Chapter 5: Right Hand

“He... what?” Saira asked me a hundredth time while I sobbed.

“I… he left… I knew he’d leave me again but not that soon. He gave up just like this and…. I regretted that I was actually thinking of reconciling with him.” I speak with tears rolling down my flushed cheeks.

“Wait a minute, Till yesterday you wanted to get rid of him and today you are crying after he left you by himself?” Saira inquired confusedly.

“Yes, I was thinking that maybe he still loves me and came back just for me because he won’t be able to forget me all these years. But…. I was wrong as he left me once again without any reluctance.” I whimpered pathetically.

“Oh my dear! I also didn’t think that he’d do that.” She hugged me.

“I hate him.” I said and she rubbed my back, trying to comfort me.

“He flirted with her while we were out and then left without any resistance. That’s such a mean thing to do.” She commented sourly and more of my tears spilled out.

“Don’t cry baby, you were right; he doesn’t deserve you. Forget that mean bastard & don’t even waste a single precious tears of yours on him. Let’s drink and celebrate that you got rid of his mean ass.” Saira exclaimed in disguise and this made me laugh a little.

“That’s my girl!” Saira clapped cheerfully and then really brought out 2 glasses along with vodka from her kitchen.

We just got shit-face wasted that night, Saira who wasn’t used to consuming alcohol like that became unconscious after a while. On the other hand, I just drowned myself in drinking to forget about a certain Italian mean fucker!

+

“Wake up baby. Hey!” I heard a familiar, rough manly voice in my sleep and turned away from the person who’s trying to wake me up.

“Go away!” I murmured groggily and he chuckled.

“I didn’t know that you’ll welcome me like that after a long flight. It’s such a shame buddy!” He spoke sadly & my eyes instantly opened up after his little speech. I turned around my head so abruptly that I almost got a whiplash and there he stood in all his glory!

“Jan!!” I exclaimed with joy and then jumped on him.

“Now you’re awake.” He teased me while I clung to him and I smacked his head.

“Shut it. It’s just that I’m not expecting you to come back so soon after just giving me a break….” He didn’t let me complete my teasing as he swirled around, making me squeal loudly.

“Now you shut it before I make you regret your words.” He threatened me lightly and I giggled.

“Okay, where’s Saira?” I asked him while he was dropping me down gently on the floor.

“She was cleaning the mess that you both created yesterday’s night when I arrived. I guess now she’s about to cook breakfast for us.” He replied and then it struck me.

“Wait, How do you know that I stayed up late, at her place?” I quirked up my eyebrows and he rolled his eyes.

“Oh my dumb friend! When I reached your place, I rang you and Saira picked up the call telling me that you’re at her place, sleeping like a polar bear and then send me the location.” He explained and I bit down on my lower lip in embarrassment.

“I’m so sorry. I was kind of depressed and we just lightened ourselves up by drinking. Then I stumbled to this room and…. you know everything after that.” And he chuckled.

“Yeah yeah. Now get a proper shower because you stink.” He winked at me and I smacked his arm.

“You’re so…”

“Handsome and sweet. I know, babe!” He cut me off and I rolled my eyes at his cockiness.

“Mr.Arrogant, can you please spare me some time for myself to shower peacefully without your cocky ass?” And he smirked.

“Cocky ass….” I blushed. He’s so bad!

“Jan.” I spelled seriously and he instantly got serious.

“Yes?”

“Shut up and get out before I make you regret your return.” I glared at him and a soft smile tugged on his lips.

“Okay, boss!” And then he left me.

I discarded my clothes, took a long, relaxing shower with a smile on my face as my right hand was back!

+

“So, how’s everything going?” We were eating our breakfast in a comfortable silence when Jan broke it.

“It’s good. And I am not going to work today.” I replied back with a happy smile and they both looked at me with surprise.

“Why?” They both asked at a time and I laughed.

“Because….. Firstly, I completed the sketches and designs already and already emailed their blueprints to the investors for approval so basically I have nothing to do so much today. Secondly, my buddy came back so I planned on eating his brains out.” I winked at him and he smirked.

“Ohhhh, I can also arrange something else for eating if you want.” He suggested naughtily, making me blush while Saira choked on the tea.

“Jan!” I warned him weakly and he lifted up his hands in surrender.

“I think as you’re taking the off, I have to go to the office because I have a lot to do!” Saira said after recovering from the coughs.

“Yeah right! We’ll clean up everything and then leave for my place. You can come back to my place so we can have dinner together.” I suggested and she rewarded me her gentle smile. Then she got ready and left while Jan and I cleaned the table, did the dishes and then headed off to my place in my Mercedes Benz.

“I'll never get tired of this luxurious car of yours.” Jan exclaimed joyfully after settling down on the passenger seat and I smiled brightly at him.

“And I’ll never get tired of this ugly face of yours!” I mimicked him and he rolled his eyes at me.

“You’re so mean.” He murmured.

“You’re so ugly.” I fired back and he looked outside of the window. I revived the engine and then our journey started with a comfortable silence in the atmosphere of the car.

“How’s your mother? You went to take care of her, right?” I asked him after some time and he sighed.

“Yeah... but she…. she’s no more!” He threw this bomb on me and I swirled around the steering wheel in time and the car behind us honked loudly. I parked the car on the side of the road and turned towards him. He was still looking out.

“Hey, Jan!” I called out to him, softly.

“I’m fine, Isa. I don’t think I deserve to mourn on her death as I left her to fight on her own, in all those past years.” When he turned towards me, I saw un-shed tears in his eyes. I unbuckled my seat belt, and then shifted myself up onto his lap. He looked up at me with a sad smile and I caressed his cheeks tenderly.

“It’s not your fault that she was diagnosed with blood cancer. It’s not your fault that your father divorced her after the diagnosis. And it’s certainly not your fault that she wasn’t here but she’s up there in the skies, watching you from the above and still love you!” I spoke and he hugged me, placing his head on my chest, inhaling shakily.

“I…… but I can do much more than what I did in this past month.” He regretted it.

“You did what you could do, as much as you could help. But we’re not God; to be able to manage everything perfectly. We can do whatever we have to do to lessen the pain of our loved ones but we cannot take it away completely!. So, don’t blame yourself for anything as you’re also not partying here, but working hard to pay for the necessities & the bills.” I dropped a kiss on his forehead and he buried his head in my chest more.

“You’re right!” He responded groggily. We stayed like this for some time, savoring each other’s presence.