"Where did you go today?"
I look back hearing her voice all of a sudden. I don't get scared of the sudden talk since I'm used to this type of unexpected interventions from her. Momma came home back early today.
"Nowhere special", I reply.
"Tarish? You know it very well that I call you everyday after your college ends. Why were your phone switched off?"
"I don't know! Maybe I forgot to put it on charge at night."
"Why are you so careless?"
"I am not careless momma, you are reckless. You better stop spying on me through your neighbour."
"Tarish, I was feeling anxious!"
"There was no need."
"Okay girl, did you take your food? Your medicines?"
"Yeah sure I did!" I roll over my eyes saying that to let her know that I am perfectly able to take care of myself even without a momma and a papa.
She sighs. She got my sign. She is hopeless now as always. And I also don't want to keep her in any hope.
I turn off the TV and go to my room, my personal jail. The whole house was a jail for me but recently I'm trying to minimize the boundaries. Maybe I'm turning into a rebellious child in the way, but I don't feel sorry for it. The neighbour who came to our house looking for me didn't know it's a jail in disguise. Didn't know who he was looking for. He was looking for a girl who just met with the person she once treasured and also the person who pushed her to death.
I got chills remembering him. I shouldn't have left the lake side so early leaving him there, lying about my momma. I don't care about momma, I care about myself. I couldn't take his presence anymore, while he was so normal with me. Like I was just a normal everyday girl, helping him to explore the area, his classmate. But to me, it was my past and my present, colliding together.
I look out through the window. It was raining a while ago, but now the yellow sun rays are peaking through the curtains, kissing me on my cheeks and eyes. I get up and close the curtains. Sun rays are making me forget Parth's warmth. Forcing me to forget everything like I did before.
I can hear footsteps piercing through my rooms door. I can already guess who's coming. My cousin. He is a psychiatrist. He is treating me for 2 years. More like forcing me to believe that I have got some issues in my little brain. Even if it's real, it's real! What can I do about it? Throw my brain away at the bin? I know why he's coming. Yeah I've been acting like the old Tarish for a couple of days. So my quick-witted momma called the person she trusts more than me.
"Can I come in, Tarish?"
"Lmao what?"
I did that on purpose to let him know that today's not an easy day. I'm rough, so the day is.
He comes in with a slightly cute annoyed face. Directly comes towards me and pulls my right cheek while smiling.
"Girl you know that your momma worries so much for you!"
"You better treat her then."
"Huh I doubt. Then I won't be able to treat you anymore," he laughs.
I am blushing.
"You are gonna see me anyways," i say. "Perks of being cousins."
"Look, I love our silly conversations as much as I hate hearing about your inappropriate behaviours. Can you tell me what's going on?"
"Give me a latte treat. Then I'll think about it"
"You are never gonna give me a break," he sighs and smiles too.
In those 2 years, the sure thing I got to know about him is he can't say no, not at least to me. The reason? I don't know, I don't want to.
"So, how was your day?" he asked.
"C'mon, just ask me why I was late today", I reply giving a snort of disgust.
"Okay, you can share that too with me", he smiles.
" Will you get disappointed on me? Oliver?"
"Did it ever happen in the past 2 years? Tarish?"
"You just over-care for me that's all I know"
"Okay then don't say it"
He is about to leave. I close my eyes in an instance and say "I met him today!"
Oliver stops. He turns back to me, swiftly holds my hands, looks at me with his stunned eyes and ask,"Tell me nothing happened today, please!"
I get a little bit of shock. I take my hands back quickly and say,"No! We just talked, a little. Nothing else. Obviously."
"Tell me everything in detail."
"Okay so he enrolled in my college, in my section. He sits in my classroom. So we came across each other. He recognised me. So did I. And that's all."
Oliver looks like he just gave up on it. He leaves, saying,"Keep me updated."
I sit. Think. Regret.
What in the earth I'm doing?