Love Arranged

Chapter 10

I was able to hear different voices. It was not one person speaking, but there were a group of people talking. I felt like they were all very serious and stressed out. I know who’s this voice belongs to but, why can’t I figure out who’s is it. I want to hold this person in my arms and tell them everything is going to be fine. I am unable to do anything. But why are they so stressed? Why? Aaahhhhh… My eyes hurt and everything else also hurts. I am trying to open my eyes… but everything is so bright, and it hurts. 

I try to open my eyes finally, first I am blinded because of the bright light in the room and then slowly I start to make sense that I am not in my room for starters. Then I realized, I was in Sam’s room! Oh My God! How long was I asleep? Last thing I remember was, I was sitting outside Sam’s room and now I find myself on his bed. Oh God! There better be a good explanation of my situation. I am starting to get paranoid and that’s when I see my sister and worried Sam sitting by my bed and whispering among themselves. They still dint notice that I woke up. I call out my sister “Di” and then both of them at once look at me and ask at once “are you okay?”

I just looked at both of them in confusion. 

“You gave us quite a scare young lady,” my sister was the first to break the silence…

I looked at her and said “sorry” and then i asked “water please” 

Sam rushed to my side with a glass of warm water in his hand. I looked at him and he smiled at me. Then he helped me sit straight and then he helped me with the glass of water which I drank as if my life depended on it. It felt as if, I was having that glass of water after ages. Just with a glass of water, I felt so much better and then I looked at my hand. It had a needle stuck to it and  I kept staring at my hand and then my sister spoke after she saw me staring at my hand. “Pihu you were unconscious for the last 3 days and we were really worried. So, Doc uncle came in and checked you and put saline. That's the reason you see that in your hand sweety. Now that you are awake, we will let him know so that he can come and have a look at you and then they will remove the needle as well.” 

“Oh ... okay” 

“Pihu” Sam called me 

“Yeah” 

“Look, I am sorry I overreacted and behaved really very bad with you. I should have understood your intentions better than anyone else. I know you meant well but I felt hurt and so I reacted in that manner. But when I saw you passed out, outside my room I freaked out! I mean you have never passed out like that and when I saw you lying unconscious outside my room, trust me I just can’t explain it to you. The fear of losing you was killing me, and I can't lose you dude. When you did not wake up even after trying everything, I freaked out and then you were burning up. You were running a fever. I stressed you out so much, I am so sorry Pihu. I will support you with whatever you want to do in your life, even if that means you going to the USA. I am in this with you and your dreams and plans. Please don't stress yourself anymore.” I kept looking at him in awe. I mean yes, I was stressed out as my only best friend was not talking to me and was avoiding me big time. Now that he said all that, I mean I can breathe now. And the next thing I did was to hug him.  

“Sammy, I love you. You know that right and I am sorry really, I am. I did not want to keep it from you at any cost. No more secrets. No more okay. I am happy you forgave me at last.” We hugged and made up. Phew! It feels good to be back on talking terms with my best friend. It just feels good to make up with your friend.

“Okay, so now it looks like both of you have made up after a week-long cold war. Pihu, shall we go home now?” asked my sister looking at me 

Before I could say something, Sam spoke” let her stay here for a few more days please… she is still not completely fine as she just woke up. Once she is fine and the color returns to her face. I will kick her out myself” he made a face after saying the last statement and looked at me

“Alright kids… I am leaving right now. You two can continue fighting after I leave, okay? Anyways, Pihu your exams are done so I guess you deserve this break. Eat well and have fun sweety.” she left after saying all that

“I think I should move into my room. So, if you can help sir. And what's with that look, Sammy? You should get cleaned up. I am going to try and walk to my room.” I tried getting up from my bed and lost balance. Before I hit the floor Sam caught me and helped me to my room. 

“You are still very weak Pihu, take it easy. Right now, you need to eat a lot and rest a lot. Only then are you going to gain your strength back. So let me help you okay”

After I reached my room, he helped me sit on my bed and covered me with the duet and left me to rest. After like an hour Doc uncle came and checked me out and gave me medicines and removed the needle from my hand. He asked me to rest and eat well. Aunty came in after a while with a tray full of my favorite food. I just love her for that. She is like my second mom after my sister. After my dinner, I just took the medicines and fell asleep sooner than I thought. 

A few days passed by with me eating food in the room and resting, until all the medicines were done, I was eating and resting. After what felt like ages, I was feeling all good and healthy again. It was then, I decided I should get back home now. I told Aunty and Sam. Sam insisted on dropping me home. On the way back he was very quiet, and I did not know why he was so quiet. So I decided to break the silence” Sam why are you so quiet? What's bothering you?”

