"In a moment of childhood innocence, SHE found herself unwittingly tied to HIM by a simple promise. As the years passed, she harboured a silent love for him, keeping it secret and buried deep within her heart. A life filled with longing and unanswer...
"Carefully!" Ryan was holding Prisha from her back to her shoulder as he assisted her to move into her house. Yes, she got discharged from the hospital after two weeks. And in these two whole weeks, Ryan took care of her very generously. This made her believe how blessed she is.
"I'm okay Ryan. I can walk." She attempted to make a point, still knowing that he wouldn't listen to her.
"I know you can." He just hummed.
She smiled as he made her half lie on the bed, while her head was resting against the headboard.
"Here take these pills and water." He forwarded the glass of water and medicines to her which she seized and swallowed down.
"Ryan, how would we tell this to our family?" Prisha was hoping that he would tell her any ideas or plan something but...
"We'll tell them the truth. Our real love story." He sounded rough while his gaze was locked with hers.
She enlarged her eyes, "Truth! Will they believe? Will they accept us?"
"Of course, they will. Also, I have booked a cab for us to our home town on Saturday. But now you should take proper rest." He covered her with a mink blanket and turned on the Air Conditioner.
She peeked at the Calendar and asserted, "That's after three days."
"Yes, that's why I told you to take rest and medicines from time to time." He switched off the lights of her room and was going to leave.
"Ryan, where are you going?" She inquired him tense.
He giggled, "To my house. Don't worry I'll come here in the evening. In case you need my help just call me and I'll be here for you in an instant."
He ultimately exited her apartment while Prisha dozed off in deep slumber due to the impact of the medicine.
*********
The hot blazing sun was gleaming at the head, and everything was wilting in the hotness of this summer. But the traffic jam was still as it used to be.
In the middle of traffic, a cab was loitering too. The driver had gripped the steering wheel so he could move forth as soon as other vehicles geared up ahead. Behind him, two passengers were sitting on the passenger seat.
"Ryan, how much more time?" Prisha's question was echoing in the cab for the eighth time. One can tell how impatient she was.
"Just one hour more," Ryan told her.
She chided and folded her elbows, "You are saying this for the last one hour."
"So what can I do? You are asking me this again and again." He grinned while gaping at her.
"You know, after two long months, I'm gonna meet my family, my parents!" She joyed excitedly, her eyes were twinkling with the contentment that she would get after meeting her mother and father.
"I can understand. I'm gonna meet my family too! After three months." He looked ahead at the road. Prisha entangled her hand with his and laid her head on his right shoulder. She could notice his eyes were glistening, how could she overlook that he's too living without his family. He too surely misses his parents and siblings. Siblings?! Yeah, here she recalled something!
"Ryan...?" She looked toward him.
"Hmmm..." He glimpsed at her and again focused ahead on the path.
"Who is in your family?" She blinked her eyes as he stared at her.
"My parents, my elder sister and my younger brother." He told her gracefully.
"Ohh, I remember, your brother used to study in our school till we were there. But I don't know his name, Ummm... what is his and your sister's name?" She struggled to recollect her memories of his brother and sister but could not, because she didn't hear their name before in her entire lifetime.
Ryan sighed and said, "His name is Shresht. He's three years younger than me. Still studying in college. My sister is one year elder than me and her name is Nikita."
She collected this piece of information from him in her mind and enthusiastically declared, "Oh I see. I would love to meet your family."
"Me too but you didn't tell me about your family members?" Ryan questioned her, he was as eager as she was.
She proclaimed to him in a soft voice, "There are only my parents."
"So you are a single child?" He implored particularly.
Maybe she was grim about the fact that she was secluded but all she cared about was not to display any sorrow to him, she wanted to see him delighted forever. So she turned her head away from him and spoke joyously, "Yeah! But not to neglect I've so many cousins!"
"I have too!!" He grinned lightly, he realized the vacant void in her life, she missed her love till now. He wasn't there for her, to support her, to help her, or comfort her when she was in need and this made him think of his worthlessness. But now, he's there for her, and won't leave her hand till his death.
His chain of thoughts was broken by the sudden interruption of her voice, "Ryan, I'm feeling a little drowsy."
"Sleep then, we still have an hour to reach there." He flashed his set of teeth to her and eyed on his shoulder, of that she understood the meaning.
She smiled lazily. By keeping her head on his shoulder, she slept peacefully. He was her comfort, her solace.
*********
"Prisha! Prisha! Wake up!" He shook her and made her wake up from her nap.
She deliberately opened her eyes and comprehended her surroundings.
"What happened Ryan?" She inquired from him, still rubbing her eyes. She was feeling better than before. Freshness was emitting from her inner self.
His face was beaming with unending elation as he told her, "5 minutes more and we'll reach there."
She looked out of the window and after gaping at the familiar roads, streets, shops, and houses, she uttered, "Finally!"
After paying the driver, they got out of the car.
Prisha and Ryan were standing in the middle of the broad street, in front of the white and beige building, "Ryan! This is my house." Gazing at the front of the house, she informed him.
He glanced at her glowing face and mumbled, "I'm excited to meet your family."
"But will they...?" She asked him, slightly afraid.
"Don't worry. Everything will be alright. I'm with you." He ensured her while caressing her left palm.
"So can we move in, madam?" He further added to cheer up her mood.
"Sure, Mr.Ryan!" She grinned and stepped ahead to the entrance of her lovely house, while he pursued her, lifting their luggage.
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