Chapter 22

We never want to hurt someone whom we love

But they are so dear that we take them for granted...

I remained silent for the rest of the ride home, too scared of his anger.

Silence was there

Silence is here

With equal tranquil and peace

Why does this touch my heart?

Why can't I let it go

I know you are there

I believe in you

What is it?

That's hurting you

For this silence kills

Pulls me into pieces

Somewhere my heart

Longs for you

I need you

Tell me you'll be there

Coz I know its true

As you like me

Like I do

"Joshan please speak" I merely spoke as he hit the brakes at my house's entrance.

"Will ride you college tomorrow." He spoke curtly without any emotions.

"Thanks but I'll have to leave early. Got some work at library." I tried to communicate.

"Time?" he asked.

"Coffee?" I offered. I knew he loves it made by me.

Silence again.

I opened the door of his passenger seat and sat in the car, "Are you talking to me or I shall stay here all night?"

Silence again.

I picked his hand brushed it and since there was no reaction I leaned forward to kiss him. It was difficult. My heart was pounding to a million beats at a time so I made it short and pulled back.

I did not look into his eyes I was too scared. This feeling was different. Darn he is my bestfriend. I felt so helpless.

I opened the door, my heart still talking kangaroo jumps. I gathered courage to speak from the window "will wait for you by 8:00. Goodnight.

I was staring into the ground as if it was opening and I was merging into it. He pedaled the gas and off he went.

I simply stood there scared and stunned at the same time.

"Hi Honey. How was the day?" my mom asked

"Good" I replied meekly

"Spending a day with young rich and famous equally handsome guy like Dexter this wasn't the answer I expected." My dad raised his eyebrows teasingly.

Atleast my parents are more cool and chilling than my best friend. I sighed.

"Dad what are you blabbering?"

"It's all over the papers darling" he said as he turned the column of paper with Dexter's pic towards me.

"Is it?" I went to check.

I grabbed the paper on the centre table to see a picture cum details of the case that Dexter was working on and they were quite positive about him too.

So few more points earned by Dexter from my parents too. But wait why am I grading him? It was a one day affair and he is gone. I am here. So let me take a chill pill.

"Mom what's for dinner?" I asked starving.

"I thought you were on a date." She smirked.

"It was not a date. I only took him to show the place around. Heavens sake what the matter with parents nowadays?" I threw my hands in the air irritated.

"Girl you are 18 now. This is only to confide in you that we are there to share whatever you decide." My mom told looking into my eyes if I was actually taking the meet with Dexter casually or there was indeed anything serious in between us.

Uuuurrrgggghhhh!!!!!

"Thanks mom" I said as I hugged her "but I am hungry now. He had his flight and we were at the lake side so we rushed and forgot the dinner."

"You enjoyed so much that you forgot to eat." My mom said, her eyes widening with surprise and excitement together.

"Dad" I tried to take his help.

He was the only one who could handle this childish behaviour of my mom.

"Okay wash your hands and come over we have pasta for dinner" mom said.

''''''''''''''''''''''''

Next morning I got ready before time not sure whether Joshan would escort me so probably I can take a bus.

As soon as I moved out of the house Joshan's car entered the scenario halting exactly where I was standing.

"You are too good to be true." I told Joshan to get an expected silence from him. Gosh he did not even give his heart throbbing smile when I opened the door for him.

Eeeks it hurts.

"Joshan you shouldn't have come if you didn't want to." I too said angrily.

If he was to show his attitude, I won't be less...

"Why do you want me to yell and speak something that I would regret?" he said loud and arrogant

"Thanks Joshan" I picked his right hand as I was sitting on the passenger seat of the car, "at least you spoke. Come on shout and remove your frustration. I promise I won't mind. I cannot see you like this. I did not sleep whole night and your eye bags are saying the same for you."

He immediately checked the rearview mirror.

"Why you have a date today?" I teased.

"Pearly you are such a bitch."

"Speak let me know what else is in your heart for me". I did not leave his hand.

"Nothing I am only disappointed that I was begging for your company, you denied excusing for work and then you went spending whole day with that friend of yours." I could feel the disappointment in his voice.

"I am sorry for hurting my jobu joboo Joshan." I cooed pulling his cheeks. I have been doing this a lot. "But you saw that he actually picked me and dragged me with him. How can I give him priority over you? Dexter's intellect enough to snatch a moment."

"That's a silly excuse."

"I agree."

