Family of Shaows

[sexonmind]

Chapter 4: Shifting Bonds

Weeks had passed since Babu left home, but the weight of what he had witnessed still lingered. The once confident, cheerful young man now felt hollow, his mind burdened by questions and doubts he couldn't voice. The betrayal he had seen consumed his thoughts, making it difficult to focus on anything else. Yet, life at college demanded his attention, and he struggled to keep up.

His only solace came from the people who cared for him. Rani, ever supportive, would send him reassuring messages. She could sense something was troubling him, though she didn’t know the full extent.

"Nothing unusual here, Babu," one message read. "Purushotham hasn’t visited in a while. Aruna seems fine, too. You need to stop worrying and focus on your studies."

Another message came late at night: "Trust me, there’s nothing going on. I would know. Just concentrate on your exams, okay?"

Even though he didn't reply much, her words gave him a sliver of peace. It wasn’t just Rani’s messages that helped him cope. His mother, Sunandha, called him regularly, her voice full of warmth and concern. She had no idea about the turmoil in his heart, and he worked hard to keep it that way.

"Are you eating well?" she would ask, always attentive. "You sound tired, Babu. Don’t push yourself too hard. Remember, I’m proud of you."

"I’m fine, Amma," he would say, forcing a smile she couldn’t see. Her love was a balm, but it couldn’t fully heal the ache inside.

Despite their support, Babu couldn’t shake the shadows that followed him. His usual focus in class faltered, and the sharpness that once defined him was dulled. His grades slipped slightly, and he walked through the campus with a distant, haunted look.

It was in this fragile state that Jasmine entered the picture. Jasmine was the kind of person who turned heads wherever she went—stunning, elegant, and exuding a natural confidence. Her long, flowing hair framed a flawless face, and her designer clothes whispered of privilege. But behind her beauty was an arrogance that came from knowing she belonged to a wealthy, influential family.

Jasmine was the daughter of a prominent businessman who had secured her place in the prestigious college through his connections. She was not academically gifted, but she never needed to be. She breezed through her courses, relying on others to do the heavy lifting. Babu had been assigned as her lab partner, and from the start, it was clear she expected him to do all the work.

On this particular day, Babu’s mind was miles away. The chemistry professor had assigned a complex titration experiment, and while Babu should have been able to complete it with ease, his hands trembled, and his mind wandered. He added the solution too quickly, causing the mixture to bubble over and spill onto the workstation.

The sound of the overflow drew the attention of the entire lab, and Jasmine seized the moment. Her voice, sharp and condescending, cut through the air.

"Are you serious, Babu? You can’t even handle something this basic?" she sneered. "And I’m supposed to trust you with our grades?"

The room grew tense as her words echoed, but she wasn’t finished. "Honestly, if it weren’t for my dad, I wouldn’t even be stuck in this lab. You’re lucky I’m your partner."

Babu felt the sting of her words, and for a moment, the weight of everything—his personal struggles, the betrayal at home, and now this humiliation—boiled over. He clenched his fists, taking a deep breath before meeting her gaze. His voice, though steady, carried a hard edge.

"You're right," he said, his tone cold. "You wouldn’t be here without your father’s money. But while you rely on that, I’ve earned my place here. Maybe try showing a little respect to those who work for what they have."

The lab fell into stunned silence. Jasmine's face flushed with embarrassment, and for the first time, she was speechless. The professor, noticing the tension, intervened with a stern warning. "Enough. Both of you, focus on the experiment."

Babu turned back to his work, but something had shifted within him. The anger that had been simmering beneath the surface had finally found an outlet. He wasn’t proud of losing his temper, but for the first time in weeks, he felt a strange sense of relief.

As the class continued in uneasy quiet, Babu realized that while he couldn’t control everything in his life, he could still stand up for himself. And maybe, just maybe, that was enough for now.

Later that evening, Babu sat alone in the corner of the college hostel's common room, lost in thought. His outburst in the lab weighed heavily on him, the memory of Jasmine's humiliated expression gnawing at the edges of his conscience. He tried to focus on his notes, but the words blurred together. Around him, the usual chatter of students provided a low hum of distraction, but one conversation caught his attention.

