I HATE YOU BUT...🩺

10(b)

And I turned to leave.

I rushed to the house to see if Arohi is alright. She was hurt and I could not see her like that. She never cries but she didn't like what happened.

She never takes anybody's words to heart but this time those words had hit her hard. Those words were not at all acceptable by any sane person but she didn't react and that was not at all possible in rarest situation.

Yet it has happened and I wanted to know what is up. When I went to home she was not yet home. It was 6 in the evening and she has not returned. Dad and Papa were on duty that was the biggest relief because that means Arohi can walk in late.

It was 9 at night and Arohi was not still back. I was a little worried for her because she always informs if she is coming late. I heard mom calling me and gave a comma to my thoughts.

"Sunny where is Rohi?"I heard mom ask me.

"She is not yet home? She never does this. If she has to come late she informs well in advance. I hope she is fine. Did you say anything to her? Mind it Arjun if you did then," Mom was very worried.

"Stop stop mom. One question at a time please, Am I answering some rapid fire round?" I said interrupting her.

"First of all I didn't do anything. Secondly she called and sorry I forgot to tell you because when I came to inform you I saw you fast asleep. I thought not to disturb. She is at Shefali, she will be late. She told us to have dinner." I blurred out without thinking what will happen when Arohi comes back while we are having food. I wanted to call her but now that I already told mom.

"Were you trying to call her mom?" I asked in a low tone.

"Oh yes she wasn't picking." Mom was still worried.

"She must be having her phone on silent than" I tried to reason out.

"Yeah you are right." Mom said trying to gather her.

"Let us have dinner call Rashi. You silly boy you should have told me about the call but I was so worried. She is a motherless child and I am her mother you know." Mom suddenly looked so old to me with the folds on her forehead.

"Sorry mom, let's eat I am calling Rashi." And I went up to call Rashi praying that Arohi doesn't come till all are asleep.

We had dinner and mom finished with dishes. Shanti our maid was on leave. It was 10.15 by then.

Mom was very tired she informed Ramu kaka to wait for Arohi and feed her if she hasn't had anything.

Rashi was already gone to her room. Her favorite show was at 10.00 p.m.

As soon as mom left for her room I told Ramu Kaka that I'll wait for Arohi. She must have had food as she is with Shefali. Ramu kaka looked convinced and left to his room. Yes we had room for him too.

I sat on the sofa with my biology book trying to read through the digestive system. But what I could hear in my mind was the non-digestive words of Saachi that made me shiver.

I heard the main door open at 10.40. We all had extra keys with us. She stepped in I looked at her she was with the same jersey and shorts. Her hair was loose on her back which were floating backwards with the wind.

There were two remarkable things I could see. One her red eyes that indicated that she cried like hell. May be she was talking to Ma and the second was her wound which was still open the blood has stopped but her full body was with blood stains.

Where she was I had no clue. Locking the door she went straight up to her room and closed the door. I was sure she didn't go to Shefali and that means she has not eaten anything. She hasn't come outside the room ever since.