"So you deserve a punishment." He laughed

"Well that depends on the severity of the punishment." I agreed. It was nice to get my best friend back.

"We will take a day off and spend it together" he suggested.

"I am in for it but not today. We will make it on Monday. Sorry I need to complete my library work before Christmas holidays. Now can you drive?" I pleaded.

"Yopes." He agreed immediately.

"Any plans for Christmas?" he asked, his eyes glued to the road, a respected citizen.

"Yeah Sam is inviting me to Florida." I informed.

"You are going?" he asked shocked, not wanting me to go.

"Not sure. Let's see."

"You want to go or you don't?" he asked concerned

"I am actually confused."

"Why?"

'I thought of working in the orphanage during vacations and if I go there I won't be able to do it." I explained.

"Want me to help. That way we can do the services in half the time and you can spend rest of the vacations with your cousins." He offered genuinely.

"Do you really want to? I mean it is fine I can do it."

"Pearly relax I do it because I want to and not to please you. You are not my girlfriend whom I am supposed to propose and am trying to impress."

"So you try to impress your would be girlfriends?" I asked raising my eyebrows teasing him.

"No my looks do it for me."

"Handsome flirt"

"I am>"

"Playboy too"

"Still your bestfriend."

"That,s true."

Christmas went fine. Joshan helped me for the orphanage work. He also arranged good donations for the place through his dad and his contacts. He also took me to his house on the Christmas eve where I had dinner with his parents followed by a small talk in his favorite place on the terrace. He dropped me to the airport too for my flight to Florida. My dad and Joshan were also gelling up well.

I reached Florida airport and to my surprise Sam did not come to pick me up and Dexter was waiting at the terminal with a bouquet of flowers and WELCOME tagged on it in bold.

"So you are the chauffer for the day?"

He smirked, "For you maam"

I took the bouquet from his hand and he quickly pecked me in a welcoming note.

"Where's Sam?" I asked.

'Her mom and your aunt isn't doing well and so she's taken her for an appointment. I have been designated to entertain you till then."

"I am blessed to have such a handsome and dashing entertainer." I too flirted with him.

I was on a Holiday!!!!

"My goodluck" he said as he was about to kiss my hand again.

I pulled my hand back from him. I was not very comfortable with his frequent kiss stuff.

"You hurt me." He said as he touched his heart showing a fake arrow being hit.

"Ooouch that hurts my baby." I teased brushing his heart

"Finally yours."

"Dexter" I said blushing badly.

"Okay decent we will go to Sam's. You can drop your bags, get fresh and then we have a small get together with the friends where you know most of them." He gave me kind of verbal itinerary for the day

He was sounding quite thrilled and excited about the entire thing. I went to the guest room at Sam's place, did my chores of freshening up and was ready to leave.

"Sweety Pea come out. I have made coffee for you." Dexter shouted from outside.

"Coffee. Perfect. How did you know I wanted one." I quickly grabbed one of the two cups kept on the dining table.

"Wild guess. Pick a set of night dress too because we have a night stay there." Dexter said as he sipped his coffee.

"Nice coffee. Didn't you try your luck in catering?" I asked.

"No you cannot argue there." He answered.

"So you love to argue?" I asked shocked.

"Argument is a core product of a lawyer. It is my profession." He said sincerely

"So point noted never argue with Dexter." I laughed

He smirked at it

"If Sam is doing a night out who will nurse my aunt?" I asked.

"I guess M/s Carol's friend is coming over tonight to spend her holiday for couple of days and agreed it was fine if she had to nurse her friend"

"Oh that's sweet of her."

"Shall we leave now?" Dexter asked.

Then my phone rang.

"HI mom."

"Yeah I reached safely. M fine.

Aunt Carol's unwell. Do call her.

I will.

Love yaa"

"Me too" Dexter said from behind.

"What?"

"I too love you" he chuckled. "You said love yaa and I answered back me too"

"Very flirtatious"

"For you darling."

Let's go."

"By the way you look pretty in this whine dress."

"Thanks" I said as I picked my bag with a pair of nightdress.

"So how's your library?" he asked casually.

"Full of books." I said trying to be funny.

"Got to be." He gave a squeaky laugh.

"And how's your lawyership?" I asked back.

"Full of arguments"

Now we both laughed heartily, "Very formal. Okay back to friendly talks."

"You start" Dexter said.

"So I cannot hide my curiosity. Did you propose your love to the mystery girl yet?" I asked

"No" he denied.

