Chapter 11

Author's Pov

Adithya hated how time was moving faster than the wind especially today

Now that lunch was over Vineeth, Shreya and himself sat at the table enjoying their desserts. He looked at Shreya who was giggling with Vineeth.

They both shared a brother-sister bond which reminded him of someone and something that breaks his heart.

Also, the way Shreya sat a few inches away from him made him wanna go to her take her in his arms and hide her.

He gently pulled her chair closer to his and then there were gentlemen and ladies Shreya looked taken back but the butterflies in her tummy which she thought never existed did their magic.

She looked at him and he simply pushed another bowl of chocolate ice cream and Shreya slowly nodded.

She hated how words died in her tongue in front of him. What magic did he cast on her that she remained mute and stared at him like it was just him existing in the world right now?

Aditya watched her finish her ice cream and then look around the house again.

"Shreya, we'll just go around join me," he said and yet again she nodded and followed him.

Adithya now stood in front of a huge portrait of a woman in her 50s and with just a look anyone can say it was his mother They reassembled so much that Shreya did not even try to guess when she saw the photo.

"Your mother?" She asked standing beside him, her shoulders reaching just his chest level and slightly brushing his arms which made him immediately lose his stiffness and nod yes to her

"Understandable how you look this Pretty, uncle's genes did not even try," Shreya said and immediately bit her tongue knowing her inner Shreya was coming out and started blabbering

"You think I am pretty?" Aditya asked as if he had selective deafening

"You? When did I say? I said your mother is pretty" Shreya said quickly and Aditya nodded as he bit his lips controlling a smile.

"What happened to her?" Shreya asked

Suddenly the air turned sour and his lips no longer begged to smile instead they were in a thin line now, his hands behind his back and eyes looking at his mother's photo with so much longing he gulped and looked at Shreya

"Suicide," he said blankly and Shreya looked at him for a second and nodded, she turned back to the woman in the photo who shared the same eyes as the man who interested her and her smile too maybe.

Adithya slowly started walking away from the photo to the pool area and Shreya followed him.

Vineeth still sat on the dinner table and quietly watched the scenes unfold.

Shreya right now wanted to jump up and down seeing the pool but knowing the mood he was in and to maintain the good girl she was trying to create she silently sat near the pool and Aditya joined her.

Time was around 6 in the evening by now and it was a miracle that Amrutha Aunty had not called her.

The silence between them continued for another two more minutes and Shreya finally decided to break it.

"Why did aunty - you know-?" She struggled to form words

"Long story, " said Aditya, Shreya looked at the time in her phone.

"I still got one more hour! Tell me if you wish too" said Shreya and Aditya nodded and moved a bit closer to her.

The evening lights looked so pretty and so was the silence and peace they felt now. Adithya had never opened up stuff about his life to any human being not even to Vineeth cause he was always there and he knew it always.

Now that he wanted to open up to this girl who seemed like a long-lost friend he had no idea how to.

"Well I was 10 years old when she died and I came back home after playing and she hung herself " Aditya said and Shreya just remained silent and watched his face keenly

"You know there was already so much trouble and problems going on, she was feeling stressed but She tried to look strong for me! I should have stayed but.. but no I had to give in to myself and went away and she did that to herself "

"I sometimes still wonder if she would have stayed with me if I was there with her that day! Maybe I would have begged her to not do that or even saved her I don't know. " He added looking so defeated

Shreya now saw an Aditya who looked helpless not the Aditya who looked cool to the world and hid behind those sunglasses and tailor-made suits but the guy who looked helpless and defeated in saving his mother.

Shreya now somehow guessed and connected why he hates his stepmother and his father but something felt missing.

"What triggered her Adhi?" She asked slowly

Aditya looked down, this was the first time she had called him Adhi and he would swear no one called his name so softly with such an accent.

"Her husband! Sadly my father " he added with a sad chuckle

"He fooled her Shreya! He married her when he was already married and had a family with that lady (stepmother). Unfortunately, my mother was struck in this mess. Just because I was born already."

"She hated being the other woman in her wedding and she could not even blame anyone but herself for loving a person like my father! No one was there for her not even her parents. She endured this for years and one day she..she gave up " Aditya added and Shreya just looked at him and blinked

That was too traumatic! To know a lady suffered in her marital life, Shreya's heart could not help but fear. but this wasn't the time for her fears she looked at the man who looked so numb and blank after talking about such a traumatic experience.

"Adhi" she called softly and wrapped her hands around his arms

For some reason to imagine little Adithya coming back from playing only to find his mother has left him alone in the cruel world.

The helplessness, the fear and panic he must have felt

Just by thinking those Shreya felt her tummy in anxiety and fear. She gently placed her head on his shoulders and patted his arms softly whispering words of comfort.

She did this to do to her father sometimes even Hemanth when they were stressed and worried.

Now that her head rested on his shoulders and her hands patted him, Aditya felt weird, so weird he did not even know how to put the feelings in words.

"Is this how it feels when there is someone to hear us out?" He wondered

"I am okay now Shreya! Don't worry much leave me now tell me about yourself " he asked even though he knew enough about her

"Me? It's just me, Amurtha Aunty and my brother at home but My friends Sri and Guru almost stay there rentless " she added chuckling as she left his hands

"Parents?" He asked to which Shreya just shrugged and smiled and turned to look at the sky again

"Amma passed away while I was born and Appa recently he too passed Away! Health issues " she said

"And since then it's just me my brother and amurtha aunty! Now that my brother is working abroad it's mostly only me and Aunty" she added

"Abroad? Why there? Why not here?" asked Aditya

"It's actually for my bakery! Guru has left abroad too I'll be shifting there in a year too" Shreya said

And  Aditya did not like it a bit, her going away like that to another country which might be 1000kms away from him. Where he can't see her when he wants to and stay around her.

"Acha! Adhi it is getting late I need to go" Shreya said and got up collecting her bags

"Thanks for coming today! We'll meet around okay?" Adithya asked and she nodded

"Coincidentally right? Sure we will" Shreya added with a teasing smile.

Soon she bided her bye to the others and drove her scooter towards her home while Aditya   stood on his balcony and watched her go

This was the longest he stayed home in the last decade and he liked it knowing the sole reason was her.

"Aye disappointed Mr Adithya! You should have dropped her back home or at least made sure he reached safely " Vineeth who just come in said and Aditya looked at him and winked as a smirk played on his lips

"DON'T YOU DARE TELL ME YOU WANNA GO BEHIND HER RIGHT NOW " Vineeth yelled

"I wanna and you will accompany me, " Aditya said while Vineeth kicked the floor and whined

"I should have better slept " he pouted

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VINEETH IN THE DINING TABLE LOOKING AT SHREYA AND ADITYA