If I loved you

Why can't it be me

The next morning when I woke up I found myself on my bed covered with a blanket. I checked the time and it was 5 in the morning. My fever has gone and I was feeling better. The only thing that was still bothering me was those rashes. They didn't go away and were still very itchy.

Last night's dream was too good to be true. I laughed self mockingly. Forget it! Forget it!

...................................................

When I reached the site, Somchan greeted me.

'You are looking awful. How's your stomach ache?'

'It's gone.'

'But why are you so pale? Rest today as well.'

'No no. I am perfectly alright. Let's start with the maps.' I went inside the tent and started to do all those pending works.

At lunch Non came to meet us and after seeing me he exclaimed loudly.

'P! Why are you like this! Are you sick or something?'

'It's nothing. I had a mild fever last night.'

'Oh! Then wait for me. I'll bring something for you.'

'Hey, hey....wait! Don't go anywhere, just sit down.' I stopped him before he could take off like an arrow.

'P you need some special soup. My aunt made some for.....he he..... I am feeling shy......for my fiance.....' He was smiling ear to ear.

'Your fiance? She fell ill too?'

'Yeah. I am so sad....' But he didn't stop smiling.

'Your fiance is suffering from illness and here you are smiling ear to ear. Eh! You are really stupid.' Somchan said indignantly.

'Oi P! You don't understand. It's just a headache but because of this illness I got the chance to take care of my love.' He winked.

'Huh! Some 'lover' you are!' Somchan hmped.

'P Tay! You tell me. Am I stupid?'

'Yes.'

'P Tay!'

'Stupidly in love.'

'Ha ha that's right! I am helplessly in love. Ha ha.'

I laughed at his antics and after finishing our lunch we got back to work. I am going to meet New today again so I have to finish everything on time.

'I'll go back with you.' Non stayed back and helped us with many miscellaneous things. After all he is an engineering student. And a good one.

When we were returning I asked him casually,

'A few days ago I met Mae.'

'Really? Oh P! Isn't she scary?'

'She is a very bad person.'

'I know!'

'But tell me one thing.......is your family close to them?' Because she was preparing for a wedding in the village and if it was his wedding she was talking about, they are close or else why she cared for that?

He instantly became silent. Then after some time he said in a small voice,

'P.......I lied to you.... sorry.'

'What do you mean?'

'I.....P, don't .....don't get angry okay? She is my...... grandmother.'

'What!' I stopped walking and almost got tripped.

'But I don't like her! I don't like her at all! That's why I ran away from home!' He started to circling around me.

'You are from Jutamas family! Then all those stories are...... just stories! Your dream to be an engineer.....your parents' object to your studying in the city.....your marriage...... everything....'