CHAPTER 2..............
Something’s fishy.....
Next day, I received a call from Rohan. He asked me to have a friends gathering since we haven’t met for many days. I said yes to him. Though we all friends are from the same college we have different streams and that is why we hardly get any time to spend together. Our gang has five members: me, Sristi, Rohan, Shreya and Shivam. We all are childhood friends and we love each other, we are like a family. I wish our friendship to continue till the end.
So, we decided to meet up at our favourite restaurant that is near a famous park about 500 meters away from my house. I dressed up into white shirt and blue jeans with a high ponytail, its a casual look I always prefer.
As I entered the restaurant Sristi and Shivam were already there, nothing to be surprised they are couples . I greeted them and had a seat. After a while the other two also arrived. We placed the order and stated talking and gossiping about every thing that happened in our life all these days.
Sristi told us about her piano concert, where she is going to play, she is in love with the musical instruments and she will kill all of us if we missed her concert. Shivam is a designer and all his fashion sense are always out my mind. Rohan told us that he had just won a bike race and its his treat this time, he is always obsessed with bikes. Shreya is not much talkative, but a good listener everybody shares their problem to her at the first place. I told them about my business studies and assignments, that I am totally stuck with them.
Suddenly I remembered that strange guy, and my smile is gone. I started telling them about that person, first I saw him in the temple and then at the college, also he smiled at me. But between our conversation, a waiter came and kept a buquet of lily flowers with a gift box on our table. We all are shocked. Rohan is searching for something that may help us to know it is send for whom. And he founds a note where my name is written.
I looked at my friends suspecting them and said, “Is it a prank for me? But its not my birthday nor any special day.”
They looked at each other and then Rohan said, ”Its not us, we don’t have any idea about it.”
“Really.......Then who have send this?”, I asked them.
“I think its dangerous to open the box.....who could send this?”, said Sristi.
“Sri... what are you saying? you are giving me strange feelings.”
Rohan and Shivam looked at each other.
Then, Shreya said, “Please don’t scar her.”, looking at my scared face, ”Riya, it might be your parents, first open and see what is there in the box.”
I took the box it is well wrapped with ribbons, I opened it and found a jewellery box, inside it there is a beautiful earring, that’s my favourite, jhumka. I am surprised who knows me so well, first my favourite flowers and then this. I am amazed.
“Wow its beautiful....”, said Sristi.
“Don’t get excited, you should not accept any stranger’s gift. Let’s ask the manager about it.”
I calmed myself, we looked for the manager to ask him who had send it to our table, but that manager had no idea about this. The waiter said he don’t remember the guy. We had our items we ordered and went back to home. I went on with Sherya’s consult, it must be surely dad. He always have such stupid ideas to surprise me. I am not going to leave him if its him this time, but deep inside I wanted him to be behind this.
As I reached, I went directly to my room. First I thought I should ask them but then What they haven’t planned it. Obviously they will get more concerned for me. So I decided to try know it indirectly. I took the jhumka from the box to wear it. I must say its a pretty choice they looked great on me. I went downstairs and searched for mom, she is in the kitchen preparing for the dinner tonight. I went ahead and stopped at the door.
I asked purposely, “Mom what are you doing?”
“I am cooking......Do you need anything now?”, she replied
But she is not looking at me, I want her to see the jhumka I am wearing and she is busy in her work. I went forward and stood beside her.
I asked again, “MOM...what are we going to have tonight?”
Mom finally looked at me, but she said, “You will get to know later, go join your dad.”
Half heartedly I left from the kitchen before she gets angry because she hates being disturbed while cooking. I went to the hall and my dad is watching the TV there. His is watching the cricket match actually. I sit down on the chair that is near his couch and he also didn’t give a notice to me.
“What’s the score dad?”, I asked to seek his attention.
“India is playing good, till now. Lets see what happens.”, he said without looking at me. His all focus is on the television.
“Dad....”
He didn’t listen.
