Truth sits upon the lips of dying men.

~Matthew Arnold

Jagruthi

Oh my god! My papa is here along with my mama, They are in my college with me, I get to see him talk and I could spend the night with them today.

I took my phone out and texted my parents.

You guys are freaking liars, you told me that you had a meeting and you are here in my college. I hate you and I love that you are here
~ Janu

Shyam bhaiyya walked to stage, handed my father the phone and he laughed looking at my message and started to look for me in the crowd along with my mother.

My papa is wearing is his regular while shirt with black slacks and Mama was wearing a red and white saree that I selected for her today morning when we spoke.

I squeezed Devansh's hand tightly not able to hold the excitement and happiness.

"Should I be jealous that you look like you are about blow off anytime soon with happiness looking at them?" He asked to me turning my eyes away from my freaking family who is right before me.

"You should, looks like she will leave you without second thought." Nidhi supported him earning a punch from me.

"She won't leave you at all, I can vouch for that." Rey supported me and I gave him thankful smile.

Rey can understand my feelings and he would be feeling the same looking at his uncle.

"Did you know about this?" I asked Rey when everyone was busy listening to the speech from our Dean.

"Nope, just as surprised as you are. I guess they know I can't keep a secret." He shrugged making me chuckle.

"I think this man needs an introduction, so I will give him the stage and step aside.." Our dean said introducing my dad and giving him the mic.

Wow! I never ever saw my papa talk before in person. My ears automatically perked up just to listen to his voice in person which I have been missing.

Today is one of the best days of my life, all the people I love are in the same room and breathing the same air as me. I wish Karthik was here too.

"I never saw her listening to a class with that kind of attention." Aarthav commented making me glare at him.

Why is everyone teasing me today?

Maybe it's your face, which looks like you won a billion dollars.

I love my parents what can I say.

"oh, Puh-lease! Like you listen to classes, Manju he is making fun of me, tell him to stop it. " I stuck my tongue at him, when Manju punched him for me.

Before Aarthav could reply or comment my papa started talking, I clutched on to Devansh's hand like it's the last day of my life.

"How many of you are here just to skip the boring lectures? " My papa asked everyone making chuckle and they started slowly raising their hands including us.

He is being funny now huh!

"I know how you feel, I was in your shoes once. I am fed up with giving speeches, So instead of me talking and you feeling bored and sleepy, let's try something different. Let's have a Q&A session." Papa continued looking at the response he got.

Everyone started talking among themselves as the teachers started passing along the extra mics to ask questions.

Devansh grabbed the nearest mic and was the first one to ask my papa a question.

"Hello Sir, My name is Devansh. My question to you is Do you think we really need colleges and education to have a better life? Did you ever use the stuff you learnt here in your career?"

What is wrong with this guy?

This is gonna be the first interaction between them and he is asking that question.

My papa walked to the end closer to us gave me an I-found-you look as soon as he saw me beside Devansh.

I immediately left Dev's hand as he scanned my surroundings.

Are we screwed?

I hope not, you just broke one rule among so many he gave. So it's fine I guess.

"Hmm..I know many companies are encouraging people without a degree, but my very own personal opinion is that we do need colleges and schools. They are not only about the books and technical skills, it is also about the interpersonal skills we learn here."

"Let's take me as an example, I was a boring nerd without many friends before, but this college taught me how to make friends, how to learn and have fun at the same time and I also found the love of my life here who encouraged me through everything." He replied looking at my mom, who's red as an apple. Everyone howled and cheered at him for his answer.

He says that but he put us in a room for 8 years without anyone.

For your safety and welfare.

Stop supporting him.

"Only 10 in a million turn out to be like Steve Jobs and Elon Musk without proper guidance, where as regular brained people like us need school and education to move forward in life. So we do need to be educated." Papa completed his answer and walked away from us smiling at me and my friends.

He is being so modest.

Regular brained people my foot. He is the brainiac in our family, while me and my mama are the dumb ones.

