation. It’s the most complex juncture of life.