Twists Twirls Perils & Pearls

5. Guilty conscience

"She called?? So many times what happened?? Let me check the messages.."
"have you reached?" 5 messages.
"Abhedya sir..plz reply.." 4 messages
"Are you okay??" 5 messages
"So your phone is still dead?" Last message
'She was worried about me? But why? It's sweet... hold on Abhey. I hope she is not taking my last night's visit in any other manner. It was just...just... just a thing I did because of Nivi. Yes, that's it. I need to clear it out with her. Why do these girls always jump to the next level, first Adah now Swarnima, can't they understand just a casual thing.' With all these thoughts running in Abhedya's mind he took a long shower and went for breakfast.

He wished his parents and Nivi good morning and sat on his chair.

"So??" Nivi asked rolling his fingers on the table.

"What?" Abhedya questioned back with furrowed brows.

"How was your ice cream date with Swarnima?" Nivi cross-examined in a teasing tone.
Abhedya choked on his food. Rudra and Nandini stopped eating and examined Abhedya with questioning eyes.

"It wasn't a DATE. Nivi asked me to buy her an ice cream as a punishment and trust me it was. That girl is so boring. We just had ice cream and I left." Abhedya explained but he hated the fact that he lied coz every bit of the silence last night he enjoyed. For some reason, he didn't want his parents or Nivi to find that out.

"I don't think so. Coz at 12 in the night, Nim called me to ask if you have reached home safe and only when I came to your room and checked she kept the phone down. So I thought the worry was a result of some good time." Nivi described and analysed the events of last night.

"That girl is weird, trust me. She didn't even talk to me properly and is now displaying her worries? We are not even friends." Abhedya was hell confused but he loved the fact that she was so worried about him.

"Abhedya! Swarnima is not just any of your other girls with whom you just play along. She is different, gifted and special and if at all you ever hurt her it will be the last day we talk. Nandini please cancel the dinner tonight on the pretext of some work and postpone it indefinitely." Rudra declared in a calm but authoritative tone and every word he said seemed like he meant it.

"Dad, what's wrong with you? You don't even know the girl and you are blaming me for something I didn't do. I just took her for ice cream and if she has taken things on another level it isn't my fault. Mom explain it to him and I never suggested a dinner anyways. You wanna call her, call, you wanna cancel it, cancel! I don't give a damn." Abhedya explained the scenario and was very upset with his father.

Nandini got up from the table and returned after a few minutes and informed, " I have spoken to Swarnima and told her we have something important so can we continue with the dinner some other time."

Rudra nodded his head in approval and asked, "Nandini if you are done should I drop you at the NGO?"

"Dad drop me at school." Nivi requested gulping his juice quickly.

" I need some time with your mom, Abhey will drop you," Rudra said with finality.

"Noooo!! Abhey will eat me alive after what happened now at the table." Nivi exclaimed in a scared tone.

" I know my son. He won't do anything. He is mature enough," Nandini assessed ruffling Abhedya's hair.

"Of course you people know me inside out. Just got a show of your trust, mom. Nivi  I will drop you safe and secure just like I dropped your dear Swarnima last night."  Abhedya got up and left in anger.