Devansh sat beside me and held my hand. I hope my father does like Dev, I don't know what I would do if he doesn't.

"I am a great fan of your work, You have been a leader for this state for more than 10 years. So, if you could change one thing about people and the world, what would you do?"Pooja a girl from another branch asked him.

Papa smiled at her and thought for a few seconds, he let out a big sigh and answered her with this.

"Can I make it 3? because all these are kinda interlinked." He asked her and Pooja smiled at him.

"Greed, Jealousy, Hate. I want to see a world without people feeling these three. Just imagine a world without hate, people not hating each other for stupid reasons like region, religion, caste, color, money. That would be a beautiful world to live in." He answered and the whole room was amazed by his ideology.

I understand his answer because as a family we are affected by it peoples hate and anger, when some people started hating my father, they hurt me and my mother.

I don't wanna think about that anymore. Let's go ask Shyam bhaiyya if we can stay the night with our parents.

"Rey, Wanna come out with me?" I asked him and he agreed.

"Where are you going?" Devansh asked me in a whisper holding my hand.

"I wanna see if I can meet them personally." I told him the truth and walked away from his hold quickly before he can ask another one and make me lie.

I sneaked out through the back door with Rey and found Shyam bhaiyya alone outside the door of the main door in the empty hallway.

I ran and hugged him, it's been 2 months since I saw them. He hugged me back and Rey cleared his throat disturbing us.

"Jagati Maa, Why are you crying?" Shyam bhaiyya asked me.

"I am just overwhelmed seeing you guys here. I never imagined this." I replied brushing my tears off, sinking in the reality that they are really here.

He patted my head and smiled at me lovingly.

"Are you taking care of her?" Bhaiyya asked Rey who was shocked at the question.

"Yeah Mamu, I am. She is annoying sometimes but nothing I can't tolerate." Rey answered earning a glare and punch from me.

"Bhaiyya! Can I stay with Mama and Papa tonight? " I asked him hoping for an yes.

"You don't have to ask Jagati Maa, We are staying in the college guest house. Rey, you come with her, I have to talk to you about something." Bhaiyya said to us standing in a stiff pose, looking around as people started coming into the hallway.

We both left Shyam bhaiyya and walked back into the Auditorium, but this time it was filling with brain freezing silence and had really scary aura in the room.

"What happened?" Rey asked our friends.

"That stupid Karan asked him about his daughter. He asked if can't protect his own daughter how can he protect the whole state. Jerk!" Manjula replied cursing Karan.

How dare that stupid question my father?

"Whatever answer I give will just be an excuse, because as a father I know I failed when my daughter was hurt the first time. But when it comes to the people of this state I did do my best and will keep doing it as long as I am in this position." My papa replied in a strong tone, but I know he is hurt on the inside.

I am going to kill Karan, what does he have against my father.

Devansh held my hand and tried to calm me down, but I furious looking at my father in agony.

"You should check the statistics and news and on how he is protecting the state. You know what irritates me the most, People always try to project their incompetence on those who are on their way to achieve something. Our daughters pain was the result of such people, maybe you should ask them how they could be so heartless. And I believe we did protect our daughter from getting hurt again, I imagine she is living her best life right now even though she is not with us. " My mama jumped in making me proud for bashing that idiot indirectly.

I am happy now Mama, I am really happy because of you.

Karan sat down quietly not able to answer anything, that jerk deserves it.

After my mothers reply, the environment in the room changed into a serious one, it's like everyone is scared to face my mother.

"My question is for Mrs. Dhanraj, I would like to know how you feel having a husband who is way more knowledgeable than you because my girlfriend Manjula, she is literally the topper of the school. Sometimes I don't understand what she is saying or why she does things like that. It makes me feel dumb, do you feel the same way?" Aarthav asked and everyone in the room including my parents laughed at his question.

Manju ducked her head down in embarrassment at his question, Aarthav surely knows how to lighten up the room.