“DAD”, this time I yelled and he looked at me annoyingly .
“What happened?”, he asked finally looking at me, but not at the jhumka.
‘Oh dad, look at my jhumka and say that its given by.....please dad.....please.’ I said to myself.
“Nothing”, I replied sadly and went back to my room.
I am really pissed now. How can this jhumka aren’t visible to them? Are they ignoring me or tricking me to just make fun of me? Oh God, Who have given this gift? Why didn’t that person mentioned his name? I was thinking all about and suddenly a thought raised in my head. ‘God, don’t tell me this is done by that guy, what is going on with me?’ I am scared now. If its him there is something to worry, he looked suspicious.
After an hour, Mom called me the dinner. I went downstairs and sit on the dinning. We started to eat and then mom asked me, ”Who gave you that jhumka? Is it a gift? They are really pretty.” And dad also looked at me.
I relaxed myself, so finally they did gave notice to them.
“Its a gift by my friends...”, I smiled and lied to them. I waiting for them to disclose the truth , I kept my fingers crossed under the table. I want them say its given by them but.......
“Nice”, said dad and they continued to eat.
What does it mean, they are not at all giving any such reaction I wanted them to. Are they lying? No they cant......Then who had given me this present, the most weird thing is that both are my favourites.
I finished my dinner though I have no interest in doing it. I went to my room and lied down on the bed holding my pillow. I looked so dull. These things are making me crazy. I decided to not to think much and prepare for tomorrow.
I took the assignment and started doing it, I don’t know when I stopped but I was on the bed in the morning.
I woke up half mood but made myself cheered for the day. I got dressed for the college and every thing is on time. I did my breakfast peacefully and go to the college.
College keeps me busy all the time. Today, the lecturer reduced the deadline for the assignment just because he is going for a leave. I am really pissed off with this news. How would I complete it on time. I wanted my mood to cheer again so I am going to the canteen now. On the way, as I was crossing by the corridors few boys passed comments behind my back. I turned and looked at them. They started laughing in themselves.
I got angrier now I walked towards them and said, “What’s your problem?”
“Nothing”, Abhi from that group smirked.
I kept staring at them and said, “Jerks....”
“How dare you say that?”, another guy standing beside Abhi said.
“How dare you guys comment at my back?....Say it on my face, C’mon”, I said annoyingly.
Abhi stepped forward, much closer to me. Everybody started staring at us, crowd is always interested in the fight rather than solving it. We both are looking at each other angrily, he is about to say something. Shreya came, I don’t know from where but she held my arm and pulled me back. I tried to release myself from her caught but she forcefully took me to the canteen before I could created any issue.
I asked her to leave me.
“What were you doing there?”, she said holding my arms even tighter.
“They started first......You know na, Abhi is always this way since I have rejected him he tries to bully me every time with his gang.”, I said.
“You’re not a kid, Why are you so short tempered? You could have ignored them, right.”, she said strictly and released my arms.
I started making face.
So she said, “Okay Lets have something now.”
We chatted for sometime and then moved to our classes.
I more boring lecture and I think the professor is also tired now. He is taking multiple break during this period. I am sucked by the things happening with me. I sighed. And waiting for the day to end.
Anyhow the college is dismissed. I saw Abhi with his gang on the out way from the room. They looked upset. Abhi came forward and said, “Sorry”
I looked at him surprisingly and my jaw wide open.
Abhi continued, “Please forgive us, we are not going to bully you anymore.”
I am unable to respond. Are they kidding me? I mean how can they change suddenly? What’s going on? What have happened to them? Are they really guilty? But how?
I clamed myself and said, “Its okay”
And they left without uttering a single word.
Its wired. What just happened now? Abhi always shows attitude to me and he suddenly arrived to apologize for what reason. Something’s fishy, with this.
Before any further mess could happen with me I went home. My head was spinning with random thoughts so I decided to sleep early and ignore the things what happened till now, as much as I can.
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To be continued.....
