A different view

Chapter 8

"Why is he stalking you?"

"Stalking? P', Really? It's all of you who are stalking me!" She looked at my blank face and continued. "Come on. You think I didn't know? I'm not stupid you know! In fact, I got first in the state exams even though I've never stepped into a classroom for years. It took me a whole year for Pa and me to convince Ma to let me attend university, but it was so worth it. Right, Pa?"

Was this the same girl we knew? She was rambling on without a pause button!

"Do you know these boys Preeth?" the man said freeing himself from Pha's grip

"Know them? Don't you recognize them Pa? This is P'Pha and P'Kit. You remember the boys who found me after 'that incident'?"

The man's eyes tried to focus on us.

"We're forbidden to talk about 'the incident'" she whispered to me. Her breath told me she was drunk.

"We're sorry sir," Pha said.

"That's alright son. I didn't know you were her seniors. She never mentioned it." her dad said keeping his eyes on Preeth all the time as she went back towards the water. "Thank you for looking out for her. Then.... and now" he added in a softer tone.

"Is she in danger? Is that why you are here?" I asked unable to control myself.

"Not really. Preeth hasn't spent a night outside her bedroom since then. Her Ma has been... well quite protective of her since so when this trip came up, I had to come up with a compromise that we'd also come along."

"Pha, Kit!" Beam arrived perhaps searching for us "Everything alright?"

"Beam this is Preeth's father" Pha introduced. Beam's face didn't show any change in expression but I knew he was just as shocked.

"Beam? I never got the opportunity to thank you boys for that day" Preeth's father said even before Beam could say anything.

"If I may ask sir, how are you all doing?" Pha asked. Pha always knew how to be mature in sensitive conversations. I never could see the point of diplomacy.

"I guess you have a right to know and Preeth won't tell you willingly. Preeth was bedridden for a year after that. She was assaulted as well apart from the rape. She had multiple surgeries as a result. She needed to learn how to do basic things like walking all over again. She didn't know what had happened and apologized to us repeatedly thinking she did something wrong. When the realization dawned she withdrew from all of us. "

I could not look at Pha or Beam. My eyes were fixated on the ocean and they were stinging with tears. I could hear his voice crack as he spoke.

"This drunk state" he pointed towards Preeth "is her true self. I'm selfish to see that side of her so I let her drink once in a while... only when her mom isn't watching. I'm trapped between a woman who doesn't have the courage to let go and a girl who is struggling to find the courage to hold on to her true self"

Tears wouldn't stop anymore. Pha wrapped his arm around me and squeezed. The more we thought we knew her, the more we realized we didn't.

"I don't know why I let everything spill out like that..." he said after a minute's silence as the silence was broken by singing from the bonfire.

"Pa... a bonfire..." Preeth yelled excitedly. "I can't go, can I?" she asked in a childlike tone.

"Sir, with your permission..." Beam started

"Go ahead Preeth. I'll wait a distance away." her father said.

"Thank you!" she screamed and ran.... like the wind. Beam and I tried to catch up to her but man she was fast.