45. Prutvi meets Arvind secretly

CHAPTER 45

Prutvi meets Arvind secretly

4 or 5 cars were standing near the ground near the college. Arvind was coming on his bike. One fellow stopped the bike. Arvind thought that he was asking for a lift and stopped the bike. “Do you want a lift?”

The man said, “Someone is waiting for you in a car.”

Arvind was surprised. “Someone waiting for me? In a car?”

“ Yes sir. Your closed friend.”

Arvind went to the car on his bike and parked the bike near the car. The car window opened slightly.

Arvind was surprised to see Prutvi's face. “Prutvi, is it you?”

“Yes Arvind. Come.”

Arvind sat inside the car.

Prutvi asked, “How are you?”

“Fine.”

The car moved.

Prutvi said, “Driver, go to the beach.”

All the 4 or 5 cars moved behind Prutvi’s car.

Arvind asked, “When did you return?”

Wait for some time. We will talk coolly when we reach the beach.”

Arvind was surprised to see the get up and everything. They reached the beach. The cars stopped. Arvind and Don got down. The other cars also stopped. All the body guards got down. They all had AK-47 guns. Arvind was shocked.

Prutvi said to the men, “You all wait here only.”

He took Arvind to the beach. They sat on two stones on the beach.

Prutvi put his hand on Arvind's shoulder.

Arvind said, “I am surprised to se you. What is all this got up? These people, these guns?”

Prutvi looked at the sea coolly.

Arvind said, “I have been waiting for you for so long. Not only me, you Chandini also and all those people in the compound.”

Hearing the name Chandini, Prutvi looked at him once. Tears arose in Prutvi's eyes. He looked at the sea.

Arvind felt sad. He held Prutvi tight. “Are you crying because of the death of your father? I think you have not yet come out of it. Sorry yar.”

Prutvi shook his head. “Not for that. I don't cry for that anymore. All that is over. No more tears for him. But fate has brought me so far from the place I should have been in.”

Arvind held him tight. “Why are you so sad? You have changed completely. You have grown a beard. And all that security. Tell me why you are so sad?”

Prutvi told him the whole story. “Since I was 3 years old, I grew up in the ashram with you. Under the guidance of Swamiji, step-by-step I walked in his culture. Not only that, I was always so proud to say that I am an ashram boy.”

Arvind nodded. “Yes. We are really proud to be ashram boys. We are proud of our Swamiji and the ashram.”

Prutvi said, “My parents stayed in the foreign country and left me here so that I will live in Indian atmosphere. You know all this. My father died on the day there was blast in the bazaar. On that day, I came to the room and cursed those mafia people. I wanted them all to die.”

Prutvi approached Arvind and held his shoulder tight. “Arvind, I want to tell you one truth.”

Prutvi hammered his hands on his chest. “You know who I am? You know whose son I am?”

Arvind was surprised. “Why are you getting so tense?”

“If you hear what I have to tell, you too will become tense.”

Arvind looked at him silently.

Prutvi said, “You know that mafia man who died in the bazaar? I am his son.”

Arvind was shocked. There was silence for a while. Arvind recovered and put his hand on Prutvi's back. “Cool down. Please cool down.”

Prutvi said sadly, “I told you about that man who fell in front of us with blood oozing from his leg. He is my uncle.”

Prutvi told Arvind all about what happened. Arvind was shocked.

Prutvi said, “Today, you know why I am living as Don? All for the sake of the ashram.”

Arvind patted his back. “Hats off to your sacrifice.”

Prutvi said sadly, “Sacrifice. We have to sacrifice. Sacrificing my life happily for the sake of those thousands of children in the ashram. They have no other source. That is why I became Don. Everyone renounces to see god. I am ready to do mafia jobs as Don. If Chandini comes to know I am don, it will break her heart. If swamiji came to know, he will be most shocked.”

Arvind said, “Maybe you are mafia don. But after all, it was for a good cause. If Chandini came to know, she will be proud of you.”

“Forgive me. In my life there will be no more Chandini. I think I am lucky. I was going to open my heart on V-day. That day never materialized. Let her get a good husband. I pray to god for this.”

“You know how much she loves you? Every morning she keeps waiting for you with thousand eyes. At night, she sleeps with tears in her eyes. She has given you her heart and her life. She is waiting for a life with you.”

Prutvi had tears in his eyes. Prutvi held his shoulder. “Please Arvind. I don't want anything in life. Please don't force me into anything. Don't come between the ashram and me. You are my best friend.”

Arvind asked, “What about Chandini's fate? How can she live without you?”

“Time heals all wounds. See how a turn came in my life. Same thing will happen to her too. She will soon forget me.”

Arvind looked at Prutvi. He was not sure that this was going to happen. But he did not say anything.