Radhika turned to look at him, her mouth half open. She went on to say something by all that came out was silent rush of unsatisfying air. The first thought that ran through her brain was what to say, but instantly it had erased and a question took its place. How did he know? So she felt it would be easier to ask the question then give the answer, like it has always been.
"How did you know that I ran away from home." Nikhil turned to look at her with a small, amused smile playing at his lips.
"It wasn't rocket science, Radhika." He said, his voice a bit rough and husky. "You don't have a cell-phone, and you never tried to contact anyone. Which is quite funny because the picture behind your address card says you do have a family."
Radhika jerked up. It was one thing for someone to know that you have run away from home and quite another for them to know that you have a picture in your luggage bag. "You opened my bag?" She hissed.
"Of course not!" He scoffed. "Just saw it accidently." He slowly got up, scaring Radhika with his calm and collected tone. "Sorry. I know it's sort of creepy."
"Creepy?" She hissed and then looked away annoyed. She didn't want anyone to know that she ran away. It doesn't sound right in real life.
"Don't worry." He said and to her surprise, patted on her shoulder. "Happens."
"Thanks! That's reassuring!" She replied sarcastically. He grinned at her cheekily. With a deep breath, he relaxed and crossed his leg, circling his arms around his knees, the can still in his hands.
"I ran away once." He said in a slow, dimmed voice. "I wanted to go on a road trip with my friends, but dad wanted me to go on a trekking trip with him to some mountains in Nepal. Not that I didn't like trekking, but I was kind of stuck between both. So I ran away to Rome." He let out a chuckle, and Radhika smiled. "It wasn't a bad adventure. I had fun with all the colorful and hot tourists!"
Radhika laughed but hit him on the shoulders. "Kamine!"
"I was just nineteen. Second year of college." He said, an angelic smile on his face as if he was reliving his memories.
"Wow!" Radhika whispered. "I wish I had the courage to run away at that age."
"Why?" Nikhil asked curiously.
"It just felt adventurous." She told him with a smile. Nikhil kept looking at her for few moments and then he said.
"Come to Cornwall with me. We will have fun. You ran away anyways, why not see everything?"
"I have only two weeks Nikhil." She said exasperated. "A week and half now."
"A week and four days Radhika!" Nikhil turned to her, excitement glinting in his black eyes. "We can go to Cornwall, and be back in two days. I can show you the whole London in the remaining days!"
"Nikhil, this is sweet and all, but I don't want to bother you." She said, biting her lip.
"I came here to see London as well. I am not here on business or anything, okay? So don't feel like you're taking up my time." He said rolling his eyes but then paused and looked at her curiously. "Are you scared that I may turn out to be a pervert?"
Radhika took the can out of his hands and smiled. "That might be it." Nikhil gasped, and put his hand on his chest.
"My poor heart! Be gentle, lady!" He said with a mock frown, and then grinned. "So you're coming, right?"
"Are you sure?" She asked. Nikhil's eyes sparkled and he leaned in closer with that devilish grin.
"You will have the time of your life, I promise!"
"You are driving?" Radhika asked as she sat inside the car she did first seen parked on the side of the road when Nikhil had come to help her, again.
"Yeah, why?" He asked as they made their way out of the London Pride. London Pride, it turned out, it actually was an old king's castle turned into a hotel now that raised revenue taxes for the people of London. No wonder it was so expensive.
"I thought it was a seven hour long journey." She said.
"It is." He said with a grin. "You don't trust me to be that strong?" Radhika just scoffed and looked away.
Last night, they had spent hours talking about things. Mostly it was Nikhil telling her about major sites in London and talking about their studies and career. They hadn't realized how it was already three in the morning. Radhika was so tired the next day, that she had to force herself to get ready. She had almost forgotten about Cornwall. Now during the car ride, she felt her eyes turning heavy and her thoughts losing tracks as she stared out of the window at the mountains and trees.
"Oye!" She jerked up at the voice. She turned to look at Nikhil who was stealing glances her.
"What?" She asked, her voice groggy.
"You have been sleeping for past hour, and that is making me sleepy!" He said annoyed. "Either your don't sleep, or you drive."
"I can't help it." She said, rubbing her eyes. "And I can't drive."
"You can't?" He asked surprised.
"I mean, not in London anyway."
"There are rarely any cars here. Like one every kilometer." Nikhil said, pulling the car over to the side. "You can drive. No police will come around here."
Radhika stared at him. He can't be serious! But when Nikhil opened the car door and came around to open hers, she knew he is bloody well serious!
"Nikhil! Don't be childish. This is risky!" She said. She was in different country. The speed limit here was more than she had ever gone on, and not to mention the sleepy state she was in.
"It's not childish. You're here for adventure, can't just turn back without that, can you?" He grinned.
"Not deathly adventures." She huffed.
"Don't fret so much. Come on, get in." He took her by her
arms and pushed her into the driving seat and returned to the passenger side.
"Let's see what you got."
"I am a very strong feminist, but this challenge provocation won't work. But if you really insist, let's have fun." She smiled at him and for a moment she was sure that he looked unsure. She turned back to look at the road ahead, and put her feet over the accelerator, not bothering to meddle with automatic gear. "I never drove a car beyond sixty kilometer, but because you trust me so much, here we go Nikhil! Don't mind it if I push our luck too far. It's your fault."