Pathum POV
She is bloody stubborn. I know she’s probably doing this to help me improve my low self esteem but heck I look hella ugly when I do a video, Let alone my ugly voice.
Ugh!
Nevertheless, I recorded myself apologising for my stupid behaviour and for sending the polo late. I then proceeded to send it, but she didn't respond so I sent a few messages in Google Hangouts and it appeared she was last online a few minutes ago. And it was getting late but she didn't come online so I took my dinner. Once dinner was finished I came to see no notification from her. So I decided to brush my teeths and wash myself for the night.
Yep once I come from the wash it's time to go to bed. By wash I mean washing my face ,legs, and hands. Washed everything except my head and butt. I usually do that before bed. Not a bath or a body wash. But if we had bathrooms then I might have gone for a bath before bed but I am out of luck. So I had to settle for my underprivileged poor life.
Gosh! I am totally kidding. My life is a million times better compared to many people who can’t even access basic necessities. I am grateful for things I have no matter what.
Within ten minutes I was done.
“Are you going to sleep ?’’, Mom asked me while I placed my toothbrush and kept the soap over the cupboard.
“Yes I am going to sleep now.”
“ Or chat with her till late at night?”
I didn't know how to respond to that. She was right, but maybe things are different today.
Scarlet seems to be mad at me even after I convinced myself to send a polo. Specifically, 45 minutes later from the anointed time. But still, I sent jer one, didn't I?
You did
It seems like mom got frustrated by my silence, so she repeated the question.
But I shook my head and hummed in response which frustrated her further.
“You talk to her all day, why talk to her at night as well?Do you get to talk to her at night as well? Don't you have studies huh? I rarely see you studying but texting her or either too attached to your phone. You ain't going to pass this exam if you keep this attitude son.” she said.
I can't disagree with her, she was right. I cannot go further with less time management and poor planning. I gotta do something to end up in a better position.
“I will try to study tomorrow.”
“That day won’t come if you are stuck on your phone with her, don't get mad at me. It's okay to talk to her but it's useless to ignore your studies. You know do you always want to talk to her but not meet her? Imagine what it's like to have her in person , so if you need to achieve that dream you better study the butt off or else at the end of two or few years she will be gone to somebody else’s hand.”
What she said was true, but I don't mind losing her for some other guy. She is my bestie not my girlfriend, but of course losing her nevertheless hurts. But she is not my girlfriend no matter what mom or anyone says.
But I didn't say anything in defense. I let silence wrap us. Surprisingly my ugly mouth handled the situation like a boss. Most of the time when I let my mouth handle the situation, they end up piercing a deep hole in the victim’s heart.
“Okay sleep well son, go to sleep and talk to her tomorrow.” she said and left .
Even Though mom told me to talk to her tomorrow it's not like I would talk to her now, cause she is nowhere. She's offline and probably mad. But I hope she cools down and talks to me soon.
I got to bed and still got no message from her. I waited until she came back but the slumber took control and put me to sleep.
When I woke up, I saw mom with the morning tea. She was opening the window and the room was filled with bright rays of sun. It is always a wonderful experience when the room is filled with morning mist and sun rays.
After getting ready, and washing my face and mouth I drank the tea in a single gulp. I then unlocked my phone and switched data ON.
And soon my phone flooded with notifications,And none of them didn't belonged to her. Kidding!
Of Course this is what I was expecting.
Of Course she’s the only one who cares about your existence, besides mom.
Scarlet : Brat you were so cute in that video. And guess what, I am still mad and won't accept your apology.
Pathum : Oh for butt god sake accept my dang apology.
Scarlet : Hehe, Nope. Cant!
Pathum : I did everything you asked me to do! I know it was late but I convinced myself - And maybe still it was not enough… I guess this means a goodbye… goodbye miss scarlet… Thank you for everything.
Scarlet : OMG okay okay.
Pathum : What in the butt!? Okay? You must be pleading with me now , Are you fine with me gone from this world?
