His Castle

" I believe you were not trying to die this time either. I don't understand why don't you get away from troubles that can be easily escaped instead you choose to be in each one of them" his tone sounded exhausted and annoyed. I looked at him and felt a tinge of pain as to always troubling him. What he must think of me? A girl who wants to get into troubles just for someone to save her. I was thankful at him for first but now I felt like that he must be tired saving me all the time. Until when he was gonna do that, looking at him I only feel myself as disgrace to him. He was looking at me and said nothing but I guess he was trying to read me again. Sitting with him right now in this coffee shop, drinking coffee and watching it rain is the best feeling I can have. The feeling I think I'm ignoring and want to ignore forever. I think its time to let go.

" Before you answer me again like always, I'd like to say that I'm sorry. I'm sorry for creating troubles along with me. Do not save me again from now on. I only feel bad for you and more than that I'm displeased by myself. From now on, ignore me the best you can and act like you don't know me." I stood up from the bench I was sitting in and watched him drink his coffee silently looking away from me. He is not even bothering to say goodbye. I turned away and the tears stream down my cheeks. I kept on walking and walking to wherever I could go away from him. I cannot be with him not because we're incompatible but I cannot spend my life giving him troubles. I often get into dramatic events and him being with me will only risk his own peace of life. I'm a tragedy queen and I guess I'm well suited alone. I stood up to find myself near to the park in my neighborhood. So I carried myself on my way to home while on the way I saw him passing across the street heading to his home. He just lives six houses away from my house. I hid myself behind the wall down the street watching him go inside. I cannot bear him to see me again. After he went inside I quickly made my way past his house and ran towards my home. I tried to open the gates but there was nobody home yet. I picked up my phone to call my parents only to find my phone dead. I must have kicked my house a dozens of time and crying on by myself in front of my house. I cannot go to my neighbors because they don't like me. I forgot my car in hospital. I'm a the biggest tragedy on earth and that is what made me cry more. Losing all I sat in front of my gates bringing my heads to the knees. To make the situation even worst, it started to rain.

I was in front of my house sitting and sobbing, dripping wet from rain and thinking of when my parents would return home. I cannot be a bigger disaster. I put my head down and cursed at the clouds wailing.

" although you wanted to be alone in your troubles but it's not gentleman of me to let you cry and curse skies. Come with me" I looked up sobbing and found baadal holding umbrella with one hand and giving his other hand to me as a gesture to come with him. His eyes showed concern and his lips twitched in a faint smile.

I looked away expressing my unwillingness to go with him. I thought he would go but he stood there waiting for me still giving me his hand. I looked at him and showed him the direction of his way to home rejecting to go. His expression turned of anger now and without another word or warning he took me by my hands and dragged me along with him. I pleaded him to let me go but he wouldn't listen and held my hand tightly. He opened the front gates of his house that had a long pathway from between the great lawn. As I walked the pathway there were huge fountains and unique status that guarded the lawn. We finally reached the main gates of his house, it felt like it was made of gold. He opened the gate and I was welcomed by two maids greeted me and looking at me excited and amused. He finally let go of my hand and ordered one of the maids to clean up a room for me and the other one to help me get cleaned up. He went somewhere ordering them around, I was both amazed and shocked by the attitude he showed me today. His house felt like a palace. Golden, glassy and glittery everywhere. The floor, the curtains, the furniture and the decor gave you a taste of old times with twist of present time. I followed the maid who took me to a room that was very different from rest of the house. I guess it was the only room with modern decor. Coming to this place made me feel like I've become some princess in the castle.

"Young Master ordered to give you a room that would make you feel comfortable. We've provided everything you might be needing in your stay, if you need something else please let us know" the maid was a woman similar to Amma's age. Her affection and responsibility shined through her smile. I thanked her warmly and she went outside giving me a bright smile.

I think he's never brought a girl home. Why are there only servants here, where is his family? With lots of question in my head I wandered around room looking for things. I opened the door to the bathroom, there was everything ready for my bath. I opened the doors of the closet and found a collection of beautiful dresses.Do girls come here often? Maybe he do brings girls home. I was already feeling cold from rain and decided to take a warm bath first and then think about other things. I came out after half an hour from the room dressed up in one of the plain blue dress and pink pom-pom slippers from the closet. Just as I came out there was the same maid waiting for me outside. In a warm tone she said me" Miss, young master is waiting for you in the dining hall. It's time for dinner"

wait dinner! It's already night. My parents they must be home by now. How can I act so stupid. I looked at the maid to ask her something but before that she handed me a phone and said, " young master gave you his cell phone to talk to your parents before dinner. He told me to tell you that even if your parents are home, he would still like you have dinner with him and go" she passed me the phone with a bright smile again. Do all of the people here read minds, I thought to myself.

