Entangled Lives

Chapter XV

THE FIRST LOVE

Soft sound of tiny water droplets hitting the hard floor of the balcony, the swishing sound of trees from the heavy wind, and the occasional rumbling of clouds were the first sound Prachi witnessed when she woke out of her deep slumber. She stretched her body, still lying on her bed, and took her time to open her eyes. Not being blinded by the direct sunlight, that her room have all day long, she usually wake up to, she looked out to see one of her favorite sites.

It was raining.

She jumped up from her bed and almost dashed across her room to go out. She stopped in her tracks, her hand on the door knob. It was when the cool breeze hit her back did she remembered her choice of clothes from the previous night. She turned around and leaned her back against the door as her eyes landed on the small piece of paper near her pillow. She slowly made her way back, almost walking in a daze, and reached for the slightly crumbled page. She picked it up with the intentions of reading it again. To feel her heart flutter on his words again. But she didn't. She stopped her hands from smoothing the page.

Isn't her life just the same. Crumbled. By her own self. When she can't smooth out her life, what's the point of relishing on tiny pieces that'll just puncture her heart even more.

She raised her hand to throw it away. But she couldn't bring her to do that too. How can she throw away a part of her love? She had already been disgusted by herself every time she saw Ranbir broken. How can she just throw away a piece of him?

She brought the paper to her chest. Trying to find some of that intoxicating warmth within it's segments. Still not able to open it though. She walked to her cupboard, opened it in one swift moment and punched in the pin of her locker. She moved her jewelry boxes aside and reached in to bring out something that she had hidden in the far back corner of her locker. She pulled out a small wooden box, and flicked it open. Caressing one of the half burned picture of her and Ranbir's, she quickly put the small paper ball in the box. Closing it shut. She again placed the box in it's sacred place and aligned the jewelry boxes in front of it. She closed the safe, not at all bothering to wipe away the lone tear that had escaped, and pulled out a fresh set of clothes to get ready for the day.

She walked down the stairs slowly, not at all in a hurry. Heart content because of the sweet weather. The earlier glum mood forgotten, owing to the long warm shower. She was late for her usual self, but she didn't care. She slowly made her way to the living room and saw everyone looking at her. More like staring, with an unidentified expression. 

"What is it?" She asked, eyeing them all.

She looked at Shahana, who was stating at her, her face, guilty? She stood up with a bolt, followed by Aryan and Piyush. They both had the same expression on their faces.

"What is it? Do I have something on my face?" She asked again, rubbing her hand on her cheek. She don't use makeup, so it can't be something she forgot to blend.

"Stop staring at me like hawks and tell me what is wrong?" Prachi demanded, putting her hands on her hips.

"You love us right?" Aryan asked with a sheepish smile.

"Huh?" Prachi was unable to process the looks they were giving her and the words asked. She looked at the others, Aarav and Ranbir were barely controlling their laughter.

"Prachiiii...." Shahana asked in a sing a song voice, but it wasn't in the usual tone. "How much do you love us?" She asked with the most innocent face anyone had ever seen her pull off.

"I am..... a lot, maybe." Prachi said, narrowing her eyes.

"What..., how much..., will it take for you to kill us?" Piyush asked, his face scrunching up a bit.