Scarlet : There would be no other devastating thing that could happen to me than losing you but I know from the bottom of my heart and my faith that you are destined with me forever so I have not a shadow of a doubt you wouldn't leave. You can't leave me, you are wrapped around my pinky .
Pathum : maybe it's the thumb
Scarlet : Oh yeah exactly!
Pathum : You have so much faith in our friendship but weren't you in a bad mood yesterday ?
Scarlet : To make you a better version I would do anything if that is being mad at you the whole day I will still do it.
Pathum : You are such a bestie.
Scarlet : Guess what I showed your video to mom and sis. Do you know what happened?
Pathum : They puked?
Scarlet : Quite the opposite. They loved it.
Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.
Pathum : Promise me that you are not lying. Well I know you are not lying but promise me that you aint saying good about me just to make me feel okay.
Scarlet : Promise sweetie!
Pathum : Honestly I just can't believe it. I felt like I was just stupid and ugly. But you guys see the exact opposite of what I see. That's unbelievable. Thank you so much for making me feel elevated above my negative self. Thank you sweetie and your family. I am grateful to have met you and your family.
Scarlet : Of course hunny.
Pathum : Are you going to sleep now?
Scarlet : NOPe. don't think you could get rid of me that soon.
Pathum : Hehehehe
Scarlet : Brat!
Pathum : shall we work on chapter two? Or work on your book?
Scarlet : Whatever you want.
Pathum : Let us work on your book, their love is wonderful hehe. I just enjoy reading your characters. They are well built. I meant you have done a fascinating job in making them stand out. I wish I could write characters like you do. It will surely stick people on to the book. So let's stop talking and go back to work.
I exited Google Hangout and opened Google Doc. We worked on chapter twenty of her book. It was wonderful to work on her. I love helping her and encouraging her to write better stories. Just like she motivates me to write better stories I do the same for her, that's what besties do. We help each other and stand against any force who are against us.
While she was writing the chapter I was correcting the grammar and punctuations. I know I am not better at english than her but still I kept the place neat. It isn't that she isnt neat its just i do my job and she do hers. But eventually she fell asleep while we were working on the last scene. So once I finished working on chapter twenty of her book , I also worked on her previous chapters and made them ready to be published. While she was in her dreamland and having the sleep she deserves I worked both on mine and her chapters hoping that I could complete my mission when she wakes up so that she would be delighted by the morning gift.
Once I finished working on the novels I walked outside to work on the garden. I called grandma to help me with the plantation. Yesterday I soaked bean seeds in water so that we could plant them today. I cut some branches because beans are climbers so they need something to anchor themselves. While I dug holes to plant the branches I cut, grandma was helping me with planting them. We finished work in a few hours.
Three days later I started watering the newly planted seeds. Small plants have risen from the seeds that we planted . While also recording a Marco polo video I sent them to scarlet . sharing is caring. Working on the garden is fun and showing it to my bestie is infinitely better.
Once I finished breakfast, scarlet went to sleep and I focused on my biology notes.
That's when Mom entered the room.
“Hey Son, are you studying ?”
“Yeah, Why?”
“Can you go give this rice packet to Nirmala aunty.”
“Why can't you go ?” I replied ignoring the annoyance in my tone.
“It won't hurt you to walk a few steps. You don't need to do anything, just give this rice packet and come back.”
“Later, later!” I replied. Nirmala aunty is our neighbour and her husband is in the hospital due to corona. He is covid infected. And since it's our responsibility to help them and lift them.
“Go now, eating this later wouldn't do any good.” Mom said with her hands on her hips.
“Ugh please don't disturb me.” I said not looking at her
I will do it mom but give me a break.
Comeon dont break her heart just go do it.
“You never do any favour for me, always busy. I will deliver this by myself .” she stormed out of the room before I could speak.
“Fine! Give it to me, I’ll go Mom.” I said getting up from my seat but mom didn't respond. So I walked up to her room and she was gone already. I came outside to see mom walking towards their house while I stared in that direction and stood there.
