Deep tried to get himself completely into the issue, attempting to figure out what exactly had gone wrong and when!
Gathering every memory relating Tara, the sudden realisation hit him that everything changed from the moment Tara got hospitalised.
No!!
From the moment.....when she changed the vision!
Or...
From the moment....Aryan appeared?
Whatever, it was, it was somehow the origin of the problem! Cause only after then, someone had sneaked into her house and the attack in the party, following the.... poison one shortly, had happened.
Someone prisoned Tara's parents, who if....survived the accident, should have returned! Whole of twelve years, it was sure enough that someone pre-planned it very well! Very.Very.Well!!
So well, that he now doubted even that accident!!
Then why didn't that man take advantage of the situation till now, and why only now?!
What made the man suddenly come out of his veil of darkness, threaten him, and most importantly, why him?
WHY?!
What exactly is he wanting to gain by this all?!
If nothing was sure, one thing definitely was!!
The man who is responsible for this all, he knew him!! Very Well!!
But who?!
Someone who is between them, the hiding sheep he has to recognise! The one who particularly is knowledgeable about their each and every single move, considered his actions!!
Aryan, he once doubted him as well, thinking the enemy's target might be him and not her for, nothing like this happened before until he came! However, now knowledged about his relation with them, he couldn't carry forward the same thoughts. He was a family of his, so, it is either Tara being the target, or him, or worst, both of them!!
Thoughts kept revolving in his head, in a mess which he patiently tried to bring back into order!
A person whose motive is uncertain yet confirm of being evil!
Another person, working under this person, the one whom he met!
And finally him, who they chose to use as a pawn!
And the target, Tara!!
Deep took a brief note of the mind mapping he sketched down on the white paper, his fingers involuntarily playing with the pen he held.
He didn't know his enemy, but he did see that man who reached him!
With a deep inhale, he prepared himself to get his sketch!
Never did he think that his sketching skills he once cherished himself and had to put aside for focusing on the company related issues, was all that he treasured just for THIS day!!
He didn't know when he was done, and started staring at the man he drew, and when had the sleep took over him!
As if the circling thoughts which raced in his head were a speeling pill, he in process of thinking everything he could as of a solution, lost himself, giving into the deep slumber his tired soul somehow requested for.
**********
Aryan, and Tara along with Rhys were all surprised to hear from Arshad that Deep wasn't going to return home this night!
Tara who intentionally had avoided the conversation with him, about him getting acknowledged about her situation, now was quite worried considering his still absence.
Other way Aryan was way too far from worrying about Deep's absence! Though he was a little worried about him after Tara said he knew everything about the situation, in the park this evening, he knew the man was good at handling things, perhaps better than Tara somehow! He trusted the man would somehow help them in finding a solution.
Cause that was all he craved at present, a beautiful life with no worries, with Tara!
And his thoughts soon drifted to Tara's confession this evening, "I feel guilty, Aryan!!"
"I kept pushing them away for years and now am reaching them for my own selfishness!!"
Her words ringed in his ears as they all were in silence!
He felt the same somehow. Why didn't he think of returning back once after accepting his fate? Lost in his own threads of fate, he forgot completely that there was a couple waiting for him?! Just how different would his childhood be if only had he not chose to distance himself from them?
And then, if he did, would he....meet her still?!
His gaze settled on Tara, who seemed lost as her fingers traced unknown paths in her plate with the spoon!
To look away, even Mrs.Nethin seemed lost! He thought she was worried about her son but about Tara, he was nothing sure of, for, there was too much to be worried about right now and particularly what was she considering right now is just unpredictable.
Unlike the breakfast, today's dinner was silent, completed in a way as though no one had their mind on the appetite they should have.
Everyone retreated to their own rooms, the destination was a peaceful sleep, but for some, the sleep was unreached and for some the peace! And then there comes them, unable to reach the both!
Tara recalled Aryan's reply to her confession, "Selfishness is a human need, Tara. For them and for us!!"
He was right, her grandparents needed their grandchildren back, to finally get back their ruined family. And they needed to find a peaceful life, not to only live but to cherish!
Her body seeked rest comfortably laid in her bed, however, neither her brain nor her soul attained peace they needed.
The other way, Aryan, who sat on the soft mattress of the bed, lights off, leaned against the bed wall, his one leg leisurely rested flat to the mattress's surface while the other stood half kneeled. Sleep he seeked never in his reach despite his eyes being shut.
A lingering hope kept appearing everytime they both seemed nervous or uneasy considering the situation. And the mixed feelings kept them awake almost half of the night!
