Serendipity

||18. I am there for you.||

"Thank you so much sir." Standing in front of Bhavya's rented home, Aisha spoke.

"That's nothing." With a gummy smile, Bhavya rubbed his neck.

"I will forever be indebted to you for this deed."

"Oh, don't worry. You are welcome to visit us at any time. By the way, I did manage to find somewhere for you and your uncle to stay."

"Oh, is that right? Where is the house?"

"I'll say when I've finished setting everything up. It's a nice place."

"Oh, okay."

"Sure, let Uncle stay in this place. You can leave for work."

"Um. Thank you, and good bye."

"Bye Aisha, take care."

"Bye, you too."

When Aisha waved him off, he waved back, and she crossed the street to lock her house. She did sense that someone was observing her movements and following her.

"Hey..woah-" After hearing those words, Aisha raised her fist. Alex was the one who said those words, and he was taken aback by her response. Who, after all, wouldn't?

"Yeah, that was you. Hello, Milyy."

"Hello, um. "Where is your father?"

"Oh, he is now at Bhavya sir's house."

Alex furrowed his brows at that.

"Why? Has anything occurred?" Aisha inhaled deeply and said, "He just wanted to see sir's house." She did not want him to know or get involved in their affairs.

"Oh okay, and who is he?"

"Who? Bhavya sir?"

"Yes" he muttered.

"He is a physician and he was my senior when I used to study in 4th."

"Oh.."

"Did you have your breakfast?" It was Aisha's question that brought him back to the present.

"Oh yes.. and you?"

"Yes, I had."

"Okay, come let's go then."

"Wait.. there is a snake."

"SNAKE?" With a scream, Alex clutched her arm. Ophidiophobia affects him.

"Relax, this is just a little one. It is ineffective."

"I am afraid, Aisha." He gave Aisha a quick hug and buried his face in the crook of her neck. She was surprised, but she also enjoyed the hug. She has never hugged a man before, other than her father ofcourse. Thus, it was an odd but endearing sensation all at once.

"It's gone."

"Oh really?"

"Yes."

"Oh okay." With that, he released her from his arms.

"Were you crying?"

"Um, maybe.."

"Hi, Milyy, what happened? Why do you fear snakes so much?"

"Because I HATE them."

"Okay, calm down.." She was aware that he was being reminded of his past. To soothe him, she gave his arm a slow pat.

He wiped his tears quickly.

"Come, let's go."

With a nod from Aisha, the two entered the vehicle.

The drive was peaceful and quiet, not uncomfortable silence.

"Um, are you alright, Milyy?" He stopped the car after hearing her soothing voice.

"When I was a child, I used to go out and play a lot with my neighbor best friend." With a nod, Aisha turned to face him.

"And one day, after visiting the park as usual, we made the decision to enter a forest. In essence, it appears to be a forest, but it isn't. And he was scaling trees and everything. It was evening, and we were apart from our parents. That was just the two of us in there. Abruptly, a massive black snake emerged and-."

"Calm down.. relax and then speak." With a gentle pat on his arm, Aisha carried on.

"That snake ate him." Aisha's gaze grew wide.

"He said, 'Run, Alex.. Save yourself.' and the snake swallowed him right in front of me. i wanted to save him and I couldn't. Since it was getting dark and we had never seen a snake this large before, I was a little afraid. His parents were furious with me when I fled for my life. We moved after I was held responsible for days." He spoke, pausing to cry. Aisha felt bad for him since, as a young child, he was innocent of any such incidents, and he was blamed without cause.

He gave Aisha a hug in return, and she gave him back. After a few minutes, they resumed their proper seating.

"Here, have this water."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome." Aisha grinned and spoke.

He hiccupped in the middle.

"Raise your arms."

After giving her the bottle, he held up his arms until the hiccup passed.

"Thanks again."

"Hmm.."

They arrived at the residence.

"Wow, the house is wonderfully decorated." Saying so, Aisha turned to face the house.

"Yeah." Alex remained stuck in his dilemma. Seeing his dejected expression, Aisha followed him into the garage area, where a few workers were working on their own projects.

Aisha gave him another hug and felt his heartbeat.

"You are safe, please calm down, I am with you.." He closed his eyes as she spoke.

"Avoid blaming yourself for the past. It's finished. Calm down." Alex held his arms around Aisha's waist as she spoke.

Unknowingly, a sentiment began to ignite within them.

"Are you okay now?"

"Hmm.."

"Now smile for me." Saying this, Aisha gave him a quick smile.

He appeared to be forced in his smile. It will take him some time to get over that emotion. Aisha considered pushing that emotion from him.

----------------------------------------