Is forever for R.E.A.L?

Chapter 13- Incomplete without you

My phone rang as I left the shop dejected and confused about what would happen next.
“Hello.”
“LARRY! COME HOME RIGHT NOW!” My dad screamed through the phone. His anger shocked me because in my 16 years of existence, he never raised his voice on me even though I gave him plenty of reasons. His sudden anger made me shiver until I reached my house.
“Larry. What is this?” he said showing the receipt of the shirt.
I dumbly checked the pockets of the stitched shirt in my hands even though I knew the receipt was in my father’s hand.
“This is a receipt of a shirt.”
“What shirt?” he asked with a red face and nostrils flaring with anger. It would not be a surprise if he turned into Hulk.
“I rented it from the shop down the street.” I said hiding the fact that the shirt is no more rented.
“Where did you get the money from?” he asked with the same red face which could make me pee in my pants any second now.
“I borrowed it from your wallet.” I said cowering in fear.
“Did you tell me?”
“No.”
“Then it was STEALING, not borrowing.” He literally screamed while I was shivering with fear.
“Sorry. I just wanted to rent it and I would have got the money back. I would have return it later.”
“Why did you take it?”
“Nothing.”
“Tell me.”
“No, it’s nothing.”
“Just tell me.” He shouted.
“For a girl.”
“Do you know the money was for your school fees?”
“Yes.” I said crying.
“Where is the money you got back?”
“I do..don’t have it.” I struggled to say in between my tears.
“What do you mean?”
“I didn’t get the money back.”
“Why? How?”
“I had to return the shirt within 48 hours. I failed to do so.”
“We won’t get the money back?” he asked, his angry eyes had a tint of fear that his son was going to be thrown out of the school and would be uneducated his entire life.
“I don’t know.”
He left the room without saying anything and I went to bed crying until I slept.
“Wake up Larry.” My father woke me up by shaking me slightly.
“Huhh?” I said trying to find my glasses. He handed them to me and said,
“I am sorry for screaming at you.”
“You don’t need to be sorry. In fact I am sorry for being careless. I couldn’t think straight.”
“I know. After I left, I met some of my friends and borrowed some money from them to help in your fees. But I couldn’t gather the whole amount. I am afraid they won’t allow you in school after this month ends.”
“Can’t we ask for a extension?” I asked afraid at the fact of leaving the school.
“The school has already given us enough extensions.”
“Ohh.” I said giving up the hope.
“You should go to school these few days. Meet your friends. Say a proper good bye.”
“Yes. I will.” I said wondering if Rehan would forgive me or not.
 
The next day, I reached the school and tried to enjoy it. But I couldn’t. I knew no one would miss me much. No one even knew me properly. I was just a poor nerd. For Ashish and Esha too, I was not as important as Rehan was. Otherwise they would be sitting with me. But they hadn’t arrived yet. After a minute, I saw three of them arriving with a grin on their faces. I had told Ashish and Esha about being thrown out. They seemed very concerned then. But now, I realized they were happy that I was going. So much for being REAL.
“Larry Fernandes. Come to my office.” The principal’s voice announced through the speaker.
I was afraid that they were going to throw me out so soon. I staggered my feet down to the office. All the happy moments replayed in my head. I wished that real life could be as good as in movies.
“Mr Larry Fernandes. Sit down boy.”
“Okay sir.” I said and sat down on the seat.
“You know why I called you?”
“I have a faint idea sir.”
“Please tell.”
“You are going to throw me out of the school because I didn’t pay the fees.” I said in a cold voice not caring about anything. Anyways I was going to be no longer in this school.
“Your fees are paid.”
“What?” I asked surprised. This was not expected.
“Your father paid the fees sometime earlier.
“But he didn’t have the whole amount.”
“Yes, he didn’t. Your close friends Rehan, Esha and Ashish contributed their own money selling some of their prized possessions to help your father pay the fees.
I was dumbfounded. What I heard was totally contradictory to what I thought of my friends sometime ago. I thanked the principal and left the room in a hurry.
It was recess and I saw them outside the class.
“Thank you so much. I owe you all so much. You are the best of friends I could ever ask for.” I said hugging all of them.
“You are welcome. And you should have expected this.” Rehan said in a grim voice.
“I am sorry for what I said. Please forgive me. I didn’t realise what I was saying.” I said literally pleading.
“You are forgiven. Don’t repeat that again though.”
“Thank you so much. You sold some of your stuff to let me stay in the school. This is the best news I could ever hear.” I said.
“Of course we did. We are incomplete without you.”