Little Girl's Wild Side

When Gautham reached home, he found his mum and dad still awake and bickering in the living room.

As soon as Govind saw Gautham, he said with a mischievous glint on his eyes, "Renu, look your lover boy is back??"

Renuka smirked at Govind and said in a mocking voice, "Shame on you Govind. You are using our son as a distraction. And you thought it's going to work on me. How long have we been married and you still don't know better?"

Govind nodded obediently and said, "Yes, mam."

Gautham let out an amused chuckle seeing his parent's antics.

Govind knew that he was slightly clumsy when it comes to his work. And he respected Renuka greatly for her professionalism. So even though he argued with her for the sake of it, he almost always listened to her. And even though Renuka looked like a tyrant just now, he knew he used that voice only when she gets tired of explaining something multiple times.

Reciprocally, Renuka always listened to him when it came to decisions regarding personal issues. Because she knew very well she was way too emotional when it came to her family and she had messed up more than enough times due to her fierce protectiveness and impulsiveness.

Seeing his parents, he suddenly imagined him and Sindhu doing something similar in the future and he smiled warmly at the image he conjured in his head. After a while, he came out of his daze and signed loudly and thought 'I am so whipped'.

He shook his head and sat in the couch opposite to his parents. Renuka and Govind watched his son's antics with an amused smile.

Govind looked at his son who still seemed slightly dazed. He couldn't resist his urge to tease. So he said, "Your mom told me you seemed whipped. And from what I am seeing right now, I would say she is spot on." And a goofy grin played at his face.

Gautham came out of his daze and said in a fake shocked voice, "What?? Of course not!! Mum is spouting nonsense."

Renuka's eyebrows slightly raised at her son's blatant denial but she kept quiet. Govind, on the other hand, couldn't let this opportunity go. So he said in a dry voice, "And I am Superman. Come on Gautham. You think I am blind."

Gautham just glared at his dad but did not say anything more. Because he knew he cannot refute his dad. And Govind knew Gautham like the back of his hands. But most of all his mind was in chaos. He couldn't make head or tail about his feelings towards Sindhu that hit him like a freight train. And he felt railroaded.

Seeing his son's state, Govind went and sat near him and put his hands over Gautham's shoulders and talked in a soft voice, " Hey. What's the matter?? Your mum told me you were freaking the other day!"

Gautham looked up at Govind and said with a frown, "I am not freaking out. I am just... Okay, maybe I am freaked out. Its just scary you know. The things I feel for Sindhu. I mean is it even possible to feel so much for a person in such a short time??"

"Gautham, you feel what you feel. This has got nothing to do with how long you know the person. And besides, what are you afraid of??" Govind asked.

"Well for starters, if I know one thing about Sindhu, I know for a fact that she is terrified of commitment. And I have no idea how to convince her otherwise and on top of that... I just...", Gautham let out a frustrated breath and ran his hands through his hairs.

"You are afraid you will end up loving Sindhu and she'll not being reciprocating it. Just like what happened with Priya.", Renuka finished for Gautham.

Gautham looked at his mother and signed defeated and said, "Yes. 'Once bitten twice shy' you know. But what scares me the most is that somehow my feelings for Sindhu is more intense. She makes my feelings for Priya seem like puppy love."

"Did Sindhu reject you??", Renuka asked calmly.

"No.", Gautham replied.

"Then why are you already whining like an old lady??", Govind asked with a slightly annoyed voice.

"Govind!!", Renuka reprimanded her husband in a very stern voice. And then she turned to Gautham and said, "I know you're scared and it's normal. But do not be a putz about it and lose something amazing in your life just because you are too scared to try."

"I did not say I am not going to try mom. It's just something in her eyes. That look on her face when I said yes. There is something she is not telling me. She was so terrified you know. And by the way- dad was way less harsh. Your words were downright cruel." Gautham replied and scowled at his mum when saying the last part.

"Truth hurts baby!", Renuka said nonchalantly. Seeing Gautham's irate look, Govind saw an argument bubbling between the two. If it was normal time, Govind would have just watched them fight like cats and dogs with popcorn but it was late and he was tired so he interrupted them and said, "It's getting late. Go on Gautham. Go get some sleep." He even let out a fake yawn and pulled Renuka towards their bedroom.

On the other side of the city, Sindhu had a hard time falling asleep. She kept tossing and turning on her bed. At last sometime past midnight, she gave up and got up from her bed. She went towards her cupboard and pulled a latch hidden on its side ambiguously. She then stepped back. The cupboard suddenly slid to the side revealing a door. The door had some fancy electronic lock. Sindhu punched in the password and opened the door and stepped inside.

It revealed a room as big as the kitchen, living room and her bedroom put together. It was a rectangular room. The whole apartment was divided into two parts. The front half was the kitchen, living room and the bedroom. And the other half was this room.

