chapter 31

[ Aru's p.o.v]     It's been a whole three days and this creature hasn't shown up! I deflat on the bench pushing down the books and pens. Malini has picked them up thrice for me already and I am sure she'll push me off next if I do that again.     " What's wrong?", her stern voice indicates she ain't letting this slide at no cost. " I- I am just disturbed.", I admit. It's right. I am disturbed! And it's all her fault! It's the third day I am carrying her jacket and the girl chooses to not show up yet again. It's not like I assume her to be regular student who has attendance to maintain for best students award but why would she haunt me for decades and then ghost me for next ?    " It's about Vibhavari?", she asks no more looking at me as her eyes trace the path from text in book back to her notes. " I- I just have her jacket I need to return .", I reveal," And she ain't showing up!" "Her home is in your way. Drop by.", she suggests. I am glad she doesn't question as to why I even have that. " I- I have never been there. " , I say nervously. " You weren't born in College either. There's a first time to everything." , that was harsh. I just sulk. She takes the hint and shifts everything aside to attend me first.    " See. I am not sure what's on with you two but she seems to affect you drastically. Everything. Your mood , your day, your concentration everything. So it's better to sort it out before you end up totally crazy and infect me as well.", she says that all in a soothing tone but I really don't understand if it were to soothe me or mock.  " It's nothing like that.", I mumbled and turn away. " I didn't even say about how it is. I am telling you what effect it is having on you. That's all. ", she shrugs it and goes back to work. I am glad Neeta didn't show up today , hell knows how would have I handled her .   The idea, well , it doesn't seem that bad. I can just drop it off and leave? Perhaps ask about her . I don't have to carry this burden around. When I say burden, I mean this jacket. That's all. I decide on it and just stick to my studies to keep my mind away from forming unnecessary possibilities.            The time crawls like a half dead lizard and I have to push through it until it becomes unbearable. " I will be  leaving . I have clas-" " me too ." , I announce as I shoot up from my seat and Malini stares at me quiet surprised. " She does affect you drastically .", She blurts with eyes still wide open and her moving in slow nods. I dash past her not in mood to explain anything.     In no time I m dragging her down the stairs and we part ways with me literally bidding her bye as if I were to catch a train to Amazon next. I don't even know what I am in so much hurry for but I am. I am literally bunking a class for her. She better respect it. But what if she's still angry? The thought crossed my mind and legs turn heavy . I did piss her off bad. All the excitement wears down and I find my steps fumbling. The annoyed look she gave me it haunts my mind and I choose to abondon the idea. I don't realise when I reach her house and now here I am pacing back and forth in front of her main gate that's twice my height.  She won't be mad right? Even if she is, she won't shoo me away from her door right? Not like she'd going to throw blackberry juice on my face and ask me to never show - no wait wait that's not. She accompanied me all the way home despite the fight she won't . But what if-     " Excuse me young lady you wish to come in?" , a voice behind me scared me to the core and I turned around to be met by a chubby uncle in his late 50s with a suit and accessories that suggested his financial status. If not her father I didn't know what else to consider him as . " Hello , uncle. I just had to return this to Vibha-vari. ",I said. I don't know why I split her name like that but I did.    The friendly smile he wore upto now seemed to falter a bit but then he composed himself to being polite again and spoke , " How about you come in and give it yourself?" ,he was polite, his face smiling but something about him seemed down. " Vibhavari, doesn't have visits often so I am sure she would appreciate the company. And ofcourse it would be pleasant to have a special friend whom she chose to lend her jacket , my daughter ain't a sharing type .", something about the way he chose to put it gave me weird vibes. Why does he sound like talking of soemome from past. This is giving me err....I just hope she ain't dead-    " Your name?", he asks and I blink at him as if he asked my adhar card number which I can't say without tracing each digit with my finger. He doesn't react though, waits for me patiently. " A-arushi" , I stutter in my own name. Great. I am sure he considers me a creep now. His face drops visibly and that helping my panic. He , he looks guilty?     Out of nowhere he joins his hand in front of me and hangs his head low. I take a step back in defense, I don't know what he's doing. " I am sorry. I am sorry on my daughter's behalf. My Vibha, she ain't a bad girl she just -", he starts crying? " Please come in and I will make her appologise to you. " , he says and opens the gate wide for me. I step in reluctantly, not even sure what's this all about.          