Twists Twirls Perils & Pearls

49. Worrying: sign of love?

Abhedya read the letter twice to remember the things that happened last night. Kavach was right, only blur images of last night were what he could remember. He drank the milk and splashed water on his face.
He came to the driver's seat and drove to his home. He did not inform his parents about his whereabouts. So, he took out his phone and checked for any missed calls or messages. None? Strange. His mother gets paranoid if she doesn't know about their whereabouts.
He then saw a message sent to his mother which read 'hey mom! Crashing at friend's place. Will come by morning.'
He did not remember sending the message. Who sent it? 'Kavach?' Was the only answer he could think of.
The girl was surely strange. She helped him without knowing him. Must have heard his blabbering last night and fell for him when he was not in the best of his state.
He reached home where his parents were having breakfast. He joined them.

"Abhey!! Where were you? Aren't you spending too much time outside the home? Have you done your packing? You guys shifting tonight?" Nandini fired all the questions at once.

"Relax Nandini! He has just come home. Have your breakfast then answer the questions... each question holds 10 marks." Rudra winked at Abhedya. Nandini hit his arm playfully.

"Where's Nivi?" Abhedya asked.

"Mr Grumpy is off to school early. He wants to stay with you all. Says Nim is not safe with you and Arya around." Nandini laughed and Abhedya chuckled.

"You know Abhey what's more heavenly than the temple bells?" Rudra asked and Abhedya nodded in a 'no'. "Your mother's laughter."

Nandini stopped laughing and blushed to deep shades of red. Abhedya remembered the blush Swarnima got on her face when he sang for her. It is indeed a sense of victory to make the love of your life blush by your gestures and comments. 'Love?'
Abhedya let out a deep sigh and affirmed, "I second that. Mom looks divine when she smiles." Abhedya side hugged his mother and kissed her cheek.

"Gosh!! You smell like a pig Abhey. How much did you drink last night?" Nandini sniffed his shirt.

"Not a sip mom! I guess I sweated a lot last night. Ummm... no! No!! I didn't do anything that you don't approve of. Just... the lights went off and it was hot." Abhedya tried to give a convincing enough reason.

"Abhey, you are big enough to decide right and wrong. We trust you. However, Swarnbhoomi guarantees 24-hour power supply in case you forgot." Rudra remarked.

"Dad, I can't tell you. But, I have not done anything wrong." Abhedya confirmed with honesty.

"We know. We trust you. Besides, you are now in Nim's company." Nandini said feeding him from her hands.

Swarnima's name made him sad. He did not even get a chance to talk to her after last night.

"Abhey, I am happy with your idea of living with your brothers and Nim. But, keep coming here. I will miss you, babu!" Nandini dramatised pulling Abhedya's cheek.

"God! Mom, you are so dramatic. Surviving with Arya is tough. I will need a breather and definitely come here." Abhedya stated and they laughed.

Abhedya came to his room after breakfast and took a long shower. He checked his stuff which his mother packed. Perfect! Mothers know the best.
He dropped a message on their WhatsApp group "packing done! All set for the house warming ceremony. Haha"
Arya replied with a 🍻
Maan exclaimed "can't wait!"
Swarnima delivered but not read.
Abhedya waited for 15 minutes no response. He called her but she didn't pick her phone. He assumed she is this time pissed off with him. He thought to go and check on her.

He came out and saw the jeep. A smile came on his lips. He parked the jeep in the parking and took the stole he left in it. He sniffed it. The smell was very familiar. He has smelled it before. Where?
He went and opened the bag he took to the resort. There was a similar stole. His pulse rate was rising. He sniffed the stole.
'Holy shit!!! Same fragrance!! It can't be true? Who is she? Am I being stalked?' Sweat formed on Abhedya's forehead.
It was highly dangerous to spend an entire night with a strange girl on an abandoned road and sharing your life story with her. It was obvious with what the letter read. She could have extracted Swarnima's information from him and Swarnima could be in danger.