LIFE.... AS IT COMES (CHAPTER 18)

“I really can’t believe that the bastard actually told you all that crap? What is he? Is he kind of mad?” Tam was completely freaking out, for obvious reasons.

“Yeah he has to be totally mad! Otherwise he wouldn’t have fallen for you! Blah!” Shrugged Ryan.

“Shut up Ryan!” Said Sheila as she hit Ryan on his knee. He caught her hand and gave it squeeze. Sheila managed a smile but quickly shrugged her hand of the grasp.

“God! Guys! What do I do?” Wailed Tam burying her head in her arms.

“Hey man! You are asking us what to do? Dude you never ask anybody what to do? That’s so not you! You always go with your gut instincts! From when have you started asking these questions! Just go up there and do whatever you have to do!” Said Kunal as he pumped Tam’s shoulder. Obviously he missed the exchange between Ryan and Sheila.

“Hey she is going out there to confront her boyfriend, fake boyfriend, not participate in a debate competition man!” Shouted Ryan on the top of his voice!

“Yeah! Whatever! Go on insulting me! But those very words gave her strength!” Kunal sulked.

“Guys! Please stop bickering!” Sheila wailed.

Amidst all these confusion, everyone nearly forgot the origin of the problem- Tam. She looked around her and got up and collected her bag from the floor.

She may have lost some of her dignity in the last few days but she did have some time it to earn back again. And all wasn’t lost. She still had hope. She would alter her faults!

It was a while before everyone else realized that Tam was not in the room anymore.

“Hey! Where is Tam?” Kunal said looking around.

“In the bathroom?” said Ryan.

“No. She is not in there. She isn’t anywhere.” Said Sheila looking around the house.

“Dude! It’s a huge house. How could you look around so quickly?” Said Kunal getting up from his chair.

“Can we just for once just stop talking about crap and concentrate on finding Tam? Lets go out. She must have gone over to Danny without us noticing. Couldn’t have gone far! Let’s go!” Said Ryan pushing the others out of the door.

They moved out of the door looking for Tam when Kunal just saw her disappearing into a cab.

“Hey there she is! We could race her to Danny’s office!” suggested Kunal.

“Yeah! That’s good. We could go in my bike.” Said Ryan.

When the bike was out an awkward moment followed. Nobody knew where to sit.

“Umm Kunal why don’t you drive it for once? I will sit behind Sheila!” suggested a skeptical Ryan.

Kunal raised his eyebrows at this.

“You are letting me drive your bike?” Asked Kunal.

“Can we please race Tam? Not fight about that god damn bike!” Shouted Sheila.

Shrugging their shoulders the guys got on the bike with Kunal at the front and Ryan behind Sheila.

While Kunal began driving and was beginning to pick up speed Ryan slid his hands on Sheila’s shoulders. Within two seconds they were back on his lap!

“Hey you still angry with me or what?” whispered Ryan lightly in Sheila’s ears.

Sheila turned back to face him.

“Ryan please don’t give me a glimmer of hope for a future that is never going to happen. It’s my request to you.”

“Hey but I was just--------”

“Look there is Tam!” shouted Kunal as he jerked his bike to a halt in front of the office. The three of them got down and started running in the direction in which Tam disappeared.

They soon came across the security guard who strangely was dozing.

“Wow! Danny sure has great security!” Scoffed Kunal.

“Umm guys! He has been knocked unconscious.” Declared Ryan.

“Tam.” Said Sheila as she quickened her pace.

They soon came in sight of Tam standing outside Danny’s office. They caught up with her, panting.

“What are you------”

Kunal didn’t get to finish his sentence as Sheila cut across him.

“Oh my god!”

Danny was lying sprawled out on the floor covered in a pool of blood.