Love Arranged

Chapter 6

I woke up feeling good and refreshed. I knew only 1 week was left for the exams to begin and then I would be done with my final exams. I got up from bed after lazing around for a good 10 minutes. Went into the bathroom and finished my routine and rushed to the dining table only to see my favorite food being served. My sister had made waffles with cream for me. Wow… I love her so much. I finished my breakfast and headed to my room to start studying for the day. Sam was not at the breakfast table, maybe he had gone to college or home. No ... he said he is staying here for this whole month. So, he must have gone to college. 

I sat and studied for a good 5 hours and after which I relaxed for a while. It was around 4 in the evening when Sam entered the house all exhausted. I was surprised to see him like this. “Sam, what happened? Why do you look as if you were in some fight?” 

“Well… it's nothing of that sort” he was scratching his head and was not at all looking me in the eyes. This boy better has a good reason or I am beating him to pulp today. 

“Sammy … I don't think so…. Just vomit before I lose my cool” I whisper yelled at him

“Just fought. but nothing to worry about. It's not something that I cannot handle, okay?” He walked towards me and placed his hand on my cheek. God, his hand is cold. 

“I think you should freshen up, eat and get some rest,” I said that and left from there. 

I just don’t understand why this guy has to get into fights? It is not that he is still in school. I still remember that day when he bet that guy till he bled out. He beat the s**t out of that guy just because he made a very dirty comment on me. I mean when is this guy going to get his senses? Huh! What will he do once I am out of here? Who will take care of him and his anger issues? Anyways I just hope things get better with time. 

Now that the day is coming to an end, I just realized that exams are starting the day after tomorrow. I didn’t even realize when the days just flew by and it was already exams. Pops also came back a few days ago. He looks really tired. I feel bad for him, he still works day and night. Whereas, he can stay at home and rest. He kept his promise of being there during my exams. It's been a tradition for all of them to come along with me to the exam center as good luck and then they would wait for my exam to get done and then we would go back home altogether. It’s fun!!! When Sam was in school with me, we both used to go to these exams with everyone together, as if we were all going on a picnic. I don't know if Sam is going to come now as he has college to attend. 

I was fixing my bag for the exam, I was making sure I had my hall ticket in place, my school ID card, pens, pencils, scale, and every other stuff that I would need for my exam without any issues. Just then when I was scavenging my desk for my favorite pen, I heard my room door c***k open. I turned to see who it was, it was none other than Sam, he was leaning on the door frame and looking at me as if he wanted to say or ask something but was contemplating it within himself, whether he should ask or not. I looked at him with raised eyebrows. He just shrugged his shoulders to my reaction and came in and sat on my bed silently observing all my actions. Sometimes we just prefer to be silent. Only our company and presence around each other are comforting. I will miss all this once I leave for the States. I still don't know how to break the news to them. 

I sighed within myself and decided to think about the USA topic once the exams are done. 

I didn’t know when the day came to an end and I tucked myself in the comforter and hugged my pillow and slept as my exams were starting from tomorrow. 

I was woken with a loud bang, I mean who wakes up anyone so loudly and annoyingly. When I opened my eyes to see who it was, it was none other than Sam. I was surprised to see Sam waking me up as I thought he must have gone to college and he would not be able to come to drop me off at the exam center. “What are you doing here?” I asked him a bit shocked. I mean I didn’t expect him to be at home. 

“What do you mean by, what am I doing here?” he asked me with a confused expression 

“I mean, I thought you were going to college today and wouldn't be home. You know” I just stated it as a matter of fact by shrugging my shoulders at him. He was looking at me as if I cursed him for something he did. In anticipation of his response, I raised my eyebrows, asking for him to say something. 

“Why will I not be there for your exam Pihu? I mean we have always gone together to the exams. So, what, if I am not in school anymore? That does not mean that I am not allowed to accompany you for your exam, right?”

I looked at him apologizingly and responded “okay Sorry, I know I shouldn’t have said what I said. I am so happy you are coming to my exam center. Yay!” 

I jumped off the bed to get ready for the exam. I quickly rushed into the bathroom, took a cold-water bath so that my brain cells are working perfectly fine for the exam. I came out of the bathroom and quickly got dressed, picked up my exam bag, and rushed out of the room to the dining table to have my breakfast. When I entered the dining room I see that everyone is sitting and having their breakfast. After such a long time the house seems to be full. I couldn’t feel less special as everyone made time to come to my exam center today and wish me luck. Then I quickly finished my breakfast and waited patiently for everyone to finish their breakfast as well. 

“Ah... come on now. Eat quickly or else I am going to be late for the exam” I frowned looking at everyone having their breakfast so leisurely. 

“Come on kid, we are almost done. Have a little patience. We will not be late for your exam.” said Akshay pa. 

I stood with my hand crossed at my chest and glaring daggers at everyone. All of them finished their breakfast quickly and got up. Sam started laughing at my childish behavior. After this, we headed down to pick the bigger car in which all of us could fit. We had a seven-seater so Akshay pa took it out so that he could drive it. 

I sat in the back seat with Di and Sam. Dad sat in the passenger seat bride Akshay Pa. Normally, we don’t take the driver when Akshay pa is also along with us as he prefers to drive the car to have some privacy among us. So likewise, Akshay pa was driving today to my exam center. 

After driving for about 45 minutes, we arrived at my exam center. “Here we are princess,” said Akshay pa, to gain my attention as I was currently engrossed in my books for the last-minute revision. No matter how much or how well you study the last-minute quick revision right before the exam does wonders to the brain.

I still had 30 minutes to go. So, I was planning on utilizing the last 25 minutes which I had in hand to finish the last-minute revisions. Once I was done, I got off the car, waving at my family who was proudly looking at me. I guess I saw Akshay Pa’s eyes moisten. So, here goes to everything I worked hard for. The first stepping stone to a new life will begin soon.

I heard all of them shouting “All the best!” to me when I was about to enter the premises. I turned and gave them a big smile and waved bye to them.

I enter my exam center and class to give my exam. I sit at my designated place and look for my best friend Scarlet and Ajay who were sitting at their designated places and smiled at them and mouthed “All the Best!” to both of them with a thumbs-up sign. They both responded the same way. After another 5 minutes, our invigilator distributes answer sheets and questions papers to all of us and asked us to begin our exam.

The race against time begins and I am engrossed in the question paper and writing my exams that I don’t even pay attention to any activity within the classroom. After the 3 hours, I met my friends outside the classroom and asked them as to how did they do their exam and then wished them all the best for their next exam and rushed out of the exam center premises to meet my family who was eagerly waiting for me in the car.

When they saw me coming out with all smiles, they all breathed out in relief. After that, we all were back home. We all had lunch together and after lunch, everyone retired to their own chores for the day and Sam and me dosed off on my bed together like always.