He can't be appologising for the day when I and Vibha fought , right?That was nothing. We are used to fighting and even if she was angry she didn't do anything beyond scolding me and if thought it rationally, she was the right one. I shouldn't have been like that.      He rings the bell and the door is opened by a maid. Atleast that's what I assume her to be from the look of it and her behaviour. She opens the door wide and steps aside welcoming us with a warm smile. He gestured me to have a seat.     " Vibhavari!", he called out and it was my first time realising how harsh his voice could sound. Hearing him call Vibha by her full name. I heard the hurried footsteps rush down the stairs and my eyes darted to the approaching figure.      She stopped right when she saw me. Her eyes faltered for a while and she looked away . She headed down slowly and stood accross me. She stole glances at me and her father.        " Appologise." , he said in a stern voice and without meeting my eyes or protesting she did. " Sorry. ". " Appologise properly Vibhavari.", he raised his voice and I could clearly see how much she was scared. " I-", her voice never came out. I never saw her this way. I don't know why but I stood up and went by her side.    " Sir , I really have no idea why are you making her appologise. It was just a small fight we had . And infact it was my fault I shouldn't have just wandered off like I-", my eyes landed on Vibha and I realised I have got it all wrong. It seemed like we were talking of two different things. I glanced at her for help. " That's not it. ", she said. " Then?", I asked . I see no reason for her to appologise then .     " You saying it or should I?", he asked and anyone could say it clearly meant ' admit your crime '. She looked at her feet and spoke up," That day when you were being followed and ended up in those lanes . That- that was all planned by my friends. " " Not you?", I don't know why I asked that. But it sounded more like a statement. " Not me. I had no idea. I knew they were planning something stupid but I was out. I only received a text to meet there. I wasn't sure what it was. I realised only after reaching there. ", she confessed.     " Then why are you apologising?", I asked her and she stared at me through her damp lashes. I didn't need more explanation to where it went south. I turned to face her father whose expression now had shifted from angry to a calmer yet sad one.  " Uncle, I am not sure why do you think Vibha did such a thing but I am sure she won't be involved in it. And even if it were a prank she won't do anything that would possibly harm me.  She is annoying , gets on my nerves, teased me but she would never play with my fears. She never did . I am sure it can't be her. " , I sound like some dramatic main mother lead from some serial .     He turns his gaze stern and back at Vibha. " Did you or did you not?" , his voice was stern but no more accusing. " I had no idea to this whatsoever. I just received text. I knew they were upto something but not what it was. ", she said and his face softened. " I am sorry Vibha . I shouldn't have just accused you without first hearing the truth. ", his tone humbled within a minute and she burst into tears and now I was feeling guilty. Damn , it all happened because of me.    " I- I am sorry. ", I appologise catching them both off-guard. And now someone's who's crying twice as them both together is me. Don't ask me why, I am just an emotional fool. I can't hold back my tears even if I try. " What are you crying for dummy?", Vibha asks me. Damn this girl still has nerve to call me names in such a situation but I just hug her.   " Aaru-", she stiffens on the spot and I just keep crying . " I am sorry child. It's my fault. I guess I will leave you two to talk it out first. I have a call to attend.", uncle says and steps out for a while. The maid hasn't left the kitchen since she said she'd be in to get me water and now that leaves just a confused accused, Vibha and a messy crybaby, me.      " I am sorry. It happened because of me. ", I sob holding her tightly. I literally embraced her in such a awkward manner that she can't move a muscle even if she wishes to push me away. " It's not even your fault. You didn't even know idiot!", she says and I pull back. Still sniffing and crying. She guides me back to couch and the maid steps in right time with water. The two exchange eyes contacts and I am sure it's a conversation I am not supposed to know , from the way Vibha coughs awkwardly.    She hands me water and I just clutch onto the glass. " It's not your fault. Don't think too much. ", she assures , taking away the glass from my hand and holding it right in front of my mouth. She is the one who went through it all and now here she is taking care of me because I cried . Damn , this is embarrasing! I still drink anyways. Not like I think she'd poison me anyways.     " So what was this all about?"