Chapter 131 - 130

Adam came back after a quick shower. He walked out of the bedroom drying his hair with a towel. And his eyes instantly sought for Preethi and found her staring at something on his cupboard.

When he got closer, he saw that she was actually staring at the photos in his cupboard. Amongst them, there was one picture of the whole of his family.

Preethi jerked when she felt Adam stand right behind her all of a sudden. She had been so engrossed in looking around that she did not realize Adam joining her. But before she could say anything, he leaned over her shoulders pointed at the photos she was just staring at. His wet hair tickled against her ears making her itch. But she ignored it the best she could and concentrated on what he was actually pointing at. There was an actually different array of pictures in the cupboard and most of them were family and friends pictures. He pointed at one photo of four people smiling gleefully at the camera surrounded by forest. Adam and John were standing on both corners while two females- one older and only younger- stood in plaid pants and shirts in the between them.

"That's my mum- Anna and that my younger sister- Emily…" He said pointing at them.

"Oh…" Preethi hummed but then she was slightly confused. In all the time she had known John and Adam, they never once mentioned both of these characters to her before. And she hadn't seen them when she visited John either. Which she felt was weird. She thought it may be something bad so she did not dare to ask questions carelessly.

But when Adam looked at her confused and slightly uneasy face, he just ruffled her head and said with a smile, "It's nothing bad. They are what you would call a wandering spirit. My mum is a wildlife photographer and my younger sister followed her footsteps very enthusiastically. They are somewhere abroad in some forest last I spoke…" Adam finished shrugging his shoulders.

"oh…" Preethi said but then suddenly all the other pictures on the next shelf made sense actually. There were two sections of photos in his living room. One of family and friends and another of animals exclusively which felt weird at first but then made sense now. They were probably his mum's and sis's photos.

"Tell me more about them," She asked curiously looking at the animal photos now.

Adam sat on the couch drying his hairs and he started talking, "Well, my dad met my mum in a gallery exhibit actually. And my mum was not one to be bashful. So when she laid eyes on my dad, she pursued him with determination. And the rest was history. Or at least that's how we are told."

"So yea… if you want to know about mum… she will actually love you but other than that she is straight opposite to me. I am more like my dad while my sister is like my mum. They are practically the same breed. Emily couldn't wait to get out of here. The school was practically torture for her. Once she finished, she left home the same night with a backpack. We couldn't keep her in one place after that."

Adam's eyes actually smiled with just the thought of Emily.

Anna was a wild spirit and she was not someone to be tied to a home. John always knew it. But that was also the part that attracted her to him in the first place. But she was actually more responsible than he could have imagined.

At least when it came to her kids, she acted responsibly and stayed home and took care of them for more than a decade which was actually hell for a person like Anna. But she did it still. So she had been part of Adam's life up till he knew how to take care of himself. But it was not so for Emily. Anna stayed up to about Emily reached 12 years and Adam was 18. So it was Adam who raised Emily throughout her teen years. Even though he did not understand everything about her they were still very close.

"Both of them couldn't wait to get out of here you know. They did not even look back once… I practically raised that kid you know… Once my mum left��� But when the time came, she couldn't even be bothered to say goodbye. Just like mum…" Adam whispered sadly. There was also a slight tinch of resentment there. Or it may be a whole lot more than a tinch but he was helpless against them. After all, he loved them to pieces.

"You know the house where you met my dad first… that's our home.. at least it was at one point in time. That's where I grew up. Now my dad goes there on weekends only. We both have our own places in the city. Dad's is closer to Sri corp. His's is actually a penthouse apartment. So I guess your assumption about me was not so far fetched" Adam said smiling.

Preethi could see that he was trying to mask his emotions and she wanted to help… maybe even comfort him. But then she did not really know how to do it. While she was trying to decide what to do, Adam talked again pointing at the photo.

"That was when we were at some godforsaken desert. It's a year after Emily left the first time. It was her idea actually. A family outing… my graduation celebration when I finished my post-graduation degree." Adam stayed quiet lost in thoughts after than.

Preethi came and sat beside him and said in a soft voice, "You do realize that they did not leave because they love you any less but because that's who they are." 

But sadly it did not have the effect Preethi had hoped for. In fact, it had the straight opposite effect. Adam looked at her sharply fiercely and said, "It's not who they are… its what they do… it's their work. A job. That's it," For once Adam actually raised his voice.

Preethi looked at him shocked not being able to reply. She froze. He might not have yelled at her but still, he seemed angry and she was clueless how to handle it.

But Adam's eyes softened seeing her shocked eyes. He realized he was showing his anger at a person who did not deserve it. He leaned over and pecked on her temples and apologized, "I am sorry. I did not mean to be rude… I know you were just trying to help."

Preethi gave him a small smile. She understood what his problem was though. He is not able to digest the fact that they chose their jobs over their own family and him. But then she thought of something and said in a soft voice once again, "You know… if you blame them then you should be also blaming me. I am not there for Akil most of the time because of my job too. At least your mum was there with you until you were ready to be on your own. So doesn't that make me worse than your mom??"

Adam did not get angry this time around thankfully. He just replied in a gentle voice, "Its not the same Preethi. You are trying your best to be there for him. He is your priority even if your job is important to you. But for me… If I am lucky I get to see them twice a year. That too after having them around all the time for so long and then suddenly one day they just disappear on you as if you do not matter anymore..?? How do you cope with something like that??" Adam asked with the same deprived look.

"How do you know you do not matter to them? How do you know they are not trying their best in their own ways too??" Preethi replied and gently pecked on his forehead before getting up from the couch.

"Go, freshen up, and come. I will get you something to eat.." She said and left Adam alone in the living room.

Adam sat there for a while deep in thoughts but then he got up and followed Preethi's instructions.