Yay! New update? What? I know, I know the one or two who are reading this regularly are surprised but I had time this week and didn't feel like reading... So when you can't read, you write! And I did so😁😁!!

*****

Two weeks. Two whole weeks in that bland lonely hospital room and now he was free. Vijay couldn't be more relieved than this. He was still restricted to moving his arms and doing any tiring physical activity but he felt he was doing much more than just lying in a bed and reading or scrolling through the apps on his phone. 

It has been two weeks now that Divya has contacted him. Why? The reason was obvious. His mother. What Leela pulled that day left both of them way too awkward to even say a word. He was so embarrassed that he felt like throwing himself out of the hospital roof. But he held it all in and never even mentioned Divya in front of his mother. 

Right now he stood in front of his dorm with his parents preparing for his welcome. Harsh was with Maggie. He got discharged a few days before him so they might have patched things up between them. Paritosh basically became an errand boy for his parents. He was someone who barely said anything but was always there in his subtle ways. 

It was also really good that Maggie was keeping Surbhi at bay, because if his parents saw her, his mother might get some ideas. And his father? Now that was a reaction he was unsure about. His father has always been quiet, maybe like him, or even more. He was really strict and definitely the example of a father to be feared. Vijay respected him, even though he worked in a village and had completed just his schooling, he had this air around him that made people keep a distance and respect him. Only his mother could handle his father. 

As for him? He was way too cut off from his family to have a heart to heart conversation with them. But he didn't deny the fact that they were still his family and he loved them. Even his devil of a little sister. 

"Here let me get it for you. " His mother took the bag that contained the manga from his hands and made him sit down comfortably. He ate quietly and left to meet Harsh. His mother didn’t protest. She knew that he was capable of looking out for himself now.

Harsh was expecting Vijay. Even though the latter wouldn’t show it, the former knew that he  cared. This accident was good for him, in a way. He was finally able to reconcile with Maggie! And maybe now his problems would solve themselves too. A man can hope.

“So?” This was what Vijay said when he reached Harsh’s room.

“Eh, so-so. But the good thing was that Maggie and I made up. I feel so much better now. “

“..”

“You don’t have anything to say? *scoff of course you don’t.”

Vijay again stayed quiet and sat beside a well bandaged Harsh. It looks like he didn’t break a bone but his outer body took a toll. It might leave some scars.

“What about you?” 

“Hm? Oh, I am good. My mother is here to take care of me.”

“For how long?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I mean, she has to return home someday. She can’t be here with you forever dude. You would need someone to take care of you when you are down.”

“That is exactly what video games are for.” Vijay answered bluntly.

Harsh ignored this comment and kept speaking. “Come to think of it, Maggie told me Surbhi was asking about you. Surbhi… Hmm… Don’t you think she can fill the role?” 

“Of my mother?”

“No stupid! Of your caregiver. Your girlfriend dammit!” He punched Vijay on his good shoulder.

“As if. For the thousandth time Harsh, she is not my type. I haven’t even properly seen her after the so-called date in France.” Vijay massaged his earlobes with his fingertips in frustration. He was really getting tired of this.

“WHAT? You seriously need a relationship.”

“And how did you reach that conclusion?! How is me not liking Surbhi equivalent to my need for a relationship?! I'm happy right now and I don't want to mingle with anyone.” Vijay went to Harsh so that he could chill. Now he was regretting his decision.

“Look V, I am happy. And most of this credit goes to Maggie. It would be wonderful if you find a girlfriend like that.”

“No thank you.” he said abruptly.

Harsh gritted his teeth and then sighed. He studied Vijay’s face for some time and decided to have a last shot.

“It is because of that girl, isn't it? The one you had a little escapade with? The one with whom you chat a lot.”

This infuriated Vijay. “ Divya has nothing to do with this!” He abruptly stood up and glared at Harsh.

“Oh~. So her name is Divya. Hmm… I haven’t seen her but I guess she is hot?” 

“One more word , and I will beat the crap out of you!” Vijay was ready to throw hands now.

Harsh decided to stay quiet this time but inwardly smirked. If Vijay was being this protective, that girl might be someone special. There was one thought in his mind as he watched Vijay storm off his room,’Guess I have to ask Maggie to convince Surbhi not to hope more.’

***

Vijay’s head was humming painfully when he left Harsh. The smiling face of Divya kept flashing in front of his eyes. He knew that he had started to like her a lot more than any other girls he had ‘dated’, but he couldn't act on that. Not so easily. If she were any girl he didn't know about, he would experiment a bit and if he gets bored or his feelings die, he would just leave her. 

No, he can't do that. Firstly because he wasn't even sure if she really wanted to be in a relationship with someone. And if there is a chance that she is willing, why would she even allow him to date her? 

'That dumbass made me hope. ' He could only think that. But now, what can he do? His mother made things so complicated for both of them! Now he was so embarrassed to face her. She might be embarrassed too. Maybe disgusted? He doesn't want to go there now. 

"I'll just have to scroll through Instagram today. " He returned back to his dorm. 

"You are back soon. " His father grunted. 

Vijay just nodded his head and stood waiting for a new question, which never came. Instead, he was faced by Leela who had some dried red chillies on her palm with some flour. Before he could say anything, she took his good arm and made them stand in the east direction. She started chanting something under her breath and circled the fisted chillies around him. He tried to squirm away but his mother glared at him to stay still. 

"Mummy! "

" Let her do what she wants to. It will ward off the evil eye and keep you safe. " His father ordered. 

Vijay stayed still until his mother was finished and decided to now rest. Leela pinched his nose playfully which embarrassed him further, but made Leela smile. 

"I'm tired. I want to take a nap now. " He mumbled under his breath. 

"Sure honey. But there is something we want to tell you. "

".. " He now listened to them attentively. 

"We are going back. Your sister was with your aunt until now, but now I think she needs us. We have already extended our stay here so we are returning back to Bareilly. The train is in 3 hours. " She waited for any kind of response from him but only received a curt nod. This reaction saddened her. There was a part of her that expected him to go, "will you please stay here a bit longer? " Or "I'm going to miss you" But nothing… 

Vijay expected this to come sooner or later. Why? Because this always happens. Just when he was feeling like a family again, his parents would drop the bomb… Sometimes he gets very jealous of his little sister. She had her parents to guide her through her life, to love and cherish her, to have a bond with. Him? He was sent to his grandparents at the age he started to understand what familial bond meant. But he wasn't so lucky to experience it, even when both of his parents were available. 

Vijay waved his parents goodbye without a sign of sadness on his face, but he couldn't stop the pang of loneliness that hit his heart. He felt it in the extremest way when he lost his grandmother in 10th grade. And he feels it whenever he is left alone to fend for himself like this. His face wrinkled in a frown as he made his way back to his room. 

His hands consciously searched his phone in his pocket as he pressed the power button. The lock screen of a game he played flashed with 17:03 staring back at him. He sighed and mused, 'Guess I am alone again. '

Just then the notification of WhatsApp popped up. Two new messages, one media, one text. Sent by - Divya. 

"What do you think about this meme? "

 And he couldn't stop the smile that crept on his face. 

***

I can't spoil you with big chapters everytime but don't worry! From the next chapter the story will take a new turn. You know what I mean😉😏.

Until then, please leave comments and feedbacks!! I really appreciate them. Have a nice day😊😊