Tanvi's POV:

"Couldn't you come a bit early?" I shouted on Sam out of frustration. She stood at the entrance, bewildered.

"What happened?" she asked me calmly.

"Many things happened in your absence, and you came now," I am angry on her. I just want to shout at someone, and unfortunately, she was the 1st person who came in front of me, and she had to face my wrath.

I guess I was a bit too rude towards her. She didn't utter a word and silently stepped inside my house. I felt guilty for screaming at her. I shut the door and went back. I saw her taking a water bottle from the fridge and gulp half of the bottle. I went towards her smiled sheepishly. She ignored me and sat on the sofa.

I followed her blindly and sat beside her. She was not doing anything or asking anything, and I didn't know how to strike a conversation.

"I am sorry, Sam," I said with full sorrow and regret.

"Don't be," she said grimly.

"Arey, I am sorry, yaar. I didn't mean to shout at you. I am just exasperated with myself, and you came at the same time, and I showed it on you. I am really sorry."

"Yeah, of course. I am a doll or a puppet, right? Anyone can empty their anger on me, and I must be silent, right?" She got up from the sofa and roared at me.

That's it. I understood that something was wrong with Sam. Someone must have said something mean to her, and I have added fuel to the fire.

"Sam, what happened? Tell me." I said, trying to comfort her.

"Don't be nice to me, ok? I am even fed up with you. I have had enough of constant comparison with you from the teachers, my mom, and all, but they don't know that you take other's numbers and call them and play with their feelings. You appear all good outside but you are the most CUNNING PERSON," she yelled at me again.

To say I was heartbroken would be understatement. My best friend was accusing me, slandering my character and blaming me for everything. I know that she has been fed up with the comparison and partiality displayed towards me by everyone, including her own parents, but I never asked for it. Who knows better than her how much I hate that stuff, but she was accusing me.

I sat there silently. Tears flowed down my eyes. I didn't know what to say or what to ask. Even she was silent and still standing in front of me. I wiped my tears and went into kitchen. I didn't know why I went there, but the silence between us made the air suffocating. 

After some time, when my tears dried up, I went to the hall. She was seemingly more peaceful than before and didn't seem furious anymore.

As I approached her, she turned her head and stared at me. I didn't say anything and sat on the opposite sofa. I expected her to say something, but she didn't said anything. I guess she expecting the same from me.

Finally, I decided to break the ice between us, and asked her, "Do you want to tell me what happened?"

She sighed, and turned to me and said, "My mom scolded me for enrolling myself in the sports tourney, and you know the rest of the dialogues."

Well, yes, I know the rest of the dialogues. 

Aunty must have said, 'Can't you just study like Tanvi instead of wasting your time in these games.' or 'This the reason why you are not getting a good percentage like Tanvi' and etc.

Man! I wonder why people can't accept their child's wishes. Why do they only want their children to study? Studies alone can never help a person succeed in their life. If a person is truly passionate about their dream, then the little support their loved ones give them will be the source of all the strength they would ever need. Unfortunately, there are very few people who support their kids or their loved ones and encourage them to achieve their dreams.

I just nodded when she replied to me, but somewhere, I was expecting an apology, but it didn't come at all. Maybe she was still mad at me. I would talk about the apologies later.

We fell silent once more, and the clock steadily ticked towards the 5:30 mark. I thought of offering some snacks to her and started heading to the kitchen. As I was searching all the cans for food, the doorbell rang again.

Before I could go and check who's there, Sam opened the door, and a bombshell fell on us.

My parents were standing at the entrance. But it was not their time to come home. I am shell-shocked.

They greeted Sam once she opened the door. Then they came to me and greeted me, asking me about my day, as usual. Then I looked at Sam, and she glimpsed  at me with amusement. She shut the door and came to me.

"Why did they come home so early?" I asked her the very instance she was within earshot.

"Shut up! They are your parents, and it's their home too. So, they can come whenever they want." 

"Still, it is not their time to come," I don't know why I am feeling something was about to happen.

"Ok, I will go home.", Sam said to me and went to fetch her bag.

"A minute, Samyuktha," my mom called for Sam. My mom came out of the washroom and asked both of us to come to the dining area. We both obliged and sat at the table. Meanwhile, my dad returned from the room after searching for some documents.

"Tanvi, we have something to say to you," my mom said to me. So, my thoughts were correct. Why would they come for me, out of blue, at 6 'o'clock? 

I nodded at her.

"We have to leave the town for few days for project work, and we won't be there with you. Tanvi," she said. 

So, this is the thing. They are leaving me for a few days, but this is not a new thing for me. They have left me with Granny quite a few times because they have always had a packed and busy schedule.

Then my mom continued, " This time Granny can't come here. So, you would need to go to Sam's place for the time being."

I don't know what to say. The events that happened just before their arrival flashed before my eyes. It's not like I hated her since that very moment and would never talk to her, but I felt it was a bit weird. And what made it even worse was she didn't even say anything to Mom. She remained silent. I understood that even she must be feeling awkward too.

"Mom, can I come with you both?" I asked her earnestly. 

Well, Mom and Dad started a small business when I was young, and that business developed well. It's profitable now, and that's the reason why they never have time for me. They always think that they are providing me everything I need, but they are not giving the emotional attachment and the feeling of dependency that I expect from them.

We don't even go to any trips or outings. At most, we go to visit our grandparent's house and then back to ours.

"Tanvi, we are going for business. It's not a trip or something, and why do you want to disturb your studies? Once we return, we will celebrate the new year together. Ok?" this time my dad spoke.

That's it. It was the end of the conversation. It's not like they would take me or something, so I just nodded in agreement, not arguing anymore. But I told them that I would stay in my house only, and for the meals or any other needs, I would go to Sam's house. My parents didn't agree with the idea of me staying alone.

Then Sam said, "It's ok, Tan. Come to my house, and we will have fun". 

But I could sense that she was not so happy. I nodded at her too, so that my parents wouldn't bother me. 

Once everything got settled, Sam left. I went out to bid goodbye, and we shared an awkward moment, both not looking at each other, not talking with warmth in our tones.

As usual, I went back and had a silent dinner with my parents and then went back to my room. Many thoughts jogged in my brain, and they didn't let me sleep. Sam's words echoed in my ears, and I could feel that whatever I was doing was wrong. Had I not disturbed Rohan, then things would not have turned like this. It would be better not to call him again.

Arriving at a conclusion, I let sleep consume me.

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