Chapter 26: Chapter 26

*Abhilash Pov*

“You don’t want me to give a lift anymore? Why? Are you again going to pester us to let you use your bike?” Dad asked frowning at me.

“That is not going to happen.” Mom joined the conversation after hearing the conversation while I smiled at them.

“It is better to sell my bike, Dad.” I mumbled leaning back which surprised them but they didn’t believe me at the same time.

“I am going to ask Mihi to drop me and pick me up.” I added and they finally relaxed their expression.

“Okay! By the way, I want to ask your Swapnil Sir to visit our home for dinner today for the help he provided for you. It was not a small task at all. As it is weened, he will be comfortable to visit today with the next two days being holidays.” Dad said and I gave him a nod because even I have to thank Sir but didn’t find the right time or that’s what I want to tell myself.

After finishing my breakfast, I walked out of my home and stepped into her house where I found her climbing down the stairs with her bag.

“Did you find your book?” Her Mom asked and she was replying yes but then she paused in her steps when she found me standing near the entrance.

“What is it, Abhi?” Aunty asked looking at me.

“I am here to take a lift from Mihi, Aunty. My Mom doesn’t want me to use my bike and I don’t want to trouble my Dad. Our times nearly match and I thought of taking her help.” I explained while Mihi glared at me.

“Of course! Even if the timings don’t match just give her a call. I am sure she is ready to help you. She is being lazy these days and even reduced helping me with house chores.” Aunty complained while Mihi gave her a disbelief look.

“What? Didn’t you take advantage of him all that time? Just help him and it is better for his condition to not use public transport.” Aunty added which made Mihi sigh.

“Let’s go!” Mihi mumbled walking out and I followed her after thanking her Mom who winked at me making me chuckle a bit.

When I walked out of the house, I found Mom talking to Mihi while passing a lunch box to her hands.

“I heard you will be driving Abhi to the college and even bring him back if possible. I hope it is not huge trouble and drive safely.” Mom said with a smile on her face.

“There is no need for this, Aunty.” She mumbled pushing the box back.

“Why? I am already packing it for him and take it as a payment for helping him.” Mom pushed it back and didn’t even give a chance for her to return it.

“When will you be free to learn cooking, Mihi? I just loved how you cut the vegetables with such proportions which is very difficult these days.” She continued and I reached them trying to hide my smile.

“Mom! She is busy with college works.” I mumbled waving at her before waiting for Mihi to start the vehicle and sat behind her.

When we passed the street, I shifted my hands to hold her waist, and this time she didn’t even get startled and just continued to drive.

“Are you angry?” I asked placing my chin on her shoulder like she used to.

“I don’t want to waste any kind of emotion by thinking about past matters.” She mumbled in a serious tone and my smile slipped but my hold tightened.

“Are you still feeling tired?” she asked after a few minutes and I remember her saying those words yesterday evening as I was really tired with all the thoughts running and with less sleep.

“I took proper rest yesterday night.” I replied feeling the smile reappear on my face after hearing her question which showed she still cares of me.

I shouldn’t even doubt that after the basketball incident but it feels kind of harsh whenever she acts like she doesn’t care at all. But then I still don’t know how did she find out everything as everyone who knew my condition didn’t tell her.

Even Swapnil Sir didn’t know my condition and my Dad just asked for this as a personal favour as he said I will be going out of the station because of personal reasons.

I sighed feeling lost and she immediately asked in a worried tone, “What happened?”

“I… I am just worried about my studies. I am trying to keep up with everything.” I replied and there is silence from her side after that but I am not lying though.

It is kind of tough but I will be fine as I still have Sir’s notes with me and I just need to revise a bit in between.

When we reached college, I saw our friends standing near the parking lot and started walking away when Vikesh reached them but stopped when they saw us.

She silently went to park her vehicle while they all smiled at me when I approached them and the first question I was asked whether we are together now or not.

“For now she will be just driving me to college and maybe drop me home.” I replied before silencing them when she walked out.

“Let’s go!” I said smiling at her before walking towards her class but she stopped in her tracks before turning around.

“Why is everyone following me?” she asked frowning at everyone.

“We are following Abhi.” Vikesh replied shrugging and she glanced at me with a frown.

“Kavitha is enough for me.” Saying that she took hold of her friend’s hand before running away from our sight.

“This is your plan?” Rekha asked looking at me with a smile.

“For now so that there will be no distance between us. But I need to find out how she got to know everything.” I replied sighing.

“Did you ask her?” she asked frowning.

“Kind of! But she is completely acting as if she is not hearing anything. Like she listens to my parents and her parents worrying about my condition but she doesn’t react as if there is anything odd about it. She worries about me but then gets cold the next second. I am going mad for sure.” I explained and everyone sighed hearing my words.

“What if she visited the hospital for her Mom and saw you there?” Vikesh asked looking at me.

“She hates hospital and her Mom is in another building.” I replied but what he said may not be completely wrong.

“Let’s go to our class first.” Rakesh mumbled and we all turned another way to reach our classes.

****

“You need to be here right now. I will go mad before teaching you the importance of dedication to the work we do.” He shouted at someone on the phone when he didn’t find the notes he was about to teach us.

“He has so many fans for sure.” Kalyan commented when we saw how a few girls of our class are staring at Swapnil Sir even though right now he looks really mad.

“He is young and handsome and his lectures are amazing. Why wouldn’t anyone be his fan? Our Mihi has great taste.” Vikesh mumbled nodding and I stepped on his leg hearing those words.

“I mean as her mentor. Looks like you got all your strength back.” He added while hissing in pain and others chuckled.