"I did feel that way when I first met him, but I guess me and my daughter dumbed him down to our level. Don't worry the feeling will pass.." She answered laughing him off looking at me as I winked at her.

Everyone started asking stupid questions about my papa. It was a fun session after that, the lunch our bell rang so unfortunately the session had to end. We all walked out of the auditorium and to the cafeteria to have some lunch together.

"Did you have the chance to meet him personally?" Dev asked me handing my lunch which is Chole Battura.

"We tried but I don't think it will happen." Rey replied eating his Paratha.

Thank god, Rey lied for me but why is Dev smiling that I didn't get the chance.

Weird!

Maybe he is jealous.

"Don't worry, May be you can meet them tomorrow." He said trying to cheer me up but something was wrong with him, it's like he was trying to hide something.

We kept talking about the seminar while eating food when my phone rang with Karthik's name on it.

"Hello busy man!" I said as soon as picked up the call.

"How was the surprise? I planned it, did you like it?" He asked me in an excited tone.

"I love you so much, you are the best." I replied munching my food, I lifted my head up only to find my Dev looking at me in pure shock.

"It's Karthik, he said my parents are gonna be in town and I can meet them today evening." I told him sheepishly to which Dev gave an awkward smile.

Devansh is still not completely comfortable with my relationship with Karthik.

I could literally kill anyone for Devansh, that's how much love I have for him. What more does he need?

I moved away from the table to thank Karthik for the best surprise of my life, Apparently he wanted to be here too, but he had some work come up and left to Sydney.

Devansh doesn't like Karthik doesn't mean I can put a pause in my relationship with him. All these people are important in my life. Karthik was there with for the last 19 years of my life, and I want him forever with me along with Dev, my papa and mama.

"Guess what! I am staying the night with my parents." I told my friends after I ended the call with Karthik.

"I wish I could do that too, are they coming here? I want to meet them." Nidhi asked me.

"They are here on some work, so they said that driver will pick me up and drop me off tomorrow before school starts." I lied through my teeth and the bell rang before they could probe some more lies out of me.

And soon the day passed, with me containing my excitement of being with my parents, I ran to my room and packed my clothes for the night. Thank God! Devansh has cricket practice and he would want me to drop to the car like a gentle man he is.

"Your daughter is mad at you, you lied to her." I whined looking at them on the bed talking to each other cuddling.

They are always touching each other like two horny teenagers, me and dev are far more matured than these two.

"Tell her that I am mad at my daughter, she was holding a guys hand." My papa pouted making me panic at his statement.

I quickly covered my panic, and jumped on the bed between them.

"You touch millions of people everyday, did I ever get mad at you?" My mama came to my rescue, while I snuggled between them and hugged them both.

"You can never be mad at me and I can never be mad at you. So let's quit and show what you got for me?" I asked while they laughed at me.

And that's how we started bickering and fighting with each other leading us to a fun night. We had a dinner in the room with Shyam Bhaiyya, Rey, our Dean. Our dean made it kinda formal but my mama kinda eased it up.

We all hit the bed like little babies, me in between my parents. There is nothing wrong with sleeping on the bed with your parents, you are never too old for that.

"Janu, wake up! you will be late for your class."Mama moved me trying to wake me up.

"10 more minutes Mama." I snuggled into my fathers arms.

"Let her sleep Sruthi, She can skip the class for one day." He supported me.

"We have another seminar and we should leave Jag, You have to go to Delhi for the meeting tonight." Mama tried to wake him up too.

My dad got out of the bed and into the shower, while I just rolled on the bed after I found out that it was just 6.

Way to be a sleeping party pooper Mama!

Before I could ignore her rant about me be lazy and go to sleep, my phone pinged.

"Ooh it's your lover boy!" She announced before I could grab my phone.

I jumped out of the bed and snatched the phone from her hand, and picked it up.

