under the wraps

friend?

Things were quiet at peace after the incident Rudra seems stable too, although he didn't talk too much even now cause we didn't have enough time to hang out owing to our upcoming final exams and final round which will decide about the winner of the scholarship. I wanted to win a scholarship but I was also afraid of what will happen if I actually got the scholarship, will Rudra again go back to how he become or he will take it lightly. Prachi planned to have a little trip before our final exam to ease things up and to shake our exam fear a little. I didn't actually want to go but when she stubbornly asked like

" vera you are so boring, you always do this just for one day na"

I ended up saying yes. Prachi was going to pick me from the convenience store I work, I completed my shift and grab cupcakes di told me to bring with me on the trip. I decides to wait for her in front of the shop when someone grab my arm when I turn to see the person, I found my drunk dad

I freaked out, I totally freaked out I felt like my heart was about to explode and It was beating so loud that I can hear it easily my voice become shaky and I found it difficult to speak, he was totally drunk in this daylight, he was stinking and he was wearing shabby clothes, then he opens his stinky mouth and starts demanding money

" mujhe pta lag ki tum yaha kam krti ho, tumhare pas pese hai na do mujhe"

He is doing this again, he is doing like this every time, he always comes to ruin my life when it is on track

" mere pass koi pese nhi hai", I tried to free myself from his stronghold but he was not letting me go

" mene kha na pese do mujhe, wo budhia mujhe pese dena se mna krri hai, meri maa hokr wo tujh manhoss ko pese khila rhi hai, wapis kro mere pese "

He starts yelling

" mere pass koi pese nhi hai" I pleaded him again

" chodo use", this was prachi's voice ,oh no what I am going to do now

" chodo use wrna mai police ko bulaungi", she shouted again

" bulalo jisko bulana hai mai apni beti se bat kr rha hu tum kon hoti ho mujhe sikhane wali"

" help" she yelled, listening to her few people start coming to our side seeing this he looses his hold on my arm and left

" tumhe to mai bad mai dekhlunga" was his last words when he left

I was lost for words, what should I do with these never-ending problems of mine, my head was hurting and I was not sure what should I do next

" you ok," she asked scanning me from head to toe to make sure he didn't harm me in any way

"yeah I am " , I replied but I saw many other questions floating in her eyes apart from just this

" he was"? she was about to question but stop midway, maybe cause the answer was little known to her

Then she pretended she never asked that, I wasn't sure what should I actually tell her, the thing I was trying to hide from everyone, was revealed in front of the person I least expected.

" he is my father", I stop suddenly she also stopped 2 feet ahead of me

"it's ok all this is not your fault", she said holding my hand just a few meters away from the trip destination

I told her everything, from how he throw me out of the house to how he still haunt me.

"that's why you used to work in a convenience store" she questioned

I nod positively, 'its ok vera, you are a very strong girl, you know you even inspire me more, I like you even more now, your father's truth doesn't make an inch change in our relationship"

" I am sorry I didn't want to hide the fact, it just I wanted my last schooling years to pass in peace"

I said to her while still keeping my head low, " listen vera, life is not always fair to everyone, it sometimes gives you lemons and sometimes chocolates but the only choice we had is to accept whatever is being served on our plate and make the best use of it, you know you are such a caring and independent girl that sometimes I feel jealous of you, I can't do a single thing on my own and you manage so much, I am really proud of you, and you are my besttttt friend.

I smiled at the little lecture she always managed to make me smile. later that evening we discussed a lot about various things, and various memories and that was the best day of my life, I felt something very heavy, really heavy getting released from me. I was continuously smiling remembering and repeating everything again and again in my mind.

" Finally I have a friend now" I cheerfully said to myself

Another location:

Prachi: I think we should not do this