Few months later…..
*Akhila Pov*
“Di! Where are you?” Kritika asked immediately when I lifted my phone.
“I am in Mumbai!” I replied taking my luggage out.
“What? But you said you will return today. We are in station for you.” She said and continued to ramble.
“Idiot! She is joking.” I heard Ri’s voice.
“Were you joking Di?” She asked and I saw them looking everywhere.
“What do you think?” I asked standing infront of them.
“Di!” They both shouted and hugged me.
“I missed you both!” I said hugging them back.
“Not more than us for sure.” Kritika said.
“You said few months but you never said few months means six months.” Ri complained.
“They just extended their training.” I said smiling.
“Shall we go home? I am tired.” I added and they both nodded.
Ri got a driving license so she drove us to our house in Priya Di’s car. We went inside and I flopped myself on the couch.
“So how are you both coping up alone here?” I asked after drinking some water.
“Priya Di just left two months back right. So these two months were like ok but before them were like so fun teasing Bharghav Jiju and all.” Kritika replied smiling.
“Is he still searching for everything on Google?” I asked remembering how he threw advices at each and one of us searching from google site.
“Yeah! I hope so. I mean it would be worse if he is doing the same thing in their honeymoon too.” Ri said smirking.
“Think before you say something Ri.” I said scolding her.
“Di! I am twenty now.” She said grinning.
“So? I am still your sister.” I said shrugging.
“Where are these two? As per Di they must be already here right?” I asked and they both blushed making me laugh.
At the same time we heard the door bell and I laughed more. Ri walked towards the door and opened it and those two entered the house with big grins.
“So finally you two are here?” I asked turning towards them.
“How are you Di?” they asked coming towards me.
“I am fine!” I replied and asked them to sit.
“Priya Di will return tomorrow.” Kritika said and I nodded.
“Even Uncle?” Kalyan asked.
“No! She will return alone.” Ri replied shaking her head.
“What?” Sanjay asked.
“When they left together then they will return together right.” I replied and hey both nodded.
“Actually Dad wants to meet you when I told him that you are here.” Sanjay said and I frowned.
“Ok! I will meet him now.” I said and he nodded.
We all walked inside his house and saw that Sir and Madam are already waiting for us. I smiled and greeted them.
“Can I have a word with you Akhila?” Sir asked and I nodded.
We both walked inside his office room and I heard Sanjay whispering “Now the emotional movie scene will start.”
“Huh?” I asked him turning around and he just shook his head.
I frowned and sat down walking inside. Sir sat infront of me and said “Thank you!”
“For what Sir?” I asked him frowning more.
“You don’t know what happened after graduation?” he asked shocked.
“No! After graduation I just left for Mumbai the very next day. So I really don’t know what you are saying Sir.” I replied.
“You have changed him Akhila.” He said smiling.
“Who?” I asked him holding the chair.
“Khushal! He has changed.” He replied happily.
“I am happy for you Sir. But I didn’t do anything.” I said getting up.
“No! He started living with me from Christmas and then the change I saw in him is marvelous.” He said when I walked towards the door.
“Sir! Like I said I am really happy that all this happened. But trust me it is not because of me.” I said and walked outside to see five pairs of eager eyes.
“Did he say his gratitude?” Madam asked and I just sighed.
“Madam.. I mean Aunty I am happy for you too but I am nowhere the reason for this.” I replied and walked outside the house.
“Di! What they are saying is true.” Sanjay said running behind me along with Kalyan and my sisters.
“No! I didn’t do anything. So don’t say all this to me again.” I said turning around towards them.
“I am tired and I am going to sleep.” I said and walked inside our house.
I lay on my bed and sighed thinking how stupid I am. I thought I forgot everything but I didn’t. He never left my thoughts but I just blocked them with all the effort I can.
I saw him six months back on graduation and also in Di’s wedding. After that I never saw him and he too left me alone like I asked him.
But now these all are saying that I changed him. I never wanted to change him and I loved him like he is always. Yes I want him to be safe and happy. That’s all!
