New Beginnings

13- Guilty mind

All the relaxation flew away as soon as I neared the house. Looking at the time, I knew Uncle would be here anytime soon from the restaurant. So I rushed towards the house and hid myself in my room.

No, I didn't hate him. While I was at the park, I had already decided to not hate Uncle, Aunty, even if the incident wasn't a misunderstanding like Aunt claims. Whether it was a true incident or my family misunderstood them, was the question I would never get an answer to.

So obviously I chose to let go of that topic. But I couldn't let go of the fact that Rajveer Uncle was once my Mother's fiance.

Facing him now was too awkward. Not having the courage to face him, I stayed in my room.

"Trisha, come. Dinner is getting cold", Raghav called me, standing at the door of our connected room.

"I am not hungry", I made an excuse to not go downstairs.

"Not hungry, did you eat something in the evening? Even then, come down. Atleast have some milk", Raghav pestered.

Rishi too joined him and they both started chanting of 'Come down' nonstop.

"Don't irritate her. If she doesn't want to come then let her be", Aunt said coming from behind.

I couldn't even raise my head to look at her.

"Alright", they both muttered in unison with a resigned tone.

They both left, Aunt too turned to leave but stopped and turned again.

"I will keep some food in fridge, eat it if you feel hungry afterwards", she informed me in a small yet caring voice and left the room.

True to her words, I did go to get the food after everyone had slept. After all, I had just made an excuse of not being hungry and had been waiting for everyone to sleep off, so that I could eat.

This was the moment where I seriously hated the concept of joint room. I had to cross the twin's room, to go down. Tiptoeing and moving silently like a thief was still okay but seeing them shirtless wasn't.

After the first day, they had been considerate enough to not roam around the house without shirts but I couldn't expect them to make adjustment even while sleeping in their separate room.

Fortunately, they slept like logs and didn't wake up when I had shut the door loudly bymistake while returning back from the kitchen.

                            ~~~•~~~
Next day:

It took a lot of courage to move of the bed, but I knew I couldn't keep hiding in my room forever.

I saw Uncle, Rishi and Raghav in the kitchen when I came downstairs.

"Good morning", I greeted them hesitantly not knowing if they were angry with my antics last night.

"Look who decided to come down and grace us with her presence", Rishi taunted.

"Rishi don't do that", Uncle scolded him and then turned towards me.

I just stood there looking at my feet.

"Good morning, dear", Uncle greeted me gently.

"Where's Aunt?" I asked, not finding her with them.

"She's not well, so she is resting in her room", Raghav replied.

"Don't know what tension is roaming in her head", Uncle thought out loud.

He explained further when he saw my confused face,"Whenever she takes tension, she comes down with fever".

"I am sorry", I apologized feeling guilty that she fell ill because of me.

They all gave me confused stares.

I told them about what happened yesterday and how I ignored her after knowing about the past, all the while looking at my feet.

Hearing me, Uncle sat down in a chair with a blank expression, while the twins just stood there roaming their hands through their hairs in frustration.

"Now what, you too hate us just like your family did?" Raghav asked me in a hurt filled voice.

"Ofcourse she does, didn't you see she skipped dinner, not wanting to eat with us?" Rishi said not giving me a chance to reply.

All the while Uncle sat there, not saying anything.

"I don't hate you all okay, I was just feeling confused and awkward so I didn't come down yesterday", I corrected them, in a slightly loud voice.

"Alright, just stop here. Your mom and aunt is not well, So lets just take care of her now", Uncle said stopping our conversation.

"Rishi you go take out the plates , Raghav you help me with breakfast and Trisha, if you are serious about not hating us then please go and talk with your aunt, she will feel better", Uncle ordered all of us and resumed preparing food".

I went towards her room and knocked the door. After entering, I saw aunt lying on the bed staring at the ceiling.

I went towards her and called out to her, "Aunty".

The moment she saw it was me who came in the room, she gave a sad smile and said in a low voice, "Trisha, come dear sit."

"Aunty sorry for yesterday I didn't knew how to react, I couldn't decide anything and so ignored you all. It won't happen again", I told her feeling guilty.

"Its okay dear, you are just a kid. But on a serious note, seeing you came here to talk to me, should I take it as that you aren't angry?" She asked me hopefully.

I just shook my head smiling and hugged her.

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