Bride Set off ✔

chapter 17

We are few houses away and I don't want to go home. I need to explain Jay all of today and I just don't want to. I didn't even want to cross the way with Aron looking this but fate is playing reverse card today.

I stopped walking and he turned around.

"Thank you so much for walking me home."

"Anytime." He smiles.

His smiles. Ugh!

"I think I'll walk around alone before I get inside."

"I can walk with you too. I don't mind." He says turning to the opposite direction, insisting to walk around. I can't say 'no' to him, I continue walking holding his hand.

"SO... can I ask what happened?"

"I don't want to talk about it. I am sorry." Geez! I want to rant about it but all that might scare him off and I don't him to have nightmares.

"That's okay! Kind of had rough day myself too."

"Oh! I am sorry."

"it's okay. I am glad that I ran into you, wait – you ran into me. Right?" he giggles.

"Sorry about that too. I was running away from ghosts."

"what ghosts?"

"That street I was lost for few hours ago and I saw no human, that's a ghost street."

"oh my god!" he laughed "Rashi... it is not..." he continues to laugh. I am relived to see him laugh instead of smile without warning.

"That street is going under redevelopment. Everyone moved out from there last week. I know it because I used to live there. That is not a ghost street."

"You lived there?"

"Yeah, since the day I was born, till last week's Wednesday evening. I just had a argue to walk down there today because I was feeling low." He says and his smiles fades away instantly.

"Mind if I ask what happened?" I asked and he sighs.

"That's long story."

"Okay." I took the hint that he doesn't want to share.

"I meant why don't we sit somewhere while I rant my not so long sad story." He read my face.

"Sure."

"Let's go to convenience store and grab something to eat. You skipped food today, right?" 

He even reads my mind now. I nod and he smiles. This smile is different from all of the previous smiles. It felt nice.

We grab snacks almost filled the whole basket, he paid and I promised to pay back later but he denies. He guided me to garden nearby, he says that this is his spot and I am not allowed to share with anyone. I laughed and said 'it's public garden.' He frowned.

We sat on swing set next to each other, he opened churros packet and hands me over.

"So.." he says.

"So?" I think he might have changed his mind not to share his thought with me. Of course, I wouldn't mind but I am dying to know even though my life is upside down right now.

"I don't know from where to start." He sighs.

"Umm... Okay... You can start saying that I woke up today and the event of series happened..."

"Okay then. I woke up today and my elder sister pick a fight with me, I ignored her and went to university. I met your friend/roommate 'Jay'. We talked for few minutes and I went to administrative department to inform them that I won't continue to study. I drop out. Then my mom was called and they told her to talk me about it. She just nods along and walked out." He stops talking and looks over my shocking face and smiles.

"Oh my god! You dropped out? Why?"

He breaths in and out.

"My father died last week in an accident. I just need some time to think because I miss him too much, my life turned around. I just wish someone would understand that I need a break." His voice breaks down while saying, he looks other side trying not to cry.

"I am sorry."

"I just feel the need to get this out. I am glad you are here to listen to me. Thank you, Rashi."

"I am here as long you want. I am glad too that I met you today." I hugged him and he cried. He finally let all out.

We sat in silence for few minutes, he sniffs and checks his phone that is buzzing for ten minutes.

"It's late, almost midnight."

"I think you should head home." I say as I stood up for goodbye wave.

"I'll drop you off first and will leave later." He says walking up front.

"I can go by myself. You should leave first; your mother might be worried."

"I have my bike park around. I will drop you off and I promise I'll reach home. I will give you confirmation later if you like?"

"That would be better. Send me a photo of you reaching safely and don't fool me with old click. Here take this hairpin and send me a click when you reach home."

"Wow! That's so trustful of you. Fine! I will do that but give me your number first."

He hands me his phone and I typed my number and he saved as 'Bryce'. He giggled like teenager. I am just glad to see him like this.

He dropped me off and went. I am standing in front of the door re-thinking of my existence all over. I take a deep breath and press the door bell and took a mental note of Jay's follow up questions.

Jay opened the door and ran inside as he is on video call with someone. Thank God, I can rush upstairs and talk tomorrow.

"Hey Rashi!" I heard Shweta's voice.

I turned around. Jay was on video call with Shweta and he ran inside because to show me on call. Traitor!

My mess self is visible to Shweta and Jay's evil smile is visible to me.

"Hello there!" I smiled. Snatched the laptop from jay and kicked him.

"Where are you coming from at this time and that to in Pjs?" she questions and Jay giggled.

"I left house early morning in rush. Meet my friend and we talked. Nothing much." This is so awkward.

"Okay! By the way, Jay informed me that you got into full scholarship PhD program. Congratulations!"

"Thank you so much! I didn't know that Jay knows." I gave him death stare.

"it's all over campus." He speaks now, great! "Shweta called me, I didn't."

"Oh yes! I called. I am pregnant."

"WHAT???" me and jay both yelled at same time.

"Yes." She shows her belly and that's huge. "Two months more."

"Two months more? What?" I am missing so much information here. Jay snatched the laptop. He is even more shocked than I am.

"You hid this from me?"

"Sorry little one. There were some complication and we just decided to keep it ourselves till all things were positive."

"I am glad you and baby are fine now but we will have talk after about how you don't trust your little brother." He says and Shweta confronts him.