Lost And Found

8. Family

Evening came and I still hadn't recovered fully.
Riyan's house had a terrace and I stole myself away from others to have a breather.

I was shaking internally.
It was a good thing that the girl was safe but I couldn't stop thinking what could have been the consequences otherwise.

My neck felt stiff and so did my hip.

With my one hand on my hip , I was massaging my neck, that's when Riyan entered the scene.
I quickly changed my poise but he already saw it.

He walked towards me with a balm in his hand.
'Use it.',he said.
I took it thankfully and gave him my biggest smile.
He did not smile in return.

He was about to leave when I stopped him.

'Riyan I have a question...', I stalled him.

He raised his brow quizically.

'What if they come for her. This isn't a big town and they have seen us.'

'My Dad is a MLA and a doctor. Don't worry. They won't look at this house.
You look pretty shaken. Look at your hands.',he observed.

This was most he had spoken to me since we met.

He took the balm from my hands and did something exceptionally unexpected.
He scooped some balm out of the bottle and as I looked on shocked, he slowly pushed my hairs aside.
He then, very gently ,applied the balm on to my neck.
His warm hands felt alien to me yet so  homely.
In that partial second I felt as if I could get used to it.

'Riyan.',I utterred in shock.

He too seemed taken aback at his own impulses.

He turned around and climbed down the stairs hurriedly.

I laughed loudly and let him hear that.

He had a good side but didn't wanted people to know about it.

Downstairs , Risa was sitting at the table watching cartoons and I sat next to her.
'Here you are Sarah. We had been wondering where you were. So I sent Riyan to call you back.', Rumana Aunty said.

'Just needed some fresh air.',I replied with a  smile.

Here at home she felt comfortable and we did nothing to dispel that.
Riyan sat on her other side watching her silently.
I could see he had empathy for her.
Everyone from the family were present in the room with her.
I could see how close knit family this was.

They were silently supporting Riyan's decision.

I think the previous argument between Riyan and his dad ,that I had heard , had something to do with Risa's rescue.
But now I could see uncle completely in ally with Riyan.

Risa had got everyone in awe with her within few hours.
She was cheerful and fun-loving girl.
And since they had been living with Riyan all this time made me sure that anything having an upward curve on its face made them happy.

That's how we spent the evening with Risa. She laughed and all of us would laugh too.
Even Riyan would smile every now and then, even though his smile would be  the smallest curve of his full lips.
It just felt so natural there.
... As if we were a family.

Next morning, I woke up to a good news and a bad one.
Riyan's parents had decided to adopt Risa and give her an identity.

This really put a smile on the girl's face.
She danced through the entire house.

The bad news was that the roads had cleared and I was due at the orphanage.

The mood was inviting, I didn't wanted to leave.

However I had to go someday.

I cleaned up and was ready to leave.
I bid everyone goodbye before the hitler came and pushed me out.

'I really can't thank you enough for your hospitality. I will really miss you all.',I told them honestly.

They hugged me turn by turn and Risa 
held my hand.
She was reluctant to let me go.
I knew my emotions mirrored hers but I couldn't let it show.

This was going to be the end of it.
I would probably never ever meet them.
Finally Riyan came down and I sweeped a last glance towards them, my hands raised in farewell.

Theirs same.

I sat on his bike soundlessly.
He started the bike and only then I realised I had tears in my eyes.

'You know you are not getting married or something and we are not sending you off to your inlaws.',Riyan husked.

'I know.'I snapped at him.

'Then why the tears?'

I slapped his back.

'What?',he smarted in pain.

'You are really an emotionless robot. Are you sure you were not adopted? Your traits don't match with anyone in your family.'

'Not funny.'

'  You are so insensitive. I'm crying because I'm going to miss you all. Even you, even though you are a complete jerk.'

To that he remained silent
Then slowly spoke,'You can always come back. Mom will be ready to welcome you.'

' And you?'

' I have got nothing to do with you.'

'Me too.'

'8398248003 save it. In case you need it while you are here or ...'

I laughed through my tears.

'You are so poor when it comes to emoting.'

' I hate drama'

' Don't speak too much or you might end up using your yearly quota of words.'I laughed through the wind blowing my hairs.

We were almost there.

'Whatever that means.'

He stopped the bike at door of the orphanage and I stalled getting up .
I was really getting used to him around.

I braced myself to a wordless good bye and got up.
He probably had already used up his today's word count.

So I was pleasantly surprised when he spoke , quietly as ever,' Stay safe. Don't go around wandering in the woods alone.'

'I won't.'I promised.

' Until next time.',he promised.

When would that be ?
For once I was speechless amongst us too.

He revved the engine and drove away without turning back.