Hide & Seek

Ice-Cream

On Sunday I went to the park in our neighborhood. The instant we entered Reya sprinted to the swings claimed by two kids. She kept yelling in their ears to get off but those kids were much occupied to give notice to the screeching voice.

I  advanced to a bench and sat waiting for Miha. Apparently she lived five streets away from mine and thought we should meet. I did proposed some other place but she wanted to come to this park and insisted it won't be a trouble, infact it would be a good evening walk. So, I sat there swinging my legs back and forth, a bad habit inhabited from Reya, who still croaked after the kids, and pretty soon there was Miha, walking towards me with two cups of ice- cream.

"Hey, there." She passed me the ice cream and sat beside me cross legged on the bench.
"Uh," I stared at the pista flavoured cup. "I am not really allowed to eat ice creams..."
She scowled at me. "What....? Tha-that's the best flavor in the neighbourhood, come on...."
"Oh, well, its something to do with my medicines....."

Miha narrowed he eyes at me and I know what you might be thinking. Medics? Still? Even when I'm alive and fit. Well, the doctor insisted on medications until further notice to prevent infections of any type. See, my heart has been weak, always. When you install a high volt device in a weak power circuit, it takes time to concile  or either it bursts out. And, considering I hadn't been bursted, it could be said that my weak system is taking its own time to get all  cosy and snuggly with the strong heart. And the medications are like the council of cooperation with a visitation to the doctor every month. Atleast, that what I liked to think.

"Medications?" Miha said. "But, isn't your heart well and fine now?"
I've told Miha and Priya almost, almost everything about me. They know about the medications, death coming, Santorium, surgery and all,  and when I finished Miha just said: "Well, you are alive now, heart beating and all," and I had laughed.
I shook my head. "Its something to do with infection or something....."
Miha shrugged but then beamed. "Nicking few bites won't be a harm."
I opened my mouth to protest but she scooped in her chocolate ice cream into my mouth. "Hey!"
"Yum, right." She grinned, took a mouthfull and then tapped her head. "Cold."
I laughed and opened my ice-cream, there were pista scattered over on the top.

We sat in silence for a while, the buslting of trees  in the evening sun fiddling with soft wind.
After a moment Miha asked. "So, have you heard from  Nicholas?"
I narrowed  my eyes at her. "Why would I hear from  him?"
She scowled. "Seriously?"
"Hey, we are just friends!"
She rolled her eyes and sat facing me. "Yeah, that is the point,  you are friends. You should know how your friend is doing! Seriously  girl, you know nohting about this ship."
Swallowing  mouthful which  gave a ring in my head I cleared my throat. Cold. "If you are so worried, you don't call him?"
She sighed. "I tried. He's  not answering. I know I should leave him alone. But I cannot. I'm  worried, seeing  the circumstances now."
I wrigged my spoon into cup and turned over the patch of ice then scooped a bite. "What circumtances?"

"Its his mother's  anniversary."
I stopped.  Spoon suspended  mid air. "Wait, what?"
"You don't- oh. Then, I don't  think..."
"No tell me!" I slam the cup between us on the bench, as the spoon popped up she jumped.
"But..."
"Just tell me!"
"Oh, god, okay." She sighed. "A year ago his mothers died of tuberculosis."
"Wha-" I couldn't  speak. This doesn't  make sense.
"Yes. They were very close. It had been hard on him. We didn't  saw him for weeks after that and then suddely he appeared all well and grinning but deep down I know, he's hurt. Still."
"His mother...." My voice trailed and my eyes fell on Reya who was still yelling into the kids ears. Even though  she was a ghost, I know she wanted  to see her mother  and then, there was Nicholas.
"It was her anniversary  yesterday. That is why he didn't  show up at school." Miha said.
"Oh, god."
"I know."

My mind swirling with all the hundreds of thoughts. First of all why didn't Nicholas  said anyhting  about  his mother and then again, we were not that close  which made sense that he never really  mentioned  his mother.   At this moment I wanted to see him, console him. But would he let me? Not likely. He would prefer to be alone. I know. Reya did too. She would just  drift  off whenever I asked too much about her mother.

Slowly, I picked the ice from the bench and scooped a large bite when Miha stood. Behind her the sun was deing over the horizon.
"Well, then girl. Relax.  He's  strong man. He can hold himself. Now gotta go, my mothers waiting at this mall. Do you need somehting?"
I shook my head. "Miha..."
"I can get you a book."
Oh, God. "I don't..."
"Nope. You are not a book girl. Maybe a pair of earrings."
This girl. "Actually, I..."
"Or bracelets."
"Miha, I don't..."  I raised  my voice a little and she snapped her fingers. "Bracelet. Perfect! I'll  get you one and you probably  not gonna eat that so give me." She snatched the ice cream from  my fingers.
"Hey!" I protested.
"Okay  bye." And just  like that she was gone  with the coming  dusk.

I sighed  and sat there, watching the way she dissapeared  through. She was supposed  ease my day instead she struck a lightning at me.

As the evening ascended and vendors filled the road outside the park Reya  approached  me.
"Hey, girly?" Reya said. "Your friend's  gone."

I looked up at her. A small smile was always  there and then sometimes when asking about her mother, the gloomy look that creased her face  crossed  my mind and I thought  of Nicholas. His dimpled smile replaced by a gloomy  one.

I  took a deep breath and stood. "Yep. Did you get to ride?"
She started walking backward and narrowed her eyes  at swings where few kids still lingered.  "Nope. Those kids are monsters."
I chuckled. "Maybe tomorrow."
"Yes." She gave an almost  evil smile. "We'll be early."