Your lie that night

Chapter 8

I thought about it all night. I had some savings of 5000 Rs in my purse. And the persistence to meet him in my heart. I didn't know how many days I was going to be gone but I didn't have any reason to be gone from the house to tell my parents. I knew I was going to break their heart but there was no option than running away from it. I filled the suitcase with my clothes and belongings, along with everything I kept my family photo on which my dad was carrying me on his shoulder and mom and Krish were holding me from both sides. How happy everyone seemed there? How happy I was there? I was going to kill all that smiles with my decision but sorry mom sorry dad I didn't have many choices. I promise I will get back when everything becomes normal. I am sure Shreyan will make everything alright.

I left a letter on my bed

Dear mom,

I will be gone for some days. Don't ask me where? why? and how? I just want you to believe I will be alright and will be home soon. You can shout at me, blame and even beat me when I return but until then I want you to have faith in me like you had always. don't search for me it will be futile if you do, don't call me I won't be able to pick up the call just wait for me. I will be home soon.

I love you mom and convey my love to dad and Krish. I will miss you every single second of my life.

Your daughter

Katerina.

That letter was the most difficult one to write in the whole world. I kept turning back, again and again, the tears kept on finding their way again and again and I regretted the thing I was going to do again and again just thinking of meeting Shreyan was fixing me up and I reached the bus park at 3 am. There was no one rather than a man sitting on the counter and a few buses. I went to the counter

'At what time could I get into the bus to Pokhara'

The man looked at me from head to toe with the eyes that made me uncomfortable. 'it will be here at 5 am. For how many do you want the ticket for'

'Just me'

He again looked me with his same evil eyes and I gave him 2000Rs and ran toward a hotel which was empty yet open at that time with the ticket in my hand. What was I doing? the question repeated again and again in my mind. The hotel owner kept on looking at me with suspicion so I had to order a cup of tea to remove his suspicion. I kept a hand on my stomach, a child is supposed to bring joy and happiness but in this case, it brought me hell. It's not your mistake it 's my mistake, it was my mistake to be so irresponsible, it was my mistake to love someone blindly, it was my mistake to think everything was fine. But trust me your dad will make everything right.

In that misery the hope of Shreyan was the one that was fixing me up, bringing a smile to my face. Soon the Watch hit 5 and the tea in front of me was colder I didn't even take a sip of it. While returning to the bus stop I took 50 Rs from my purse and gave it to the owner. He looked at me with a smile

'You didn't even took a single drop of it. I can't accept this money'

'But I ordered it'

'Please, I can't accept it.' He was different his smile was soothing me in that cold, 'Thank you', I couldn't say anything rather than that. The bus was already there in the park. And the dawn was breaking with a little ray of sun coming from the east along with the hope generating in my heart that was saying everything was going to be alright.

My seat was on second last, I went ahead and sat on the window seat after a while a guy maybe in his twenties came toward my seat and sat next to me. My whole concentration was on Pokhara and the condition of my home when they find out I was missing. The bus started moving, I opened the window, and the cold air passing by was hitting my face. Every air that hit me was saying 'You are strong Kate, You are strong.'

I woke up with a jerk when the bus stopped suddenly in front of a hotel. My head was resting on the man's shoulder sitting next to me. I hurried myself up, 'I am sorry', I stammered

'It's okay', said he. I looked at the clock it was already 9 am in the morning, 'We are supposed to have breakfast here. Do you like to go there together', the man next to me asked, all the passengers on the bus were already going down. But I didn't had an appetite and the money I had told me I shouldn't waste that on food. 'I am okay, You can go there', I said and turned around away from him facing the window.

'I will be going then', said he and went outside. I checked my mobile 20 miscalls from mom and dad. they might have read the letter. I knew they would call me, I knew they will force Bella to tell what was wrong with me? and I also knew no matter how much they will force Bella would never open her mouth. My stomach was growling in hunger, I skipped food last night too. If it was just me I would had tolerated anything but I had a small fetus growing inside my womb, I had to feed him. But when I thought that it was already late, all the passenger returned to the bus along with the driver and the man also came next to me. I tried to suppress my hunger when the bus proceeds toward the hometown of my love.

'Grooool', cried my stomach despite me trying to stop it. I looked next to me the man was laughing. How pathetic he must have thought of me? I was embarrassed and kept my hand at my stomach pushing it every time it was making growl. 'have it', the man said I turned around there was a 'Katti roll', wrapped in tissue in his hand.

'No, I am okay', I said and turned around again

'Please, have it. I bought it thinking it would be great to have it on the bus but I am nauseous now. If you don't eat it, it will be spoiled'

'Are you telling truth?'

'Yes, please'

'If it is going to spoil anyway I will consider having it. but believe me, I am not doing it because I am hungry'

'I understand', said he and turned around to the other side. My gut was leaving my grasp out of hunger, I gobbled it as soon as it reached my hands. It was delicious and the satisfaction I got after having that was awesome. My stomach growl again and this time it was growling out of satisfaction.

'Thank you', I said turning around to him

'No, I should be the one to thank you. You saved my roll from being spoiled'

'That makes me sound stupid. I knew you weren't giving it to me in the fear of it being spoiled'

'Busted', he laughed

'Where are you going?'

'Pokhara, and What about you?'

'I am going there as well'

'You live in Pokhara?'

'No, I am going there to meet someone I know'

'Oh!'

'You live in Pokhara?'

'Yes, it is my hometown. I guess we are going to be together next 10 hours'

'I guess so', I laughed when an unpleasant feeling began to generate on my stomach. I was nauseous I was going to vomit any time soon. I turned around to the window for air but it wasn't helping. He might have noticed my situation

'Are you alright?', he asked when I covered my mouth with my fist and the roll I just ate was going to come back out. 'Oh my oh my!', he shouted and opened his bag, he pulled a plastic bag from his bag and handed it to me.

I was already off my limits I threw all my ejecta in that bag when the man kept the grasp of my head and patted my bag. the whole bus was smelling vomit but no one raised a question against me. 'I am sorry', I said lifting my head up on the seat. My lungs, my chest my neck, and my head was burning tears drop of my eyes because of the pain. The man threw the plastic bag out the window to the jungle and offered me his water bottle. I was already too embarrassed about the situation, I was affecting everyone around me. Why was that happening to me?.

'I am sorry, I didn't know the roll was faulty', the man whispered with his kind voice

'It's not because of the roll, trust me'

After cleaning my face with a tissue and water I fell against the seat and closed my eyes trying to close the world which was giving me miseries.