My Guiding Star

Part Seven

"Dad, please believe me. My intention towards Swathi is genuine. I love her and I believed that she too loved me. Hence why I have not questioned her when she told that she don't want her parents to know about this. I felt that she needed time to talk to her parents. I would have never disturbed her if she had not accepted me."

Niranjana slowly understood that Ranjan's mom and dad are disappointed in him and rebuked him for spoiling Swathi's name. Her Dad was trying to console his parents and reason out with Ranjan. But finally they decided to send Ranjan away to his uncle's house till he joins his MBA course. And Ranjan was angry for they are not believing his words and rushed out from the house.

She slowly slipped out to save the embarrassment for uncle and aunty. She don't want them to feel awkward to face her in their current situation. She didn't know how long she was roaming in her scooter and came back in the evening. She mumbled some answer when her mom asked on her whereabouts till then. She was hesitant to ask about Ranjan to her parents. What can she say when they ask back as how she come to know about Swathi?

After dinner she was not able to hold anymore. She told her mom that she want to bid farewell friend nearby and will be back soon. In fact that is not completely a lie. In a way, it will be a farewell to Ranjan if he is going to his Uncle's place tomorrow.

Nearing his house she saw the lights were switched on in his room. She went straight to meet him. She can understand his situation. She know how it would hurt him when everyone didn't believed him and worst that to accuse him harassing Swathi when he actually loved him. And to rub salt on his wounds, Swathi was the reason for everyone to think like this.

Niranjana is shocked to see Ranjan. He was totally depressed and he was not himself. He had immersed himself in alcohol like any stupid will do. Her anger surged up at seeing him in self-pity. This is not the Ranjan she know and decided to go back. Maybe it will be better if they don't meet in near future.

"Is that you Niranjana? Have you come across to tell me what a slut I am to spoil a girl's name?" 

Ranjan had finally realized he had a visitor and his question stopped her moving out. She turned to him to scold that drinking will not solve the problems but shut her mouth to see him in tears. She is not able to show her anger to him. 

"No Ranjan, I know what was going on between you and Swathi. If you want I can talk to Uncle and Aunt. If they know the truth, they can reason out with Swathi and her dad."

"Don't do that. You don't understand. I am sorry that dad and mom thinks worst about me, but they will understand me shortly. But Swathi... How can she do this to me? I believed her. Am I just an entertainment for her? Can't she understand a true feelings of a person? She had played with my emotions and I am not able to bear that." His voice is loaded with such misery, but Niranjana cannot able to control her smile on the irony in the situation.

"Looks like Pot calling the Kettle black" the words slipped from her mouth before she realized. 

"What are you saying?" he frowned at her.