Meant To Be

Chapter 7. A Problem

The four of them ate their lunch (a bit late because of Sam's fall) with bits of conversation at irregular intervals. They talked about their aunt's health and the current affairs of that time. Sam couldn't speak much on those topics and hence chose to stay silent. She just used to look up from her plate for a second at them whenever anyone of them used to say something. Most of the time, her full concentration used to be on her elbows. But she noticed one thing, that Boby and Shammi had plenty of knowledge about current affairs. Most of the time they used to place their opinions on a particular topic. They were talking as if all three of them used to swallow the entire newspaper. "How was the lunch, dear?" the aunt asked suddenly turning towards Sam, as she finished her lunch. Sam jerked back a bit, as she wasn't saying anything till that time. "It was very tasty!" Sam said, nodding her head with a smile on her face. The aunt beamed at her and took everyone's plates as they finished their lunch.

The afternoon went by slowly, for Sam as she had nothing to do in the house. Boby had gone to sleep while Shammi was giving a leg massage to her aunt. "I think, I shouldn't have come with them. They are having so much trouble with me here. I'll apologize to them during dinnertime." Sam thought to herself as she took a deep breath.

After almost an hour, Shammi and her aunt came to the living room to find Sam watching the birds build their nest on the Khejri tree, in front of their yard. Shammi tapped softly on Sam's shoulders. Sam turned back and smiled warmly at them. "What are you doing, Sam?" asked Shammi as she sat down beside her. "Nothing... was just watching those birds build their nest." Sam said pointing towards the nest. Shammi and her aunt, both looked towards the nest for a minute. "Make yourself comfortable, okay? I see you're a bit uncomfortable around us. I observed that during lunchtime." said Shammi's aunt suddenly. "It's n-nothing like that." Sam stammered. "It's just that I have nothing to do and also I had nothing to say." she said with a sheepish grin. Shammi smiled at her as if she was trying to understand her problem. They sat there looking at the birds for sometime. "I think it's our time to go and prepare the dinner." Shammi said looking at the wall clock. "Do you want to help us, Sam?" the aunt asked with a smile on her face. "I'd happy to." said Sam cheerfully.

Time passed by and soon, it was time for dinner. Everyone sat down at the dinner table. Sam sat besides Shammi, while Boby and his aunt sat on their opposite side, of the table. They started talking but this time they about Sam. Sam was happily chatting with them about her school life, her best friends. She made sure that she didn't look at Boby for more than 5 seconds and looked more at Shammi and her aunt as if she was mostly talking to them. But whenever she looked at Boby, she saw that Boby listened to her with rapt attention as if he wanted to know about her. Even when she was looking at Shammi, she could feel Boby's dark eyes looking at her. "Do you know?" chimed Boby's aunt "today's kheer has been made by Sam." At that moment, Boby looked straight at Sam with surprise. Sam couldn't help, but look back at him. "Wow!" he exclaimed, still looking at Sam. "Quite talented. Now I'm eagerly waiting for the kheer. I'll keep some space in my stomach for it, you know, I love kheer." At this Sam blushed beet red, while Shammi and her aunt laughed. "I-I-I didn't prepare it entirely on my own. Even Shammi di helped me." Sam stammered. Shammi smiled at her. But as she said that, Boby looked at Shammi and his smile faded a bit.

After dinner, everyone sat down to eat the dessert. The kheer was just perfect. Sam was relived to find that she had put the right amount of sugar in the kheer. She silently thanked her mom, as she had learnt a bit from her. Boby couldn't help smiling and kept praising Sam. Even his aunt and Shammi praised her. Boby didn't speak about Shammi's help in making the kheer, which made Sam think about it but she brushed off that thought for the time being. "Thank you!" exclaimed Sam, blushing hard. "but it's no big deal. It's nothing in front of the kind service which y'all have provided to this stranger" she pointed to herself. "and I apologise for giving y'all so much trouble in the afternoon. I actually hadn't meant to do that but- " "Look Sam"Boby interrupted, his expression serious. He kept his bowl down on the table and folded his hands on his chest, "next time if you say that...." Sam looked intently at him. He looked as if he was trying to find words. "Don't you say that next time!" Shammi chimed in placing a hand on Sam's shoulders.  "You aren't a stranger and we are more than happy to have you in our house." said her aunt smiling warmly at Sam. Sam had never felt so happy as a guest in someone's house. It was as if, they were her  second family.

Sam lay on her guestroom bed, thinking about the day's happenings. Shammi slept with her aunt in her room. They had a bit of a problem of who would sleep in the guestroom. Sam said that she'd sleep in the living room but Boby insisted her to sleep in the guestroom and that he'd sleep in the living room sofa. Sam was feeling guilty. She looked towards the guestroom door for a while and then looked towards her bag. "I must treasure it all." she thought.

"Dear Diary,
Today I came with Shammi di and Boby to their aunt's house. I kind of felt odd at first, but.. I guess God really wanted me and Boby to come closer.
I actually saw a diffrent Boby today. An overly- protective Boby. It felt as if he never wanted me to be hurt. And he literally said that! I was.. shocked." Sam recalled that moment and in an instant had goosebumps all over her hands and legs. "And even he caught my hands as if he'd never let it go.
He sometimes looks... I don't know why, serious or uninterested. But when I come, he has that huge smile on his face. Maybe I'm imagining things, again!
I'm missing ma and Dad." She closed her book, lay on her bed and in an instant, dozed off to sleep.

Sam opened her eyes, directly, the next morning. She said a silent prayer, got up and walked to the bathroom, which was attached to the guestroom. She took bath, wore her pink kurta and black leggings and tied her hair in a ponytail. "Last day with aunt." she smiled weakly to herself as she thought and opened the guestroom door. She went straight towards the living room and found Boby sitting on the dining table and reading the newspaper, while Shammi and her aunt were serving the breakfast for him and were also keeping a plate ready for themselves and her. Shaami turned around at the sound of the door opening and wished Sam a 'Good Morning'. Sam smiled brightly at her and wished everyone. "I hope I'm not too late." said Sam with a sheepish smile, as she sat opposite Boby. At that moment Boby looked up from his newspaper and beamed at her. Sam smiled back at him. "No" said Shammi, shaking her head as she sat beside Sam. "Let me bring bananas for y'all." said Boby's aunt as she went to the kitchen to bring them. BANG!  After hardly a minute, they heard the utensils falling and immediately ran towards the kitchen to find Boby's aunt lying unconscious on the kitchen floor.

What will happen next? Will Sam be able reach Khimsar by afternoon?

To be continued...