With hours becoming days, and days becoming months winter has come
I am continuing my uneventful and normal life of a school kid, going to school, getting back home, doing my homework, helping grandma with chores, playing games, sleeping, and repeat, it's peaceful
The only thing I am missing is the time we spent together with Miss Sanvi, studying with her, talking about various things, cooking together with Grandma and her, and going to shopping
It's only now we realise how big of a part of our lives she became and I regret every day for making her get away because I gave the evidence to the police
Ding Dong
"Who could have come at this hour" Grandma asked me as she put down her phone and got up
"I will check Grandma" walking to the entrance, opening the door
I was filled with emotions of happiness, sadness, and a bit of anger
I want to jump in joy at her and hug her, but that might be a bit too much
"Why are you just staring at me" She asked with an awkward but kind smile
"Welcome back Miss Sanvi"
"Long time no see, Ashwin"
—
"Welcome back Sanvi" Grandma with teary eyes hugged Miss Sanvi, Miss Sanvi too hugged her back
"Come- come inside, would you like something to eat" Grandma is really excited seeing Miss Sanvi after so long that she started stumbling upon her words
With a faint smile, Miss Sanvi nodded and got inside
After quickly preparing some lunch Grandma served Miss Sanvi and took a seat near Miss Sanvi
Miss Sanvi accepted the food with a light thank you as she started eating with Grandma, looking at her kindly and silently, waiting for her to finish eating
Miss Sanvi seems to be feeling awkward while eating, it's understandable though it's been so long that it's hard to remember when we last met, of course I remember about the last time we met it was 8 months ago and even that time she only stayed for a day and left, after that there was no contacts from her, me and grandma were getting worried for her and today she came back, there are a lot of things me and grandma wanted to talk about but didn't want to overwhelm Miss Sanvi so we are waiting for her and trying to make her comfortable
After Miss Sanvi finished her food I picked up her plates put them in the sink and took a seat near Miss Sanvi
Miss Sanvi hesitated to say something and after making up her mind she opened her mouth "Ashwin, Grandma I-I am sorry"
Her words left me and Grandma dumbfounded
"Why are you apologizing Sanvi" Grandma asked her with a concerned voice
"I am sorry for not contacting you for this long, I-I probably made you worried"
Grandma put her hand on Miss Sanvi's shoulder with a kind smile on her face
"Dear why are you apologising about that, just having you sitting here again with us, already made all my worries gone"
Grandma again took Miss Sanvi in a hug and comforted her
"Of course Miss Sanvi, I am also happy to know that you are okay, you are okay right?" I also tried to comfort her like a kid
"Chuckle Of course I am okay how else do I look like" She is smiling again and that makes me happy
She straights herself on her seat and lets out a deep breath as if trying to let out all of her concern into thin air
"I am also glad to see you both seem to be okay," She smiled "I was worried about both of you too" She looked relieved "How long has it been since we got together like this" She asked with a hint of guilt on her face
"Probably not so long" I said because I didn't want her to feel guilty about 8 months of no contact
"I see, But still I should have called you" She looks down
"Sanvi, don't make that face I already told you that we are glad you are doing okay, and you probably were too busy to call us" Grandma looks like she is scolding her "We would feel bad if you cut your work and called us instead, I know you scientist are really busy people even my husband was like that"
"chuckle I-I see" Miss Sanvi looked down, embarrassed as Grandma scolded her
"What about you Ashwin how's your school"
"It is how it's always been Miss Sanvi, I am still the top student in school" I made sure to not slack on my studies though I spent most of my time playing games and reading books
"He spends most of his time at home even when I tell him to go outside and play with his friends" Grandma is making a tired face as if saying 'what am I supposed to do with this child'
"Ashwin, why don't you play with your friends?" She asked looking like she was scolding me
"Hmph there's no point in playing together with weaker kids, they can't keep up with me"
They both looked at me with complicated faces "But they are still your friends" Miss Sanvi said with a troubled face
"Who cares about them outside of school, that aside Miss Sanvi what kind of work do you do" I didn't like where this conversation was going, and I didn't want to ruin the mood by telling them that I don't have any friends because I pushed away everyone who wanted to become my friend, after that incident I can't see anyone as friend and nothing good will come, with them around
