Twinj: My Lifeline

Chapter 24

Hello everyone! Thank you so much for all the love and affection that you all have been showering on my story. Happy reading!

Twinkle didn't know for how long she had stayed in Kunj's embrace before she had managed to calm herself down enough to finally process what he was saying. He was constantly assuring her that it was alright; although she was sure he had no idea what it was about. She heard him sigh in relief when she straightened up and wiped away her tears at last. "I'm still coming with you. I won't take any of your arguments!" He said slowly, wondering if he should let go of her yet. She nodded quietly, realising for the first time that he had his arms around her, and it wasn't helping her attempts to calm the butterflies in her tummy. "I didn't know those ruins, ancient places I mean, meant so much to you." He said after a long silence, delicately hinting at his desire to know what had led her to crying all of a sudden. He was sure it wasn't what it had seemed. "Papa was very fond of these historical places. Ma tells me that we used to go on vacations only to such places. I don't remember much of Papa of course; I was a little girl when he passed away. Perhaps that's why I am inclined towards doing things that he liked. It makes me feel closer to him." Twinkle answered, her voice still shaky as she tried hard to recall as much of her father as she could. Kunj was taken aback by that, he had definitely not seen it coming. He regretted making fun of her choice of places to visit, and hugged her tight, feeling a tug at his own heart as he heard her speak.

"My love for music too comes from Papa. He had bought me a small radio when I was hardly two, making sure there was always soothing music playing in the house. I'm sure that had he been around, he and I would have attended each one of your concerts. He would have been a big fan of yours too!" Twinkle told Kunj as her heart filled with the warmth of her emotions. He smiled at her, moved by how she had tried to make it relevant to him. "I'm sure he's really proud of you and Leela Ma for how well the two of you have coped up with the circumstances. He's definitely smiling down at you today as well, for being such a wonderful person that you are!" Kunj replied, his own eyes welling up as he pondered over how Leela must have managed things. "I scared you with all the crying didn't I?" She asked guiltily, turning to him to find him way closer to her than she had presumed. She could feel her heart beating so loudly that she was worried he could hear it too. He had been looking right at her as well, making things worse for her. All he could think of though, was how headstrong she was, to be able to come up with something cheerful, while he knew he would have taken an entire night to get over something of that scale. Little did he know she was stronger than that, for she was dealing with more things than he could even begin to imagine. She was glad that the daze was broken when they heard a distant clock strike three, making both of them move away from each other. "I'll be up at 8, I promise. We could go to all those places then. Sweet dreams!" He said, or rather whispered, keeping his eyes off her as he pulled the duvet over himself. Twinkle smiled gratefully at him and looked up, sending up a silent prayer for her father before she fell asleep.

Twinkle was surprised to find Kunj awake and almost ready when she opened her eyes the following morning. He told her that he had already booked a cab for them and also ordered food, so all she had to do was get ready quickly and join him, surprising her. But that didn't seem to be the only wonder she would be experiencing that day, for a member of his team told her that Kunj wasn't the kind of person who liked to go sightseeing, and just the fact that he had agreed was unbelievable. She was all smiles as he put on his excited best and led her into the famous City Palace, waiting patiently beside her while she observed the architecture carefully. He found himself watching her more than the things she had been pointing to for him eagerly with childlike innocence. She found him standing a little far away, lost in his phone when she looked for him a while later. "Oh my goodness! The Kunj Sarna is clicking pictures of boring old ruins?" She asked, walking to him. "Actually, I was clicking pictures for you." He replied, showing her a picture that he had clicked of her smiling to herself as she studied an intricately detailed pillar in front of her. Before she could express her amazement, they heard a group of girls call out to Kunj as they came running. Twinkle nodded understandingly at him, knowing that he always tried not to disappoint his fans. "What else could I ask for?" She thought to herself as she turned around to explore the rest of the palace by herself.