Rekha turned around hearing our laugh before gesturing the door. We found Mihi walking into the classroom with a frown.

“Wait! He was shouting at Mihi?” Kalyan asked frowning and we all frowned thinking about that.

“You didn’t get the corrected mail from Ms. Haritha?” he asked frowning at her and she widened her eyes.

“I will just go back and mail you, Sir. I forgot to bring my phone as I was in a rush to come here after hearing your bark… I mean shouting.” She replied and I covered my mouth to stop my laugh but others didn’t stop themselves.

When she turned back to leave, he used his phone to pat on her head which made her turn around with a frown.

“You can just open it here and send it to my mail, right?” he asked to which she nodded but didn’t move.

“Unplug the cord, Sir.” She asked frowning as the projector is already connected to the system.

He sighed following her order and she stood before the system to open her mail before glancing at the class and found all of us staring at her.

We all waved at her to which she awkwardly waved back but after that didn’t glance at us again.

“I mailed it, Sir.” She mumbled stepping back.

“How can you forget such a small thing?” he asked frowning and she glared at him.

“After hearing a sad story about a heartless man, I forgot everything.” She replied shrugging and he paused hearing those words before glancing at her.

“You…” he whispered but she smiled at him politely before leaving the classroom and he still looks a little shaken.

“That was quite entertaining to watch, right? And that too during the first boring hour. I think I can listen to all classes with full attention for the whole day while thinking about this.” Vikesh said still chuckling.

“They seem closer than I expected them to be.” I mumbled after repeating everything.

“They seem like good friends.” Rekha nodded and I nodded when she turned to glance at me.

“What if he told her about that day and that’s how she found out?” Vikesh suddenly voiced out and I frowned at him.

“You lost consciousness during your exam, right? He was the one to help you to the clinic and call your Dad.” He added and my eyes widened.

“Vikesh! Today, you are my intelligent friend.” I mumbled nodding which made him smile but that smile slipped after he understood my words.

“I will be meeting him today at my house. I will talk to him at that time.” I said looking at him when he started the class.

****

“Will you waste your time like this every day to get a lift from me?” she asked frowning at me when I waited near the parking lot like yesterday.

“Yes!” I replied and she sighed before getting her Scooty out of the parking lot before stopping beside me.

I smiled sitting behind her we both started our routine and after reaching my house, she calmly asked, “Is Swapnil Sir visiting your house today?”

“Yeah! Did he tell you?” I asked and she nodded.

“He is angry at me because of the morning’s incident. Don’t bring out my name near him otherwise, he will talk about so many complaints near your Dad.” She explained.

“Will you be in trouble from tomorrow because of that?” I asked her feeling worried but she shook her head.

“He will be fine by tomorrow. He will just think about all that for today.” She replied with a smile before it slipped realizing we are having a normal conversation like before I think.

So, she calmly just left me there while I stared at her back. I thought of inviting her but after realizing I need to ask him something I can’t do that anymore.

****

“Thank you for helping us last time like that.” Dad thanked him again after the dinner which was really awkward as he just had his dinner without saying much.

“It’s fine! What was the reason by the way?” He asked before glancing at me and my Dad calmly explained everything before asking him to not tell anyone.

“So, that was the reason.” He mumbled nodding.

“Dad! Mom is calling you to help for desserts.” I said walking out of the kitchen and waited until my Dad walked towards the kitchen with a confused look.

I already requested Mom to make Dad stay for some time as I need to ask something. I don’t think Sir will appreciate it if I talk about personal things at college as per his attitude.

“Sir! Can I ask you something?” I asked reaching his side when he stood up to stare at the painting on the wall which was my Dad’s favorite but now it is there just to cover the wall.

“Sure! Do you have any doubts with the notes that have been sent?” he asked glancing at me and I shook my head in negative which brought out a disappointed look on his face.

“Did you tell Mihi… Mihira that I lost my consciousness during the exam?” I asked looking at him and he stared at me before sighing.

“Look, I don’t get involved in the student’s personal lives. I knew you both were a couple but still didn’t tell her anything regarding that.” He replied and I felt disappointed that the answer is closed even this side.

“After a few weeks, she came to the department but she was really sad. When I scolded her for being so lost, she said that you will be leaving out of the station and will be taking a break from the studies. I was confused before telling her in a way of consoling her that maybe you were sad for not being able to attend internal exams.” He continued while I stared at him in shock.

“It was completely as a way to console her and I thought she knew but she stared at me with surprise. So, I told her that you were not feeling well and lost consciousness on the first day, and later when I was in charge of two other exams you were absent. After hearing that she left the college the next moment but she returned after some time and looked more depressed than earlier. That’s all I know.” He explained while staring at me.

“And tell her to treat me as her lecturer from now on at least otherwise the matters not related to the subject will flow out like today as I have many more things to say.” Saying that he walked back as my Dad walked out of the kitchen with the dessert plates.

I felt dizzy after getting all that information into my head and I stood there to process everything but I just couldn’t think properly.

After excusing myself from them saying I am feeling tired, I sat on my bed to repeat his words one after the other.

So, when she was upset near him that I will be going to take a break from the studies, he told her all those things but thinking she already knew.

Wait! I informed her about that when I was leaving home for the hospital. Did she find out that day? I thought standing up.

I remember Kavitha assuring me that she is going to be with her mentor so I can pack normally and leave before college timings.

But he said she left the college immediately after learning this matter. Then did she come home? However, none of us saw her in the first place.

He even said she returned after some time with more sadness filling her expression. Oh god! I thought rubbing my forehead not able to come terms with the fact that she knew from that time onwards and I don’t even know in what way she found everything more clearly. I need to talk to her tomorrow to know everything.