Is forever for R.E.A.L?

Chapter 14- Not your fault

Everything was alright after our reunion. Even though my crush on Esha didn’t waver off, I learnt to not think about it much. Also to respect my feelings, Rehan and Esha talked as friends and avoided holding hands in front of me. Though I was glad about it, I felt a bit guilty about stealing their time that they could spend as a couple. But my vulnerable heart couldn’t allow me to tell them that they don’t have to act differently in front of me.
“When should we meet today?” Ashish asked. We had decided to meet and stroll with Lucy. It had been a long time since I met Lucy.
“4 pm?” Esha asked.
“I am okay with that. Lucy will recognize me, won’t she?” I asked with a chuckle.
“Of course, she will. You are her favourite.” Esha said laughing.
“There’s a problem.” Rehan said.
“What?” we asked in unison.
“My shift at the cafe ends at 4:30 pm. It would take me half an hour to reach.” After my outburst at the fair and calling Rehan an orphan, he told Ashish and Esha everything including working at the cafe.
“We will wait for you, don’t worry.”
“Okay, then.”
“I am excited to meet Lucy. I have a gift for her.”
“What? Have you visited that shop again? Ashish said with a fake terrified expression which made us laugh.
“No. I made it myself at home.”
“Cool. Let’s meet then. Lucy will be excited to see the whole squad together.” Rehan said.
 
I reached home and started working on the bone shaped collar with the name Lucy knitted on it. I started working on it a week ago and just some finishing touches were left.
“Is it complete?” my Dad asked as he entered the house. After his sudden outburst, he was afraid to lose control again and tried not to be harsh on me.
“Yes. I am going to gift Lucy this. I am excited to meet her.” I said in a childish tone.
“Bring her home someday. I haven’t met her even once.”
“She is with Rehan at his uncle’s cafe. She is quite behaved for a stray dog.”
“Okay, but bring her soon.”
“I will.”
 
I met Ashish and Esha at the park and we walked around waiting for Rehan and Lucy to come around. I had Lucy’s gift in my hand and I refused to show it to Ashish and Rehan as I wanted to show it to Lucy first.
“Don’t you think they are taking too long?” Ashish asked.
“Yes. They should have been here by now.” Esha agreed.
“Should we go there and check?” I asked. My restlessness in meeting Lucy was meeting no bounds.
“Yes. I have some money, we can go there in a rickshaw.” Ashish said and waved for the autos.
An auto stopped and took us to the cafe at which Rehan worked. We arrived to a havoc at street. Everyone was running away and cars and bikes were at a halt. Ashish nudged us and pointed towards the cafe. It was in flames and we were afraid about what happened to Rehan. Suddenly we heard Rehan’s voice crying among a crowd. Though we were relieved to know that Rehan was alive, we shared a look of concern on his reason of crying.
We pushed through the crowd and reached towards Rehan who was crouched down and crying heavily. I looked down at his arms and my face sported an expression of shock and grief as I saw the lifeless body of Lucy staring at me. The gift I brought for Lucy fell down from my hands and I too sat down on the ground with tears falling from eyes. Ashish and Esha too were in shock but they brought me and Rehan on the side and the body of Lucy was in Ashish’s arm.
“She died because of me.” Rehan said in a low tone.
“What?”
“I was going to be the one the car would hit. But she barked to get my attention as we were running away. While she was busy in saving me, she didn’t notice the truck that smashed into her taking her life.” Rehan said and started crying. It had been more than a year since Rehan was my friend and this was the first time I saw him crying.
“It’s not your fault.” I said.
“It is.” Rehan said in a tone of finality. He was too serious and I decided not to argue right now.
Rehan rested his head on Esha’s shoulders and closed his eyes. I sat on a bench clenching my fists with the collar in another hand.
“My uncle is broke. He doesn’t have enough money now to pay me or take care of me. I had to pay the rent today from the salary I would have gotten today. Now I can’t pay the rent and I have to clear the flat in some days. I am homeless.”
All of us were speechless. In addition to losing Lucy, Rehan now had to find a new place to live. Life truly is a bitch.