Chapter 12: Hang out

Arav: 

I stepped out of my room, glancing around the house to see if Mom and Dad were home. The living room was empty, and as I scanned the space, the maid approached me.

"Sir, are you looking for something?" she asked, startling me.

I turned around quickly. "No, nothing. Have Mom and Dad come back from work yet?"

"No, sir." Just then, my phone buzzed with incoming messages.

"You can go now. I've already had dinner out, so no need to disturb me. I'm going to bed, and if I need anything, I'll call you," I said. She nodded and quietly left the room.

I picked up my phone and saw that both Mom and Dad had texted me at the same time. Their messages synced up perfectly, letting me know they wouldn't be coming home tonight due to work.

A wave of relief washed over me—I was glad they weren't home yet. Moving quickly, I went to the drawer where all the keys were kept. I grabbed a set of keys, two different ones attached to the same keychain. It was my favorite keychain, shaped like a bunch of dark red grapes made from soft rubber.

Clutching the keys, I hurried out of the house before the maid could see me.

I slipped out of the house after booking an Uber bike. I didn't want anyone to know I was sneaking out at night. As I reached the gate, I spotted the driver casually strolling in the garden. Quickly, I ducked behind a pillar, waiting until he couldn't see me, then rushed out, pulling my hoodie tight against the cold.

The Uber bike arrived shortly after. I handed the driver the OTP number, hopped on, and we set off.

Forty-five minutes later, despite the late hour, we were still stuck in traffic. This city really never sleeps; the roads are always alive, even at night.

When we finally reached the destination, I paid the driver and turned around to see Indu waiting by her car. I ran over and hugged her. She smiled, then opened the trunk to pull out the groceries she'd picked up on her way.

As we were about to head inside, I felt an eerie sensation, like someone was watching us. I turned around, scanning the area, but saw no one.

"Arav, what are you doing? Who are you looking for?" Indu whispered, her voice low but curious.

"I don't know... I just had this weird feeling someone was watching us, but there's no one there."

"Are you serious? You do realize we're standing in one of the most secure, prestigious apartment complexes in Bangalore, right? It's practically impossible for anyone to get in unless they're an owner."

"Yeah, sure. Just like how I handed a few notes to the watchman and he let us in," I replied sarcastically.

"Are you crazy? That watchman has been working here since day one. He knows your mom, and every time she comes, he sees you with her. You really think everything he does is just for money?" she snapped, her voice rising.

"Well, that's the reality, isn't it?"

Indu sighed, frustrated. "Whatever. I can't argue with you. Let's just go inside."

We headed toward the elevator and pressed the button for the 15th floor, where the penthouse was.

Once inside, I unlocked the door, and as expected, everything was spotless. The housekeeping staff kept it well-maintained. Indu went straight to the kitchen and returned with a couple of glasses.

I unpacked the groceries she'd brought. Knowing I don't drink or eat meat, she had thoughtfully picked up some cup noodles and a non-alcoholic beverage.

Indu took out a bowl of fried chicken and a bottle of vodka, setting them on the table. I headed into the kitchen to grab some hot water, pouring it into the cup of noodles and covering it with the lid to let it steep for a few minutes.

"So," she asked, leaning back, "what have you been up to these days?"

"Nothing, just chilling."

She rolled her eyes. "Don't give me one-word answers. What happened today? How are things with your parents? Did they scold you?"

I sighed and explained everything. By the time I finished, her jaw had dropped.

"You seriously went against your mom when she asked you to come home? What did she say after that?"

"If she had said something, I'd have been happier. But no, they just brush me aside and handle everything themselves. I hate it. Even now, they still treat me like a baby."

"Calm down, Arav. You're their only child. Of course, they worry about you."

"Yeah, they worry—but they never actually spend time with me." I watched as Indu poured herself a glass of vodka, taking a sip before grabbing a piece of chicken. I opened the lid on the cup noodles and started eating.

"But you've changed so much, man. What happened on that island? Tell me."

"Nothing, Indu. You're just imagining things."

