Yup! It was her mother. She was staring at us, wide-eyed. Ratna’s face suddenly became void of all expressions and turned pale. When she recovered, she ran past her mother, wiping the fresh tears that had started falling from bloodshot eyes.

“Ratna!” I called. But I was too late.

It was tough to decide whether to follow her, or to handle a shocked aunty. Finally, I slowly walked towards aunty. “See to it that she is safe. I am fine.” She muttered, like in some trance. I ran out of the house, calling out for her, but no sign of her. I started getting worried.

“Ratna! Where are you?” I called out one last time, as a tear escaped my eyes. No reply. I felt hopeless as fear gripped me. {What if she ...} No I shook my head to block the negative thoughts but my knees gave way. The next moment, I felt myself kneeling on the cold grass of the lawn. Despite my effort, a tears wet the grass. I suddenly heard a faint moan and shot up my head, to find Ratna unconscious under the swing. I picked her up in my arms and headed home. I placed her lightly on bed and sprinkled some water on her face. She slowly opened her eyes and found her mother staring at her, with tear filled eyes.

“Sorry ma. I am not a good daughter.” She whispered and dozed off. Aunty signalled me to exit the room and I followed her silently. She served me food and I quietly had it.

“What do you feel about Ratna?” Aunty asked me suddenly and I choked over my food. {God! What have I done to you, that you put me in such a situation? Now what should I tell to her? How do I convince her that I do not have such feelings towards Ratna?} She patted over my back and made me have some water. After I recovered, I opened my mouth to speak.

“No … don’t bother yourself much son. I understand. Just because she likes you, you need not like her. I just wanted to know what is going on between the two of you.” She sat beside me, rubbing my back. {She is just as sweet as my mother and I feel bad seeing her in such a condition.}

“No aunty. I too like her … but not the way she does. I am sure that she is just attracted to me. After all, she has not seen any other man as much as she has seen me, and umm … I was just in front of her in the wrong time …” {God! Can this conversation get any more embarrassing?} I shifted uncomfortably, wanting to get out of the place as soon as possible.

Aunty smiled and ruffled my hair lovingly. “How much have you grown up Krishna! I have never seen anyone of your age, speak in such a matured manner. It might sound awkward, but we are lucky that she is attracted to YOU … if it would have been anyone else in your place, he would have definitely taken advantage of her innocence …”

I let out a nervous laugh. {Where is this leading?} She sighed. “… On her behalf, we are apologising to you, son. I must admit that it is our mistake, that she has become like this. We have not taken proper care of her at the time she needed us the most. We were busy with our own little issues. But now, our ignorance is showing its effect on our daughter. This is not something to be discussed with young hearts like you, but I am doing this because I know that you are matured enough to understand our condition.” I placed my palm over hers. She quickly wiped away her unshed tears and smiled at me. "Go get a good sleep. Please don’t bother yourself too much. As you said, she is probably just attracted towards you. Hopefully she will realise her limits soon.” I smiled and left with a short ‘good night’.

My house was deserted, but it didn’t creep me as much as Ratna’s condition did. ‘Hopefully she will realise her limits soon.’ That statement made me feel uneasy. {It sounded like aunty was looking down upon her daughter. But the truth is that Ratna is a sweet girl who deserves someone better.} I don’t know how I fell asleep amidst the hurricane of thoughts swirling in my head.

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