Runaway Or Kidnapped?

Chapter 51

'You go ahead we will wait outside.' Rishab said.

'Are you sure?' I asked and they both nodded. I walked towards him and I could now hear him whispering 'It's my fault, I shouldn't have left her alone.' I went closer to him, I tapped his shoulder, he could not see me because his back was facing me, he startled and turned around and he was froze. 

His eyes were bloodshot red, as if all he has done is crying and there were bags of dark circles. I sat down  near him. We both looked at each other, neither of us spoke. His eyes were already watering and seeing him my eyes too decided to do the same. I smiled and hugged him, he was still in shock.

'Hey! Speak something, didn't you miss me?' I teased him.

'Vedika. Vedika! You are here! YO-YOU ARE ALRIGHT?! I AM SO HAPPY TO FINALLY SEE YOU!' He cried and hugged me and I hugged him back. 'How did you know I am here and what are you doing here and how are-'

'Shush. I'll tell you everything first go get up and wash your face. He was about to deny but I did not let him. I sat near granny, she looked more weak than before, she has become so skinny. 

'I miss you granny.' I whispered and kissed her forehead. She is so pretty that even if now she takes part in a beauty contest I am sure she would win it. Soon Manan came out of the washroom and said 'Now tell me everything.'

'okay... But tell me what do you want to hear?'

'Everything how you came here and all.'

'Okay, let's go from the scratch. As you know, I locked myself inside the room for two weeks. After I had a conversation with Maaza, I was relieved. The first week, I was thinking about all the incidents that happened in my life, good or bad. I penned down them. Then on the 7th day I crushed all the papers that had the bad incidents of my life and threw them. Then from the 8th day, I started reading all the good incidents page. Soon, from the 12th day I started looking at myself in the mirror, trying to smile, tried to motivate myself, listened to songs and practiced how to and what to talk to you all when I'll meet you guys. I came down I saw you were not there, I knew where you would be, and, there... here I am.'

He did not say anything he just smiled and had a drop of tear in his eye and hugged me, I hugged him back. He whispered 'I am so sorry, I was not there for you when you needed me, I am so sorry you had to deal all of it  alone, I am so sorry.' I pulled away from him.

'Manan, stop blaming yourself for something you had no control on. And in life, there are some battles that we have to fight and win them...alone. Even you did, you did not let anyone of us help you when so much was happening in your life....Manan, moving on is hard but accepting the reality is easier. And, everything happens for a reason and I am glad it happened you know why? Because, I am stronger and bolder than before.' I said with a smile. He nodded. 'Stop blaming yourself, you are doing the same what I was doing in these past few days. Tell me something, what he did to me, was it my fault?'

'Are you mad? Of course not! It was that shitty person's fault, you hear me?'

'If you know it was his fault then how can you blame yourself?' He sighed and gave me a weak smile and said, 'I don't know..You may or may not be right... I just need time to figure it out, okay?'

He said and I smiled.