chapter 77

    " You okay?" , we both asked in unison and I couldn't supress my smile. Above all she cares. Usually she won't meet my eyes but right now, she was searching every inch of them for any trace of answer and I couldn't help but admire her care for me. " What's funny to you?" , she asked irritated.    " My wife cares so much for me. I am touched. ",  I replied tucking the loose strands behind her ear. She pushed me away a bit and turned her heels away from me but I held her wrist before she could walk away." I was genuinely worried!" , she mumbled her head low and tone sad.     " I know darling. But it's all fine. I am fine. You don't have to worry so much. I can handle these peeps. My wife doesn't have to care about all of this. ", I tried to console her but she barely seemed convinced. She turned to face me again giving me the same concerned look.    " I think we should tell our parents. Atleast inform uncle about this.", she held onto my arm as she tried to persuade me.      " You are worrying too much darling. It's not that big of deal. Also my dad knows his daughter can take down such creeps on her own. There's no need to bother anyone. Also I don't think he'd be back after this. Risking his entire career and life and relationship definitely doesn't seem a good idea . ", I tried to laugh it off but the fear in those eyes and the grip remained unwavered. I had to give in.      " Okay okay. Tonight when dad calls, I'll tell him okay? Now smile?" , I pulled her closer wrapping my one hand around her waist while using the other to gently lift up a smile on her face. " Fine. But you are telling uncle everything."" Yes yes. Anything my love says. But now shouldn't you give me a kiss?" " What for?" " For being such an obidient girlfriend. And to light up my mood."     " Doesn't seem bad to me. Not with all the things you are doing to get on my nerves." , she said trying to escape my hold but I just hooked both my hands around her waist.      " Vibha. Stop it. You have to have lunch before you go . Also I have to go to that class for enquiries. So now leave!" , she tried to make excuses but that only gave me more reasons to tease her.        " Who cares about lunch when I have a whole meal in front of me. ", I whispered eyeing her lips and she had to use all her strength to shove me away. I only ended up laughing. This is going to cost me another making upto my wife session but that's the actual fun. " You are really insane."" You are the cause my darling. "     She literally sat across me eating with eyes focused on the plate not once glancing up. " Love."" Baby?"" Darling?"" Honey?"This girl ain't going to respond now ?   " Wifey?"   I caught her almost choking and blushing at the name . She reached out to grab the glass and I love that blush. So  we love being called wifey? " Looks like my darling loves being called by wifey. " " Shut up!", she yelled at me hiding behind the little glass. " Should I ?"" Please." , that was almost a whine and it only triggered my urge to push her limits. She looks so timid and shy right now.  But I chose otherwise. Don't want her getting up from food. " Okay okay. I won't tease you. Just wanted to ask when are you going? Should I drop you?"" I will be leaving in about an hour . We are meeting directly near the class . "" Then I can drop you on the way."" You won't be late because of me ?"" If it's about my wifey, everything else can wait."     She got back to digging into her food and I tried to not choke while laughing. She's really cute when she's all flustered .       We were down the road to the address she had told . I saw Sneha waiting there in advance and I pulled up near her. " You sure don't want me to go with you?", I asked one last time as I unhooked the helmet for her. She just shook her head while Sneha stood there giving me a smile. " Well I will get going then. Take care. Call me if you need anything.", I said and she just gave me a smile. " You too. Take care.", those words were barely audible but I am glad at least she said. That meant a lot for me.      If anyone was smiling more than us than it was Sneha. I guess Aru would have some explaining for her friend but that's her headache. I left for my work.[ Aru's p.o.v ]        She left and I still had my smile on. "You two are dating?" , Sneha asked and I looked at her and nodded. It was a timid nod but what else do you expect. " I knew it!", she chirped. " Knew what?"" You two would end up together. I told you so back in Jr. college. ", she said it with proudest happiest grin. I don't even know how to react. " You two looked cute even back then.", she continued. " You know you two fought like a married couple and even now you two are just like couple. I mean you are couple but you see. What I mean-", I don't understand why was she so happy about it. I just shyly nodded. " So who proposed?", she asked. What do I say? Me ? I proposed? More like threatened. " It was just umm random."" You guys randomly realised you love each other and should end up together?" "Kind of." I don't even have any explanation to this. Why is she so curious?" Have you told anyone yet?"I shook my head." I guess you and Prisha must be the only ones knowing."" Ohh. Umm if it's not too personal but what about your family?", she asked it and I realised the shift in tone. " We haven't told anyone yet. It's hardly been few days."" Oh. But...umm will they like- be okay? I mean will they accept?"    