Chapter 1
"How can I be so foolish?" "How can I be so dumb?" Anshuman scolded himself. The knocking on the door was loud. "Anshuman, are you ready?" she called him but the man did not respond as he was changing his clothes in a hurry. It was a very big day for both of them and he was getting ready haphazardly as he messed up! "You wait near the car; I'll be ready in five minutes" he yelled at the door. She was surprised by his scream as if it was her fault and he was yelling at her. "Fine, but please hurry. We don't have time!" she stated as she stood outside the apartment and waited for him.
Anshuman was still sleepy. The first words that he uttered when he woke up made him realize that indeed, he was dumb! He was staring at the mirror; it was a big day for him. "Come on Anshuman, you can do it!" he told himself. He wore his wrist watch, tied his shoes, locked the door and rushed down as fast as he could as she had already left.
He was able to spot Aaruhi near the gate and her irritation was clear on her face. He quickly started his Wagon R and turned the car near the gate as he stopped. Aaruhi got in and sat on the front seat beside him, she was carrying a bag which she kept in the backseat. He began driving silently and the atmosphere in the car was tense. He knew that he had messed up and had to listen to her scolding, he also needs to ask her about the destination but he was unable to gain the courage to do so. She was very angry at him. With great resolve, he asked her nervously, 'So, where are we going?' 'Suryapur' she snapped irritably. Anshuman heard her and began driving confidently as he became aware about the destination.
There was a long silence. Both of them were not talking, Anshuman was silent because he was scared of her while Aaruhi was silent because she was angry at him. Anshuman knew that he can tolerate her anger but he couldn't tolerate her silence. It was fine if she had scolded him but she was giving him the silence treatment which he despised. He was unable to control himself. "I am sorry!" he said meekly.
"Sorry...! Sorry...! that's what you say for everything. Do you have any idea from how long I was knocking on the door? Your phone was switched off and I waited for you patiently and then I had to knock for fifteen more minutes. Do you know how important this day is? Forget it! It's not worth talking to you!" Aaruhi fumed at him with rage while he remained quiet. She sighed and began checking her phone while he drove all tensed, he had never seen her so angry before.
As he kept driving, he got lost in thoughts, 'She kept on reminding me from past five days and yet, I overslept. Unbelievable! Why am I so stupid or wait a second, is there a word that is greater than stupid... Idiot, dumb. Looks like I am a walking checklist for ‘lack of brains’!" the man was reflecting on his foolishness, when suddenly he heard her talking.
"I will forgive you if we reach on time. I am very stressed out about this. You wasted my half an hour, so if you cover that distance in an hour. I might forgive you" saying so Aaruhi became silent while Anshuman got relieved 'I know that she won't be angry at me. Come on Anshuman, you can do it!' he told himself with grit and became determined.
He was a cab driver and was in his final year of MBA while driving was his part time job. It was not difficult for him to drive till Suryapur in an hour but still, he was unaware about why he and Aaruhi were going there.
