The Return of Passion (Complete)

1 AND 1/2 YEARS LATER Filling her lungs to its fullest, she slowly exhaled, closing her eyes at the feel of cool air against her skin. It was certainly a very welcoming change to be back to her home in Mumbai after one and half year of her chemotherapy in Chicago. It was still the first stage of cancer she was caught in and after loosing all her hair bit by bit she got her life back. But the pitiful irony, that she wanted the exact opposite. She didn't want to live! It was so so painful for her sometimes that she had tried to use numerous tricks to get out of this all. But each one of them had failed, from the drowning in her bathtub to the excess intake of sleeping pills. And then she had decided, if she is to live she would do so with a good cause detesting even the thought of the names or incidents in her past. A past that she never wants to revisit. Although she had done her best to preserve some of the best moments of that past. The things and the people that she never wants to forget. Jonaki her daughter for example who was and will be forever the most important person to her. And so the first thing she had done with the money of her father was to buy that little 2bhk flat in east shyambazzar where she had spent five summers and winter with the little bundle of joy who was no more with her. And then she had kept the place intact, just like it had been before with Joe's toys closed in a cartoon box in her room, her own and Joe's dresses, ironed and neatly kept in the almirah. Her school bag, water bottle her books of 1st standard still at the exact places that they have been before. She visits the place as often as she could. Spending a day or two in the solitude when she was very much depressed. She would just lie on the couch of living room and close her eyes with the television showing the little cartoon characters running about filling the room with their voices so that it could help Alisha to imagine better that her daughter is happy even if she isn't here. Sometimes she would even cook Joe's favorite dish and then with absent mind she would put two plates on the table and then she won't be left with an appetite anymore. Realizing that she had seen the person burning down into ashes a few months ago for whom she had accidentally served that plate. And then she would go back the next morning for Chicago until the life again starts to weight too much on her shoulder. Opening her eyes in the sunlight, she looked at her pink strapped wrist watch. It is already seven in the morning. The people who comes here daily for a little exercise and fresh air in the early morning had already started to disperse. To go back home with their dogs or partner. She clipped the ear-plugs back into her ears, attached to her phone as soft music started to fill her negativity. Running another round through the greenery of the vast park, she at last messaged her driver that she was ready to leave after all, she have a long day ahead. *** In her first month in Chicago going through the painful process of chemotherapy all alone, she had received numerous calls, the lawyers of Bose Inter-prizes, from the head of HR and few of the share holders and board members, all of which wanted her to be the next CEO and continue the legacy while only she knew that it wasn't her legacy! So she refused, once. Twice. Thrice and so on until one month ago that she was sure she was going to live enough to take the responsibility of a company that she is to run. But it was a little too late for things to start running smoothly. It looked like Surya Bose's gambling habit was paying off, the company was a the verge of bankruptcy and so she decided to do what was essential! To sell it! For one, she knew very little about the business of iron factories and such and for two, there's no way now that she could stop the company from sinking in the debut of millions. And so following that line of thinking, she was today meeting with the third party who have shown some interest in the company. "We are here mam. "Deep lost into her thoughts she hadn't realized when the SUV have been parked into the driveway of her residence. Her home supposedly! The large three storied bungalow spread across one thousands square feet with a 50 meters extended boundary with nothing but greenery. Murmuring a small 'thanks' to the young chauffeur, she led herself out from the car and in through the large rosewood doors. Surprised by the efficiency of her new housemaid who had already laid the warm breakfast on the dinning table and wasn't anywhere in the sight. Not waiting to take a shower Alisha hurriedly washed her hands and face in the wash basin of the kitchen and sat down to eat. With the morning news playing on the TV, she munched on the Toast and Jam when the former CEO's Secretary messaged her. Mr. Rahul had asked if the meeting could be held the next hour, at 8:30? Because due to an urgent business he have to leave for Miami to-day afternoon. If you want mam then I could tell them that the meeting could be held when he comes back from Miami. @Navya Alisha typed back: No need Navya. Tell them we would be there the next hour! And kindly inform the other board members, the lawyers and Divya and Ravi about the change in plan thank you! @Alisha No way would she like to delay this meeting anymore for it's better to get rid of it as soon as possible. With that she had to leave her breakfast at that only to rush back to her room on the first floor where her housemaid Veena had already laid out a light peach colored business suit on her bed and was tidying up the things around. Taking it in her hand Alisha rushed into the attached bathroom. Before she gave Veena another set of instructions. "Please inform the driver that I need to leave for office in half an hour and yes I won't be probably back until five or six so do not bother to prepare my lunch. " Veena the stout, plump young lady was not very good at cordiality, for Alisha had hardly heard a syllable coming from her mouth from last two days but even with that she is as efficient as an robot. Rushing out through the door of her bedroom, she was at the stairs, still touching her hair at intervals to make sure that it doesn't look too wet since she hadn't got enough time to blow dry them when someone called at her cell. Expecting it to be Navya, the former CEO's Secretary she took it out from her black signature clutch. but it was an unknown number. "Hello, Alisha Bose speaking. " "Good morning Ms. Bose I am Charchit Singh speaking. " Although the name felt quite familiar, Alisha could not put her finger on where or how she knows the man. "Okay! "She replied, shortly after she slid into the SUV again parked before the main gate and the chauffeur ready to drive off. "Mr. Singhania' s lawyer if you remember me from our last meeting. " Oh, yes now she quite clearly remembered the middle aged, pot bellied man, carrying the part of their divorce from his side last year. But it was in no way pleasant to remember him. "Yes, yes I vaguely remember meeting you last year but please pardon me if I could call you later since I have committed this time to something very important. " Call him later when her nerves would be steady enough to handle any news from him again! "Yes, of course no problem at all Ms. Bose although I have just called to inform you that Mrs. Kaveri Singhania is no more. " Since there was no reply from the other end for a long-long while the man started to blabber on his own. "She died last night around two at her home. It was heart fail, the doctor says. A normal death. But what forced Mr. Singhania to call me at this hour is that....to inform you about a letter that Mrs. Singhania had left for you at her bedside table." The man waited once again for an answer but there was none. "Hello? Are you there Ms. Bose?" "Y-yes I am here. Sorry. I-I just...."she hid her quivering voice under a fake cough. "So what I was saying....is that according to your convenience you could come and have the letter that belongs to you. " He paused for a few seconds. "That is of course if you want! Mr. Singhania has clearly told me that there's no compulsion, not even morally. "