Bit Broken.

Together?

 I was really sore when I woke up. The bags under my eyes really heavy to carry. My heart even heavier. I was angry at myself.

"What's wrong?" Papa asked. We were having butter toast and tea for breakfast. "Did you get good sleep last night?"

"Yeah..." I lied. "It's just that I am really tired."

"College, work, tutoring...all together is making you stressed." He sighed. "Why don't you leave the other part time? Tutoring gets us good money."

"No.." I uttered with a jump in my place. I didn't know if Tara will continue my classes. "Give me some days...I hope I'll figure it out. I can balance everything."

I waited for Tara's car that morning but she didn't come. Probably she would skip college, I thought. She didn't have sleep last night after all. She went to the movie with Vijay.  Chill! do not think of it. I uttered in my mind and walked to the college. I stared at the empty front desk where Tara and Vijay sat. They both skipped. Were they really together? Were they already a 'thing'? The fear started to creep  in.

I was barely awake in the classes. In the lunch time, I didn't eat anything. I kept sleeping. After the classes, I out of nowhere was craving an ice cream. I went to the same ice cream parlor, ordered the same cheap ice cream but it tasted totally different that day. Tara's chit chat was not there. Her smile was not there. Her.....Stop! I brushed off the thoughts and started checking Tara's timeline. The photograph was gone. Why did she remove it? I checked Vijay's timeline. Nope. It was really gone.

I quickly went home. Got freshened up. Papa had work in the other side of the park with the fountain. Yeah...a f*****g water fountain.  He had left me some cooked rice and lentil soup with fried vegetable as side dish. I was doing the dishes when I heard someone calling my name from outside.

"What is it?" I shouted. The kids of other servants were quite annoying. I used to give them candies and toys and now they were spoiled. "I don't have anymore!"

"No....Open the door." The kid cried in his high pitch voice. "The king has summoned you..." I had taught them that. I hoped they didn't utter that in front of Mr. Malhotra. "Mom told me to call you."

I dropped the plate in my hand on the sink. The foam splashed all around. I quickly cleaned my hands and opened the door. It was the ten year old boy, short golden hair, hare-lipped  with crooked teeth.

"You are needed in the mansion." He said catching his breath.

I ran to the mansion. Did Tara complain about last night? I was rude, I agree but Tara was old enough to take that. Wasn't she?

"Yes Sir!" I panted. Couldn't stand straight as I held my stomach. The food inside my stomach was wanting a way out. He looked at me. His eyes were wet. The face was missing the usual arrogance.

"She is not opening the door..."His voice cracked. "I might have said something in anger. Last night she went out without...." I felt the father's desperation.

"I'll try sir don't worry..."

"She is there since yesterday. I went to the office thinking she will eventually open the door but the cook told she hasn't came out to eat. My baby...she must me hungry..." He removed his glasses and dabbed his tears with his grey tie. I ran to the stairs, skipping every alternate stair. I reached the door to her room.

"Tara?" I knocked on the door. Banging the door like a lunatic. "Tara, please open the door. It's me....Tanvi. I'm sorry..." I wish I could make her hear my heartbeat. "Tara..." My voice broke. "Are you alright?"

Silence. I couldn't hear a thing. Did she do something? Is she sleeping? Is she conscious? And all sort of bad things started coming to my mind. I at once ran out of the mansion. Mr. Malhotra followed me. "Did she speak to you...hey...where are you going?" He kept asking. I didn't answer. I reached the tree and started climbing it. Earlier it was so easy but today it seemed like a mammoth task. My sweaty palms made gripping the trunk difficult. My palms, knees and arms were covered with multiple abrasions. But it didn't matter to me. I reached the branch which was towards Tara's window. The window was open! I had to make a long jump to get in. Failing would mean, I break my bones or head. Succeeding would mean, everything to me at this point.

I jumped.

I landed on the floor of her room. "Aahhhh" Tara screamed loud, "What are you doing?" She was in her bed, holding a photo frame close to her chest. Messy hair, runny nose and alarmed wide open eyes.

"You weren't ..." I paused to breathe. "You weren't opening the door...I knocked." I got up from the floor and walked towards her.

"Tanvi? Are you stupid?" She gaped at me. "You are hurt!"

"It's okay...they are just minor abrasions...."

"No your left foot....it's bleeding!"

I looked down to that foot. My toe nail was gone. And just then, I felt the burn. I had made a red line along the white marbled floor. "Are you alright?" I asked her.

She got out of the bed and held on hand, "Come sit here..." She made me sit on the bed. "We need to go to the hospital." She said inspecting my toe.

"It's alright. I have had many such inju...." Tara put her palm on my lips.

"Shut up! Am taking you to the hospital!" She took out her first aid kit and covered the toe after putting an ointment. It burned like hell. I couldn't keep my eyes open. I squeezed my knees  as if it would help decrease the pain. "Let's go..."

"No. I won't."

"Tanvi, don't be stubborn..."

"First eat your food and then we can go wherever you want."

 She didn't say anything. she opened the door. Mr. Malhotra entered. "Tara...Thank god!" He hugged her. "I am sorry for..." he looked me, sitting on the bed with the bandage on my foot. I stood up from the bed at once. it felt illegal to sit on Tara's bed. "I see you are injured. I saw you climb the tree..."

"she has to be taken to the hospital!" Tara murmured. "I am really hungry. Can you get me some food?"

Tara ate something, I don't remember what . I was satisfied that she wasn't hungry. I was taken to the hospital, Tara and her dad accompanied me. The doctor opened the wound and examined me. I got  a tetanus shot , a bunch of tablets probably antibiotics and painkiller and  a lot of cold stares from Mr. Malhotra.

When we reached the mansion. Papa was standing near the gates. He held my hand as I got out of the car. "What happened?"

"Nothing serious." Mr. Malhotra uttered. "You are her dad, the gardener right?"

Papa just nodded looking at my foot covered with bandage.

"Dad..." Tara came up to me and held my other hand, "Let Tanvi stay with me tonight....please."

I looked at papa. He stared back at me. Wanting to say something but he didn't utter anything. "I'll be fine." I mouthed with a smile. "Goodnight papa." Papa went with a salute towards Mr. Malhotra.

Mr. Malhotra was probably not happy but he didn't have a choice. His daughter was just out of the damn room and he was surely afraid to deny her.

Tara held me around my waist. I caught my breath at once. I had to act cool...it was difficult. She helped me through the stairs and we entered the room. The blood was cleared. The sheets were changed. The room smelled so good!