I ran into the room with phone and quickly called dad. He told me that they were staying out tonight at some function, so they won't be home and Amma wants to take care of Harry tonight. So I have to be on my own. I told them to not to worry as I was in my friends home and I'm already going for dinner. I cut the call feeling harassed by my own fate. Getting in an accident with a person, fighting with him, getting into trouble again, helped by him again and end up in his home. My days could never be normal.

I got out room with my heads down and handed the phone to the maid. I asked her to take me to the dining hall. On the way I was curious so I decided to inquire about him. In a humble tone I asked for her name.

"My name is Alexa. Aunt Aai, that's what young master call me" she smiled at me and kept moving on. I catch up on her again and asked her as to why is there no family of him and why do they call him young master, was he son of a wealthy family? To my expectations she only smiled and left me all by myself in front of dining hall directing me to it.

I opened the doors to the hall with my heart racing at the fastest speed. The hall was as grand as you see in classic princess movies. There were big chandeliers and red carpets with loads of flowers and fancy candles. There was a big dining table in the middle stuffed with all sorts of food items and a man, who was waiting for me to join in by the side of the table. I was standing by the door looking at the luxury of the hall when baadal came taking me by my hands and help me seating. Oh my heart! I felt it was gonna explode. I drew my attention to the food and all I saw was different curries, with rice and chapatis. I gave him a confused look.

" One day I saw you having curry from street. You ordered like 3-4 curries so I thought you like them. It's not fault of my chef. I didn't know what you like and I forgot to ask you" he tried to act innocent as he said those words. " I like curry" I said taunting him and we both laughed hard in the moment.

" So young master, are you a prince of somewhere? You live like one I see. I guess I've never seen any professor in such luxury" I asked with sarcasm in my voice.

He sighed and giving me a brief look he replied, " it's because I am a royalty. I'm a descendent from royal family living in this place since ages. Almost all the houses including yours belongs to me here. I own dozens of farms, schools, public parks, bakeries, hotels and hospitals in India, including one your best friend is admitted in"

I laughed hard because I thought it was a joke but he didn't laugh at all. He kept a serious face. Maybe he was telling the truth. I couldn't believe it, him being someone so wealthy and doesn't knows how to show. " if it is so why do you travel by buses and why a professor?" I asked him trying to clear things up.

" it's because I like to be normal. All of these pleasures and luxury is namesake when I don't have anybody to share them with. That's the reason I teach students and live a normal life as a professor would" he answered in a depressing tone. I looked at him in compassion and asked him about his family.

Eating his chapati, he replied" I was the only child of my parents. They died in an accident when I was young. Aunt Aai took care of me and raised me as her own child. I can never be more grateful towards her" His words were heartbreaking at the same time they made me imagine a young boy being raised by her aunt. After the revelation I could not speak anything as I didn't want to hurt him and he didn't speak anything like me but with some other reasons maybe. We didn't talk with each other till we finished our dinner until I remembered about I have nowhere to go in the night. We were just waking up from the dinner when I asked him to let me stay for the night giving him the explanation to do so. He agreed giving me tender smile.

We both walked in the garden for about half an hour to digest our food and we talked about a lot of things like me and my tragedies, him saving me, his professor life and being my savior life. We talked and laughed hard until we stopped by the pond in his lawn. It was a beautiful big pond with lotus flowers. The water glistened more than his dreamy castle in the moonlight. It was a cold night that brought warmth to whatever was between us.

" When we are in the topic. May I ask you something?" he looked at the moon and asked in a serious voice. Taking my eyes away from him I turned my eyes to the moon too and told him to ask.

" why did you say all that to me in daytime? Although I didn't reply then but I was feeling bad too. Did I hurt you that much?" I took my eyes away from moon back to him and found him gazing at me in search of answer. I cannot think of anything but all that I realized was love in my heart blossoming for him. I cannot even answer him that because even this realization was a confusion to me and could become trouble to him. I looked away and started to move feeling scared that he might read my thoughts again. I didn't notice when I started to run, getting inside his castle I shut the doors to my room and went to bed.

What did I do? What he must be thinking? I should have lied but at least said something. He would think me a fool now. I looked at the clock in the wall, it was 12 in the night. I turned here and there in bed trying every possible position to sleep but nothing was helping. Frustrated, I woke up and went to the balcony of my room and watched the moon, remembering of our encounter. I looked down towards the pond and my eyes turned to horror and shock. I ran down as fast as I could towards the pond.

Is he an idiot? What is doing in the night here? No way! Was he waiting for me? I ran to him in the fastest pace I could. He looked at me smiling as if he knew I was coming to him. I stopped in front of him and asked him as to why was he here while trying to catch my breath.

He kept looking at me for long time and after long hours of staring he wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me closer. His eyes sparkled at me as I turned my eyes low to avoid him. My heart felt like it has gone hiking in the mountains. In the silence of the night, his voice came tearing everything apart" I've been waiting for you"

My heart had already lost and now it exploded wherever it was. As he completed the sentences he moved his mouth closer to mine in a gesture to kiss.