THE AUTISTIC

The Third Wheel

'MAI' the first word Apo has been uttering or rather yelling in a loop, other than his own name.
Although Apo looked exhausted, he didn't seem to stop until he reached the point where Mile was frozen. There's a saying,                                                             

 'A man can conquer Everest if he is determined.' At the current situation, Mile seemed to be the Everest and Apo was the man. He was stumbling and falling after every 8 to 10 steps, but yet he did not seem to stop unless he reached Mile.

Mile, who was finally out of his deep thoughts began his run towards Apo. Finally both young boys stood facing each other and once again the silence was broken by a new name given to mile
"Mai.", Apo's face was filled with a warm and innocent smile, trying communicate his unspeakable words.

" Mile, I want to come with you, I want to stay with you.", were the words that Apo bespoke by his act and expressions, and Mile did catch up with it.

"Are you okay, did you want something Apo?", Mile questioned. On the other hand, the grown ups walked towards the two teenagers along with Anna, all the four of them were stunned just as Mile. 

Apo just held Mile's hand in return with pleading eyes. 

"Pa, can he stay with us for the time being?" Mile asked. Apo seemed to crave for a little care from this newly acquainted family instead of the halfway home, or the family which Apo already seemed to be considering as his own. The elders did agree to Apo's unspoken request and Mile's suggestion. Mile's mom walked to Apo, kissed his cheek, and asked "Would you like to stay with us?" in a gentle tone. 

Apo shook his head, which perplexed the others. "Apo, do you want to come with us?", Jenny spoke this time, pointing at the car. To this question, Apo nodded his head and tightened his grip over Mile's hand, which he had been holding onto from the start. Everyone guffawed when they realized that, Apo thought Nathanee was talking about to returning to the shelter. Although Apo didn't understand why the others around him were laughing, he too began to chuckle just to blend with the crowd.

"Alright then, wait for a while young man, the other car would be here any moment.", Chan assured. Chan already contacted the mechanic to take the broken car and one of their chauffeurs to arrive at their present location with the other car.

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"I am glad you are coming with us, I felt really while bad leaving you at the orphanage though we are meeting for the first time. We did not seem to be any different from your emotionless family. Its just that we were leaving you alone with the necessary supplies. I apologies for not giving a thought about taking you along with us and thank you for reappearing, I don't feel guilty anymore.", Mile uttered to Apo with speck of tears in his eyes while the three teens were sitting on a rock on the earthen shoulder. The guilt of leaving Apo all alone was visible in Mile's eyes.

The halfway home did seem to have a sound and safe environment, but it was yet incomplete since it lacked the love and affection which a family would provide.

"Don't feel bad bunny now he is with us, right?", Anna spoke trying make Mile feel better. Apo patted Mile's head and warmly smiled at him when he sensed sadness on Mile's face. But Mile was not convinced yet. He repeatedly questioned himself, 'why didn't I suggest the idea of Apo tagging along with us earlier?'.

On the other hand, when Mile's countenance did not change, Apo began to poke Mile's hip with his index finger, this led to a tickling sensation in Mile's body and he began laughing heartily. Anna joined Apo to tickle Mile and all the three were laughing out loud at the moment. 

Present

in the interview

 Whenever I close my eyes and recall this particular memory, it makes me smile and frown at the same time. At that particular moment we felt connected to each other with a feeling of pure wholesome happiness. Apo, regardless of his past, was genuinely happy in the present.

The most important lesson that I learnt from Apo is, 'Never shed a tear by recalling bad memories  when you have a beautiful present passing by.'

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25th December, 1970

 After a long exceptionally different day the Romsaithongs finally arrived at their mansion, along with a new member.

"Welcome home Apo.", Mile's mother warmly welcomed Apo as soon as the car entered the gates of the mansion. Apo was stunned by the huge mansion. It seemed to be something  he had never seen before and had not expected come across as well.

Chan Romsaithong was a very accomplished businessman in the whole of Thailand. He is known mainly for the establishment of the most successful supermarkets and malls in Thailand, 'The Mile Groups'. In Kalasin, the Romsaithongs were very highly regarded.

Mile was given the title, 'The prince of Kalasin'  and even if he pretended not to care about it, he did like the attention he used to receive. Girls used to send love letters and chocolates, trying their luck to catch Mile's attention. But he didn't have an interest in the matter of love yet. He was engrossed in his studies and filled with the ambition of becoming a capable and worthy successor to his father. To Mile, his father was his biggest inspiration. 

Apo entered the living room as soon as he entered his newly discovered house. The lavish white-walled living room was a sacred place for the Romsaithongs, it consisted of their most important possessions: the family portraits and Mile's childhood pictures. A photograph of Mile wearing spectacles and smiling brightly caught his attention. He took the photo frame and turned towards Mile and his mother with a smiling face, "Mai." he uttered, impressed by the fact that he decoded the person in the photograph.

"yes it is Mile, you are quite intelligent Apo." Mile's mother praised him.

"Come, let me take you to your room.", Mile grabbed Apo's hand and walked him to his room. Apo carried Mile's photograph along with him. It was a spacious, white-walled room with  posters of 'Marvel spotlight' and 'giant size x-men' stuck.

"I love comics and when I was younger I ensured all the rooms in this house consisted of  posters of my favourite comics.", Mile reasoned. Apo kept looking at his new room with curious eyes. He just looked around and it did not seem to matter much to him. 

"Did you like it?", Mile signalled unable to decipher Apo's opinion by his expression. But Mile's question did not receive a single reaction from Apo's end. Further Mile guided Apo to his room, which was next door. Walls of Mile's room were painted in green, consisted of guitars, a book shelf filled with comics and a telescope in addition to the posters. Apo was enthralled by the telescope. He kept jumping at the spot where he stood. 

Mile understood that Apo was fascinated and wished to reside in Mile's room. This time when Mile questioned Apo, he gave a huge nod in agreement. Mile let Apo use his room without a slight hesitation. 

Anna on the other hand had been sulking inside the living room from the time they arrived home. The journey back home was quite unpleasant to her. All the way home Apo was asleep with his head rested on Mile's shoulder, this sort of irked Anna and made her feel jealous of Apo. To her, Apo seemed to be the third wheel in her love story with Mile.

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