The Strings Of Heart

27

Sitara POV

I smile closing my eyes as the soft breeze hit my face. I have missed nilgiri's beauty and its air. It is so peaceful and calm.

Hyderabad is a city where there is continuous chaos and Ooty is a hill station where you find the silence you are searching for.

"Why did you choose to travel at night?" David asked after a period of silence. We were busy looking outside.

I sigh leaning back in my seat, "to stay in our school's dorms but Krishika and Gaurav are coming tomorrow morning."

"Oh."

"Whose car is this?" I ask him. We are sitting in the back seat while the driver drives us.

"My dad's. He lives in private property and other vehicles aren't allowed there."

"Good."

"You like your stepmom?" I ask him.

"Yeah, she is a nice person." I nod my head turning my head and looking out of the window. There isn't much to see as it's night but there are wanderers.

We reached David's dad's home, I stepped out of the car and looked at the property in awe.

Their home is an old-styled huge home with plants, trees covered around. "Such a perfect place to lead a simple life with peace."

David chuckled, "yes, it's very peaceful here." We just stand side by side watching the home.

"Come on, they are waiting for us," David spoke picking his luggage bag.

"Us?"

"Yeah, I informed dad about you. He is a bit of an open person and gets excited so don't get surprised okay?"

Why would I get surprised...

"Okay?" I follow David as he walks before me. I check him out from behind.

Boy doesn't have ass...

I enter the home and look around, the house is beautiful from inside and outside. They have kept its old version of Indian homes and that makes the house special I guess.

"David! My boy!" I turn my head to see a tall person wearing a t-shirt and shorts walk in.

"Hey, dad!" David greeted. The man rushed and pulled David into his arms.

"What man? Aren't you eating on time? All I feel is bones..."

"That means being in shape and they are muscles."

I rolled my lower lip inside my mouth as a picture of David shirtless crossed my mind. I have seen Abhinav, Gaurav, Joel and Aryan without a shirt but I never felt anything.

Now that the image crosses my mind, I want to see David shirtless.

"Dad, meet Sitara and Sitara meet my dad," David introduced me to his dad.

"Hello darling, you are beautiful. I'm Valentino, carrying 56 years of handsomeness," his dad speaks and I chuckle at his words. David rolls his eyes.

"Hi, I'm Sitara. Carrying 19 years of savageness."

"Wow, I like you already," he said pulling me into a hug. I hug him, the hug was simple and we pull away.

"But 19? Are you David's student?"

"Why would I have a student dad? No, she isn't-" David didn't finish his sentence.

"David honey..." I turn my head to see a short, a bit thick woman wearing PJ's enter the room.

"Hello Rosey, how are you?"David asked the lady hugging her.

"I'm good darling, I missed you." She hugged him and he bends down as she kissed his cheek.

"I missed you too Rosey," David spoke with a huge smile on his face.

"Rosey David finally brought someone with him who is quite younger than him but that's not an issue," Valentino said. Rosey turned around and faced me.

"Hello Mrs Rosey, I'm Sitara," I greet her.

"Hello dear, what a lovely name." She walked over to me and hugged me. She is short compared to me.

"This is the first time David brought a friend with him."

"I'm not his friend," I tell her. She chuckled then look at David.

"Oh is he your boyfriend? Haha, David... Why didn't you tell me?" Valentino spoke.

"Dad... She is Elora's sister. She is having a reunion party that's the reason she came with me."

"Elora?" Valentino questioned.

"Elora... David's best friend," Rosey said.

"Oh... Yeah."

"I will show you your room dear. Freshen up and the dinner will be served soon," Rosey said as the guy brought water. I took the water glass from him and thanked him.

"Where is Sofia?" David asked.

"She is resting, the baby fell asleep too. Don't disturb them now. Meet them in the morning or in the midnight when the baby wakes up," Valentino said. I follow Rosey with my bag, David smiles at Valentino.

"See you," David said picking his bag and following us. We walk down the hallway, I watch the photo frames attached to the wall.

"You can stay in this room dear, David's room is beside yours. If you need anything ask me or Valentino or David."

"Thank you, Rosey."

"Dinner will be served soon, dear. David will call you," Rosey said. David smiled at me before entering his room. Our rooms are side by side.

Rosey leaves, I stand there before entering my room. I close the door behind and look around. The room is spacious with a queen-sized bed in the middle.

The room is warm lighted giving good vibes, I smile loving the room. I go over to the balcony door and open it. I step out and smile wide when I'm able to see the backyard and trees.

I turn my head to see that even David's room has a balcony.

"Wow, I love this."

I stand there for a few minutes before entering the room to use the washroom. I use the toilet, then clean up and comb my hair neatly before stepping out.

I go through the messages sent by Krishika and Abhinav. I'm yet to tell them that I have a crush now.

I decided to tell them in person rather than through text. Kabir knew about my crush on David and he was amused when I told him I decided to ignore David. I chat a little, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in." The door opened, David stepped in.

"The dinner is ready."

"Yup." I leave my phone on the bed and stand up to follow him.

"Won't you bring your phone?"

