Chapter 71: chapter 71

Next morning Nidhi woke up a little early..She was having a headache as she didn't eat anything for dinner yesterday.She walked towards the kitchen and made coffee for herself and Riya. She was still angry with Riya so she didn't bring coffee to her.. She sat quietly on the dining table and drank her coffee. Riya didn't wake up yet.. she couldn't sleep yesterday night . she was awake till early morning lost in her thoughts..At around 3:00 am in the morning she slipped into sleep.Nidhi sighed and saw it was 9:00 am in the morning.. She took out her mobile ,took a deep breath and called Sanjana.." Good morning sweetheart", Sanjana greeted..Nidhi felt  relaxed  hearing  Sanjana's voice."How are you Sanju??, when is the due date?? Nidhi asked. "Get ready sweetheart, I will be delivering  your niece or nephew  next week.."Nidhi jumped with excitement when she heard Sanjana.. "Ahhhh, Sanju I am so happy.. I am coming tomorrow to our city.. will meet you immediately after reaching there.. I will be there for your delivery and I will be the first one to hold my nephew in my arms.. ""How do you know it's a boy?? ",Sanjana asked with a smile..My heart says it's a boy" , Nidhi replied. "Ok Ok , but I am happy with anyone as long as the baby is healthy ", Sanjana said. "Hmmm, that's true", Nidhi agreed with Sanjana.."It's been a long time since I didn't see you Nidhi", Sanjana said.." I am coming back forever to our city Sanju but  I need a favour from you..I need your help", Nidhi asked .."Just order my sweetheart", Sanju said.."Sanju , can you please   recommend  me as an intern in Aditya's company..""of course Nidhi that's not a big deal.. but  as far as I know  you are not a girl who depends on recommendations.. Why are you asking this??'"Sanju , I will explain everything to you after I return back.  I want to join as an intern in a company which is bigger. Just ask Aaditya to send an offer letter to my mail.. after joining if I cannot reach his expectations I will resign immediately.. I don't have much time, I am leaving tomorrow so before I leave I want to submit the offer letter in the Principal's office..""Nidhi, your father has seen the capability in you and is ready to hand over the  company to you.. and here you are talking about mere internship.Don't worry, I will speak to Aditya and assume your job is done".. Sanju gave an assurance..What Nidhi didn't know at that time was Riya was hearing her conversation with Sanjana..Actually Riya came to Nidhi's room to apologize to her but when she heard she is  leaving the city  tomorrow and will never come back, her heart ached...She felt it all happened because of her.. She gave up the idea of talking to Nidhi, walked towards her room and packed all her belongings..Nidhi is leaving tomorrow and what will she do in her house without her.She decided she will go back to her hometown..Very soon, Nidhi received  an offer letter in her mailbox  from Mehta group of industries.. She took a printout and drove her car to her college, entered the Principal's room and put the offer  letter in front of him.." Sir Mehta group is bigger than Verma group.. so I hope you will not interfere in my internship this time"Actually the Principal didn't want to offend Kabir yesterday, so he insisted on Nidhi.. but today morning he received a call from Kabir saying not to insist Nidhi and her friends to  join his company..He sighed and accepted Nidhi's letter..Nidhi came out from the principal 's room with a smile on her lips.  Now, she doesn't have to face Kabir anymore..On the other hand when Nidhi left for college, Riya packed her clothes and walked out of the house leaving an apology letter to Nidhi on the dining table..When Nidhi reached home, she was in a good mood.. She walked inside and saw a letter on the dining table..It was from Riya..Nidhi was stunned for a second." Nidhi, you are the most wonderful and  kind person I have ever met. Even though I am not of your status you never made me feel inferior.. You are a very good friend Nidhi but I don't deserve your friendship.. Forgive me if you can. I am sorry for leaving without informing you.but I don't have courage to face you.I am extremely sorry for hurting you Nidhi, All the best for your future.. Good bye!!!"Tears welled up in Nidhi's eyes when she read the letter.. She ran to Riya's room and saw the empty wardrobe.. which means she left..She cursed herself for being harsh with her yesterday..She tried to call her but her mobile was switched off..She called Aakash and got to know that even they are not aware of Riya's sudden departure..Nidhi collapsed on the couch with a letter in her hands..She lost her best friend because of her anger..."I am sorry Riya , I am sorry…", there were tears in her eyes.Aakash and Gautam immediately reached Nidhi's house. They enquired Nidhi if she spoke to her in the morning.."No, Aakash.. I didn't.. ", Nidhi explained how Riya left the house when she went to college..They tried to contact her again but still it was switched off..I think I  should go to her hometown and apologize to her.. "Nidhi said..But we don't know her house  address and the area where Riya lives is not a village,it's a town. Where will we search for her?? Gautam said."We can get her address from college records..  Gautam you have good connections in the admin department..  get her address", Nidhi said.."Ok I will go to college and get the address.. ", Gautam left for college..Nidhi was heartbroken.. Anger indeed makes you lose your  senses... she realised that today.. She really regretted slapping Riya yesterday.Very soon Gautam called and  said he got the address of Riya's house.and all the three friends started their journey towards Riya's hometown..When they reached the address, Nidhi knocked on the door and some lady in her 40's opened the door."Hello aunty, I am here to meet Riya..""Which Riya? Nobody with the name Riya lives here. ", the lady said..But we got to know this is Riya's address.. Nidhi checked the address once again"Maybe  she is an earlier tenant.. We shifted in this house one month back..you ask the owner.. she lives next door", the lady replied.Nidhi  spoke to the house owner and came to know that  Riya's parents shifted their house to some new place because they couldn't afford the increased  rent of the house...Nidhi enquired about Riya's new rented house but the house owner bluntly replied " I have no idea"..she even enquired in the neighbourhood, but nobody knew where they shifted..Nidhi  felt completely helpless this minute.The town is huge ,where will she search for Riya?.." Nidhi, I think we should leave now.. your flight is tomorrow morning to your hometown.. I and Gautam will come back and search for Riya.. trust me", Aakash said..Nidhi reluctantly agreed and started their journey back..On the other hand, unaware of Nidhi and her friends' arrival to her hometown, Riya walked towards her house.With a heavy heart and with a lot of pain in her heart she left Nidhi's house..She turned off the phone because she knew she would definitely get a call from Nidhi and she had no guts to face her.She didn't even inform Aakash and Gautam because they will never allow her to leave the city..She decided she will not intern with Kabir's company even though Kabir was good to her.. She knows it's a wonderful opportunity but she doesn't want to get a favour from a person who hurt her one and only friend..She applied for other companies earlier so she is confident that she will get through the interview..Seeing Riya arriving without any intimation, Riya's parents were worried.."Riya you said you will not come during these holidays", Riya's mom asked. Riya hugged her mom and said,  "I was missing you mom.. there were tears in her eyes.. there was unexplainable pain in her heart, she didn't want to worry her parents ,so she didn't tell them anything .."*****Nidhi returned back and packed her belongings as she was leaving for her home town tomorrow..She once again came inside Riya's room and sat on the bed.. She started missing her presence in the house.. one of the reasons Nidhi was able to deal with her past was Riya.. she always made her smile with her silly jokes.. whenever she saw Nidhi depressed she used to divert her mood and take her out for a walk.. I will definitely miss you Riya but I promise I will definitely find you one day..