Till The Count Of Five ✓

Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Nothing, means everything; from cold stares to sharp smiles to our own storyline.

Vee

26th April 2019, Friday
20:30

I stuffed my mouth to avoid any conversations especially when Papa decided to join us which came as a surprise to both me and Mummy. I made a mistake of eating in silence and not telling him just how happy I was to see him share the meal. After we ate and I was a moment away from running to my room, he cleared his throat.

"Are we going to pretend nothing happened?" He asked.

I frowned at Mummy. She shook her head and turned to Papa. "What happened?"

The way he looked at her clearly told that he thought she did not know.

"Our boy got involved in something he should've stayed away from," he said. "Why were you at the police station in the first place?"

At this, Mummy turned to me. I, in turn, looked at Raj. He kept his word to not mention to Papa about me but this world would be damned if he ever hid anything willingly. I had almost forgotten that hehad been there the entire time after Sameer had arrived.

"What did he tell you?" I asked Papa. When Mummy shook her head in disappointment, I said to her, "It is something else."

"Explain, Vicky." "What else?" They both spoke simultaneously.

I pinched the tip of my nose and said, "Rishab is gay and everyone found out through someone else who we do not know. Rishab thought I did it but I didn't. Turns out, Sameer wanted to do it but he did not. They both discussed things and Rishab dropped the complaint."

Discussed. I internally snorted at that.

"What?" Papa's expression was priceless.

"I thought it was only a rumour," Mummy said.

"Wait, does that mean you knew?" He asked her.

I raised a hand. "She found out when I came home and after Raj informed you." When she raised an eyebrow at me, I gestured at her to play along.

"How is Sameer connected to any of this? Isn't he Ashiamma's brother, that guy? Plus, why did Rish-"

"Leave it," Mummy cut him off. "Vicky is innocent and safe, that's what matters."

"What if he was not innocent?"

I smirked. "Why would I not be?"

"Then, he would be behind the bars and not here. I know my son. Unlike other people," she gave him a pointed look, "he does not scrunch up his nose when someone doesn't fit his description of an ideal person."

"What do you mean?" He mumbled.

I answered, "I did not flinch when I found my classmate was gay."

"Let's hope he doesn't drink too," he replied.

My phone buzzed. I smiled at him and read the message sent by Sameer.

'Can we meet? Like, right now?'

"I'm sure his father does not drink," I said, typing into my phone.

'Sure. Where?'

'The open ground opposite to your colony.' That was close.

When Papa said nothing, I continued, "It reminds me, Raj, did you clean the car? I don't want to see any more Royal Stags."

Papa clenched his jaw when Mummy gave him a disappointed head shake. I got up and kissed her on the cheek. "I'll be back in fifteen minutes."