"Nope."

"Why? Don't you get messages?" He asked.

"I do but if I concentrate on texting someone and ignore being here is me being stupid. I rather enjoy this company than checking on my phone."

He gave me a surprised smile, "yeah... Makes sense."

"I hope you don't mind eating fish curry with rice," Valentino said as we walked into the open dining area.

"No, I don't."

"He was carving fish curry and no one says no if he wants something," Rosey said patting Valentino's shoulder.

We all sat down, David sat beside me while Rosey and Valentino sat together. The food is served.

"What you like to do in your free time?" Valentino asked.

"Sleep or basketball." He chuckled.

"We have a basketball court in the backyard, you can play basketball."

"I will see," I observed that David is more comfortable with Rosey. There is no awkwardness and I thought it sucks that his parents divorced.

"Do you drink wine?" Valentino asked.

"Dad no, she is a kid," David said.

"What? She is nineteen. I drank wine when I turned fifteen," Valentino said.

"Not everyone is you dad."

"Sometimes I feel like you are my dad," Valentino spoke and Rosey chuckled.

"Yeah, sure. I want to taste the wine," I tell Valentino.

"No... You are not allowed to drink."

"Shut up, it's her wish if she wants to try it. And it's homemade wine son. Nothing happens if you drink once in a while," Valentino said.

David shook his head but stayed quiet. Valentino handed me my glass. We clicked our glasses before sipping.

"Hmm... This tastes good," I tell Valentino and Rosey.

"If you like it, I will give you a bottle." I smiled.

We ate food, I spoke with Valentino and laughed a lot. Valentino is surely a flirt and clown. Now I understand from where David gets his sunshine behaviour and smile.

David is surely surprised seeing me vibing with Valentino, he never saw me laugh or smile a lot. This is nothing compared to the me when I'm with my best friends.

*

I settle my legs on the table watching the bonfire. David is sitting across me with his wine glass. Valentino and Rosey went to their room leaving us alone in the backyard.

"Does Elora knows that you drink?" David asked. I didn't face him and sipped my wine.

"No."

"I'm going tell her that you drink."

"Okay."

"Huh? Aren't you scared?" I turn my head.

"Nope, one day or the other day they would know. It's better if they know soon, I don't have to hide about it anymore." He shakes his head.

"I rarely drink, I only prefer vodka and sometimes wine."

Then it becomes silent, we become busy in our own worlds. I think about everything that has happened in a year.

I had different plans but they are crashed and I had to stay in Hyderabad. I never planned on developing feelings for David, in fact, I hated the guy for being my mom's favourite.

Now here I'm waiting for how to confess my feelings. I don't give a s**t about his answer, even if he rejects that's okay. Not all the first likings or crush are successful.

I don't want to name it as first love even though it's going to be my first love. I don't know and I don't think it's love right now. Even if it is I'm not going to point it out.

"Why didn't my sister or Aarav didn't come here? I mean why they didn't meet your dad or Rosey?" I ask breaking the silence.

"Hmm..." He took a deep breath licking his lips. My gaze halted on his lips before I snapped it to his eyes when he turned his face.

"I never felt like bringing them here. My relationship with my dad and Rosey is quite different. It's like a different world, Elora is close to my mum and even Aarav is kind of close to her. My mum doesn't like my dad and Elora doesn't want to hurt my mum. If she knew they met my dad and Rosey, she would be hurt..."

"So I don't mix these world of me. I'm happy and I don't want anyone to hurt. Noone ever visited here nor I brought them here..."

"Were you okay bringing me here?" I ask.

"Yeah, I mean you are not close to my mum nor you are involved in my past life. And I can't leave you alone here. So it's fine..."

"Thank you," I say turning around.

"Huh?"

"I'm happy to be a part of this world of yours. Valentino and Rosey are good and sweet." He smiles nodding his head.

I look at the time on my wristwatch, I need to go to bed if I want to wake up early in The morning.

"Sorry if Aishu aunty made you travel with me. I know you don't like to travel with me and Aishu aunty makes you tag with me. I will make sure that I don't disturb you or make you uncomfortable," David spoke.

I look at him, "it wasn't mum."

"Huh?"

"It was me who told her that I want to come with you." He gave me a confused look as I stand up to leave. I keep the glass on the table. I don't know if I should tell him or not.

"Good night Sitara, see you in the morning," David said as I start walking.

I turn around as he poured wine into his glass. I stood there watching him as he leaned back watching the sky.

"Hey David," I call him.

"Hmm?" He turned around.

"Yes?"

I just look at him, he looks so cute and innocent with a question mark face. How can he be so nice even after I fought with him? I guess I fell for the innocence he carries even if he is a 29 years old doctor. 

"I like you..."

"Pardon?" he didn't hear my whisper.

"I like you... I like you that's the reason I try to keep my distance away from you. I failed at it, you don't have to answer anything. I will try my shot if it works... Good Or else your bad luck..."

His eyes widen, he opened and closed his mouth. I turn and walk towards my room. I feel so light now that I confessed my feelings. Now I will be very clear about my intentions and I know what I need to do.