The phone rang.

It rang for one good minute.

Till now Nandini knew that she is not being answered intentionally.

Just before the last ring...someone picked up the call.

"Hello”

The voice sounded dry. Almost ghostly.
Nandini almost regretted calling. But her determined mind encouraged her to move forward.

"Cabir. It's me."

The other side of the line went silent for some seconds and then someone replied

"It's you. After so many years. It's you. Can't believe you have the audacity to call me"

Nandini knew this wasn't a good idea but she didn't have any other way. She offered a silent prayer to God and continued talking.

"I know you are upset with me but..."

Before she could even speak she is interrupted.

"UPSET???!!! God Nandini!!!! I am not upset with you!!! I hate you for what you did with my friend!!! "

Nandini was now losing her confidence in this idea.

"I know cabir. Believe me I do. I just want to meet him once."

"Nandini. Leave the past in the past. Don't try to spoil our presents."

"Just tell me where he is cabir"

"I don't know. Uss din ke baad he never talked to me or anyone . All i know is that he is not here but in America. "

This had Nandini all pumped up.

"America. He is here. Finally i got a confirmation. Now i know what i have to do"

Finally Nandini got a confirmation. Previously this was just a hunch which brought her to a different country. She had to take up on a job to support her family.

" Yes cabir!!! I am in America too... Bas please kuch aur information agar mil jaye toh we can find him. Don't you want to find your bestfriend cabir?"

" I don't know anything Nandini. It's just that. Just leave me alone. I don't want to dwell in the past. If usko meri kabhi yaad ayegi then he will contact me himself. "

"But cabir...."

"Nandini. Don't call me again ever."

And like that the calk qas disconnected.

Nandini knew she had to take the ultimate step now. She has enough money to go on for a month in America.
So she made up her mind.

Nandini opens a drawer and takes out an envelope .

And in the next moment we find her marching towards Manik's cabin.

Manik was busy with some work when Nandini knocked on the door .

"Yess Miss Murthy. Please come in."

Nandini walked in.

"Mr Malhotra. I came to give you this"

She placed the envelope on the desk.

Manik looked at the envelope with confusion.

"What's in the envelope?"

Nandini hesitated for a moment and then spoke.

"It's my resignation letter."

Manik was in shock. Literal shock. He couldn't believe what was going on.

"What?"

"I am resigning."

"But why???? And all of a sudden???"

"There is a reason I can't speak of. Please accept my resignation. I will be no longer attending the office from tomorrow "

Saying this Nandini walked out of Manik's cabin.

Manik still was in shock.

"What's Wrong with Miss Murthy????"

And suddenly his phone rang.

He picked up the call.

"Hello. Bol."

"She called "
Replied the voice from the other side.

Manik's expression changed. A dark violent expression took over his calm handsome face.

"She said she is in America and is searching for you. She would like to meet you"
The voice on the other side continued.

"Forward her number to me. "

Manik's voice was Stern. Almost deprived of any kind of warmth or emotion.

He immediately disconnected the call.

*******

Nandini packed all her personal stuff in a box. She was happy she didn't have much of things that she would like to carry home. She took a last look on her personal chamber and them walked out.

********
While carrying her stuff outside, Nandini thought of how is she going to search him in such a vast country. But he knew she would work out something.

"Ayyappa help!"
She let's out a sigh when her phone rang.

The number was unknown. She thought before picking up the call.

"Hello"

She waited for someone to reply from the other side.

"Miss me Nandu?"

And at that moment she knew.

She knew it's him.

Her heart pounded.

She didn't know what to say. She had a lot to speak but words were stuck in her throat.

After a good amount of time. She replied.

"Parth?"

" So you do remember. Thought you would have forgot"

Though the voice sounded like an old companion but it had no familiarity nor the feeling of love and affection.

Nandini was crying now. She had tears in her eyes. All her past memories flashed before her eyes.

" I could never.."

" Oh My God Nandu!!! Are you crying??? The Nandu I knew was so strong that she would never cry. But would make others cry"

Slowly the voice on the other side was going more and more dry and devoid of emotions. Nandini was sobbing now. She hold her phone tightly near her ears fearing she might drop the phone.

"That Nandu is long gone. Gone after you left"

"I left for the good. See.. atleast that made you a good person who has emotions. "

"You were my best friend. And you left me without even giving me a chance to explain " said Nandini still sobbing and trying to catch her breath as she talked.

The voice gave a sarcastic smile from the other end.

"Best friend. Do you even understand the meaning of the word. I was just a tool for you then. You f**king used we. And it was too late when i finally understood that. You were never my friend. "

"Parth. Please let me explain. It been so many years. At least now i deserve a chance to explain myself. Please!!!"

The urgency in Nandini's voice increased suddenly.

The voice was silent for sometime.

Then it spoke.

"Okay. Let's meet.  Tomorrow. Malibu Beach. 8AM sharp. "

The phone was disconnected.

Nandini was feeling a mix of emotions. While she was happy that she is going to meet her former best friend, she was also scared of how their meeting will be. But she is content that atleast she would get a chance to explain herself to him. She always had him in mind after he left. Her coming to America leaving her family behind was because of him. She always had that guilty conscience inside her. She needed to get rid of her past guilts. And now is the time. And Nandini is finally ready.