Chapter 10 - "Suspicion"

"Mom. Dad." I called out as I entered the house. Everyone came running. It felt so good, being back into my house after such a long time. Mom, Dad, Bebe, I'd missed everyone a lot. Honestly, living in a hostel was never easy. Now, it was just a two day holiday and I had wanted to spend it with my family. As Avni didn't live in hostel, she was at her home, relaxing while DD, Rhea, and Ali went out for a holiday to Goa.

"Aagaya mera puttar. Kesa hai?" Bebe hugged me as I softly pressed a chaste kiss on her cheek.

"Bas bas bas! Bebe ko hi dega saara pyaar? Maa ko bhul gaya?" Mom started her melodrama and I couldn't help but chuckle as I hugged her and Dad.

"Ab tu sab se pehle fresh hojaa. Mein khana lagwati hun. I've prepared your favorite dishes." Mom said and I obeyed. Putting my stuff into place, I quickly dropped a message to Avni that I had reached.

"How is everything there? Padhai kar raha hai ya nahi?" Dad asked as I joined them for the lunch.

"Of course kar raha hun Dad. We are having random tests these days. And then at the end of the next month, we'll have our exams." I told, eating.

"Okay. Ek baat poochni thi puttar." I heard Bebe saying and it felt kinda suspicious. But I chose to ignore and hummed in response.

I saw her eyeing Mom as she immediately took out her phone. Swiping throught it, she stopped and turned the screen towards me.

"Who is she?" She asked as soon as I saw the picture. I choked, badly! Recovering, I glanced at the screen again and tried to say something. "Wo. She is.. my classmate. She studies with me." I said, and it wasn't a lie. Avni was indeed my fellow.

"But. Ye picture? Where did it come from?" I immediately asked. "DD ne bheji thi. Randomly, he sent some of your pictures since you were so busy, unhi mein thi yeh bhi." Bebe clarified as I began eating again. There was something differnet in the way they looked at Avni and that forced me to not tell them anything about her.

"Food is delicious Mom. You cooked?" I diverted their attentions. Mom hummed and there was an awkward silence.

"Neil beta. We have great respect among our relatives and family friends, you know right?" Dad broke the silence.

"I know. What do you mean?" I asked, confused.

"Please don't ever do anything that may ruin it." Dad spoke and left the dining hall.

"What was this?" I turned towards the ladies as they shurgged. There was surely something wrong. Still, we chilled and enjoyed the rest of the day.

It was around 10 at night when I thumped onto my bed. Hiding myself in the blanket safely, I dialled her number.

"Hey." She picked up.

"Hello madam. How are you?" I greeted shifting myself on the bed.

"Fine. How's your vacation?" I sensed her smiling.

"Achi hai. But you know I am sensing something differnet in the way everyone is reacting. I mean they are getting suspicious." I told her, biting my nails.

"Assumptions. And hey you, stop biting your nails." She spoke and I jumped up. How did she know that?

"Wait. How did you know that?

"I can feel it stupid. Heard the noise of biting." She said and I laughed.

"No girlfriend these days?" She asked and I chuckled.

"Nah. Not at all." I told the turth. She sighed.

"Acha listen Avni. Why don't you speak much?" I knew it was out of blue but I wanted to know that.

"Being an introvert is not a sin." She replied.

"But how can you live in your own little world? I again asked.

"Just like you can live in other people's world." It was enough to shut me up.

"I miss you Avni!" I pouted, lying down again.

"See. You can't even spend a day without me." She teased.

"Bla bla bla." I closed it all.

"Acha you sleep now. You must be tired." I said, clutching the blanket.

"Hmm. You too. Take care. Bye." We hung up.

As soon as I kept my phone aside, I felt as if I lost something. I didn't know what was the feeling, but it was wierd.

I closed my eyes, hoping for the next day to be a good one.