Rhys who is asleep now however found herself suffering for a peaceful mind for sometime, her thoughts kept reminding her that her son wasn't back yet! Her conscious constantly remembering her the unknown things she wished to know and share but stayed away to avoid the unnecessary occurance of problems with her mere involvement.
She suggested her husband to call their son, she didn't even know whether he had anything to eat or not, but Arshad denied.
"I believe our son has grown up to a very sophisticated person and knows what to do and when, Rhys!!"
Her husband's assurance was assuring enough but she wasn't assured enough, "That doesn't change the fact that he's my son!!" she scoffed before turning away from him.
Arshad felt the silence continue for sometime until he knew his wife was asleep, the sleep which he didn't gain yet. He hoped everything would settle down once for all, if Tara and Aryan finds any solution for either their haunting abilities or the chasing enemy!
He didn't still forget what Tara stated about Aryan's ability and it's consequences. She could see future and so could he past. And if that's effecting him, then.....she would be...affected as well.
Arshad took a deep breath, his resting body not at all helping his soul rest at ease.
The thought alone seemed to hitch his breath.
He tried to trace any hint that threatened to emerge his thoughts into reality.
His breath hitched again when the moments of Tara always collapsing out of severe heart pain everytime she sees something, from the past, started to play in his head.
'I wonder if something like that really exists, and we aren't exploring it yet?!'
Her words...suddenly seemed to weigh in a different way.
With a sigh, he sat up, was he still sane? Thinking all right?!
Arshad shook his head, nothing was going to be wrong! They definitely would find one solution!
As though the already existing enemy wasn't an enough problem, something more bothering emerged.
For the first time, he felt quite relieved that Deep now knew about everything, it was selfish to think of depending on his son, but, it was easing enough to think he has a shoulder to rest on as well. He knew Deep would often react first than to think, but, he's very well aware that his son would never do anything complicating which is directly related to Tara!
Deep loved her, as much as he does!
With a sigh again, he leaned back in the same position, he didn't know what path was Deep choosing to solve this problem.
Tara and Aryan would be leaving to in search of their own solution!
And here he was, unable to do anything! Feeling useless for the first time in whole of his life!
The men who were caught while trying to attack Tara on the party night, revealed nothing but themselves as mere workers under the upper hand of someone whom they are yet to discover. The cops he seeked for help in secret couldn't find who was the man who sneaked into Tara's house as well, neither could they find the source of their enemy! Nothing seemed alright, despite the officers assuring him that they would keep their search continue until they found the accused, he wasn't satisfied.
And the recent attack, conveyed a silent threat that, Tara would always be.... watched!
Nothing made him feel at ease, and the night was spent in silence, his soul in chaos.
************
Meera was as usual early to the office, some were as well, but she didn't expect Deep to be a part of those 'some'. Witnessing him seated in his chair, holding a paper, asleep, and his tablet, a mess!
He didn't leave?
But she was sure he did!!
Did he come back? Why?
And, why did he choose to stay here overnight?
Meera reached him while making sure she didn't make any sound while shutting the glass door. As she did, she took note of the table which was more of a mess after seeing from near. Papers all over, with some weird writings and sketches she couldn't understand. Pens and other things spread on, in a really disturbing way.
She sighed, what made this man do this all? Even that day, he was weirdly off his mood. Taking unexpected leaves.
What exactly happened to him?
Was he missing Tara?
The sudden remembrance of Tara halted her. Why was a lady like her is off work for these many days?
She shook her head, she was again getting lost in thoughts, and probably thinking too much! Shoving her thoughts away, she brought herself up to rearrange his table!
She didn't do much and just adjusted the papers in an order, another class from him she would never now want to take, not about discipline after all. She didn't want to provoke him by throwing them all now? While adjusting the pens and the other few things, she heard his husky voice, "What are you doing?", forcing her to look at him!
"You're awake!!" she smiled, "Good morning!!"
Deep leaned forward, his still droopy eyes instantly scanning the table. She didn't spoil his efforts of tracing down the paths of his journey for a solution, but just.... cleaned the mess be created! "Good....morning!!" he turned to her, a subtle smile playing on his lips.
"And.....thank you!!"
Meera smiled, who suddenly crouched briefly to take the paper he left hold of while leaning forward! However, she had to halt when she took a look at the sketch he drew.
The man....
It was too surprising for her.
The first is that Deep after years, had sketched something, someone in specific.
And the second is that, the sketch, the man in the sketch....
"Neel?!"
Deep blinked at the sudden recognition of the man by her, the any traces of sleep that still remained in him now completely leaving. "Come again?"