CHAPTER 11- EARPHONES

"In college, Robert often quarreled with someone or the other,especially from Rudraneel.One day Priscilla and I were sitting in the canteen when a girl came to Priscilla and told her that Robert and Rudraneel were fighting with each other outside the college campus.

"Not again" we both said together

We both quickly approached Robert, he was lying on the ground and Rudraneel and his flatterers Wayne and Janis were laughing at him.There was a crowd of students around. I picked him up,Then rudraneel said sarcastically that "Look, this orphan has come to save him".Hearing this, Janis and Wayne started laughing.

"How dare you say this to Ravi" Priscilla said angrily.

"I didn't say anything wrong, now if I don't call an orphan an orphan, what else should I say ha".

I was just stopping myself then 'thump'..

Robert slaps Rudraneel vigorously.Rudraneel fell on the ground. There was silence. Rudraneel stood up slowly, there was a red mark on his right cheek.Wayne and Janis were looking at Rudraneel as if waiting for his order. Then Robert said, "If you ever call my brother an orphan, I will do to you what you never imagined."

"Let's go"Rudraneel said softly to Janis and Wayne and they lefts. I couldn't stop myself from hugging Robert.When I left him he said "no need to be so emotional" although he was smiling "Let's go home or else we will again listen to dad's taunts"he continued

For the first time I felt that I too had a family.When both of us reached the house, we saw that some guests were coming in the house."Who do you think would have come? " I asked

He just shrugged his shoulders in response. We both reached the door of the hall.There is an old man with almost no hair on his head was talking to uncle and a woman who was wearing too much makeup to hide her age,was talking to aunty. "Quietly walk upstairs to our room"Robert said to me. We're both walking slowly on the stairs that's when suddenly the door of our room opened and a girl came out that girl had pink hairs,that girl was looking at us as if we were some strange thing.

"Do I know you, well I don't care, get out of my way"

she said. But robert was just watching that girl.

"hello, what happened to him? " she said

"I don't know,Robert.. Robert".He was shocked to hear my loud voice and slipped down the stairs and fell down."Aaa.. ouch"Hearing his screams, everyone came out of the hall. I reached out to Robert, Auntie also reached out to him." Has Robert fallen because of you?"Auntie said so softly that only I could hear. "No mom I slipped".Robert said

"Take care son!" Uncle jonas said

"So this is your son Jonas"that old man asked

uncle. I looked at the man carefully, he seemed familiar to me.

""This is my son Robert"he pointed to Robert

"And you must have known this boy." he continued

"Aaa.. "

"He is Ravi, The son of our friend Wardon!."uncle said

"Wardon's son " He turned towards me "you must have forgotten me I am jon..jon Kerrie I have had a wonderful time with your family but you were very young aaa..I feel sorry for your parents".

"You look just like your mom"that lady told me.

"You're right" Mr. Jon said

"Now we should go, it's time for our flight, hope you will take good care of Jeny".Mrs. Kerrie said

"Don't worry at all, she won't be in trouble here." Auntie said

"Thank you,Jeny take care of yourself and focus on studies okay".

"Mom you already told me this na.. "

"Come here" Mr. jon said

Mr.and Mrs. kerrie hugs Jeny and then both of them greet uncle and aunty and leave from there.

"OK, Jeny, you've seen the room upstairs, is that comfortable for you? " Uncle asked Jeny

"Ya uncle it's good for me".

"Great."

"But dad that's our room".Robert said

"From today both of you will sleep in the guest room".Uncle said

"But dad Jeny should get the guest room".

" Robert "Uncle said as if he did not want to argue on this matter any more.

"Okay so bring your important stuff from the room

boys".uncle said

We both were taking out our belongings from our room which we used to use a lot. I collected my comics, novels, books and movie collection of my favorite actor Leonardo DiCaprio and started taking them down to the guest room. We both fixed your stuff in the guest room.Then Auntie called both of us for dinner, today's dinner was better than the rest of the day. Aunty had prepared many dishes, and also prepared a fruit cake for dessert,but robert was focusing on something else.After having dinner everyone went to their respective rooms except me and Robert. When we reached the guest room, robert said that "the food was good na.. "

"You were focusing on the food, I thought you were focusing on something else,right Robert". I said

"Let's watch a movie"he tried to change the topic

"Uncle and Aunt's room is in next door, can't make much noise".

"Yes you are right we should sleep".

*

In the morning, when we were all having breakfast, Jeny came into the room.she wished everyone a good morning and started having breakfast.Me and Robert had our breakfast and we were leaving for college when uncle said that "You both take Jeny with you too, she has also taken admission in your college."

Before I could say anything, robert said, "Yeah, no problem, Jeny can come with us."

"ok I bring my bag from the room".Jeny said

Jenny lefts the room, I heard her walk up the stairs. She came down with her bag.

" Let's go "I said

" Have a good day "Auntie said

Our college was not that far from your home."We should talk to her, na".Robert said

"I'm in no mood to talk right now".I said

Robert walked past me, and started walking beside Jenny so he could talk to her.

He asked Jeny "How do you like our room, for your information let me tell you our room is very comfortable like.... "But I could not hear his further words because across the road an old man was looking at me. That man's face was very strange.

I tried to ignore him but it's hard to ignore someone who's only going to look at you. Then a police car drove past me, I was distracted because of the car.When I looked again in the corner where the old man was standing, there was no one at that place anymore.I started walking towards the college, thinking about that old man.I was just thinking about that old man that's when robert interrupted me and said to me "brother we have reached college". I was standing at the college gate, I didn't even know when I reached here.

"Has she told you anything about herself? " I asked him

"It would be better if you don't ask about her"there was sadness in his voice.

"Why, what happened?"

"You don't know what happened?"

"Sorry, no my attention was elsewhere.As far as I remember, you were asking her something,right."I said

"I told her a lot but she didn't say anything".he said

"Maybe Jeny Has Too Much Attitude".

"No, not attitude."

"Then?"

"She.. "

" She what? "

"She was".

"Yes she was? "

"She was wearing earphones".

" What "I couldn't stop myself from laughing.

"At least you don't laugh na".robert said

"Ok, didn't you notice that she was wearing earphones ha".I said laughing

"Aaa... "

"That's why I say that while talking, always pay attention to whether the person in front is listening to you or not."

"Ok stop me giving knowledge."

" Ok where is Jenny now?"

"She moved in with Priscilla".

"Priscilla?"

"Yes Priscilla, she was laughing at me too".

" Ohh oh".

"Let's go inside now, class is about to start".

I was still thinking about that old man, who was he?