Two students were talking near the window, their voices low but clear enough for Babu to overhear.

"Did you notice how Professor Raghavan’s been acting lately?" one of them said, his tone concerned. "He was so harsh in class today."

"Yeah," the other agreed, shaking his head. "But it’s not like him. I heard his wife left him a few weeks ago, took the kids. He’s been a mess ever since."

"No wonder," the first one replied. "I guess we all carry things no one sees."

Their words hung in the air, and Babu felt something shift inside him. He realized how blind he had been to the burdens others might carry. Jasmine’s sharp words in the lab had hurt, but hadn’t he lashed out in the same way? He had allowed his own pain to spill over, just like Professor Raghavan, letting it poison his interactions.

Determined to set things right, Babu gets Jasmin's address from one of his friends. Soon, Babu found himself standing in front of a large, well-kept house on a quiet, upscale street. The difference between Jasmine’s residence and his cramped hostel was striking. Bright lights poured from the windows, and a sleek car sat parked in the driveway. For a moment, he debated turning back, feeling completely out of place. But he took a deep breath, mustered his courage, and called her.
Babu called Jasmine on his mobile phone and when she answered her tone carried an edge of impatience.
Jasmine: “What is it, Babu? It’s late.”
Babu: (nervously) “I’m… I’m outside your house. Can you come out for a moment?”
A pause. Then a soft sigh. Moments later, the door opened, and Jasmine stepped outside. Her hair was tied back casually, and her outfit was simple yet elegant, reflecting her well-off upbringing. She approached him with arms crossed, her expression a mix of curiosity and skepticism.
Jasmine: (tilting her head) “You’re here? Why?”
Babu: (looking down) “I wanted to apologize. For how I snapped at you in the lab. It wasn’t fair, and I shouldn’t have taken out my frustration on you.”
Her brows furrowed slightly, and for a moment, she seemed taken aback. Then, her guarded expression softened.
Jasmine: (incredulously) “That’s… unexpected. I didn’t think you cared enough to apologize.”
Babu shifted awkwardly, unsure of how to respond. After studying him for a moment, Jasmine’s lips curled into a sly smile.
Jasmine: “Alright, apology accepted. But there’s a catch—you owe me. Let’s go out. Right now.”
Babu: (startled) “What? It’s almost midnight!”
Jasmine: (grinning) “Exactly. Midnight adventures are the best. Come on, Babu, don’t back out now.”
Before he could protest further, Jasmine led the way, her excitement infectious. The two wandered through the city streets, which glowed faintly under neon lights. The occasional street vendor added bursts of life to the quiet night.
They stopped at a roadside chaat stall, where Jasmine insisted on ordering the spiciest dish.
Jasmine: (teasing) “Don’t tell me you can’t handle a little heat! What’s life without some spice?”
Babu: (grimacing) “There’s a difference between spice and self-torture.”
Her laughter rang out, and for the first time in weeks, Babu found himself smiling freely. They continued their aimless exploration, wandering through parks and empty streets, sharing stories and jokes. Jasmine, to his surprise, was far more engaging than he’d ever imagined.
As the night unfolded, she caught glimpses of a side of Babu she hadn’t noticed before.
Jasmine: (smiling) “You know, you’re actually fun to hang out with. Who would’ve thought?”
Babu: (grinning) “And here I thought you were just a spoiled rich kid. I guess we both misjudged each other.”
By the time they returned to Jasmine’s house, the night had faded into the early hours of morning. Standing at her gate, Jasmine turned to him, her expression softer than he’d ever seen it.
Jasmine: (quietly) “Thanks for tonight. I needed this. And… I appreciate the apology. It means a lot.”
Babu: (smiling faintly) “I’m just glad you didn’t slam the door in my face.”
They shared a laugh before Jasmine stepped inside, leaving Babu standing alone on the serene street. As he walked back to his hostel, the weight in his chest felt lighter. For the first time in what felt like forever, a spark of hope flickered—maybe life wasn’t as grim as it seemed.