Go chase her, go do it, why can't you do it for mom? She just asked you to deliver a package and you couldn't do it? You are so useless, do you know that?
I am no use, of course I know I ain't anything but a loser. I shouldn't have said no to mom. I didn't say I couldn't, I was only a little hesitant. That doesn't mean I refused to go but whatever she is gone now. So I got back to my room and tried to focus on my studies but it didn't work out as much as I planned, my mind was easily drifting away to what happened in the morning with mom. Even after four hours she was nowhere to be seen so I picked my phone and called her and she informed me she is helping Nirmala aunty to clean her house. And she told me to have my lunch and that she would get late even when Nirmala aunty told mom to go home.
She's there because of you. You should have gone instead of being lazy.
I wasn't lazy, but I was just hesitant. Do we call that lazy ? If it’s so, then be it. Am I offended ? I don't think so. I have to accept I am lazy and I need to eliminate the weak characteristics in order to succeed and live a decent life.
She will be home in a few hours. But shouldn't I have helped her by delivering the package? Now it's over Pathum. Shut it and cut it out.
Even Though I did everything to forget what happened in the morning, I just couldn't.
Before I bath I had a simple chit chat with grandma
“ What is she doing this late?”
“I don't know. She called me and told me she will be late.” I said scratching my head.
She turned her gaze at our neighbour's house and replied.
“Should I go and see whether she is okay?”
“Oh no need. She will come soon. She said she is helping Nirmala aunty with her household.”
I said and walked towards the well.
“Your mother is crazy , she was supposed to give the package and come back soon, gosh she is wasting her time.” I could feel the annoyance in her tone. But I stayed in meek cause silence is the only choice I got to do. If I had delivered the package none of this would happen. Its all my fault.
Within fifteen minutes I came back from bath. I couldnt bath peacefully as I was worried about mom. So I dressed quickly and made my way to their house and thats when a police jeep came across me and stopped and the officers yelled at me not to come closer to them.
I stood where I was . the officer asked me if I visited the neighbours house and I shook my head in response. Panicked, I told the officer I came to see mom. She had been there since morning .
The officer looked at me and then exchange glances with the fellow officer and said something that shook my heart.
“The lady of this house is infected with Coronavirus and she got a positive to the test, so she is admitted to hospital.” His voice was rough. I didn't see any kind tone in that voice.
“Where’s my mother?” I asked, trying to step into the house. They yelled and told me to stop walking. Like I am entering into a zone I shouldn't. Are they this scared of a simple virus? Gosh they don't have to yell, they could simply tell me to stop walking , why should they yell?
The people in this country are something aren't they?
Tears started to fill my eyes as I dialed moms number, her phone fortunately rang. But she didn't answer. I took about 5 calls straight away but still she did not answered.
“Your mother was supposed to be in her house, not loitering and gossiping with neighbours.” a fat officer laughed at me.
That fat fucking looser,
Calm down. Don't take it personally, it's their nature. These people are wicked and stupid, don't waste your energy fighting with these fools.
“She came there to deliver a rice package .” I yelled and every single officer turned at me with amusement etched in their face.
“Oh we can see that. It took her hours to go back home, oh please shut up. These women, they never listen to us. Stubborn and stupid. The media told them to stay at home but they cant simply do that cause they got gossiping to do and guess where they end up?” the fat officer continued to say, which boiled my blood. Was he saying it for me or for himself? Whatever the only ones who nod in agreement to his idea were the officers surrounding him, I saw no truth in his words, he is delusional and there was no point arguing with such people. Nevertheless, he continued to mock women and also went on to mock my mom.
I wanted to yell back and tell him to shut up but its not the right thing to do now. Not the wise thing to do despite being not the right thing.
The officers told us to go back to our houses and never visit Nirmala aunty’s house until further notice.
Once I came back home , I briefly wrote everything to Scarlet. With tears in my eyes and sweat in my trembling hands I wrote to her.
What happened to mom? Did they take her to the hospital? Why is mom not answering her phone?
Many questions pounded in my head, and there was no answer to my pleading questions.