Chapter 42

"I..... I'm sorry. I...I shouldn't have d-done that. I'll just cook the food."

Sameera muttered and turned in the opposite direction.

"It's nothing. Be normal. We both are young. Sometimes our minds sway. Now don't get too awkward on me."

He said smiling like she didn't just sat on his lap and was just about to make out with him.

She looked at him and nodded slowly. She will also get normal but it's not that easy to just act like nothing happened right away. Afterall she's just a normal girl not a 70-24 year old invisible guy.

She didn't say anything, still feeling the thick air around them. Shrithik brought his newspaper and started reading it quietly.

She was feeling really awkward. Like really realllly awkward. Afterall she was the one who initiated the first move. How can she even do something like that? And just three days after realising she likes him.

"Take it."

She said and handed him a plate full of tempered curd rice.

"What's this? It's not just plain curd rice."

She nodded sitting in front of him.

"Yeah. It's called Daddojanam. It's made in South Indian temples as Naivedya (offering to god). I once ate it in a temple."

She said and started eating herself.

"Yeah. It's amazing."

They ate silently, making small talks in between. Still awkward.

After eating Sameera decided it was the time to call Maaya. Going inside the room which she was using she called her. Maaya picked up at seventh ring

"Hello? Maaya?"

"Hello, sweetheart. Want to tell me something?"

"Oh god. You talked to him?"

"Of course I did. He sounded so sweet. Anyways, are you okay? Tell me if that guy did something-"

"I'm fine Maaya. Where are you right now?"

"Well, I'm at Singhal Marriage Garden. You want the exact address?"

"No. I just called you to tell that I'll come at Singhal's Mansion tomorrow."

"Yeah. Sure. Have fun. And don't forget to tell me anything, sweetheart."

"Yeah yeah. Be prepared to get some nice hot tea tomorrow. Now bye, sweetheart."

Laughing she hung up.

Shrithik entered her room to find her in the balcony. He doesn't like knocking.

"Sweetheart."

He stated and she turned around. As soon as she saw him, she immediately lowered her head.

"Don't go all awkward on me. I was just here to tell you that I'm going to sleep. If you want anything I'm just in the other room. Call me If you need anything."

He left when she nodded. But again came after a minute.

"Well, my plan's changed. I'm gonna sleep on the terrace. Wanna accompany me?"

She thought for a minute. She was not gonna get anything by acting all awkward and all. If she has to get everything normal she has to behave normal. So she grinned widely

"Of course, old man."

"Okay. So you take the pillows and blankets."

He said and gave both the things to her. And then removed the mattress.

"And I'll take this. Now follow me soilder."

He said and marched towards the bedroom door.

"Yes sir."

She saluted and then ran towards him. Both of them went to the terrace and made their bed there. As the mattress they took was of the king sized bed they decided to sleep on one.

Laying down they both sighed when the cold breeze hit their face.

"It's so relaxing."

"Yeah. It is. Now let's sleep because I seriously haven't slept for 41 hours."

She jerked her head towards him.

"41? Don't joke old man."

"No. I really haven't. Now please let me."

He said and closed his eyes and almost immediately fell asleep.

She made a bad face and looked away. He's saying as if she kept him up all day.

After a few minutes she started finding the pillow uncomfortable.

Shifting and turning she tried to find a comfortable position, but couldn't.

And then suddenly her pillow was snatched from below her head. But thankfully before her head could hit the ground somebody's hand provided a sheild.

"Uuuuf."

She shrieked and then relaxed herself.

"You scare the life out of me sometimes old man."

She said and rested her head on his chest once she felt him coming closer.

His other hand draped over her waist and he pulled her more towards him.

"Oh. Is that so? I never meant to. I'm sorry."

He said with no ounce of playfulness and nuzzeled his face in her neck. She squirmed but then asked with concern lacing her voice.

"Old man. Is something wrong?"

"Naah. I'm fine. Just tired. You go to sleep."

Saying this he nuzzeled his head more into her neck. But before he could be more comfortable with it she turned around. Staring deeply into his eyes she asked

"Old man. Tell me. Is something wrong?"

She pressed it because she knew that something was wrong. He never uses serious tone when nothing has happened. There's a difference between being expressionless and being serious.

"It's not-"

"It is something old man. Tell me."

She asked. She knew herself. She tries to keep things in when she feels something which is totally irrational.

And sometimes she bursts into tears and cry for an hour, because she had so many bottled up emotions. And Shrithik was not any better than her.

"It's.......it's.........you said you don't like persuing. And you also said that you'll not even talk to me. Then why are-"

He started saying, looking everywhere but her.

"I don't like persuing. But that doesn't mean that I don't. And when did I say that?"