"Why?"

"Because I am scared." He replied

"A person dealing with criminals is scared." I shouted shocked

"Yeah I am scared of denial." He answered nervously. Wow!!

This hard core guy is whipped.

"I do not take denials too well and I love her too much to loose her." He admitted

"Is she having any idea that you love her?" I asked again.

"I don't think so."

"What's the matter?'

"Actually I did try to tell her a couple of times but my flirting skills are too famous that she is misled." He admitted uncomfortably.

"Karma's payback." I mocked

"You are no good pearly."

"Sorry but tell me is she coming today?" I asked. I was getting desperate to meet this mysterious girl now.

"You might be hungry. This is the famous icecream parlor of the city with best of sundaes. Wanna have one?" Dexter offered.

"Only one?" I pouted.

"You can have as much as you desire."

I hopped out of the car like a small kid longing for an ice cream.

We enjoyed our ice cream and went to Jane's place for a get together followed by night out. Everyone was there Liz, Mirca, Joseph, Edward, Alex, Bella and new ones like Amelia and Andy. I was introduced to them and they accepted me with open arms.

We spent a short while making up the missed part for almost a year when Sam arrived.

"Hi sexy, hottie Pearly."

"Hi Sammie" and we gave a bear hug to her with a small lift.

"Are you still the same for the adjectives used for me make me doubt you?" Sammie asked teasing me.

"Come in the room I'll show you." I said boldly.

"Eeeks no."

"I'll show you what she is" Andy said as he picked up short Sam in his harms to lift her to his to kiss her deeply.

"So much in love" I cooed as I stepped forward to congratulate Sam for her love. "Andy is lucky to have a beautiful, violet eyed golden haired though short but adorable and I am safe too" I said commenting of showing my $exiness to sam in a room

'You are such a bitch" Sam said as she squealed with me and we hugged each other again in love and excitement. We both were very fond of each other.

"How long has it been?" I enquired

Sam was mentally calculating and said "A little more than a year"

"Yeah last time was so much fun. Remember the pubs where we took illegal entry" Liz recalled.

"This time its all legal coz most of us are above 19" Mirca added.

"For rest we have the manipulator Dexter" I added. He'd made false id for us last time when I was here.

"Anytime folks" Dexter said.

"What are the plans for today?" Bella asked.

"Pearly is here for 4 days and all 4 days we are rocking doing something everyday. For today it's only chat, music and drink. So guys enjoy" Sam said.

"When are we going to the pub?' I asked.

"Desperate so." Edward mocked.

"Just wanna recap old time memories" I said.

"Don't worry sexy Andy is taking care and Dexxie is helping him. So these days are life time memories for you." Sam said.

"Pearly this is for you" Dexter said as he handed me a glass of orange colored drink.

"What is this?" I asked "I thought this was an adult booze party."

He ruffled my hair, "Pretty lady this is Vodka in orange juice, just a warmer. It gets harder with the darkness of the evening."

I gulped a huge sip in one go and my phone vibrated in my pocket.

"That was a huge one" Dexter commented.

"Hi Josh"

Josh : where were you? I have been calling since long.

Me: Oops sorry the music was loud so couldn't hear

Josh: Are you okay

Me: very much and enjoying

Josh how

Me: booze party

Josh: Pearly don't overdrink. Remember last time.

Me: m 18 Joshan now. I can take care.

Josh: but I am worried. Just don't over drink

Me: you are too much

Josh please

Me whatever

Josh :Missing you

Me me too

I end the call with a good bye greet.

"Your best friend?" Dexter asked.

"Yeh sometimes he behaves like my mother" I answered.

"I think he loves you." He asked in a very low and sad tone.

I laughed hysterically. "he cannot love me. He has a girlfriend"

That brought a smile on his face.

One alcohol after another. I only remember till count 4. I promised Joshan to have only 5 but I missed the count till I was completely wasted.

Dexter led me to one of the bed rooms and put me on the bed. "Good night Sweety"

"Wait Dexter" I laughed like a drunken "Tell me who is your heart rob"

"Go to sleep Pearly. You are drunk."

"Drunk yeah I am but my ears are fine I can listen what is her name?"

"We'll talk tomorrow." He helped me with a pillow under my head.

"No" I laughed and pouted "tell me now. I am your friend no."

"you know you look so cute with that pout" I vaguely remembered that compliment.

"I want her name" I insisted"

"Her name is........