Next day at exact 11 am, I reached the office of Navya Publications at Daryaganj. I had taken special care to look good and dress-up well, to create right first impression. I informed the peon that I had an appointment with his boss. He made me fill my details in the visitor’s register. This was a usual practice in offices. After filling my details, I asked him, about his boss’s cabin.

“Go to room number 108 on first floor, sir.”

Since the office was on first floor, I thought it better to climb up stairs. While walking, I was constantly reminding myself to give my best. This was my last chance.

“May I come in Sir?” I asked from outside the office.

“Yes, come… come. Sit..” He said looking at me from top to down.

The owner of the Publication was sitting on a big chair. He must have been around 45 years of age, and wearing a costly black suit, the kind of which people normally wear in marriages. But these dress rules are meant for middle-class people like me. Rich people can wear anything, anywhere.

“Sir, my name is Aarav. I had called you yesterday…” I said.

“Yes, I remember. I was waiting for you.”

When a big man says that he was waiting for you, it means he is serious about the meeting.

“What will you have? Tea? Coffee?” He asked.

I thought if I asked for tea or coffee, it might give a wrong impression. So I asked for water.

“Just some water, Sir.”

He pressed the bell and called the peon. He asked him to get both water and coffee for me.

I was happy that despite my saying no, he had asked for coffee for me. Means he was serious about me.

“So Aarav, you are a Novel writer?”

“Yes Sir”

“Till the coffee comes, you can narrate your story to me, in short. If I like it, I will listen to the entire story in our next meeting.”

I narrated the gist of my Novel to him, which he seemed to like.

By then the peon had brought the water and coffee. I sipped the water and waited for his answer.

“Your story is powerful, Aarav” He smiled.

“Thanks Sir.’ I also gave a half smile.

Now I could have coffee with full confidence.

“Aarav, do one thing. Come to my home tonight. We will sit peacefully and listen to your Novel. Only then I will be able to take a decision.”

After Rihana’s death, this was the first time I was feeling a little happy. It seemed I would be able to finally fulfill her dream.

“Ok Sir, I will come to your house.” I said.

“Here, take my card, it has the address. Come latest by 10 pm.” He said, handing me his visiting card.

I saw the card, which had his name ‘Yogesh Aggarwal’ written on it. I put the card in the upper pocket of my shirt. The coffee was also over.

“Sir, can I leave now?”

“Yes, but remember to reach by 10 pm.”

I got up, and thanking him again, came out of his office. Today I was feeling a new energy in me.

I thought of informing Tiwari ji about the meeting, but then decided to give him the good news after I had got the final yes from the publisher.

In the evening Tiwari ji called me. It was his son’s birthday and he invited me to his house at 10 pm.

All the people who were close to my heart were no longer in this world. Tiwari ji was the only person left who was with me, so it was difficult to say ‘No’ to him. This was the first time he had invited me to his house and I didn’t know what excuse to make. I had to meet Yogesh Aggarwal at 10 pm, which was most important for me. Finally I decided to tell him the truth. I was sure he would understand my reason for not coming to his son’s birthday party.

I told him about the morning meeting and also that I had to meet Yogesh again at night. But what Tiwari ji told me about him, froze my brain. He told me that he was gay and interested in boys. He had not called me because he was interested in my Novel, but because he was interested in me. This came as a big shock to me. I had heard about such people, but this was my first encounter with a real person. Perhaps this was the reason he was talking so affectionately with me in the office. I realized I was again at the same place where I was earlier. Before speaking to Tiwari ji, I was hopeful that my dream was about to get realized. But when I came to know about Yogesh Aggarwal’s reality, I cancelled my program to meet him. I again became hopeless.