That question, I never asked myself, never occured to me. I hadn't considered all of it while actually getting into the relationship.What will their reactions be? I don't think Vibha would ever have any problem about that. Uncle as I have known him would support her any decision but still this? I mean dating a girl can he accept though? She's his only daughter won't he want her well settled with some high class rich man?    About my family, I don't think so they will really welcome this news. Well it might have never even occurred to them. Dad appreciates her for her maturity, intelligence, determination, and all those good scores but he definitely wouldn't see her as my potential suitor and mom, she'd consider it nonsense. She just is happy I have a friend to rely on but what would it be like when I break it to her that we ain't just friends. She must consider this all crazy. Granny too is glad there's a friend who visits home and stands by me through all. What would she feel about me when I say I actually am in love with that friend and not just like a friend but like romantically. Would she be disgusted? What would it be - would they hate me? Would they-" Hey . I am sorry if I asked something wrong. I shouldn't have.", Sneha's sudden appology caught me off-guard. I was too drifted amongst those thoughts to even remember my surroundings. " No its, I haven't thought of it yet. I mean like -"" It's okay. It's -"" Hey !" , Niharika interrupted us and I was glad for it . The conversation had already turned way too awkward to be carried on.      The demo lecture we were given was overall a great one. Enough to convince us to enroll. I would have enjoyed it more if only my mind wasn't preoccupied with those thoughts. I kept having this bad feeling. A weird kind of fear, the eerie calmness you'd say before the worse. I would blame it on the topic Sneha stirred. It was to be that fear. But I wasn't still sure. It was as if there was a blackhole in my stomach that would swallow my entire existence. I tried to keep my focus so I don't misout the details but at the back of my mind all kinds of ifs and buts still processed.     We stayed till late evening or to be specific until they convinced us that we should be already joining since we were somehow late and children our age were in higher batches. The next batch was to begin the next week. My phone rung in between. I declined the call considering it was an unknown number. But they didn't stop there.     Which idiot is dying? I finally excused myself and stepped out to answer it. "Hello?"" H-he-el-llo? A-a-ar-suhi?"" Yes."" I-I-am Ab-bhij-ji-ee-t"What the hell? What does he want? I was about to end the call when he blurted out.." Vi-vibha-accident- can-acn you coem-"The words were barely comprehensible. The only two that struck me were ' Vibha ' ' accident.'" What? Where -where is she? Hello?"" H-hospi-pyal- ca-n y-yiucem ", His words were too broken to be understood. " Text me the address!" , I almost yelled at the phone and urgently searched his contact to unblock. The adress was too short . More like just the name of the hospital. He too seems to be barely aware of where he is.I can just hope the rickshaw or taxis here know where it is. " I am sorry. I have to leave.", I urgently gathered my things trying to avoid all the questions thrown at me." A friend had an accident. I have to go to hospital.", I finally answered, slightly irritated.        " How do you know? You got a call from random number!", I was slightly annoyed at the staff girl for all her untimely right questions.       " I know the person who called. ", I replied. I don't really. Could this be some kind of prank? A part of me desperately wishes it is. But I still have to go.      " I will drop you of. Tell me the address.", the staff girl offered. It was no time for me to think of it from any of the perspective. It could be anything from her business policy to pure kindness, from that being a prank call to her actually landing in trouble. Heck I didn't even think before I got into the car with her.      " It's okay. You calm down first. She should be okay.", the girl held my hand as she calmed me down while starting off the car. The entire drive was just me panicked and  getting irritated at every signal that turned red while all I could do was sit here helplessly and pray she'd be fine.     Please let this be just a prank. At any cost, I want her safe.