Loving A Lie

31. Interim Escape.

Next morning, everyone , Granny ,Dad, Mom, Akash even Shweta but Daniel was
present.
However this fact did not depress me.
Nah! Not today. Today I was as happy as a free bird. I was suggested to bed rest on account of a healing skull.
'We're going to inject you with the last of this painkiller and you will be fine.',the doctor informed me.

Down in the parking lot a very strange scenario greeted me. It looked extremely odd.
I rubbed my eyes to check whether what I was seeing was actually true. Two rows of black cat commando stood making way towards a car. An expensive car.
I could guess where this way going.
Granny and everyone else sat in our family car whilst Dad walked me to the red convertible.
The passenger door opened to reveal Daniel sitting in the driver's place. No surprise there.
'Sit.',he commanded.
I sat without a word. Any argument was a waste. I didn't feel I had the strength much.
  Dad bent down and kissed my forehead and murmured,'See you soon.'
'Yeah Dad.', I replied.
Daniel nodded his head once at Dad and we drove off first followed by two black cars that probably accommodated the commandos.
I guess we needed the security.
As we pulled out of the parking lot , I looked at Daniel.
He looked expressionless but he didn't look anxious.
  So I too sat calmly. He started the music and tuned it to my favorites: Smith and Paul.
  I relaxed further on the velvet covered seats. The car was posh. 
This one was a Ferrari.
   'Amanda.',he called out looking sideways at me.
'Hm. ',I replied noncommittally.

'Take down my new phone number.'
His and everyone else's phone had burned in the blast except mine as it was in my locker.

'Hey you missed the lane.', I jerked back in my seat as I watched him take some other route.
  He did not reply.
He just continued to drive. I peeked at him closely and realised he was angry.
    'You are angry?',I asked him skeptically.
'No.',he replied with a locked jaw.

'Yes definitely. You are. Just tell me why?'

'I'm not angry.'

'Daniel , I know I hurt you in the past. I'm sorry. I did what I felt best. I may have been wrong. Now will you forgive me?',I tried to coax him in my most pleasant tone.

'Its not you.',he spilled finally.
'And yes you have been wrong.'

'Ugh. Just tell me who upset you.'

'Do you care?', his mood shifted swiftly and he turned around to grin at me.
I rolled my eyes.
'Do you?',he handled the steering with one hand and tickled me with the other.
  I giggled loudly, helpless.
'No Daniel. No stop it.'
Thankfully the car stayed straight on the path.
Commends to his driving.
  'Tell me do you?',He persisted.
'No I don't.',I squealed through a fit of giggles.
'I know you do.'
He relaxed down in his seat.
The atmosphere in the car too shifted along with his mood.
   The silence that was choking me previously turned to happy silence. I leaned on my headrest awkwardly due to my bandaged head.
   Daniel wordlessly lowered my seat to a comfortable position and I closed my eyes.
Peace.
' So are you not going to ask why I was angry.',he quipped.

'I already asked.',I retorted.

He kept his eyes straight on the road ahead as he answered,' Mark had called to check on you while they were discharging you. That nag.'
'Hey don't call him that.'

'Yeah whatever you say, my lady.',he smiled.

I looked away to hide my easy blush.
'You didn't tell me where are we going and why are we shadowed by professional neck breakers?',I tried to steer away the conversation to something more urgent.
'You didn't ask.',he smirked.
'Daniel.',I complained.
'Okay. We are not going home. As for the commandoes it's for your security. They have been posted in the hospital's vicinity since a week. You are always safe Am. I'll keep you safe.'
He patted my head and I felt warmth flow through my veins. I relished the feeling and something akin to happiness filled me.

'That much I guessed. But where are we going?'

'Take a guess.'

'I don't know Daniel.'

'Oh! You are such a bore. Let us keep it a surprise for you.'

'No . I want to know where are you taking me right now.'

'Make it we. I'm taking us out for a vacation. Don't you trust me?',he asked in his seductive voice.
And I lost.
'Yes I do.', I told him in all open, naked honesty.
I felt wonder as to how much my dad trusted him also. It wasn't just me. And that too after knowing him so little.
  He has been my silent protector. Making sure that I'm not in trouble again.  Although he didn't visit me often like my other friends, he made sure that I was well secured.
   Going back to my friends, I remembered Mark had called.
   True everyone was there this morning ,except of course Daniel, Mark wasn't there too.
   I dialed Mark's number.
'Hello Mark.'
I felt Daniel's eyes on me.
His whole demeanor changed as soon as he heard Mark's name.
There was a lot of disturbance on the other side of the network. I switched on the loud speaker.
'Hello Amy.'

Finally I could hear something.

'Mark.',I replied.

'Amy . How are you now?'

He sounded very worried.

'I'm fine ,relax.'

'I'm so sorry. I couldn't come today.'

' It's okay Mark. You can make up to me.'
There was a lot of noise. I still had to strain my ears to hear what he was saying.
  
Daniel , too looked very irritated.
The noise was obviously very displeasing.
'How?',he said louder to make himself heard over this noise.
'Give me your notes when I return.', I giggled.

'Are you going somewhere.'

' yeah.'

'Amy I wanted to say something.'
Was that nervousness I could hear.
Omg. This is the kind of nervousness that makes me extremely nervous.

'I'm all ears Mark.'

'Not like this. Come back Amy and we'll talk later.'
'OK Mark.'
You could hear me sigh in relief when he disconnected the call.
I was seriously hoping he wasn't thinking what I was thinking.
Yeah. He must probably be thinking of telling me about some web based educational website for the preparation of the latest topic that I had missed.
  Hope never eluded me.

We had been driving for an hour and half now.
'Daniel please tell me we are not at the airport.', I screamed.

'Am we are at airport.',He shrugged.
'Okay. Tell me it ain't an international trip.',I chimed excited.
'It's a surprise.',he said diverted.
He was concentrating on parking in the limited space we found.
  'Daniel come on. Tell me.'
'No.',he said simply disregarding me.
He got out of the car and we found the commandoes following us behind at a distance.
' Half of you'll can go back as decided. The rest will follow please.',Daniel instructed the bodyguards.
I had ,like always many questions. Like a) where were we going?
b) Why were we going?
c) Why hasn't my dad and mom freaked out yet that I am going out when doctor clearly mentioned bed rest lest with a boy they hardly know?
d) How are we going to accommodate all of these burly guys  without creating a ruckus in the aeroplane?
e) where is my luggage? I mean what am I supposed to wear?

But nobody to answer them.
Daniel led us through the VIP entrance and we were quickly in the waiting area without much ado.

He kept a supporting arm around me all the while which kept me from panicking like the crazy me.
An attendant came up to us after five minutes and spoke in the polite manner they are accustomed to speak in, ' Your private plane CXX13 is ready for you .Allow me to guide you. Please leave behind any of the articles that threatens your safety. You cooperation is solicited. Thank you.'

I could really take some help from him.
'But really private jet. Wow.',I marvelled.
'Let's go.',Daniel cheered.