"What do you mean you don't know? She's your room mate, for God's sake Sharon!" Amish shrugged her by the arm.
Sharon didn't have an answer. How could she tell him that she'd noticed something off in Kria, but didn't quite bother to enquire.
"She'd said she would come back late, and I should have the dinner without her. But she never returned." Her eyes were brimming.
He sighed.
"Look Sharon, I know she is important to you. But, you must understand her preciousness in my life too."
Sharon wiped off the, now trailed down tears and nodded.
"I know I behaved carelessly. And I regret."
"So much sincerity and of absolutely no use!" He rolled his eyes. "Grow up for once, Shar!"
"What do we do now.." She sighed.
"Firstly relax and get back to your room. Stay there for the day and think hard about all the possible places she can go off to." Amish advised.
"Guess you're right. Will see you then!" She said and left the canteen.
Amish sat back and pondered, what could have made Kria leave the place. She was a sweet girl and was muchly naive. Plus, she was totally unsocial. He could really not think of any practical reason which could have made her go.
***
"Hey.." He nervously peered from the slightly ajar door.
She looked up, startled. Seeing him, she smiled.
"Hi.."
Noticing him stand hesitantly at the door, she spoke further, "Do come in. Tumhara hi to ghar hai yeh."
He chuckled and came inside the room. Dragging himself a chair by her bed, he smiled at her again.
"Did you sleep well?"
She shifted the comforter a bit more away from her neck and hauled herself upright. Forcing a tight smile, she stated plainly, "I did."
She wasn't being rude, but she could see that her responses were coming out rather curt. And she wasn't to be blamed. Her state of mind was creating a havoc on her entire being. She did not crib for Amish, but Sharon had devastated her.
"Kria?"
She came out of her thoughts with a start. Ohh, Reyaansh had been saying something when she was busy zooming off. Cursing her stupid brain, she smiled apologetically at him.
"Mera dimag track par nahi hai Reyaansh. I'm sorry I did not catch what you were saying.."
Surprisingly, he did not seem a percent irritated. In fact, he nodded understandingly.
"I can see that Kria. And nothing significant, main bass keh raha tha that if you want you can share your issues with me. You seem upset. But its okay, tum rest karo." He smiled and got up.
Reaching the door, he turned to her, "I'm leaving for my college. Agar tumhe kuch chahiye ho, look up for Rayma. Meri chhoti sister hai. Abhi vacations ke liye aayi hui hai."
She smiled at his concern.
"Thank you so much Reyaansh. I cannot thank you enough for this gratitude. But as soon as I'll feel well, main bhi college ke liye nikal jaungi."
He chuckled and nodded in negation.
"I don't think tumhe itna thanks bolne ki zarurat hai! Its okay Kria, now leave this!"
Shaking his head in amusement, he stepped out of the room and left.
A sad smile emerged at her lips. College? Did she wish to even glance at the building? Never. Not in this life at least. But she couldn't stay at this extremely generous and almost stranger human's place. She needed to leave it as early as possible. But on analyzing the real situation, she didn't really have a place to go. Except, of course, the college.
Sighing, she got out from the bed. Looking around at the small decoratives, she smiled. The room was a real beautiful thing. Perhaps she couldn't notice in the dim light of yesterday night. Ahh, the eventful yesterday... She better focus on more sensible things!
Coming out from the room, she found herself in a tiny balcony sort of a place. The house was actually good. Small, but adequate. And after all, Reyaansh resided here alone. Why would he need a mansion for that? Plus he didn't seem to be a spoilt young man, from as much as she'd known him.
Still thinking, she descended the staircase and looked around for his younger sibling.
"Rayma!" She called out to her.
Unexpectedly, she propped out from the kitchen, located just beside the foot of the staircase. She beamed a smile at Kria.
"Hey Kria!"
"Kitchen, huh?" Kria smiled at her amazed.
"Yeah! I stay in a PG you see. Wahan par to karna hi padta hai. So better stay in practice!" She giggled.
Kria too laughed.
"That is a nice habit, but you ought to enjoy your holidays sweetheart. By the way, kahan rehte ho aap?"
"Dehradun. Mt. Carmel College ki student hun, 11th standard mein."She smiled.
"Wow, Dehradun mera hometown hai! And our home was just opposite Mt. Carmel. Such a coincidence!" Kria chirped in excitement. Rayma too grinned.
