Chronicles Of My Darling Husband

36. Durdhara (Part 1)

"Where's Kant?" Jagdish asked, his brow furrowed as he scanned the room, concern evident in his eyes.

It wasn't lost on Jagdish that Chandrakant seemed to be looping into suffering. Prasanna had confided a month ago about the sorry state of his apartment, prompting Jagdish to urge Chandrakant's parents to come and comfort him. However, their life as farmers meant that immediate travel was challenging, leaving Chandrakant to wrestle with his troubles alone.

"Yeah, I haven't seen him since afternoon!" Suryadev, Jagdish's childhood friend, chimed in, his tone cautious yet curious.

Suryadev Joshi and Arihant Sinha had been Jagdish's partners in crime since their school days, inseparable until their career paths diverged, though they managed to stay in touch.

It was in college that Jagdish had first met Chandrakant.

During their time, Chandrakant's magnetic personality and carefree attitude drew people to him like moths to a flame. He had a knack for bringing out Jagdish's more adventurous side, often coaxing him into attending college events and mingling with women. Despite his popularity, Chandrakant had remained far from any women's bedroom, a testament to his strong character and values. This loyalty to himself, coupled with his charm, made him both admirable and intriguing to Jagdish.

Their friendship had continued even after they had finished law school, both professionally and geographically, with Chandrakant and Jagdish eventually landing positions at the same firm under the mentorship of Adv. Gaikwad. Their mentor's guidance had propelled them to the top, a journey of nearly a decade marked by shared successes and unbreakable bonds.

"I don't know, Surya. Something is weighing on his mind, but he's keeping it to himself," Prasanna sighed, her expression troubled. "I just have this feeling it's connected to that girl... Devika."

"Devi!?" Jagdish's voice was laced with confusion and worry.

"Yes," Prasanna confirmed with a solemn nod. "He didn't mention it to you, but that night in Pune, after we met Nishita and returned to the hotel, he later went out with Devika."

"What!?" Jagdish's disbelief was evident. "But he was with me the whole night, sleeping next to me!"

"No, Jaggy... He returned early in the morning... I had seen him entering the room," Prasanna explained gravely. "When I asked, he just said he had been out with Devika."

Jagdish found himself at a loss of words.

As he delved into Chandrakant's situation, memories resurfaced of the deep challenges his friend had faced due to his lower-caste background. Chandrakant's family hailed from a small village in Chhattisgarh rooted in the rigid caste system, where discrimination was entrenched.

Chandrakant's childhood had been marred by poverty and adversity. His parents, undeterred by societal scorn, had toiled relentlessly to provide him with opportunities for a better life. Witnessing their sacrifices had instilled in him a fierce determination and an unwavering pride in his heritage. Despite the hurdles, Chandrakant excelled academically, earning scholarships that enabled him to pursue higher education. Yet, the wounds of discrimination ran deep, having tragically lost his brother to the same prejudices.

His decision to pursue a career in law was born from a desire to combat injustice and advocate for the marginalized. He had seen firsthand the transformative power of legal advocacy in empowering the underprivileged and he was resolute in his commitment to be their voice.

Jagdish had always admired Chandrakant's resilience and fortitude.

But observing Chandrakant's current state filled him with dread. The notion that something as seemingly trivial as a night out with a woman could precipitate his friend's distress seemed inconceivable.

For the past three years, Jagdish had grappled with his own feelings for Nishita. However, he had managed to navigate his emotions with prudence, ensuring they didn't cloud his judgment. Chandrakant's sudden change in demeanor was disquieting, to say the least.

He shook his head firmly, a determined look in his eyes. "He needs to learn a lesson; I've had enough of his bullshit," he said, reaching for his phone on the bedside table.

"Jaggy..." Unni's voice was cautious, a hint of unease underlying his words. "Let's not confront him now. We can discuss it later."

Arihant jumped in, sensing the tense atmosphere. "How about we plan a short vacation?"

"What?" Prasanna's surprise was evident in her voice. "A vacation?"

"Yes, I don't think Jagdish is up for a salacious bachelor party. So, why not invite Nishita and her friends to join us? We could go to Goa; it would be a lot of fun," Arihant proposed, a hint of excitement in his tone.

Jagdish wrinkled his nose, clearly not enthused by the idea. "I was thinking more along the lines of knocking some sense into Kant, not a beach rave party."

"We can do both," Arihant suggested optimistically. "Why don't you have a serious talk with him while we enjoy ourselves? It's been ages since I've been on a vacation."

"Agreed," Unni chimed in, a smile forming on his lips. "It's been a while since we all went out together."

"We don't need Nishita and her friends," Prasanna replied defensively.

Suryadev, always one to stir the pot, waved a hand dismissively. "No, they should come. I'm sure Jagdish hasn't had much time to talk with his fiancée."

Jagdish's lips tightened into a thin line, a mixture of frustration and resignation evident on his face.

"It might be good for her. At least she'll get to know the kind of weirdo she's agreed to marry," Arihant added with a chuckle, clearly enjoying the banter.

"Alright," Prasanna, realizing the point, relented, turning to Jagdish with a soft expression. "Can you ask her to join us, along with her friends?"

Well, he couldn't escape when everyone looked expectantly at him and he, finally, nodded in agreement.

--

A/N

Goa Beach Party. *coughs*

Also, no particular reason to add "Tanha Tanha" to this chapter! It just happened to be one playing on my phone while I was drafting this chapter... Hehe :)

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