Ivy

Yellow Lights

Benny discovered over these several months of commotion that his mother detested crowds. Since they arrived in Mumbai, she hasn't gone to the market once. To get items, she always sends the watchman or the maid. So Benny may reasonably expect that he won't be able to travel to crowded places since it would upset his mother. I know that sounds silly, but Benny has become so accustomed to listening to his mother that he has begun to think like her. So instinctively he didn't bother asking because he knew the fresher's party was off-limits.

Benny attempts to remember how he fell asleep, but he can't recall it no matter how hard he tries. That isn't unusual but it has happened way too many times with him. Most of the time, he falls asleep without remembering what happened. He winces at the prospect of bringing this up with his mother because the last thing he wants is for his mother to think Benny is going insane like his father. He determines to keep it to himself, as he has done with so many other things over the years.

As he savors little bites of Dosa and Coconut Chutney, his mother unexpectedly inquires,

"So... will you be attending the freshmen's party?"

Benny nearly choked on his lunch, but he kept his composure.

"I don't have any interest, and I don't have your permission," he says.

That sentence made her smile for some reason. She spoke after a few moments.

"Good, I wouldn't want you wandering around among so many kids; these Mumbai kids read the news and such, What if they figure it out?" 

"Hmmmmmm, whatever, mom, I'm not interested."

He quickly packs his belongings and exits the house. His mother, though, reminded him to say the graces and pray. He walks away without looking back after muttering a few things beneath his breath. He felt like a leash had been released around his neck as he walked back onto the train. The train begins to move forward. 'How did she find out about the freshers' party?'

Perhaps they emailed the schedule to the parents so that the children could come home on time. With that explanation, he was persuaded. Benny returned to the thought he had the day before as the air and the morning sun flooded the train cabins. What happens if he jumps off the train? Wouldn't that put an end to his misery? How this concept delighted him would have surprised a normal person. But he wasn't normal. He knew that. 

Someone tapped him on the shoulder and said, "Excuse me."

A dashing young man dressed in onion pink and white pants asked if he could go ahead of Benny. As a result, he complied and moved away. As he brushed past Benny, he caught a whiff of the man's fragrance, which was powerful enough to attract anyone's notice. It was preferable to smelling other people's sweat. Benny continued to stare at the man until he sat down. Something about individuals dressed up in formals always piqued his interest.

Within a few minutes, he's back in the same position he was yesterday, waiting for a rickshaw driver to pick him up. After a few minutes had passed, Benny still lacked the nerve to ask a driver to drop him off at college. He has no idea what's the big deal. He then takes out his phone and enters the university's address. After several rounds of buffering, a map of his route to his goal appeared and it seemed pretty walkable.

"Did your rick get stolen again?"

Benny was scared when he heard it near his ears, so he leaps out of the way.

"Woah, Woah, Woah...

"Did I scare ya?" said the stranger, extending out his hand to Benny.

He was the one. The guy who took his rick the day before. Even if he was sleepwalking, he couldn't miss those chocolate eyes. The stranger had a big presence. His ruffled hair resembles the contours of the sea. His beauty was tenfold amplified by his dimples and slight grainy facial hair. Something about his entire demeanor was reassuring. Benny simply looks at him, exasperated, and decides to walk away, his pulse racing from the fear.