11. PAST STILL AFFECTS

I don't know when sleep took over me. I heard loud cries of kate I woke up in Hurry and Ran downstairs. Everyone was smiling and laughing and my mother's eyes were wet in tears while kate's small eyes turn big due to the surprise and I saw someone standing in the centre area. Great physique, well groomed then jay said "Rose look who's here?" he turned and I was shocked. I ran and hugged him I was overjoyed I said "brother Alex! after 2 years you came back home. I missed you so much." he hugged me tightly and said "I missed you too dear." He was away from the house since 2 years being a police officer he was never never to come home for any occasion. He and kate were just perfect to call twins they had same features though they had five years age gap he was elder than me. mother said "ok now let him take him rest he just arrived." kate said "no way mom he only visit for 3 to 5 days I can't leave him." to this Alex laughed and sat on the couch and said "okay then I will not go anywhere leaving my princess." we all looked at him in confused look then he said "I got transferred here." we all hugged him all together and congratulated him. Then we planned to go out for dinner.

I wore white organza maxi dress with silver earrings and tied my hairs in bun and did some nude makeup. I came down and saw everyone already dressed up. My brother jay was wearing leather jacket with denim jeans and Alex was wearing grey pants with black shirt tucked in. Mother refused to come with us as she was not well. I called kate she asked us to reach the gate she will join soon.

we reached the parking area and was about to sit in the car when a red mercedes entered our gate. I recognised soon who's car was this. but I was thinking why was he here soon the door opens and Laurens stepped out in black pants and blue shirt. He looked at me from my toes till my face then our eyes met I turned my gaze on other side and he looked at Alex and said " Hey! bro so long since we met." saying this he gave a warm hug to him and then to Jay then turned towards me he gave me a smile and gave me a side hug I was annoyed by his presence. Alex said " how are you doing." Laurens turned his face from me towards Alex and started talking I was confused by his sudden appearance I asked him interepting there conversation "how come you are here at this time?" Laurens was about to say something when kate said said " I called him. Is it even possible Rose that we ll could go out without him." while coming from the house she was wearing full sleeves bodycon Orange dress ending just above her knees. "true now let's get in." Alex said and opened the door of his black range rover and jay sat beside him I opened the back door but Kate sat I gave her a look then she said " I want to talk to brother Alex about something important you go join Laurens." This made me more angry I understood why kate was doing so I said "what's so important that jai can hear but not me?" before she could say anything Alex said " let it be Rose you know her go with him." I wanted to argue but controlled myself as I did not wanted to ruin the mood of everyone.

They left and I went and sat in his car and closed the door harshly to this Laurens chuckled and started his car. For starting couple of minutes we didn't talked then he said " you look beautiful in this dress." I looked at him for a moment then I said "do you remember we went to the mall outside the city for shopping..." he nodded with smile and said " yes and you took three hours to select your clothes." he said laughing as if recalling every moment then I said " and you remember who selected it finally Michelle." I said in sarcasm to this he looked at me in shock face and his smile was lost. Then he went quite after sometime he turned on the radio and my favourite song started playing then he said while his eyes on the street " this is your favourite song right." I was looking out of the window I said without looking at him " not anymore now many things changed in me." I said in low voice then he said " Rose let me explain you my side please give me a chance." I looked at him and said " really you think you can explain me anything?" " just for once I know I committed a mistake but trust me Rose I never thought I could do this I never cheated you it's just I was not in my conscious and I screwed up everything but trust me I feel sorry for it." he said in restless way as if he wanted to say this since long the urge for forgiveness was clearly seen. I know he was not only one to blame but still I was not able to get over it. I said in low voice " what can we do now? see we both tried but we couldn't fit with each other because maybe we were too close that we took our partners presence and love for granted. let's keep some differences to see if we really feel the urge to get back again." he looked deep into my eyes and asked " so you forgive me?" I said " I forgive you but I can't forget." he looked down then he said after a while "can we just be friends as we were back then?" " I don't think so back then situation was far more different then today's it's better to keep distance for now." I smiled at him then he said keeping his hand on mine " thanks for listening to me Rose." I removed my hand and turned my face towards the window. I was feeling light as if someone has taken away a huge burden from me. I felt calm and relaxed I closed my eyes.

Soon we reached the restaurant and join others and we all talked about everything from past till now and had great evening then we came back home I was in Alex's car and kate went with Laurens. we came back home but Kate was still not at home I changed in night suite I was sitting on my bed I started thinking about everything happened today and I was now sure what I wanted to tell to Arlen. I didn't wanted anyone to break me again so I was going to make sure to express myself.