Then as it struck her, she asked, "But why do you stay in a PG? Aap logon ke parents?"
Color flushed off Rayma's face. Her smile was far gone and she seemed hurt.
"That isn't our hometown. Jaise bhaiya is here for graduation, I'm there for my schooling." She complete with a tight smile and turned around back to the kitchen counter. She began chopping the potatoes that she'd left midway.
"Ohh. So, where do your parents live?" Kria asked in confusion.
Rayma froze. Without turning around, she spoke in a somewhat bitter tone, "Aap bhaiya ki friend ho na? You should have known!"
Kria, totally ignoring the remark Rayma made on her equation with Reyaansh, stepped forward and looked up at her face.
Her eyes were tightly shut and tears were flowing down endlessly. And Kria knew.
***
Sharon drew her hat more, against the scorching Mumbai-heat and from inside thanked Amish for lending her one. The bus stop was totally vacant. But, nothing bothering in the noon, of course.
Her phone rang. Finally. She'd been waiting for it since she stepped out of the college after typing off the SMS to Swayam.
"Yes?" She, more of sighed than spoke.
"I'm here. How long will it take from your side?" Came the voice from the other end.
"Five minutes, at most." She said and dropped her phone back into her bright red caprese.
Pulling her hat more, she set forth on the scorchingly heated road. After walking for about half a mile, she reached a cab stand. Taking her phone out, she called back on the same number. As soon as the call was received, she yelled, "Suresh! Where the hell are you man?"
"Whoa, whoa! Are you here?" Came a timid voice.
"Yes." She thundered.
"Ohh! I can see you! Beige hat & a blue dress?" He asked.
"Precisely. Now come over, fast!" She said sharply and shoved the phone back into her bag.
Within moments of her standing there, a guy came half running towards her.
"Sharon?" He questioned from behind.
She turned on her heels and noticing his proximity, cringed and took two steps back.
"Swayam! Please. Achha hoga if you stop trying."
She turned to a side and crossed her arms across her chest.
Swayam sighed.
"And aur bhi achha hoga if you stick to your reason of calling me to meet you."
Slightly shocked, Sharon rolled her eyes. Sighing she looked at him in expectation of leading her to the cab they were to sit in. And he too, understanding her glance nodded and began to walk.
Once seated, she began.
"Where is Kria?"
Swayam drew a sharp horrified breath. Then said in a relatively weak tone, "I.. I don't know. And why should I know?"
Sharon grunted in frustration.
"Ohh come on Sway- I mean, Suresh! Maine cafeteria ke aas paas ki classes wale students se puchha tha & they told me that that they had seen you with Kria, the last time they saw her." She took a pause and read his expressions, which were actually blank. Irritated, she continued, "Now, now! Spill the beans quickly and tell me how do you know Kria. And where is she, in fact!"
Swayam gave her a tight smile.
"Look Sharon, I'm not at all denying meeting her. Woh mujhe actually mili thi cafe ke bahar. But, main use jaanta nahi hun! Maine use rotey huye dekha tha and just casually puchh liya what was wrong. But usne kuch nahi bataya and she went away."
Sharon rolled her eyes.
"God! Even a kid can spot that you're lying. Kya chhupa rahe ho Suresh?"
He furrowed his brows.
"Please stop calling me that Sharon! Ek toh maine itni mushkil se meeting ke liye cab arrange karvayi, on top of that tum mujhe hi humiliate kar rahi ho. And, the only thing I'm hiding is that mujhe tumhari wo Kria fir se mili thi. Raat ko."
Sharon was blown. She looked at him wide eyed.
"What! Raat ko? When and where?"
"Marine drive. Main daily wahan time spend karne jaata hun. When I went there yesterday night, I saw her sitting there. Maine puchha but she didn't tell me anything. And as soon as I reached up to her, she left the place."
Sharon nodded. She could believe him. His story was making sense to her. She could believe that Kria must not have told him anything. She knew her.
But what irked her was the reason of Kria's being hurt and upset. She had noticed her being really low when she had come back to the room, last night. And now, she was sure that something real bad had happened which had hurt Kria so much that she took to wandering. And - where was she?
"Kria! Where are you my angel?" She murmured while wiping off tears from her face.
---#---YooHoo! A big update it is, this time. I want huge wale comments too. ^_^
Lots of Louu!
-Aishwarya. 🤗
Edited by ..MereWhisper.. - 10 years ago
Bigg Boss 19
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
