Pace My Heart (A sequel to *Happy To Meet You*)

Chapter - 60

Pace My Heart

Chapter – 60

Daniel

People passed by through the aisle, slowly making their way to the front. Before I joined them, I adjusted the time on my watch, keeping in mind the change in time zone. It was one thing I always do first while travelling long distance.

Gathering my things, a carry-on backpack from the overhead compartment, I joined the rest of the passengers disembarking the plane.

*

The loading bridge led onto the fixed walkway with the glass windows, giving a view of the outside. I kept walking following the signboards for the arrival hall.

On the way, I finally made the call to Mandy. I had decided to tell her only after I have landed here. The call connected after few rings.

"Hello, Daniel," she replied picking up. She was yet unaware of what I was going to say to her.

"Hello, Mandy," I answered first and then went on to reveal," Mandy, I'm actually calling you after getting off the plane. My flight just landed in Delhi."

There was a silent pause. It took a minute for Mandy to comprehend what I just told her and what it meant.

"Oh my God... Daniel. Did you just say that you went to India? Wait...Are you going to look for Ava? Why didn't you say anything before leaving?"

She exclaimed taken aback by what she heard.

"I'm so sorry Mandy...I couldn't tell you before coming...If I did you might have tried to talk me out of it."

It was the truth. I knew Jack and Mandy would have persuaded me not to.

The last three days after the conversation with Mandy, I've been preparing for the trip making all the essential arrangements and moving around my work schedules. I took an emergency leave after making sure all my patients are taken care of. Luckily, the last procedure I did required the patient a brief hospitalization and he had been discharged after two days.

Being a U.S passport holder, I had to apply for an e Visa online, opting for a tourist visa which was the faster one to get. Next, I searched for the flights which would be flying the route from Chicago to Delhi and finally booked one, an Air India direct non-stop flight. I had boarded the flight yesterday at 12:30 pm and reached here today at 2:25 pm in the afternoon.

"Well, this wouldn't be the first time," she admitted defeated.

Mandy was referring to how I had a habit of taking off, recalling all the spontaneous trips that I have made till now. The last one was to Alaska and they only found out about it after I returned back. Mandy knew from experience that it was no point arguing with me if I had already set my mind.

"Please tell Jack that we'll grab the drinks after I return," I said light heartedly, asking her to pass on the message. I couldn't meet him up last time and now I was halfway across the globe.

"Sure, I'll do that," she replied rather seriously making me chuckle. Jack and Mandy understood me well and they have always been supportive despite everything.

"You have to keep me updated," she reminded me so it would be unlike the last trip where they didn't hear from me for a long time.

"And when you meet Ava...Please tell her that I'm really upset with her."

Mandy added softly making me smile. Mandy cared for Ava a lot and I could tell how the way she suddenly left for home disconcerted Mandy greatly.

"I'll definitely tell her," I promised her.