Is he the one?

17) Crying in the crook of your neck

"Naina!......What happened?....Please tell don't make me afraid." A very really concerned voice echoed on the other side.

"...p--p---pre--t--t-i.......p--pr--ee--ti......de--ee-p---ika.....di--di...."

"Naina. First you calm down. Go and drink water."
She followed like a baby following it's mother.

"I drank."

"Now cry."

"What?" Naina was perplexed.

"Arey! Cry na. Cry fully and tell me. Then only you will feel relaxed." Naina let out cry she was holding.

After 10 mins or so she stopped crying.
"Finished?"

"I love you preeti. I love you so much."

"I love you too my baby. Now are you feeling relaxed."

"Yes."

"Now tell me what happened."

"Preeti I returned home and dad slapped me. I had no idea what's the problem. Bua told that they caught di's boyfriend's photo and she was not home for a long time. You know na. Papaji will always misunderstood me. Even bela bua misunderstood me...." *cries*

"........ I told her I didn't insist or forced deepika to elope. She told that she believe me. Later I slept when I woke up. Deepika was sitting there. I was happy that the truth will be out. But it happened reverse. Di acted as if I was at fault. I didn't justify me as no one will ever believe me. I trusted di but she....."

She stopped. A long tear escaped and she continued. "....preeti come here. I wanna cry in your arms."

"Naina!..." She was out of words to console her. After all she too a small girl and consoling someone when they are crying is a little bit tough. Finally she made out some words to console her.

"....naina....don't worry my dear.....you let out what all happened. Now you will sleep peacefully. Trust me dear. I will come to pick you up to school tomorrow morning."

"Preeti....I don't think it will be right to come school tomorrow."

"What? Is it uncle's order?"

"No..."

"Then?"

"The slap marks are still there...." She looked at herself in the mirror. She touched those marks and hissed. "......if I come everyone will come with their set of questions. I can't answer them. I will apply some cream and will come to school the day after tomorrow."

"But naina what will I tell to sameer if he asks the reason for your absence?"

"It's so easy. You tell him that I have fever."

"Bu...."

"Don't worry preeti. I am alright. I talked to you na. Now I feel much better."

"I will come tomorrow evening to meet you in the sake of giving notes as you will be absent."

"Okay and don't tell this to sameer. He will be feared and would be adamant to meet me."

"Naina!"

"Preeti....please. Then the situation will be worse."

"I will be not responsible if I spill it out."

"Ok. Atleast try to not do it."

"Sure........and now you go and sleep. If I see black circles, I will definitely kill you. Now I am going to sleep. You should do the same. Or else I will not be the same doraemon."