The wall right opposite the door was painted with matt dark shade of yellow. And the whole wall was filled with framed paintings. The wall was very big and there were at least 30 paintings covering the whole wall except for the 2inch gaps between each painting. All had the same uniform frame but the size of the paintings was different. No two paintings seemed the same size.

Paintings itself were of sunrises and sunsets. There was everything from blood red sunrises to pale blue sunsets. All of which Sindhu had personally photographed and then she painted the same. The paintings were all slight abstracts. The whole wall looked breathtaking.

Besides the door were rows and rows of open shelves filled with paints and other art materials neatly arranged. On the other two walls, there was incomplete canvases wall mounted with duck tapes. And beside each of these walls were small movable tables to keep the brushes and paints while she was painting.

Sindhu went in and sat on the lone bean bag.

Okay, maybe she was underplaying it when she said that painting was a hobby. She was actually pretty successful as an artist. Thanks to John. She always signed her paintings with a pseudonym Ms. Anonymus. And she was actually famous in the art community but nobody has ever seen her or knows her identity.

Sindhu suddenly missed John. She took out her phone and called him right away. She knew he would be out partying somewhere. That goofy old man.

"Hello, baby doll. Pops missed you a lot." came John's enthusiastic but slightly slurred voice through her phone along with loud blaring music in the background.

"Hello, old man. I see you're still not home." Sindhu said in a slightly annoyed voice. She took her other phone on the side and dialed another number in it.

"Hello, Miss. How may I help you tonight?", came Adam's voice.

"Track that idiotic old man and bring him home. You have an hour." Sindhu replied coldly and hung up on Adam.

"You ratted on me, didn't you??" John asked.

"Yes, and I will be on the phone until Adam comes and picks you up," Sindhu said simply but her voice detached and cold.

John knew Sindhu acted like a mother hen when it came to him and his son Steve. But then again he also knew he acted like a spoilt brat sometimes- okay, maybe most of the time. But the point is her concern made him feel good. So a big goofy smile spread over his face.

"Don't just sit there and smile old man. You are not some college kid. You are almost 50 for god sakes and you have a teenage kid. Can you actually act a little more responsible?" Sindhu chided John.

"Come on, kid. You are talking to me after almost a month and the first thing you do is scold me. You did not even say you miss me. Wheres the love?? You even ratted me out to Adam. I won't be able to sneak out for at least a month. He will be watching me like a hawk." John asked in a pitiful voice.

"He is your bodyguard. He shouldn't have even let you sneak out in the first place. But he is the most pitiful. His hairs are turning grey already because of you two spoilt brats. I don't even know why he hadn't quit. Is Steve home?? Or you brought him with you." Sindhu asked in a stern voice.

"No. It's just me. Steve is over at a friend's place and before you explode. I sent Vijay with him. So don't worry." John said in a soft voice.

Both remained quiet for a while. Then Sindhu said in a soft voice for the first time today, "I missed you old man."

"I know lad. Me too. Steve too. How are you doing??", John asked.

"I am great actually. I might even take up my brushes this weekend." Sindhu replied brightly.

"You got something on your mind kid??" John asked concerned. Because he knew Sindhu always turned to 'painting' whenever something troubled her.

Sindhu bit her lips. John has always been able to see right through her. It did not matter whether she was in front of him or not.

"I don't know, pop. This has been one hell of a month." Sindhu said. Then she narrated the whole arranged marriage thing and her meetings with Gautham and his family.

Right then she heard Adam's voice through her phone. After that some shuffling noises. She figured John must be getting into his car.

After giving it some thought, John asked, "You like him, don't you??"

"Maybe. I don't know pop. I mean he is great. But you know me. I am an expert in destroying relationships.", Sindhu said in a meek voice.

"Do not give me that bullshit, Sindhu. You know you are just too scared. But you are no coward Sindhu." John said sternly.

"I know John. But what do you expect from me? I almost had a panic attack when he first said yes." Sindhu said exasperated.

"What are you afraid of Sindhu??", John asked.

Sindhu pursed her lips and remained quiet.

"Look Sindhu I know you think you failed your parents. So invariably you think you are some irresponsible brat who is not worthy of any sort of relationship. But trust me when I tell you, you are wrong." John said softly.

"What if things get too much for me and I run away again or do something worse and hurt Gautham and his family," Sindhu asked.

"You could. But I don't think you would be able to do that because you are no longer that person."

"You are not that young reckless lad who craved independence. You have tasted that independence and you know its bittersweet. And Gautham doesn't seem like someone who is going to restrict you from doing anything unless and until you go overboard. And besides, if you run away again, I will go find you and drop you back to Gautham's. I promise." John said. His expression was warm and soft. That showed how much he loved Sindhu. If she did not have her parents around, John would have long adopted Sindhu.

"Okay, pops. I will give this my best shot. It's getting late. Go get some sleep. Good night.",Sindhu said and hung up.