Life of Problems

chapter 74

Welcome back, said Kathy smiling as l entered our room in the hostel. After a month at home, l have finally returned.

I smiled back. How have you been? l asked sitting down in my bed.
Quite well, she said.
And you ?l asked Jiya who was sitting on the chair before her desk quietly.
Alright, she said slowly.
I know that I troubled you so much, l said lowering my head. I am really sorry for all those trouble.
Not trouble, said Kathy sadly, but l was scared like hell. If there wasn't Jiya.... that's nothing, Jiya interrupted. Are you alright now?
Quite ,l said. Though, l will need counseling for some more days. I heard that you had to take counseling as well?
Hmm. Jiya extracted a phone from her desk's drawer. It's yours ,she said handing me my phone back.
I turned it on and saw some email notifications. I started checking them and quickly kept the phone away.
What's wrong? asked Kathy noticing.
Nothing ,l said shaking my head quickly. Will you give me some water, please?
Sure, said Kathy standing up.
Jiya went back to sit on her chair. But just after sitting ,she stood up with such a force that the chair fell backwards. The two of us looked surprised as she ran out of the room.

*

Jiya was rummaging through her things in her tent searching for a specific box.

I surely kept that here. Where is that damn box now, she said irritatedly.
And suddenly she stopped rummaging as she found the box. She picked it up and opened it. There was a gold bracelet with a star shaped blue stone in the middle. She picked the box up and started running again.

*

It was a peaceful day, weather nice . Robin was sitting in the canteen with his lunch when Jiya rushed in the canteen and started looking around. She spotted Robin and walked towards him.

I have been looking for you everywhere. Can we talk? she said eagerly standing before him.
He looked up confused. Sure, he said after a while. Please sit down.
Jiya sat down and leaned forward. Remember the bracelet? The one you gave me on my birthday? she said quickly.
Umm yeah, he said nodding. Is anything wrong?
Well...Jiya said a little hesitantly, don't mind me asking it but from where did you exactly buy it?
Robin scratched his head. Last year, l went to the sea with my family during vacation. I bought it from a local fisherman then, who claimed it to be some kind of lucky stone or stone with exceptional power. Something like that, l think.
You mean it was from sea! Jiya almost shouted.
I know that it's not an usual way to buy gifts. But l really liked that bracelet and also it was special for being found like that. So, l just decided to give you that, he said nervously. Is there any problem though?
Oh dear! Jiya said relieved. I think you have done something great. More than great l should say. If it is, then l will never be able to thank you enough.
Meaning? asked Robin.
Nothing, said Jiya smiling sweetly . See you later, she stood up and started running again.
Be careful, said Robin shouting as others stared at them. He noticed that his heart was pounding hard as she left. *Tell me what did you see in your phone, said Kathy after Jiya exited.
That's nothing important ,l said lightly. But... what happened to her?
Must have remembered something suddenly, said Kathy carelessly. She has done that a lot of times before.
Really? I said. Must be something important.
Maybe, said Kathy. Oh! l am going for my part time job now. You will be alone. Don't even think of doing anything stupid, okay?
I smiled. People don't commit suicide everyday , l said standing up. How many part time jobs have you taken though?
Two, Kathy said tiredly. It's very hard to manage school, boxing and jobs all together. I have some savings, but l don't wanna use that now. Let's see what happens.
Right, l said. Let me freshen up now.
We both exited the room at the same time.

*

Where are you? asked Jiya excitedly over call.

Me? With Jwel, giving him some precious advices, said Joe in a thoughtful manner.
Hang your advices, she said quickly. Come to my tent, it's urgent.
But that's where we are, said Joe. What's so urgent?
Okay wait. I will be there ,she said and ended the call.
What's it? asked Jwel.
Jiya said she has something urgent to talk about, said Joe looking at him.
Have you caused any trouble again ? asked Jwel suspiciously.
You know that it's totally wrong to blame me for everything! said Joe indignantly. It's not like l am the only one who causes trouble.
Okay, said Jwel again. Did you two cause any trouble again?
Not really, he said thoughtfully. There was a small argument after which we made up. And then....no. We didn't argue after that.
Jiya entered the tent at that time and held out the box towards Joe.
Take a look inside this ,she said breathing heavily.
Joe opened the box puzzled. His eyes grew wide as soon as he saw the bracelet. Jwel took a look too.
A bracelet? Jwel asked confused looking at Jiya.
M....y transmitter, said Joe still unable to believe. He looked up. Where did you find it?
It was the gift Robin gave me on my birthday. It, Jiya said taking another long breath, it was here. All this time ,it was just near my hand!
You mean, said Jwel finally understanding, it's that emergency backup? To go back to your planet?
Yeah, said Joe extracting the bracelet from the box. And that means....
That you can go back, said Jwel almost shouting in excitement. Oh my God! That means you can live. He smiled broadly. Jiya was smiling too. But Joe didn't smile.
That means I will never see you again, he said in a low voice. That means I will just disappear from everything here after this precious two years.
Their smile faded. Jwel sighed.
What can be done about that now, said Jwel slowly. You must choose one thing. Staying with us or leaving. But even if you choose to stay with us, it won't be for a long time. One more month maybe ? Or a little longer than that?
I was sure that I will never find out this thing and accepted my fate. But when l have this in my hand....it's even harder to make the choice, said Joe. What do you two say? What should I do?
Leave Joe, said Jiya looking at the ground. This is not the right place for you. And..... we are not meant to be together.
She is right, said Jwel. If you choose to stay here cause of us,we will never be able to forgive ourselves for your death.
A tear escaped Joe's eye. He chuckled. You guys have turned me emotional like a human, he said wiping his face. Okay, l will send signal for help then.
The other two watched with awe as he sent the signal. After pressing the blue stone three times, a three dimensional image appeared. It was an image which looked like our solar system. He searched for something and after five minutes pressed the stone again. This time the image disappeared.
He sighed heavily. Signal sent ,he said. It will take them.... almost twenty days to reach the earth. I have asked them to land in the desert. I will have to reach there before them.
That's too far, said Jiya thoughtfully. Shall we go by road? Or by air?
We? asked Joe aback. It's your entrance exam after a month. How can you go?
Of course we will go, said Jiya and Jwel together.
Is entrance exam more important than you? said Jwel. Especially when you are leaving!
See bro,he said, think practically. If you fail to get into medical for this and.....
Just shut up, okay? We can go for that exam again next year, said Jiya. I don't know about others. But l am going and that's final.
I am going too, said Jwel stubbornly.
Okay go! Just stop shouting now ,Joe said defeated.