SOHAM'S POV

"One "

"Two "

"Three"

"Four "

" What are you doing? " I chuckled looking at the person who is sharing my cell since one week. 

" Counting? "  he answered making me laugh. 

" what is so funny that you are laughing at my expense? " he asked me.

"You stop at ten anyway why start counting? "I question him. 

"Because I feel good after counting ten numbers"he replied.  I chuckled leaning my head against the wall.

" Dare to count beyond ten numbers,  maybe you will see some change?  " I suggested.

"What do you do to feel good? " he questioned me.

" What did you do to sit here and talk with me? "I asked him back.

" I jailed for counting numbers till ten everytime..  " he replied making me laugh loudly.  I never expected that I will be sitting here with different people who may or may not have done some crime. 

"Did you feel whatever you have done is right? " I asked him seriously. 

" You did not answer my previous question" he said.

" I never felt bad that I am here.  I accept my punishment.  " I replied.

"When you feel bad then? " he questioned me.

" Previously I used to go for walk now I think of certain someone and I feel happy that I know that person. " I replied smiling a bit.

" Really?  A girl? " he asked me.  I smiled looking at him.

" You will be leaving in the evening then?" he asked me.

" Yes " I replied. 

"That's like in two hours" he said going back to counting numbers while I looked at him quite confused with his behavior  .

"Soham?" someone called out.  I looked up to find guard motioning me to follow him.

"Where are we going? " I asked him.

"Some procedures which you should follow before we release you" he said.

"Here are your trousers,  wallet,  phone and this chain.  " incharge  handed me my things. 

"Change into them first. "he ordered. I walked into a room and changed my clothes.  It feels weird to wear them again. 

"You need to sign here,  wait up there.  We got some paper work to finish.  Your father asked us to give you this once you get released.  " guard handed me over the letter,  I sat in a room holding it waiting for them to finish the formalities. 

"Yes uncle!  I will miss you too! Now give me book!  I have to sign and go! " I heard Aahana's voice.  I sat straight trying to concentrate on what's she's talking about. 

"We will miss you mam!  Won't you come again to teach these people? " someone questioned her. 

Did she come here to teach us one last time?  Why wasn't I allowed to that class!  I could have seen her one last time! 

" Unfortunately no!  I am not coming back again.  Someone else is appointed for this.  " she replied.  After that I couldn't hear anything as they were talking in low voice.  Where is she? !

"You are asked to follow me" guard came and announced and I followed him.

"Here is your money and this certificate,  it will help you to join any small industry  . You will be given employment directly without any interview . Well done.  You earned it. " incharge proudly  said.  I smiled at him.  He signalled his guards to leave us alone. 

"Sit down " he spoke calmly. 

" It's OK sir. " I replied. 

" I know who you are " he said looking seriously at me.

" When your father came,  I thought he came here to donate some money or conduct an event to help us change lives in here.  But when he asked us if he could meet you,  I knew you were important to him. " he spoke while I stood there without showing any expression. 

"I am sure,  someone might have framed you.  No matter how much you try to hide,  people like me will know the goodness or you can say true character behind a person in first look" he said. 

" No one framed me. I killed him. " I replied sternly. 

" Maybe for good cause" he said smiling a bit. 

" When you know the truth why aren't you arresting me back? " I questioned him.

"Well,  I believe law and order . I got to follow it unlike you.  Your place is not here sir " he said smiling widely.

" By the way,  he wanted you to open the letter before you go out of this place.  " he pointed his finger towards my envelope. 

I nodded my head and walked back to the room I was assigned to wait. 

I am glad you are coming home.  I have asked Aahana to pick you up . I know you have asked me not to bother but I am after all a father who will worry about his son's safety.  She will be parking her car a bit far . She told me she will be on left side of the road waiting in her car wearing light blue colour Saree.  Here is her car number.  I hope you will be able to recognise her son.  Be safe and come home. 

He thinks I will be safe with her?  I chuckled reading his small note.  Never in my life have I ever imagined my dad will be writing a note asking me to be safe.  We never had that son-father relation.  I studied,  helped him in business.  He never appreciated nor said a word against me, probably because I never demanded him for anything except my basic necessities and requirements.  I don't know why we were like this but this small note asking me to be safe made my heart warm.  Somewhere being so quiet,  not interfering in each others lives much and not expressing our feelings towards each other, we grown to care and protect each other without making it quite obvious.  I smiled re- reading it again. 

She's waiting for me! 

"You can leave now. " guard said after making me sign some papers.

"Is that all? " I asked him.

" Do you want us to arrange some aarti and dance?  Leave " he answered back sarcastically.  I didn't inform any of my inmates.  Only person I cared about was pankaj but he's not there.  I walked back looking at my surroundings.  These clothes,  my shoes feel so alien to me now.  I walked out,  sun was ready to set.  Cool breeze blowing on to my face indicating me that it's still winter. I remember entering this same gate last winter.  Smiling a bit I walked on the road searching for her car,  I recognised her car number and tapped on her window.  She's busy watching chota bheem in her phone.  After looking at me she immediately came out adjusting her Saree.  She looks breathtaking in plain light blue Saree. 

" Sorry,  I had nothing to do while waiting for you" she said.

" I will never make you wait again. " she looked at me in a blink and coughed awkwardly. 

" Shall we? " she asked me.  I nodded my head.

" Uncle gave me your house address " she said starting the car.

" Can you take me to beach?  I mean can you drive on the road which connects my street?  It's a small diversion may take ten more minutes than usual.  " I said looking at her.

"Uh OK sure.  That's fine.  I can drive.  Yeah it's cool.  Good place. Good timing.  Nice " she replied looking out of her window.

She's nervous as usual.

"Thank you " I replied smiling at her. 

She didn't turn towards me after that.  I didn't mind though.  Being in her company,  this silence was peaceful.  She stopped our car near the beach and I got down looking at it.  It is calm and fierceful at same time . Aahana didn't get down as she was busy talking over phone.  After some time I felt her presence beside me but didnt turn around to look at her.  She nudged my shoulder handing me over her phone.

"Soham? " I heard my dads voice.

"I will be at home in few minutes dad"i replied 

" It's ok son.  Take care.  I just wanted to hear your voice. " he surprised me.

"I will see you in few minutes dad " I said disconnecting our call.  I remember him begging me to forgive me as he couldn't get me out of there as quickly as possible.  I was not angry at him. He could have done nothing in such situations.  I knew I will be out of jail because what I did is  justice and god knows it. 

"I don't know how to go from here.  Can you tell me the way? " she asked me.  I nodded my head looking at sea. 

" How have you been Aahana? " I asked her while she turned around to sit in the car

" I am fine.  You? " she halted in her steps and answered.

" I am feel good.  " I replied.

" that's nice to know " she said.

" I have to go to some place. If you don't mind can we start back to your home.  I am really sorry.  I just need t-"

" I am sorry.  Come on,  we will go. " I said getting into the car.  I directed her and she drove without talking about anything.

I looked at sea as long as its visible and after that I looked at Aahana . Who knew that I would be falling head over heels with the person I barely spoke. She is innocent,  cute and quite stubborn in certain issue.  Guess I should give credit to my days in jail as I got ample amount of time to know her,  think about her and finally realise that I love her! 

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