Lost And Found

4. Dinner for winner

'Oh! My brave girl! You have saved us a lot of anxiety. Thank you so much. I haven't seen you before. Where are you from?',Riyan's  mom asked me while still eyeing suspiciously.

Riyan looked wary,but he jumped in to help me,' Mom you won't believe me but she was chased by wild cats. She ran the entire jungle till here.'

Riyan's mom engulfed me in another hug.

'Tell me everything from the beginning...'

We all sat at the table with some lip smaking food and a sour looking face in front of us.
Riyan was really not happy with me getting all the attention.
I wondered why.

'I'm a student from Mumbai. Our college has brought us here in Valpoi for a social service camp.
We have been assigned duties for spreading literacy in Valpoi and are based for a month in Anne's Orphanage. Our teachers had brought  us at Hivre waterfall to sight see around but I unfortunately ventured into the forbidden part.'

'Oh my God! You ran from Hivre village till here. No wonder you look so tired. You stay here tonight.  Aamna will inform the orphanage about what happened. You don't worry about anything.',Riyan's mom said and the other lady immediately took leave to do as instructed.

'Thank you aunty.'
If she informs the orphanage there would be lesser chances of back lash on my negligence. They would probably think it was all my fault ,which it was to some extent.
Irrespective this news might reach Mom and she would hyperventilate. I might even be sent back!

'Why are you not eating? Take some more. Girls like you must keep healthy . Riyan will drop you tomorrow.'
I heard a choking from his side.
He sipped water noisily but did not say anything.

She took a big chunky morsel and fed me.
In that instant ,my eyes met Riyan's and I could see he was not happy about it. He averted his eye soon enough.
He stared aimlessly at the ceiling, not actually eating.

After dinner ,Rumana aunty, Riyan's mother showed me a room.

I was so grateful that I could have danced, but I had no energy.

I lay ,limp on my bed for the night without much ado but deep down I knew I needed to change.
Very deep down.
So I closed my eyes...
And someone knocked on my door.

Wearily ,I went ahead to open the door.
Riyan it was.

I looked at him inquiringly.
He met my inquisitive stare with a uncaring look which pissed me.

We both stood like that , quiet and stubborn for a few minutes.
His stare now turned intense and contaminated with fury, hate and I could sense jealousy.

At that I couldn't hold my smile.
I pursed my lips to control laughter and asked in controlled voice.
'Riyan is everything all right?'

' Mom told me to give you these.',He handed me a very male looking set of clothes which looked atleast three sizes bigger to me.
That made me look at Riyan's muscular arms. He had a nice built. Jet black hair cropped short.
Hairs messed up but in a nice way.
His night shirt highlighted his arms and chest.
I tore my eyes from him to the clothes he had in his hand. Though they were way too loose, I could easily use them.

And they were fresh.

I snatched them out of his hand gleefully.

'Thank you so much. Are they yours?'

'Yes and why do you have to ask so many questions.',he said with gritted teeth.
Probably Rumana aunty has made him do this ,I thought and burst out laughing.

'What is so funny?',He said with a hint of  disdain.

'Oh! Nothing . They are just too large for me.',I lied because honesty wasn't the best policy right now.