AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He laughed as he stood up to take one of the chairs next to her. “What can I get you to eat, sweetness?”
“Don’t. This is getting out of hand,” she grumbled.
“So… it was because of what that asshole did to your roommate?” His question threw her off a bit, and when she understood what he was asking, she nodded. He thought for a long moment, his eyes on her. “How long have you known your roommate?”
She shrugged. “Does it matter? She didn’t deserve to be treated that way.”
He nodded, looking away for a brief moment, and then back at her. “What would you like to eat?”
She rolled her eyes. “I don’t need this.”
“Yes, you do.” His voice was suddenly stern. “Nothing changes about our deal.”
She let out a huff, rolling her eyes. “I didn’t expect a pardon as a result of becoming your fake girlfriend.”
“Good.” She saw the wicked smile play on his face. “This is going to work out much better for me.”
From the frying pan right into the fire. Great!
*****
Later that night, Rana was about to crash for the day when his mother called. He felt a sliver of fear, wondering why he was getting a call that late at night. “Ma, everything okay?”
He heard her mother laugh and also heard his father’s voice in the background. “More than okay. Guess where we are?”
With his father’s limited mobility, his parents were mostly home or at the office. “You’ll have to give me a clue, or you should tell me.” He chuckled.
“Your dad and I went out on a date and wait, I’m going to turn on the video,” she said, and a moment later, he saw the loving face of his mother. “Oh, my baby, you look so tired. Are you getting enough sleep?”
He brushed away her concern. “I’m fine. Look at you, you’re looking awesome, Ma!”
“Thank you, baby. Let me show you my date.” His mother flipped the camera, and the sight in front of him brought tears to his eyes. “Dad,” he said, his voice shaky when he saw him standing with no support or walker, and he was walking normally.
“Surprise!” His mother was ecstatic. “It has been so hard to keep this from you while your dad worked on the new treatment. He no longer needs a walker, sweetheart.”
“That’s amazing.” He fought back happy tears. “After all these years.”
His mother blew him a kiss. “I know how sad you were, and that’s why we couldn’t wait for you to know.”
Rana looked at her for a long moment. “I can never forget what we went through. This is all because of—”
“Baby, let’s not go there. Remember what our guru told you.” She paused like she had a flash of the emotions from the dark days. “No one is to be blamed for what happened.”
“Ma—” Rana was getting worked up.
“Ranveer Simha, my Veeru baby,” his mother said sternly. “All that matters now is that we are all happy and healthy. And Daddy and I cannot wait to see you.” She gave him a broad smile.
He let out a laugh. “I can’t wait to see you guys.” Rana was thrilled. “What did my uncles say when they saw Daddy walk?”
“It’s a surprise for everyone in the family. Don’t tell your cousins yet. Your dad wants to surprise his brothers when we all get together for your aunt’s annual celebration.”
“That’s going to be epic, Dad. I promise not to say anything to anyone in the family.” The image of his mom and dad standing while holding each other was one he had not seen in years.
Rana spoke to his parents for a few more minutes and ended the call. He had a smile playing on his lips long after he ended the call.
He replayed the scene he had seen on the phone over and over again because it was something he thought he would never see. Not after the near-fatal accident he had following a meeting with the Varmas. The trauma their entire family went through after the accident where he thought he would lose his father, especially the way he lay in the hospital bed with machines keeping him alive. The years his father spent in the bed, then in a wheelchair, and for many more using a walker for support, the pain and fear he grew up with suddenly seemed to melt away just at seeing the joy in his mother’s face.
How is that possible? How can one such moment change so many pent-up emotions? Just like how he felt his hatred for the Varma girl melt when he found out she had vandalized a car for another girl. Someone she hardly knew, and she put up with his demands with grace.
