Twists Twirls Perils & Pearls

36. GENESIS

Abhedya and Swarnima reached her house. Swarnima took the main door and Abhedya the secret elevator. Swarnima unlocked her door and entered her house. She took off her specs, closed her eyes and sat on the sofa. After several minutes the  elevator dinged indicating Abhedya's arrival. Swarnima opened her eyes and asked Abhedya what took him so long?

"Your fridge is practically empty. No drinks, no chocolates and no ice creams, I just grabbed some. I can't stay like that." Abhedya said stuffing the fridge.

"Hehe! Okay! I will go and change. You want to work, sleep or study?" Swarnima asked him.

"I am going to study. We will fresh start with the project tomorrow. Good night." Abhedya said going to his room.

No lame jokes, no sarcasm. What was wrong with him, Swarnima thought. She saw him going to his room and bang the door shut.
'Did he hear the conversation? Is there something she did that changed his behaviour or is it just his normal attitude?.' The questions were ringing in her mind. She could definitely not ask him. She thought to wait till tomorrow morning, so she went to her room to sleep.

Abhedya entered the room and it was clean. The bed which had all gifts scattered was clear. When did Swarnima clear the bed? Did he take so long to get the stuff that she cleared the bed in the mean time. That's some speed at working. He was impressed.
He opened his bag and changed his clothes. He turned on his laptop and made a flow chart with the questions that were answered, the ones that were dodged, the ones that were twisted and the ones half answered. The events that took place, the mysteries solved and unsolved. It took about an hour or so for Abhedya to draw and analyse. He thus concluded, he will have to put his spy glasses on and be alert all the time. There was definitely a lot that he could see but did not know. Swarnima and his parents were hiding many things. Why? Was he not worthy enough to know the truth? Did they not trust him?
'Relax Abhey! They are family. If they have not told you something there must be a reason. Give them time.' His heart tried to cool him down.
'Abhey! You cannot just relax dude. They are all playing games with you. But, my boy! You are a bigger player. Play along their lines but on your terms.' His brain provoked him.
'They are his family. The ones you love.' His heart argued.
'And you don't keep secrets within the family.' Brain argued further.
'Uhhhhh! Stop! You both!!' Abhedya held his head. He heard a knock at the door and opened his door. "Whattt?" Abhedya shouted.

Swarnima stepped back. She was not used to such tone. "I..I.. got milk for you. Sorry if I disturbed you." She kept the milk on the table and left quickly.

Abhedya went out of his room and entered the elevator. He went to the apartment above, wore the boxing gloves and started boxing the pad. He was confused, angry, frustrated and felt cheated by his own. He wanted to vent out his anger. After a rigorous session he gave up and sat down. He took a chilled water bottle from the fridge and splashed on himself.

On the way back to his room he saw Swarnima's room lights were on. He tried to open the gate but it was locked. He went back to his room and sat with his books to study. He was now fresh. His plan was made and his heart was defeated. His brain was now on active mode.

At around 5 in the morning he decided to sleep. He finished most of the part of his studies. Abhedya heard the the temple bell ring. He checked the time, it showed 5:05 am. She gets up so early? Abhedya came out of his room and saw Swarnima at the little temple in her home doing her prayers. She was wearing a white churidaar suit and looked extremely pretty. The reflection of the sacred diya(lamp) on her face amplified her glow. Abhedya stood rooted and admired the angelic beauty he saw. He remembered the day of her birthday was the same scene, he was admiring her when he saw his father entering and then the showdown happened.
"It is not appropriate to gawk and admire someone while they are offering their prayers." Abhedya turned around at the source of voice and screamed "aaaaaaa"
"what are you"
"who are you?"
"Mommmmm"
Swarnima bow her head and ran to where Abhedya was screaming.
"What happened? Why are you screaming? Are you okay." Swarnima asked him with concern.