Pocket Full of Lies

36- Goodbye?

And the end was near.

His mobile was found and I had no more excuses left to stay.

"Umm...so...bye." I waved awkwardly.

Rehaan waved back slowly, going back to his reserved nature. He had a sad expression on his face but he didn't make a single move to stop me.

I had just stepped outside the door, before a thought crossed my mind, making me put my foot back inside hurriedly, effectively stopping him from closing the door.

His eyebrows raised in alarm as he pulled the door back, while looking at my foot and yelling, "Are you crazy? You could have hurt yourself."

"Sorry, sorry, just one minute." I eyed the neighbour's door before gesturing to him to let me inside again.

"What?!" He shouted, running his hand through his hair, messing it up in the process.

"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you." I apologized again, before saying, "I just wanted to remind you to change the locks."

"What?" He asked again, this time in a normal tone.

"The main door." I pointed at it nervously. "The culprit is still on loose. So you shouldn't take any chances. Maybe add a camera too for extra security. Or hire a bodyguard. Or—"

"Muskaan, you are rambling," he said, placing his hands on my shoulders, before letting them slide away.

"Sorry," I whispered. "I didn't mean to impose," I said, looking down. "I was just...I was just..."

Scared.

He shook his head as a small smile came up on his face. "So should I consider that you aren't the one who hit me? Despite all the evidence...and lies?"

"Not again." I groaned, crying out in agitation. "I didn't, I swear I didn't. I have no proofs, but I seriously didn't. You have to believe me, please."

"Why? It's not like I will forgive you even if I believe that you're not the culprit. You know that I will be still hurt because of your lies." He snorted.

"You can be angry with me. You can even despise me. But you need to know that it wasn't me. Or else you won't stay cautious."

"What?" He asked in a low whisper, all signs of humour and condemnation leaving his face.

Pushing back the lock of hair behind my ear, I looked at him, trying to explain what was in my mind. "Rehaan, we still don't know what happened that day. You might still be in danger. I wasn't there with you last time and I won't be there from tomorrow. So, you need to be alert and look out for yourself."

"Do you think I will get hurt if you are not with me?" He asked.

"I am not saying this so that you would ask me stay back. Sorry, if it came out like that." I bit my lips, looking anywhere but at him. To say I was embarrassed was an understatement.

It wasn't my intention, but my words did sound like a manipulation tactic to stay in his life.

"I know. I didn't say it in sarcasm, nor did I doubt your intention," he said in a soft voice, probably having understood my embarrassment. "It was a genuine question. Do you really feel I will get attacked if I am alone?"

"My presence may not be a deciding factor for the culprit." I shrugged. "But if something happens, and I am here, we have better chances of winning. I mean two is better than one, right?" I said it in a matter-of-fact tone, before my eyes widened in alarm as I realized that I did it again. "I totally didn't mean that I need to stay here for your safety," I hurriedly explained, making him stifle his laugh.

"Sure, I believe you," he said, not looking a bit convinced.

I chuckled nervously, not saying anything as I knew that whatever came out of my mouth right now would turn into a blunder.

He laughed lightly, enjoying my awkwardness to the fullest

I mutely waved him goodbye, hopefully for the last time.

"Be happy and get lots of success," he said in a quiet voice as he blinked at me reassuringly.

My smile wavered a bit, but I managed to keep it intact as I nodded at him. "You too. Be safe and happy. And don't burn down the house, while you are at it."

He let out a low chuckle, but I could see the nervousness in his eyes too. 

"Everything will be fine. Even if we don't know anything, we can always learn," he said reassuringly, to him or I was a great question though.

He knew. He understood that from tomorrow onwards, it wasn't only him who was going to face a new scary world. Things were going to be difficult for me too.

A job. I was going to get a job and put my foot out in the corporate world. A world which was a piece of cake for Rehaan and unknown to me. An exact opposite of the situation when it came to household chores.

From tomorrow onwards, we both were going to face a life we knew nothing about.