They both looked at each other and with a sigh Miss Sanvi looked at me
"What happened?" I asked
"Nothing, it's just, you should care about your friends, they will be the ones to help you in tough times" She said with a troubled smile
"Understood, putting that aside can you please tell me what kind of scientist are you" I am more interested in the work that Miss Sanvi do than having some random friends
"My work huh," she seems to be thinking about where should she start "Well, there are a lot of different kinds of work I do, but I mostly work in the research of rare and incurable diseases"
"Research of diseases? But why diseases do you also make medicine for them, and did my grandfather also worked in the field"
A faint smile appeared on her face as she squinted her eyes "I wanted to help others, and about your grandfather, my professor, he also worked in this field" She looked like she was remembering her past, but why did she look sad
I think it's better to change the topic I probably made her remember something sad "I have noticed you call grandpa professor why is that"
"He was my teacher and also the head of the team that's why I call him professor it just kind of became a habit from my student days" she smiled as she answered
"Head! What do you mean by that" Grandpa never told me about what kind of work he does I only knew he was a busy scientist and whenever I asked him he just laughed it off
"Why are you this excited did professor never tell you" she asked me laughing a little
"No" I answered, moving my head sideways
"sigh I guess he never thought it was something worth telling"
"Miss Sanvi tell me more about his work" I leaned closer in excitement, not wanting to miss out on anything
"So where should I start, "She got into thinking and with a faint smile she looked at me and Grandma
"Your grandfather, the professor was an amazing person" She continued telling me about Grandpa's achievements, how he created cures for countless diseases at a really young age, about the prizes he won, there are no scientists in the world who don't know his name, the things he did makes him a legend "I could never surpass him" she said in a light voice looking down at her hands
For all the years I have known her, Miss Sanvi has been an amazing person in my eyes, and she is saying she can't surpass Grandpa which means Grandpa was a lot more amazing just by hearing about him "I want to become like Grandpa" those words unintentionally left my mouth
"Chuckle That won't be easy you know, your Grandpa was a genius" She says teasingly
"It doesn't matter how hard it would be, I want to become like him" Yes, all this time I was living without a goal, nothing interested me, this is the first time my heart is racing, telling me to do it, nothing can stop me now
"But how do you plan on doing it, your grandfather was a genius but you will need someone to teach you"
"What do you mean by that Miss Sanvi, you will be my teacher"
"Eh!" She looked at me with a dumbfounded face "What!?"
"I mean I can't really think of anyone other than you to be my teacher"
"N-no wait, yes, I don't thinks I am good enough to be your teacher"
"What do you mean by that, you are also a scientist and a really great one at that, you also worked under Grandpa, for me you are the best teacher"
"That's not the point, yes, I am also a scientist who worked under professor but that doesn't mean I can teach you to be like him"
"Miss Sanvi even if you just teach me the basics, that would be of great help you don't have to really teach me everything, after all, I am also a genius," I said "Right?, Grandma" I looked at Grandma for agreement but she has her eyes closed, deep in thoughts
"Grandma?" I called her again
"What!?" A bit startled she asked
"I can become like Grandpa right?"
"Of course, you can, Ashwin," She said with a kind smile
I looked back at Miss Sanvi "Sigh fine I will become your teacher" As she was saying her phone vibrated, looking at it she froze for a moment "I have to go back Ashwin, Grandma" She picked up her bag in a hurry
"Sanvi is everything okay" Grandma also got up, worried
"Yes Grandma everything's okay, you don't have to worry" She tried to smile, laughing it off as nothing as she walked towards the entrance of the house
Grandma and I also followed her to the entrance,
"Sanvi be safe on your way back"
"Of course Grandma"
"And call us too Miss Sanvi"
"Of course Ashwin"
she doesn't seem to be okay but if she isn't telling us then we shouldn't ask her either
I can only hope she will be okay
"Bye Ashwin, Bye Grandma" with that she left
I am feeling a bit angry that when she came back after 8 months she left again so soon
But I can't do anything for that
"Bye….Miss Sanvi"
I hope she comes again