I know how much I stopped myself from being with him when he said he loves me too. I miss him! I closed my eyes and drifted off into sleep.
Next day I woke up to see Ri and Kritika working together in the kitchen. I smiled walking towards them and greeted them.
“I never thought I will see this day.” I said smiling at them.
“We can’t do anything without the other Di. I am even fine without her but she is lost case.” Ri said and Kritika hit her shoulder.
“Don’t fight in the kitchen.” I warned them.
“Ask Sanjay to learn how to cook Kritika.” I added and she suddenly started coughing.
“Di! Please don’t say that again and mainly infront of him.” She pleaded.
“I heard that Kalyan already knows how to cook.” I said looking at Ri.
“Yeah! But he doesn’t like to peel any vegetables.” Ri said smiling.
“Who are going to the airport in the evening?” I asked them while having the breakfast.
“We all are going. Even Sanjay and Kalyan are coming with us.” Ri said and Kritika just looked down.
“I will just look around.” I said walking outside the house.
Not so surprisingly I went everywhere where I have spent time with him. But when I started returning home I saw all too familiar face.
“You!” I said walking towards him.
“Akhila right?” Anil asked and I nodded.
“So how are you feeling getting my business entering into loss?” He asked.
“Excuse me?” I asked him frowning.
“You don’t know?” he asked shocked.
“What?” I asked him back.
“Khushal left the dungeon nearly ten months back.” He replied and I just stood there stunned.
“What?” I asked him in whisper.
“So you really don’t know what you did.” He said shaking his head and left from there as some guy reached the place.
I want to shout at him that I didn’t do anything. I didn’t do anything! I said to myself and walked inside my house.
We decided to throw a welcoming party at night for Di and Jiju. So we started preparing the decorations.
In the evening when Sanjay and Kalyan reached to leave for the airport. I looked at Sanjay and asked “He left fighting?”
“No!” Sanjay replied frowning.
“But that Anil said…” I trailed off.
“He left that street fighting thing.” Sanjay added.
“Can you please talk in some language in which I can understand?” I asked him.
“He is still fighting Di! But good fighting.” He replied.
“Human language!” I said sighing.
“He started taking classes for a sport and he immediately got selected for state as he was already good at it.” Kalyan said.
“He recently got selected representing India and he even had a recent fight with another country.” Ri said proudly.
“And that sport is?” I asked them in whisper.
“Boxing! He is boxing now.” Kritika replied and I just stared at these four.
“You guys are not joking!” I mumbled to myself.
“We are getting late. Let’s go!” Kalyan said looking at his watch.
When I walked outside I saw that there are two cars. One is Priya Di’s and the other is Princi’s.
“We four will go in this Di’s car. You drive that car Di. We should pick up even Jiju’s friend from the airport.” Ri said and I nodded at her.
We reached the airport and stood near the entrance waiting for them. Finally we saw both of them walking outside and we three shouted for them.
“Di! I missed you.” I said hugging her along with our sisters.
“No one missed me?” Bharghav asked.
“We are there to miss you Uncle.” Kalyan replied and he hugged him along with Sanjay.
“So how is honeymooning with google Uncle?” Sanjay asked grinning.
“I stopped using it and I think I learn enough things on how to be romantic.” He replied smiling.
“Trust me Uncle! Nothing is enough. So we need to try new things to be more romantic everytime.” Kalyan said.
“Will you guys stop calling me Uncle?” Bharghav said glaring at them.
“Shall we go?” I asked them.
“Sure! But my friend is also coming with us and his flight is little late.” He replied.
“I think it landed now.” Di said and we waited for some more time.
“Do you know who his friend is?” Di asked looking at me.
“No!” I replied.
“It’s Khushal!” She said and my eyes widened.
I was about to walk away but then got a glimpse of him and stood rooted in my place.
But within minutes I sighed because there is some girl hanging on his arm with a grin on her face.
These six looked at me after seeing her with a frown on their faces and I shook my head saying “I will wait in the car.” And walked towards the parking lot and sat behind the wheel.