Chapter 7 - A New Beginning
(Five days later)
It was 9 o'clock in the morning. Sameer stepped out of his house for a morning walk when a police jeep suddenly pulled up beside him. One of the officers inside gestured for him to stop. Sameer found it strange—he had never imagined he'd be approached by the police like this. Two officers got out of the vehicle and walked up to him.
Police Inspector:
"Are you Sameer Ranjan?"
Sameer:
"Yes. What's the matter?"
Inspector:
"Do you have a friend named Vivek?"
Sameer:
"Yes, he's an old friend of mine. What happened to him?"
Inspector:
"He's been missing for five days. He hasn't returned home. We received information that he came here and met you."
Sameer:
"Yes… he did come here. We met at Elphinstone Park."
Inspector:
"Vivek's new house is in the city area. Can you tell us why he came all the way here, so far from the city?"
Sameer:
"A few days ago he came here just to wander around. His family used to live in this area earlier, so old memories kept pulling him back."
Inspector:
"How many times and when did you meet him?"
Sameer:
"I met him twice, both times in the old garden. He told me he had fallen for some girl."
Inspector:
"A girl? Who is she? Do you know her?"
Sameer:
"No, I never met her. But he kept coming here to meet that girl."
Inspector (nodding):
"Ah, so it's a girl-related matter."
Constable:
"Yes, sir… that's what it seems like."
Inspector:
"Do you know where else he might have gone?"
Sameer:
"No. We're old friends, but I met him after a long time. I don't know much about his life now."
Constable:
"Sir, we can check the CCTV footage of the garden."
Inspector:
"Yes, let's do that first. Sameer, we'll need to question you more. You'll have to come with us…"
(A New Beginning)
It was almost 10 in the morning. Krishna (age 25) arrived on his bike at the old Elphinstone Park after being transferred from the city office. This was his first time in this area far from the city. He looked up at the large board of the park, then glanced inside. The beauty of the garden instantly drew him in, but even more than that, he felt a strange pull—as if someone was calling him from within. Still, he brushed it off and moved on. He was having trouble finding his new office address. He called someone from the office, asked for directions, and followed the route they gave him.
A little further, after turning at a corner, he saw an old big building with the name of his new office on it. He went inside and walked straight to the reception counter where a woman named Ruby (age 31) was sitting.
Krishna:
"Hello! My name is Krishna. I'm joining today."
Ruby:
"Oh… welcome, Mr. Krishna! I was informed you'd be joining today."
Krishna:
"Thank you, ma'am."
Ruby (smiling):
"You can just call me Ruby. I'm the office management assistant. If you have any problem, come to me first."
Krishna:
"That's nice. You can call me Krish."
Ruby:
"Okay… Krish :) If there's any problem, tell me first."
Krish:
"Even before the boss?"
Ruby (laughing):
"Yes, absolutely! But right now, you need to meet the boss first. His cabin is on the third floor. I'm sure you'll find it."
Krish:
"Yes, I'll manage. Thank you."
Krish reached the third floor, curious to see what his new boss was like. Was he strict or short-tempered like his previous one? Many such questions ran through his mind. As soon as he arrived, he saw a large, luxurious cabin—the most impressive one in the old building. He knocked and opened the door. Inside, sitting on a chair in a blue suit, was Mr. Dhanraj, the boss of the office.
Krish:
"Good morning, sir! May I come in?"
Boss (looking at him):
"Welcome, young boy… so you're the new labourer in our office?"
Krish:
"Sir… sorry, but I'm not a labourer. I'm the new employee."
Boss (seriously):
"Don't argue with me. Everyone who works here is a labourer."
Krish (hesitantly):
"Yes, sir… I understand."
Boss (bursting into laughter):
"That was just a joke! Don't worry. Sit down."
Krish:
"That was a good joke, sir."
Krish sat on the chair.
Boss (staring at him again):
"Those city-office people send all their useless employees here. Are you one of those useless ones too?"
Krish:
"No, sir… I work well."
Boss:
"Then tell me truthfully—why were you transferred here?"
Krish:
"I once couldn't complete my work on time because of some personal issues."
Boss:
"What kind of personal issue?"
Krish:
"Just… relationship matters."
Boss:
"Did your wife run away with someone else?"
Krish:
"No! No, sir… I'm still unmarried. She was my girlfriend."
Boss:
"Then it's not such a big problem. You were late on the very first day. It shouldn't happen again."
Krish:
"I'll make sure everything is perfect from now on, sir."
Boss:
"So tell me—what happened with your girlfriend?"
Krish:
"Sir, I don't think it's right to share my personal life with anyone."
Boss:
"I just got divorced from my wife a short while ago. So you can share such personal things with me without hesitation."
Krish:
"Seven years ago, we met for the first time…"
Boss:
"Hold on… I don't have time for a long story. Tell me in three or four short sentences."
Krish:
"I loved a girl deeply, but she left me for someone else."
Boss:
"Any particular reason?"
Krish:
"She had very high expectations. I didn't have enough time or money."
Boss:
"I had money and I made time too, but still my relationship ended…"
Krish fell silent and looked into Mr. Dhanraj's eyes. He could see the same pain in his boss's eyes that he himself was feeling.
Boss:
"Everything will be fine. Leave it to time. You may go now."
Krish:
"Yes, sir… that's the best thing to do."
Krish was given a small new cabin in the office. He started his work, learning what to do and how to do it. Ruby, the management assistant, helped him understand everything. His first day passed like this.
Next Chapter…