She raised an eyebrow. "You're being so moody. Are you on your period or something?" she teased with a smirk.

I laughed out loud, remembering how I thought same thing to Prem. Indu looked at me, clearly annoyed.

"Relax. You just reminded me of someone," I said, trying to defuse her irritation.

"Who is this someone? What did they do to you?" she asked, leaning in with curiosity.

"They're like the ocean waves—sometimes rough and dangerous, but at other times calm, protective. They hold me close when I'm feeling low and never leave me alone."

"Wow, you're in love with him." She said it so casually, but it made me choke on my noodles.

"You know, that person doesn't even believe in love or marriage."

"Hmm, intriguing. So what do they look like?"

I leaned back, thinking about him. "He's tall and handsome, with a strong, masculine presence. His eyebrows are thick, almost meeting in the middle, but not quite. A long nose, perfect jawline, and his lips... they're so flawless, it's no wonder girls fall for him."

Indu gave me a sideways glance, grinning mischievously. "Are you describing him or... have you seen him naked?"

"Maybe, maybe not. Why would I tell you?" I teased, smirking.

"You've really changed, Arav. And I love it."

I smiled. "So, how are things with you? How's work?"

"Everything's fine."

"Come on, you said I've changed, but you've changed even more. You used to talk non-stop."

"Nothing really..." she trailed off, interrupted by her phone ringing. She stared at the screen before cutting the call.

"It's just spam. Let's ignore it." But the phone rang again.

"Just answer it," I said, sensing her hesitation. Reluctantly, she picked up the phone and walked away, her voice lowering as she spoke.

Feeling she needed some privacy, I stepped out onto the balcony, letting her have her space.

I stood on the balcony, taking in the cityscape illuminated by night lights. The vibrant energy below seemed endless, even in the late hours. After a few moments, I felt Indu beside me. She wrapped her arm around my shoulders, her presence comforting yet heavy with unspoken thoughts.

"Arav, why do we sometimes feel like we just want to disappear from everything?" she asked softly, her voice low and distant.

"Is someone bothering you? You can tell me," I said, turning to hold her hand gently.

She gave a faint smile but shook her head. "No, it's nothing. Just... thoughts." Her voice was clearer this time, as if she was pushing away the weight of her worries. I could sense she didn't want to talk further, and I decided not to press her.

"By the way," I began, steering the conversation to something else, "what's going on between my mom and dad? Some journalist today was asking about an affair. Do you know anything about it?" My curiosity had been nagging me all day.

Indu hesitated, then sighed. "Yeah, there's some gossip going around that your dad was caught in bed with some woman. That's why things have been tense between your parents."

I froze, the words hanging in the air like a punch. "Dad? That's impossible. He would never—no matter how strained things are with Mom..."

Indu looked at me with sympathy. "I know it's hard to believe. But that's what people are saying."

"Is it just a rumor, or... did it actually happen? Do you know where?"

She pulled out her phone, her fingers moving quickly over the screen. "Let me ask someone who's close to your dad. They might know more." After a few minutes of talking, she hung up and looked at me with a grim expression.

"It's true, Arav. He was caught in bed, but he told your mom he had no idea how it happened. It was at a five-star hotel."

I clenched my fists, trying to process everything. "Alright. In the morning, we'll go to the hotel and figure out what really happened. Something feels off."

We both headed back inside. Indu curled up on the couch, trying to get comfortable. I lay on the floor, staring at the ceiling, but sleep wouldn't come. My mind was restless, not just because of my dad—but because of Prem. I missed him more than I cared to admit, and the thought of sleeping without him felt unsettling.

I got up and walked back out onto the balcony. As I leaned over the railing, I noticed a figure down below, staring up at the building. I squinted, trying to get a better look, but the person suddenly started walking away. A chill ran down my spine. Something felt off, but I couldn't put my finger on it.

Returning inside, I grabbed a blanket and draped it over Indu, who was sound asleep. Wrapping myself in another blanket, I lay down again, closing my eyes, hoping that sleep would finally take me.