Matters of the Heart

Chapter 5

Tired, Adam when returned home, with his usual voice he shouted, "Mom, I am home!"

Oh hearing Adam, his mom rushed to greet him.

"Adam, come quick, this way please." His mom was flustered and thay put Adam in a bit of concern. He followed his mom to the ground floor guest room.

At the first instance he saw his Dad on the doorway and he thought, he is unusually home early, what is actually going on?

Then lying on the best he say his grandmother, who did not look well.
Adam's mom whispered in his ear, "She is very ill Adam. She is going to need multiple surgeries for her heart, and hence is going to be staying with us since she will need a lot of post surgery care. I know its terrible to say at this moment by I like her this way, you know sleeping and not taunting." Adam gave her a look which had hoplessness written all over it. "I mean I do want her to get better, but you know just be quite." They both chuckled in unison and excused themselves.

He loved the banter between his grandmother and mother, they were healthy and entertaining.

After they had moved away from the room, his first thought went to his sister. "Mom, how is Ashley?"

His mother released a sigh and said, "Not okay." And Adam without taking a moment ran upstairs to meet Ashley.

She was sitting in her room, on her desk pretending to do homework, but stared at the book doing absolutely nothing. Adam reached out to her to and without a word kept his hand on her shoulders. She started to sob and Adam took her in his arms. 

"Hey! I know it's hard for you to see her like this. But it's what it is. I know she is going to be okay so have a little faith baby sister." He whispered in her ears as she continued sobbing. Adam's eyes too became moist as he could not see her sister cry like this. He knew how close she was with her grand ma and it really was difficult to see her that way.

Ashley was just a couple of years younger to Adam, but some would say she was more mature than Adam. She was different in every aspect from the girls her age, when everyone was out there making some sort of weird memories Ashley sat in her room reading, or working on her writing or reading about some weird happenings on the internet. It was not like she did not have fun, she had lots of fun and was very mischievous when she wanted to be. But she knew her goals and worked towards it tirelessly. 

On seeing that his sister had stopped crying a bit, Adam faced her asked, "Would you like to go for some ice- cream?"

Ashley nodded in approval and gave him a smile. His world was whole again.

Adam went to his room to change. He called up Everly and asked her if she could join them for ice-cream in 20 minutes. After a positive response from Everly he kept the phone and Maheen took over his thoughts. They were not romantic as much as they were of concern of how would he be able to do a debate with a girl he hardly could communicate with. He thought it would be way too difficult for him to approach to her without being looked at in a horrible way or being ridiculed for something on Maheen could justify.

Interrupting his thoughts Ashley called out for him, and in no time they were on their way to the ice- cream parlor nearby. They were joined by Everly. 

Everly could not comprehend as to why Adam had suddenly asked her to join them for an ice-cream at this time, but she really did not care, she would never let go any chance of meeting Adam. 

"Hey girl! How have you been!" Everly shouted as she saw Ashley with Adam. They were pretty close as Everly hung out with Adam all the time, it was inevitable that they became friends too. 

"Hey Everly! I am not very okay." Ashely replied as she wiped a droplet of tear from her eyes. 

"C'mon, everything will be okay. Your grandma is here to get better, be happy about that. Yes Adam told me. Let's go stuff ourselves with sweetness!" And Everly and Ashley went inside while Adam followed them behind.

As Ashley took a million years to choose a flavour, Everly turned to Adam and asked, "How is the debate prep going?"

"It's not going good. We haven't even started yet and I don't know how to, too. Communicating with Maheen is going to be a hell of a task."

The last sentence made Everly a little happy, but also concerned because Adam would not be able to perform his best. 

"I wish I could give an advice on this, but I don't know her. But I know you, and I think you should just prepare from your end and when the push comes to shove, you both will figure this out."

"Yeah I might as well get started, we will see what happens!" Adam said in agreement with Everly and stopped that topic, because Ashley had finally chosen an ice-cream for herself.

They enjoyed their ice-cream while making jokes and cheering up Adam. She also smiled her lungs out and felt much better after the little ice-cream party. A feeling of satisfaction and a smile of fondness took over Adam's face and his dimples revealed everything. He was very happy that his sister was smiling again. To not break this momentum, Adam invited Everly back to her place, and she agreed. 

First things first she went to visit his grandma. 

"Everly, thank you so much for coming." Adam's mom said. "I am glad that you are here, I know Ashley will feel much better now. Why don't you stay for dinner." 

Everly's heart, had a yes in it, but for formality she denied saying, "No, really could not impose."

"You are never an imposition, and besides, it's your favorite cuisine today!"

"Tempting! But I really do have to go." Politely, Everly denied the invitation.

"Okay, but please don't go home alone at this hour. Let Adam drop you back." She continued and was pretty stern in her decision. "Adam, you need to drop this girl home okay?"

"Yeah sure, let's go Everly." Everly was in no position to negotiate any further. She simply followed Adam to the car. 

"You did not really have to do that." Everly said breaking the silence as they reached the gate of Everly's home. 

"I know, but I wanted too, plus Mom insisted so I couldn't have said no. What is some ghosts front the dark ally or monster from under the bed attacked you, I couldn't let my bestfriend disappear, or I would if you suddenly decide to become an underworld queen!" 

"Ha ha ha, very funny Adam, I hope you are not grabbed by monsters under your bed while you drive back home. Drive safe!" Everly waved as he pulled away. 

******

Maheen, meanwhile had already started writing her debate so she did not have to spend much time with Adam. But it seemed like the more she wanted to hush away the thoughts of him, the more it consumed her. Her thoughts were disturbed by her father and she thanked God for it.

Soon after dinner, Maheen slept with one thought in mind, Adam.

Everly, was glad to have spent that time with, Adam and she slept with a smile.

Adam, laid his head on the pillow thinking about one girl, and it made him feel giddy in his stomach. Maheen.