In the weeks that followed, Babu tried to maintain a sense of normalcy, clinging to familiar routines like late-night phone calls with Purushotham. Their conversations were, at first, a welcome escape from the turmoil in his mind. They talked about everything—sports, politics, the latest news. Purushotham, with his usual charm, cracked jokes and shared stories that often left Babu laughing despite himself.

But there was one topic Babu couldn’t ignore, one question that kept gnawing at him—the question of marriage.

One evening, as the call went on, Babu decided to bring it up again.

"So, Purushotham," Babu began, feigning casual interest, "you’ve been spending a lot of time with Aruna lately. Ever thought about, you know, making it official?" He dared to ask that question, despite Rani’s firm claim that Aruna and Purushotham weren’t meeting regularly.

There was a brief pause on the other end. Babu could almost hear Purushotham’s mind working, searching for an escape.

"Marriage, huh?" Purushotham chuckled lightly, but the laugh sounded forced. "Come on, Babu, you know me. I’m not cut out for all that. Anyway, how’s your college life? Got any new stories about that lab partner of yours?"

Babu sighed, feeling the familiar surge of frustration. "You’re dodging the question again, Purushotham. Every time I bring it up, you change the subject."

"I’m not dodging," Purushotham replied, his tone light but evasive. "It’s just... complicated. You know how it is. Besides, why rush into something like that? Life’s too short to get tied down."

Babu clenched his jaw, gripping the phone tighter. "It's not about rushing. It's about responsibility. You’re not some outsider, Purushotham. We trusted you. Aruna—"

"Aruna’s a grown woman," Purushotham interrupted, his voice suddenly firm. "She can take care of herself."

The conversation veered again, Purushotham steering it toward lighter topics. Babu felt helpless, trapped in the same cycle of deflection and evasion.
After yet another diverted conversation, Babu ended the call, staring at the phone in his hand, his frustration simmering just beneath the surface. He wanted answers, clarity, something more than the smooth, practiced responses Purushotham always gave.

Babu’s calls to Aruna, though infrequent, always carried a sense of familiarity and lingering tension. They didn’t talk for long, and the conversations rarely strayed from the essentials. Yet, no matter how brief, Aruna always found a way to bring up the same question, subtle but persistent.

"Akka," Babu began, the word heavy with both affection and frustration. "He hasn’t changed."

Aruna’s voice on the other end was calm, measured. "You mean Purushotham?"

"Yes," Babu replied, his voice tightening. "We talk like we always do—about everything except what matters. The moment I mention marriage, he finds a way to dodge it. Every single time."

There was a long pause before Aruna spoke again, her voice softer now. "Babu, don’t push him too hard. He’s always been like this—he needs time."

"Akka, how much more time?" Babu's tone was strained, the frustration bubbling to the surface. "It’s been weeks, and all he does is avoid it. He won’t even acknowledge what happened."

Aruna sighed. "I know it’s hard, but he’s been a good friend to us. He was there when we needed him most. Maybe he’s scared, unsure. People like him don’t change overnight."

"Scared?" Babu scoffed. "What does he have to be scared of? He’s the one who—" He stopped, not wanting to say too much. "Never mind. It’s just exhausting."

"I understand," Aruna said gently. "But listen to me, Babu. Don’t let this consume you. You have your studies, your future. Let him come around in his own time."

Babu fell silent, her words sinking in despite the storm in his mind. "I’ll try, Akka. But it’s not easy."

"I know," she said, her voice filled with quiet reassurance. "And Babu… don’t be too harsh on him. Just give it time."

Before they hung up, Aruna added, almost casually, "And don’t forget to take care of yourself. Eat well, study hard, and don’t let this weigh you down."

"I will, Akka," Babu said, though the weight in his chest felt heavier than ever.

As the call ended, Babu sat in the silence of his room, his mind still circling the same unanswered questions. He wanted to believe Aruna’s advice, but the frustration lingered. How many more conversations would end like this? How much longer would he have to wait for Purushotham to stop running from the truth?


Continued…… in part 2