I was looking at his face, to understand what was wrong. “Nothing, everything is fine” 

“Then why are you giving me the silent treatment? Are you still angry?”

“No… I am not angry. I am just wondering why you want to go back home so soon. You just got better, and we couldn't even spend time properly.” and he looked at me after switching off the engine

“Well, I don't have any more clothes and I thought I should come home for a few days as Di and Pops might be worried about me.”

“Hmmmm…. Okay. so you will come back home soon?” 

“Yea I will come soon. We will spend all the time together then. Anyways you only have to run around with me for all the paperwork and VISA process.” 

“Yea I know that goes without saying. Anyways, when are the results coming out?”

“In another week or so, I guess” 

“Alright!!!”

I stepped out of the car and walked into the apartment after waving him bye. Once I entered the house. Akshay Pa bombarded me with so many questions as to what had happened to me and why I was not home. It's not like Di did not tell him, but he still has this habit of ripping me off. I looked at Di for help and she laughed off. 

“It's not like you did not know Akshay Pa? And why did you not come to see me?” I crossed my arms and looked at him, like I was mad at him. 

“Well, your sister did not let me come as I would have carried you back home and she did not want me to do that. So, I was restricted from coming to see you” he was so sad when he said that to me., 

“Awww… you are so sweet Akshay pa” thank the heavens Di did not let him come. He would have carried me back home for sure. He is very protective of me in that way. 

After talking to them for a while I went into my room and fell on the bed. I was just thinking about the past few days how eventful everything was. Just then my phone dinged… I expected it to be Sammy, but I was surprised to see from who it was….

“Hey”

“Hey” I sent back

“How are you?”

“I am good.” I am wondering why suddenly now.

“I heard you were not well. How are you now?” 

“Oh! I dint know news travel so fast. Well, I am doing good now thanks for asking” wow… seriously. You never spoke to me in school and today out of nowhere you text me. Great! 

“Such news indeed travels fast.”

“How did you get my number?”, off course, I need to the snitch who gave my number out so that I can kill him/her.

“I always had your number” 

Is he flirting with me right now? I never expected a text message from this guy. Of all the people in this world. This guy had to text me. I mean how did he even know I was not well? Sam would never tell him. I know he is the stud of school, but I never spoke to him and neither did he while we were in school for so many years. Why now? 

“Anand Sinha, texts me out of the blue. Must be my lucky day,” It’s strange and shocking.

“Why can’t I, text you Pihu Kapoor?”

Oh wow… you have got some nerve Anand Sinha. 

“We never spoke in school all these years. Why would you want to text me now, out of the blue? Unless you need something Sinha” 

“I was scared to approach you when we were in school. And now I am not scared, and I really wanted to get in touch with you, Kapoor. I always wanted to get to know you” 

Ooh… confessions or games…. Sammy is going to kill him, if he gets to know this guy’s behavior. Weird 101…. What was I a ghost when we were in school, that he was scared to approach me? What nonsense is he brewing? I am not interested in him flirting and trying to build a connection with me now. Such a lame flirting skills, I mean kids are better than him. Uh! 

“Glad you could text me today. So now I know, the whole school has my number.”

“I don't know about the whole school, but I have had your number for quite some time. I don't think the whole school would want to text you tonight”

“Great… so now that, the great Anand Sinha has approached me after all these years. How can I help you?”

“I texted you, to know how were you doing now? And if, we could catch up sometime this week or next week? I mean I can pick you up from your place and we could go out for lunch, coffee and drive?”

This guy really has got some nerve. What does he want? Is he asking me out on a date? Or he just wants to hangout? What kind off an i***t is he? 

“I don’t really understand…. What are you asking? Because we never chilled out in school and now you are suddenly asking me for lunch, coffee and drive. Are these like options you are giving me to choose from or it’s what you are planning for the day?” 

“What exactly are you asking for Anand?” 

“I am asking you out Pihu, will you go on a date with me?”

OMG!!! I was not expecting this. Is he for real? Why does he feel that I will be willing to go on date with him? 

“I can’t go on a date with you. But we sure can catch up for a coffee sometime”

“Okay, then let’s start with coffee”

He is very optimistic for sure… anyways there is nothing to start as there is no story here. I will show him the other way some other day. For today, let him have his day. 

“Alright! Good night” 

“Good night Pihu” 

Great... I just dint want to continue this talk anymore… I need to update Sam about this guy for sure. This guy sure sounds like some stalker to me.