(Talking to myself) 'Okay, cool your head! It's the weekend. Just step out and take a long breath. It's okay; there is nothing to worry about. Just laugh. Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!'
'Hey! Honey! Is our daughter okay?' whispers my mother to my father behind me.
I turned my head to them. They jumped back behind the sofa.
(In my mind) 'Huh! This twoooo! They are literally so in love with each other. And my love life is full of situationships. Arghhhh!'
So, I went to the nearby park in the afternoon, where some equipment for exercise was also placed, and what? Boom! Bhaskar and Rahul were also present. Why am I here? How about I just die? I feel like my soul just got away from my body. I should run, right?
'Aaaaaaaaaa!' I am running and running, and Bhaskar behind me, 'Waitttttttt! Stoppppp!'
(In my mind) 'Wait! Why is Bhaskar running behind me? Nooo! I can't get caught.'
'Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Rinaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Waittttttttt fooorrrrr meeeeee!'
While running at the end, I reach the dead end. I approached a big wall at the end.
'Wait, what? What do I do now?'
'Rina! Finally I got you!'
'Bhaskar!'
'What? Did you expect someone else?'
'No, I...'
(In my mind) 'Now! What should I do? I have to escape him! I don't know how to face him now. I can't face him. No! No! No! No!'
'Wait! Don't move!'
Bhaskar was slowly coming closer to me.
'Hey! Don't come closer! Wait! Why the hell are you even here? You are a well-known actor now. What if you are spotted with me! A rumour will be spread about you. What if! What if—'
'What if—what? What then?' Bhaskar slowly came closer to me, and here I was being pushed towards the wall.
'What if people think you are dating or something!'
'With whom?' asked Bhaskar in a flirty voice.
'With me!' and here I failed to run for my life.
'Can I ask you something?'
'Wha-What?'
'Were you my girlfriend, somehow, in my past?'
'Aeeehh!'
'What's with that empty expression?'
'No. I wasn't.'
'Then, why were you apologising?'
'Whe-When?'
'That time in the college.'
'That has a different reason. And I am very guilty about how I behaved and talked with you. I know that you don't have any memories right now. But if you had, maybe you would have never forgiven me or would have avoided me. I can explain to you what actually happened if you have some time now.'
'Yeah, sure. I have plenty.'
We went to the park where Bhaskar and Rahul were. But, when I reached there, Rahul was nowhere to be found.
'I think Rahul has gone home by now. After all, it's already dusk now.'
We sat on the swing. While riding, I told each and everything from the very beginning that happened.
'I see.'
'So, once, my brother was your—'
'Yeah.'
'I feel like I missed so many things.'
'Now, what do you think? If you really had these memories, would you have forgiven me?'
'I don't know. Probably, I should not mind about it because you were in love with him blindly. Now, see, if someone tells bad things about someone you love, also that is someone you are not so close with. Then, of course, you will feel bad. Maybe I would have done the same thing.'
A long silence passed away....
'Do you still feel sad? Or miss him or something?' asked Bhaskar.
'No! No! Not at all! I just felt guilty about my behaviour with you to the point I was unable to sleep properly for many nights. I felt rather refreshed when I told you everything that happened. I don't know what you think about your brother, but I will tell you I forgot about him now. I never think about what happened. We were all teenagers when that happened, a time when puberty kicks in. And rather than there being a talk right that first love never comes true. But for me, I would say, 'Thank God it didn't come true.' Ha! ha! ha!'
'Well! truthfully! I never liked my brother. We are stepbrothers. We have different mothers. But still living under the same roof but being treated like a sidekick really hurts. After all, I am that father's child too. I have some rights as his son too. I know I don't remember my past now. That doesn't mean I will be treated like shit. Sometimes, my stepmother used to lock me up in the room after I lost my memory. I don't know whether he did that before the accident too or not. But I really used to get scared. But, now, I am used to it. I just promised to myself once I get super rich, I will cut ties with this family and live my own life. I wanted to be an actor from the moment I started watching various dramas. I will make this a means to escape from this family,' said Bhaskar with a sparkle in his eyes full of determination.
'You wanted to be an actor before too. You told me about this before too. You know what? Your determination makes me thinkof someone. He was my first friend in primary school. His name is—'
'Ajay Dash', said Bhaskar with confusion in his eyes.
'How did you know that?' I asked.
'I don't know. A picture or image came into my mind. I don't have a clear idea because it was blurry. But I clearly saw a girl in that image. And someone was introducing himself to her. And what he said was "Ajay Dash". The girls looked like you a lot at first sight. Do we know each other from childhood?'
'Well, you told me that you know me from childhood. But still now I don't have a clear idea where I saw you.'
'Wait! It's 8p.m. now. I have to go now. Otherwise that old man will lock me up now. Anyways, see you in college tomorrow.'
'Yes, bye!'
(To be continued)