When You LOVED Me...

24.

*Unedited*

"Mummy, mummy" my impatient 11-year-old self was rampant.

"Ha, beta, what happened?" my mom replied from the kitchen making us food. She has to leave for work in an hour.

"Mom, Krish is saying I am going to hostel, but I am not going to hostel, you didn't tell me about it, I. Am. Not." I was very furious when I woke up and my 5-year-old brother came up to me with such horrible news, happily smiling.

"We will talk about this later beta, now, mommy is late." She said changing the topic. But I want answers.

"I am not going to any hostel, Mumma, hostels are horrible." She just hummed and ignored me.

"Mumma, are you punishing me?" I had heard from my uncle that bad children go to hostels, who don't listen to their parents."Mumma, I promise I will take care of Krish and never fight with him, and will do whatever you say, Please don't send me to the hostel." I sobbed on the verge of crying.

"Boarding schools are not that bad, beta." Mom left the dough and washed her hands and then scooped me in her arms and sat on a chair." That school is big and good and there will be more students of your age, you can play with. And they are providing you scholarships because you are such a great student. You know na how much we need to save money right now."

"Momma, I will study hard and score a bigger scholarship in my school. Pl-lease doesn't send me now, I-I want to  be with you." Now, I am crying hysterically in my mom's arms. I don't wanna go away from her.

"I will come every month to meet you," Mumma said and wiped my tears. "You know na Mumma only can afford to educate only one of you and Now, Krish too will go to school, Beta. This is a good opportunity and helps me educate you both, please understand."
Mumma uttered in a low tone.

I understood her and our situation. But I just didn't want to go to the hostel. Why can't she understand that? Why I have to lose something so Krish can have something. I hiccuped and stilled, an unknown jealousy and anger surged through me, it was immature but my eleven-year-old can't help it.

"YOU JUST LOVE KRISH, YOU DON'T LOVE ME, MUMMA," I yelled and jumped from her lap and raced into our bedroom and locked it. I crashed on my bed and started to sob hysterically, I had known that I have to go to that damn boarding school, no matter what I say, what I feel.

"Mia" a gentle shake woke me up. I realized that my dream got mixed up and I was sobbing in reality. I wiped my tears stilled dazed and my throat felt choked and I can't breathe properly. Could my ass be more immature, first crying over a really stupid incident and then can't even breathe?

I felt held in strong arms, which moved around my back soothingly. I pressed myself against their chest.

"Breathe," I heard a command. I tried to inhale through my mouth, but something between choke and sob left my mouth and more tears escaped. What's wrong with me?

"Relax, Mia, you are safe, Relax" I concentrated on his voice and succeeded in taking a deep breath in.
"That's right, in and out..." Aaron guided me for few seconds and I was able to calm myself. Slowly, my senses came back and I realized I was holding Aaron very tight and very close. My whole upper half was curled up under him in a sitting position.

I opened my teary eyes and blinked them for a few seconds. Sunlight assaulted me first, but then they adjusted, it was morning? How?
I loosened my grip on Aaron and relaxed, my throat felt raw and I demanded water. After a few soothing strokes, Aaron settled me back and I rested my forehead on the headboard, closing my eyes.