Chapter 8

CHAPTER 7

Present

 

                    Rey was pulled out of his reverie when the cars behind him had started to create a ruckus. Clearing his mind of the fog that had enveloped him, he reproached his conscience sternly. It was more than enough of her, he decided. He needed to get a handle on himself. After all, there was only so much he could bear.

 

As he started driving towards Swayam's home, Rey couldn't help but notice that his thoughts had started reverting her to a lot. Whenever he wasn't occupied by dancing or tending to Kria, he found himself drifting back tothe past. It never made any sense to him. What he did back then was the right thing to do. Wasn't holding on sometimes more painful than letting go? Why was it that he was never at peace? Why was it that he was visited by this guilt time and time again. Why was it, that he was never able to take her name?

 

As usual, he never had the answers to the questions that plagued him. One, because Swayam was standing in the driveway in front of his house. Two, because Swayam NEVER stands in the driveway in front of his house; EVER! In all of the years Rey had known Swayam and had volunteered to pick him up, he would have to wait a couple of minutes before Swayam would make an appearance. So, saying Rey was shocked would be a bit of an understatement. It was like a planet fell off its orbit to say the least. And he continued to be shocked as Swayam got in, wishing him good morning and declaring that it was a beautiful day and he was looking forward to going to college...ummm let's see how their conversation actually occurred. Probably then the readers might understand the plight of our poor Rey.

 

"Good morning!" Swayam said, buckling his seat belt in. "kitna acha din hai na aaj? I mean isse beautiful din dekha hai kya tune Rey? Pehli baar mera actual mein man kar raha hai college jaane ka "... He stopped abruptly because for the first time since he got in and began his nonsensical rant, Swayam looked at Rey, who was currently gawking at him as if he had sprouted angel wings or a new tail... or probably both.

"Kya? Gaadi kyun nahin chala raha? Gaadi kharab ho gayi hai kya?"

Giving himself a mental shake, Rey asked, "Nahin. Tujhe chod kar sab thik hai."

"What?"

"What kya what? Tujhe kya hua hai? Itna kyun hyper ho raha hai?'

"Arre main kahan hyper ho raha hoon?"

Rey narrowed his eyes and Swayam acquiesced, "Acha thoda sa hyper hoon"

"Haan who toh mujhe bhik dikh raha hai. Reason kya hai who bol?"

"'Koi reason nahin hai, tu chala na gaadi."

Rey turned fully in his seat and turned completely serious."Tu thik toh hai na?"

"Kyun? Mujhe kya hua hai?"

"Kuch toh baat hai, jab se dekh raha hoon,tu seedhe seedhe apni seat par tik nahin pa raha hai. Sach sach bata, Sharon se.."

Uh uh.. tu gaadi chala na Rey, der ho rahi hai. We'll talk later"

 

Rey gave him a look that clearly meant this was far from over and started the engine. Weird, was his final thought as he drove towards college. He realized with a start that he uses that word for the Shekhawat family quite a lot. Not again!!