Fallen ~ The Tale Of Exploration And Love

42- Almost, not everything

Rohan's POV

"Wanna play rock, paper, and scissors? Like we used to?" I asked Vaishnavi as I kept the diary down. It was full of countless memories—those we treasure and take pride in. I looked at the twisted expression she would make when she felt confused. Her head angled to the side, with a frown between her thick eyebrows and squinted eyes, paired with a slightly awkward smile. She would dart her eyes to the right and then focus on her wrinkled brows before returning to her previous self. I knew I would miss everything about her.

"Children engage in that activity..." Her sentence tapered off as she reached her conclusion. I noticed her every move. As if afraid that I might lose track of her appearance, presence, and how comfortable I feel being myself around her. "Okay then. Let's play," she concluded and walked towards me. I shifted from the edge of the bed to create room for her to sit.

"Since you agreed, what do I get if I win?" I inquired while raising my eyebrows. I was aware that her response would be contradictory to its intended meaning. She has always been like that around me.

"If you win. Meri jutti, Tera sir. Okay?" Vaishnavi asked in her manipulating tone. I furrowed my brow, as if in contemplation, but then I nodded—it was a pretence. Idiot—she would have thought. Well, I can do that for her. I knew she was trying to control her smile, and her face seemed ever more comical. Oh my goodness! I'm going to miss her so much.

"Rock! Paper! Scissors!" We sang together like we used to when we were five-year-old kids. Remembering our golden childhood days, I would win often and she always stomped her feet and claimed I cheated. But I would let her win this one last time before she left. And when she returns, we will have a rematch, and I will show my true potential.

I let her win by allowing her to score ten. Elated, she rose to her feet and started dancing just like she did when she would win. I felt an emotion building up like a lump in my throat, choking me yet bringing me immense joy. It brought tears to my eyes, while also there was this wide smile on my face, all conflicting with each other and my true feelings.

She halted her movements. And there was a shine in her eyes — tears. I left my spot on the mattress and held her face. Her smile—it was an influence. Her genuine smile could boost anyone's spirits. I could feel the warm tears streaming down my face snapping me out of my trance. Her body trembled, and I could feel her palms touching the back of my hand. Her tears touched my palms, and continuous sniffs filled the room.

I bought her in my embrace. It was the first time in years that she cried. All I wanted was to hug her tightly and never let her leave, but if she didn't, her mental state would be affected. Seeing her in such a tightly bound state, with her arms wrapped around my waist, was heartbreaking. I could tell that she was trying to suppress her cries but that would only make her cry more. She fisted her palms on my tee; I could feel that. I gently stroked her hair, my throat contracted, a shortage of breath burned my nasal passage, and it was hard to gulp. I knew this feeling—an old friend of mine.

Tears were escaping my eyes too, but I couldn't freely express my feelings. I never could, not when she needed comfort. Her shivering body felt like it was on the verge of collapsing. I made her sit on the bed; her face was red. Her eyes were swollen, her running nose and trembling hands—they all indicated her anxiety, thinking they were common after crying. But I know her, her anxiety, her fears, and almost everything. Almost, not everything. Because no one knows you better than yourself.

We spent the next three days doing our childhood activities, creating even more beautiful memories. I captured every moment, each one I could. Anushka di didn't seem to care less if Vaishnavi was there. I could feel them being distant; they were never like this. But I couldn't interfere.

And then came the evening when she hugged me goodbye. She waved to me for the last time before leaving on a long solo journey. I stared in the direction where the cab disappeared with her. The void of her presence lingered around me, and I knew it was it. It was the end. The end of the torment and suffering she felt. She was ultimately liberated from the mental prison specifically created for her. And we still don't know the reason. I wonder how she would adjust to the new environment alone.

"Ahhhh!" I screamed to reveal the pent-up pain in my heart. Yet again, I couldn't do anything to help her. But I am glad I assisted her, even if minutely, going to London to escape this and get a quality education.

~~~~

"Did she leave?" Anushka di asked. She sounded like a stranger who didn't care if Vaishnavi was okay. She felt like a different person.

"Why are you being like this?" I finally asked her; I had noticed it since they returned from that party.

"So she did leave. That selfish girl." I couldn't believe my ears. Was this my sister? Or an imposter?

"How can you?" Before I could complete it, Ma came from behind and slapped her. She then yelled at her for her indecent behaviour, and it all made complete sense for the feud between them.

A ping came on my phone, an incoming message from Vaishanavi.

[I don't like Tushar. Maybe it was just a little crush. Don't worry I got over it.]

Did she tell Ma about this? But how did she know? And the next thing I know is that Di was under house arrest for two months. Did Vaishnavi come to know his sleeping-around habits? Or did she see them together? There were a lot of questions in my mind, none answered. I will have to talk to either of them to know. But would they tell?