The Stranger (Part-18)...

Meera was in her memory lane and the doorbell rang. She saw the time, it was 4.10 pm. She opened the door and found Sangeeta there. Both of them greeted each other and Meera welcomed Sangeeta into her house and closed the door. Both Meera and Sangeeta sat together on the sofa. Sangeeta looked at Meera and tried to read her face. Meera then asked her, " Ok dear, now tell me about you. What about your business? How is it moving now? It seems you are a bit busier now. I am sure you must be doing good in that. " Sangeeta listened to her and replied, " I am ok dear. You know that I had started herbal cosmetics distribution from my home. Mostly I was doing well in online bookings and home deliveries. But at present due to the absence of Ashis, who was helping me in this, it's been a bit slow. Still, we don't know anything about Ashis. Some police persons along with the investigative team came twice to my place and enquired about him. Even they had gone to Ashis's place and done the same thing. They had taken some documents of Ashis with them too. That's the reason I was a bit upset and we all are in a panic. Anyway, I could see the scratch on your face and neck. What happened and how did you get all these? Had it all happened during the incident happened a couple of days before? " Meera replied, "Yes dear during that incident all these happened. I am still in dark about that incident. Why do those people come from my back and tried to attack me, still thinking about this? What about your marriage as your Mom was saying around six months back? That time you were rejecting all proposals and there was a fight between you both. I think, if she had seen somebody for you, then you must at least talk to that person and then decide. Yes, this is your personal matter related to the future of life." Sangeeta gave a smile. Meera could observe that the smile was a fainted one. Meera could see the pale face of Sangeeta. Then Sangeeta replied, "Leave it dear. I am not mentally ready to marry now. Now I want to be settled and make my business grow. I think you shouldn't have joined duty now. Your body needs rest. Have you received any information regarding that accident? Any clue about the motive behind that? I think still the problems are roaming around you. You should be more careful. I have so many problems that I am feeling like a fool and wondering how to come out of all these." Meera saw the expression of Sangeeta and could understand that she is telling the truth. She is trying to hide the facts and feels sorry internally for doing so. Then Meera gave a light smile and said, " Have patience dear. No problem is permanent. All these will go away from your life. You take care you yourself and your family. As you said, I had done a mistake and now I am rectifying it. I had taken leave to have rest and came out of my mental worries."

As soon as Meera finished the doorbell rang. Meera opened and saw her Mom Sara. She let Sara come inside and then locked the door. Sangeeta wished Sara and said to Meera, "Now let me go dear. I have urgent work at about 7 pm. I had just come to see you. Please do be in touch with me. It's always a pleasure to talk to you. We two are the best friends of each other and had our best times together." Then Sangeeta said goodbye to them and left. Meera closed the door. Sara looked at Meera and asked, "Why had she come here? I don't like her activities. Whenever she meets you, always there comes a problem. You keep a distance from her. Now let me go and make some coffee for both of you. You go to your room."

Meera listened to her mother and went inside her room. She sat on her bed and started thinking about her friend Sangeeta. She was shocked to know today that Sangeeta is hiding her relationship with Ajit. Because for four years she kept it secret. Now it's clear definitely Sangeeta now knew about the drugs business, its link, Ashis's link and Ajit's link. But all these things either knowingly she is hiding or she is repenting and hiding. Today Meera felt that Sangeeta was behaving like a stranger, she was not the same old close best friend Sangeeta. She closed her eyes.