Although the teacher Mr. Wilson heeded to the Clown's advice and stayed away from Sweety, he would feel more close to her listening her life in the building next to, next to his. He also gained a good insight of the school Ignited International, especially when he was proved the affair of Dean and Chairman correct.
Who knew the simple, strict middle-aged woman was into a man out of her marriage!
Rob's phone rang. "Yeah?"
"I have sent you ticket to head Mumbai. Sweety will be going to her parents this holiday." Ah, it was the authentic festival of Durga Puja necessitating holiday of 15 days.
"You're a spook or something? Why do you keep on listening to her when I am there to do the job?" Tragically, he was disturbed to know that he wasn't the only one privy to the girl's life. Even if it wasn't very colorful. She was always silent and enduring every pain life gave her way.
At one point he heard her requesting her mother to tell some Aunt Maliah to bring her eatables other than biscuits. That night during dinner, she also snapped at some girls for food to be so bland and disgusting.
"Hello? Have you turned deaf? Or you have been listening a lot in earphones?" Tyler brought him back in to the talk.
"Uh-huh. I am here." After a thought he added, "I am worried about you. You hear a lot more than me, your girl has no problem with that?"
"No." Came a quick response.
Snickering, Rob remarked, "Say the truth man. I know you have no girl. You never had a girlfriend from the beginning." The silence after brought a triumphant grin on his lips.
"I did have a girlfriend-"
"You DID! Damn you scientist. I didn't know you could love..."
"You are diverting from the topic. She will be coming here. I've arranged the same flight for you. I'll call you when I'll need you." Tyler hung up in hurry. Rob eyed his phone imagining how red his friend must have been.
Ty was always this embarrassed and shy when it came to hooking up with a girl. And Rob was always there to 'encourage' him.
Taking his phone he bit his lip and texted Ty.
'Red cheeks, have you lost your way?'
There was as usual no response. So he wrote more.
'I can take you there, just name it pal.'
'Oh c'mon tell me, I won't take your gal!'
Rob laughed at the rhyme he made two years ago for his dear friend. It was amazing he remembered it. Some things stay in our lives.
"Shut up." Tyler texted back.
'I wish I could see your face now. I will detect red cheeks on your dark face easily.' Adding a winking emoji, he ended the chat with his friend.
Friend.
Never did he expect a friend of his to come back to him. However the state of affairs led them to here, he was not very lonely like before.
"Huh? Since when did I turn lonely? I enjoy my own time! I have always done that. Partying, fun all on my own!"
After reassuring himself he pointed out, "Was I talking to myself just like Sweety? God, she's a bad influence. No, why am I talking? I should say it in my mind! Bloody hell." He collapsed in fatigue finding his mind and mouth were not coordinating together.
Sweety was packing her bag for leaving hostel by evening. Aunt Maliah was the only relative living in the same city as her school. Thus she will be accompanied with her to the airport tomorrow.
While moving out of the hostel with her Aunt she noticed Mr. Wilson walking out of the gate as well. Knowing he will initiate conversation with her the moment she came to his notice, Sweety stopped walking.
"What happened? Why did you stop?"
"Um, I think I forgot to lock my cupboard." Sweety lied to her Aunt, immediately turning back in the hostel.
"Why'd you forget such an important thing?" She heard her Aunt call after her, hopefully Mr. Wilson didn't care to look at them.
After somewhat fifteen minutes, she came out to join her aunt who kept on telling her how responsible she should be since she was an adult now.
This was fine for Sweety to endure, she had learnt living like this.
Aunt Maliah's home.
Filled with cobwebs on above wall corners, which she didn't bother to point out as once she did and Aunt blamed her only for increasing her work. As if she build those webs herself! That day on, she wisely decided to not interfere in Aunt's home matters.
Which involved not being able to complain of the boiled vegetables and bread as dinner. Who gives a hostel student such bland and tasteless food after she came from school!
Normally she heard others speaking how they ate kababs, chilli chicken, smoky momos and a lot more. But she couldn't even demand that here.
Undeterred Sweety tried calling Ethan, Aunt Maliah's son. He lived with his mother and he was the best when she craved to eat something. "Hello Ethan? Please get me-"
"You came back! Wow, how many days this time?"
"I am going Mumbai tomorrow, don't you know? Okay first listen! Bring some kababs or barbecue, Aunt is making some boiled watered vegetables." She added that with a distaste.
He laughed at her misery, "That is called a broth and it is very healthy compared to street foods you like!" He scolded her like the big brother he was. Even if he was her cousin, she loved him like her own brother.
Instantly Sweety rebuked, "As if you like eating the same thing everyday! I know you eat from outside and then come back home saying you are not hungry. You are getting a chance to bring good food home so do it!"
"Alright, alright! I'll get it but you have to do the same head massage. I have been missing that for a long time."
"Then that will cost another big dark chocolate." Sweety offered smiling.
"Fine! Anything else, Madame?"
She cheekily answered, "Come home soon. Ok bye, I think your Mom came back from terrace!" She hung up and put her Aunt's phone back in its place, resuming back to studying.
Since she did not have her own phone yet, mostly because she was studying in Ignited International which forbade kids from using phones. And every time she comes here from hostel, Aunt would make a fuss about almost everything she did.
No touching her phones.
No sitting on sofa with your legs spread out.
No idling around.
No... a lot of things she was irritated to follow upon. That was why she avoided overstaying her Aunt's house. Maliah Flores was her father's sister, yet she behaved like a distant relative unwelcomed at her sight.
She was busy in her thoughts with her book open, of course she couldn't concentrate, tomorrow she'll go see Dad, Mom and Tessa! After three months! She could not contain her joy!
"Phone for you." Aunt interrupted her, handing her the cell.
"Hello?"
"You came home at your Aunt's place but you could not suffice a time to call your Dad?" Papa yelled at me. And just like that her happiness came crashing down.