We Happened

Chapter Fifteen

Radhika's pov

I sat on the bar staring at the drink. I didn't want to use alcohol as a coping mechanism for my dysfunctional family. Rishabh agreed. He sat beside me with a glass of whiskey. We didn't talk at all. I was embarassed and humiliated to even utter a single word about the evening.

I ordered a burger. I was hungry and tired. I didn't want to confuse my hunger with anger and take it out on Rishabh. This night has been enough adventurous as it is.

Just when I was about to order another burger, a very hot girl came and sat next to Rishabh. He shifted towards me but she happened to be more stubborn than he thought. He shifted so she can press her boobs on Rishabh's back. I could see how much it was making him uncomfortable and for some reason me too.

I stood up. Rishabh's eye landed on me. He raised his eyebrows as to know what I was upto. I squeezed myself between them and glares at her.

"He is my boyfriend sweetie. Just stay away okay?" I fake smiled her which made her roll her eyes. She tried to look at Rishabh for some response but I blocked her view. Finally she understood the message and left. I went back to my original seat and order another drink. 

"So, we've a thing now?" he asked turning towards me.

"We are not a thing or have any thing. Whatever"

"Boyfriend?"

"I saw you getting uncomfortable so I helped you. Moreover, after the night I've had, I need you beside me, not some random girl."

"You kind of blew my chances with her. Wait! You need me?" He asked with a hint of smile. I ignored

"Oh! Never mind. Let's go I am done" he helped me get up and kept a firm hand on my back so that I don't fall.

We drove from the bar and silence took over us. Rishabh was quiet and didn't ask any questions. " If you want you can talk to me" it wasn't some big statement but it held assurance.

I kept thinking whether I should or shouldn't tell him. Obviously it was my personal life but he has already seen too much of it.

"Well for the starters he isn't my biological father" I said looking straight.

Rishabh stopped the car and looked at me with a confused expression.

"My dad died, my real dad died before I was born. He was in the army. My mom never talked about it much. I think it hurt her too much. Anyway, she was a young single mother with practically no family or support. She met my father, you know, this one.. Rajesh" I trailed, he nodded so I continued "He fell in love with her. They became very close. He was stable and my mother wanted some stability. She needed it more than anything at that moment. They got married when I was around three years old. For the longest time, we were happy. We were a family. He was the father I always wanted. I never felt indifferent around him. He loved me until the very moment when my mother decided she didn't want any more kids. She didn't want to divide her attention and she didn't want me to feel that I wasn't enough. Maybe there was more to it, I never knew but yeah, she decided she didn't want kids with my father. He started resenting me, it started off as a comment here and there, I didn't mind but then his resentment turned into hatred. He couldn't even look at me without feeling that I was responsible for his unhappiness. With time, we just detached each other from our lives. I left home the first chance I got and he stopped caring about me a long time ago. If it weren't for my mother, we wouldn't even see each other. Whatever we do, it is for her sake. We both love her, that's one thing we've in common." I completed and found tears rolling down my cheeks.

He held my hand and looked at me. Those weren't the same eyes I saw when I first met him. They had warmth and softness in them as if they were trying to tell me that he cares. His gentle touch made my heart clench. It was simple gesture but it held so much value. It made me believe that even though he tries really hard for everyone to see what a cold person he is, deep down he has a heart that knows how to care.