When It Rains- When a heart weeps|√

Chapter 29

"it's your entire fault!"Mihir yelled at Ayaan, pointing an accusing finger in his direction. His newly brought cell phone was clutched tight in his other hand. Vivo, camera and music appeared on the screen as the phone booted up with the default sound. His loud voice had earned a couple of looks from the passing strangers, but he remained unaffected, and so did his unwavering glare.

"No, it's your fault." Ayaan retorted and raised his hands in shellacking surrender. His voice reached an octave of frustration in the beginning and immediately dropped till the ground level when an old lady standing nearby gave him an irritated look.

It was his only weakness. The feeling of being humiliated. He could endure a million accusations, but the humiliation was something unbearable for him.

"You wanted some caffeine!"

"You wanted to empty your liver."

"You are a fatso. You didn't run fast enough!"

"I am the star quarterback. You were slow like a turtle." The duo continued their debate while we stood at the platform and stared at the embarkment in bamboozlement. Harsh and Rohan tried to intervene in the bickering somehow but were instantly shut-off rather harshly.

As for me, my brain had stopped functioning. No idea, no lead and absolutely no thoughts. My mind was empty and was going through havoc. Consequently, a sense of panic erupted deep within my heart. My gut feeling told me something worse might happen.

Oh yes! We have missed the train. Although we reached the platform on time yet we missed it. Guess why? Because the doors were slid closed before we could step in and the train went off without taking us with it.

How can the school authority be so careless? Did they not count the students? How absurd! I stared at the ground bewildered.

What's next? I questioned myself only to receive a deafening silence from my subconscious brain. It was silent because he had no answers. Sonia! My brain reminded me of her, making my eyes avert in her directions.

She was standing with her head hung down. Her brown curls veiled her face like a natural curtain, making it difficult for me to comprehend her thoughts and expressions.

Is she panicking like me? Is she scared? Does she want me to show some empathy? Should I hug her and assure her that everything is going to be okay? That I will keep her safe, no matter how many trains we miss.

It wasn't the first time I was standing on an outland. I had visited a lot of places. My family was fond of travelling- thus had made sure we plan an international trip every year. But it was the first time I was alone. I was with people who didn't know to handle such problems. I was with teenagers who quarrel over trifle matters, who although were full of themselves yet had recognized their limitations. I was with Sonia. The scene was different.

One moronic mistake had cost us a missed-train and two fighting idiots and a fear-stricken heart.

"Sur, what's next? If we continue with the bickering; we won't be able to reach the hotel on time. We must think about something. We have to reach the hotel before them or they will find us missing and will immediately ring our parents. You know what will happen next." A panic soaked voice whispered in my ear, making my heart race.

For a moment or two, blackness appeared in front of my eyes. I remembered the promise I had made with Sonia's mother. I had promised her of Sonia's safety, her well-being. I had promised her sister I would protect Sonia from all the trouble. I was so ashamed to admit that I was the one who pulled her into trouble.

How careless I am! How will I answer her mother if something happens? What if Mrs Malpani has spotted the group missing and has already made a call? How will I respond to the questions? The questions may involve accusations on her character? The small incident may become a huge disaster for Sonia; for obvious reasons, I couldn't let that happen.