He is asking me to meet me at the main gate in 10 minutes, I said yes to him. Quickly put on my uniform, brushed my teeth and ran to him as he was waiting for me looking as hot as ever.

The sun rays falling on his face making me him like a freaking god!

"I have the best surprise for you, so get ready to be amazed." He said to me as I walked to him admiring the beauty I get to call mine.

What surprise could he give me so early? Are we having a picnic in the grass lawn?

That would be awesome, chocolate croissant, muffins and all the yummy breakfast with him by my side.

Why do you connect everything with food?

Cause food is life.

"We are here!" He announced breaking me away from the beautiful picnic my mind created for us.

I looked around and I was where I came from, at the guest house.

What are we doing here? Why did he bring me here?

At the same time papa and mama walked out of the guest house with Shyam bhaiyya by his side, Papa was telling bhaiyya to send the security out for breakfast.

"Hi sir, remember me." Dev announced stopping my father in the middle of an empty road.

I immediately hid behind Dev not wanting face my family, He is tall so I can hide, but I can't run because Dev is holding my hand real tight.

"I am sorry to disturb you but I have a number one fan of yours dying to meet you." He said and pulled me forward, showing my face to my father who looks shocked but my mother and Shyam bhaiyya are smirking at me, trying to hide the evil smile forming on their lips.

Now it was me scratching my neck not knowing what to do, right before my papa who's glaring at me, Dev to my right, Mama to my left and Shyam bhaiyya behind my mother.

We are so screwed and the silence here is killing me.

Someone talk something, SAVE ME.

"That's so nice of you Devansh, people now a days sleep even there is a storm outside, but look at this girl here waiting for you so early Jag." Mama commented making me wanna cover myself with a bedsheet and never come out of it.

"Her name is Jagruthi, she once fought supporting you before the whole class, even the dean appreciated her. She always has a goofy smile when she looks at you on TV, and my mother thinks you have the same smile." Dev told my papa about me, with a proud feeling in his chest.

How did I end up in this situation? My own boyfriend introducing me to my very own father.

"That's so nice of you Jagruthi." My papa gave him a thin smile, while I internally banged my head and looked around and found someone behind the trees or at least I think there is someone looking at us.

Can someone kill me now? before papa does after this conversation or before I go crazy assuming people.

Devansh nudged me with his elbow, pointing to my father staring at me intently.

"Th...Thank You Pa..Sir." I mumbled in fear.

"Don't you wanna thank me?" Mama questioned me, and I cursed myself and looked at the surroundings to avoid Mama making fun of me, taking the advantage of this situation.

Before I could reply, I saw a man coming towards us and pulled something out of his pocket.

Is that a gun?

Yes it is, he is pointing it at my papa.

Remember fortnite? Moving objects makes it hard to hit the target, move all of them. MOVEEEE

"Shyam bhaiyya, Papa!" I yelled shoving Dev, Mama to the side and moving Papa away from the line of focus before we all heard the gun shot.

I looked at my papa, who stood still in shock?

They are all safe, everyone is fine.

He is fine completely fine, I relaxed myself before we could talk I heard another sound like someone clapped their hands in happiness.

"JAANUUUU." Everyone near me yelled.

I saw Shyam bhaiyya run to catch the person trying to hurt my father.

I tried to move and run before something could happen again but I felt this immense pain in my abdomen and back, like someone put burning red iron bar into my body and it passed through my back and into the stomach burning all my organs.

I opened my mouth to reply, but all I could feel was the blood draining out of my body, my legs giving up on me, and that's when I realized that I got hit instead of my papa and that's when my eyes gave up on me making it pitch dark.

Okay, so dramatic right?

Who hates me right now for doing this?

I thought of so many ways to do this, but this just felt like the situation where you can reveal such a big truth for me.

Anyway, Are you ready for the next chapter?

Get ready to feel sad for the next few chapters, because the truth is gonna be out and let's see how Devansh reacts to that.

Don't forget to vote and comment.

Love,

Sneha