PROLOGUE
ch: shree, you got her favourite flowers.
Sh: and you got her favourite sweets.
Ch: yes.
Sh: without eating any sweet?
Ch: yeah.
Shree checked the sweet boxes and was surprised to find that they were all intact.
Sh: wow, chotu. You actually did'nt eat any sweet.
Ch: oh come on, shree. After a long time riya is discharged from the hospital. I mean...
Sh: I know what you mean. It seems like a really long time but it still seems like yesterday when she...
Shree and chotu shuddered remembering the bacteria incident. It has been 3 months since that has happened and every moment shree and chotu was free they used to spend it at the hospital updating riya about the cases. And now although the doctor has advised rest for 2-3 months but she can work from the office now. And they were looking forward for her arrival. It was a really long time and the office did'nt seem the same without her.
Sa: remembering old things, does'nt help anyone.
Shree and chotu turned to see sameer smiling at them. Shree and chotu's enthusiasm has been infectious and even sameer is looking forward to have riya in the office. Although he did'nt visit riya as often as them but he used to get regular updates from both of them. Shree and chotu had been going for a week since they received news of riya's discharge. They had already planned everthing upto the last detail and could'nt wait to see the delight on their best friend's face when she saw the surprise they had laid out.
Sh: rathore sir, if you are here, then who is going to pick riya up from the hospital?
Sa: rawte.
Shree and chotu looked at each other warily. arjun had'nt asked about riya anytime she was in the hospital. But inspite of that they knew he was listening in when they gave sameer about updates about riya's health.
Sa: don't worry he will reach on time and he won't say anything to her.
The door opened and arjun came in. shree and chotu looked at arjun eagerly but saw no riya. They looked at each other in confusion.
Ch: arjun sir where is riya?
Arjun closed his fingers in a fist almost crumbling the papers.
Sa: rawte where is riya?
Shree and chotu went outside to check whether riya was hiding from them but no one was outside. They came inside to see sameer's face in shock and the paper slipping from his hands.
Sh: rathore sir, what happened?
Sameer and arjun looked at each other while chotu and shree looked on in confusion.
Ar: riya is not in the hospital.
Sh: that is impossible. We had strictly told the doctor not to allow riya to go home. She must have forced the doctor and went home.
Ar: she is not at her home also.
Ch: arjun sir what happened? Why is rathore sir looking as if an earthquake has come?
Sa: because riya has resigned.
Sh and ch: what?
Sa: yes she has resigned and she is never coming back.
Everyone stared at Sameer in silence unaware of the storm going to rage in their life or more particularly in their best friend's life.