She asked and he mumbled

"Yesterday."

"And what else did I say?"

She asked and he looked at her.

"That you-"

"Okay. Don't change the topic. I understand everything. Now tell me has something happened? Why are you looking so sad?"

She asked with her eyebrows furrowed and in a serious tone.

He sighed and then nodded. And with a tired eyes, spoke

"Today's my mother's death anniversary."

Her eyes widened. Death anniversary? But he was so cheerful just a minute ago. How's that even possible.

"Are you.....okay?"

"Yeah I am."

He said in a tired voice rubbing his tired looking eyes.

"Why won't I be. It's written in Shreemadbhagvadgeeta that if a person is born he has to die. Nobody's mortal. Neither was my mother. And it wasn't also that she had a short life.

She lived for 83 years. And I'm not sad. Just tired. I told you that I haven't slept for 41 hours right."

He said with just as tired voice as his suddenly tired eyes. She nodded and hesitantly wrapped her arms around his torso.

For the first few minutes he didn't respond but then suddenly he pulled her flush towards him and held her tight. Very tight.

And she without wasting any minute wrapped her arms around him. She was still feeling a little awkward but it was the right thing to do.

She didn't feel him shake or cry. He was still. Like a frozen statue.

"Do you.......do you believe in rebirth?"

He then asked with a small, weak voice and she nodded.

"Yeah I do. You yourself said that Lord Shri Krishna said that a person who is born shall die. Same way a person who dies should be reborn. And I believe somewhere on this planet will be your mother, just with a different face."

She said but didn't hear anything in response. For a moment she thought that he'll just not reply but then she heard his soft snoring.

"You should have replied before sleeping. It's rude to just leave someone hanging."

She said and did the same as him.

Sleep.

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Jay was standing on the terrace of his mansion. He was sad. Madhu was now a married woman and today was the day she left. Early morning after the vidayi ceremony was done he just drove back to the house. Alone. He was feeling crying. Thinking he could just get some fresh air he got to the terrace.

Just walking slowly he got to the front. There was this house. Till four years ago some weird activities happened in that house like voices were heard but nobody saw anyone. The door opened and closed on it's own. And many more. People even thought that it was some ghost doing things. And then suddenly one day a boy started living there. He lived there for an year and after that he also went somewhere.

Then one month later visitors started to come there. Every month new faces were seen.

He sighed looking at that house. He has seen it from inside and wanted to buy it but the owner was damn bloody stubborn.

Suddenly he saw someone getting up from the floor. It was a girl. Rubbing her eyes and looking extremely sleepy.

He focused more on the girl and gasped once he understood who she was.

Sameera woke up by the bright light of the sun. Rubbing her eyes she sat up and then looked around to find Shrithik sleeping on his stomach.

She shook him and mumbled quietly.

"Old man. Old man."

Upon getting no response she shouted

"Old man!"

"Uh....yes!"

Shrithik got up. Starteled.

"Nothing. Just don't sleep on your stomach. My mom scolds me whenever I do."

"Uhhh?"

He said absentmindedly and then draped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her down with him.

"I'm sleepy. And don't talk sweetheart."

He mumbled and she nodded. Wrapping her arms around his torso she once again slept.

Jay watched her. She sat then shouted old man and then.......slept? It looked like someone pulled her down. But he couldn't see anybody other than Sameera.

And what the hell was she doing in that half haunted house? And that also alone.

He then walked back down the house and did the only thing which seemed rational. He rang Shrithik's house's doorbell non-stop.

Sameera groaned when she heard the loud and shrill sound of doorbell. She opened her eyes to find him fast asleep and definitely not in the shape to answer the door.

Groaning and muttering profanities she got up and made her way towards the main door of the house.

"Whose it? And who the hell rings a d.........."

She started rudely after she opened the door but trailed off once she saw it was Jay.

"Uh....hii Jay. How are you here this early?"

She asked and he cleared his throat looking her up and down. Mind you she was wearing a tshirt which came an inch above her knee and shorts. And those short came just till her knees.

"I.....uh....saw you sleeping on the terrace. So I thought to just confirm."

Many questions were swirling in his mind but he decided to ask the one which would not seem like prying.

"Yeah. I was. This is my friend's house. You wanna get in?"

"Yeah sure."

He said and she led him in, without her wish. She thought that he'll refuse but unfortunately, he didn't.

"Please have a seat. I'll just be back in a moment."

She said and made her way towards the room which was temporarily hers. Jay just sat there looking around at the house and thought about the various possibilities of Sameera being here.

As soon as Sameera entered the room she was met with a voice

"Why is he here?"

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Vidayi/ Vidai : farewell