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Ram really didn’t know how he had ended up in this home, sitting down for supper with his shoulder hitting the shoulder of the man responsible.
It all started last week, Ram had been walking between his classes, alone, always alone. His dedication in completing his studies and getting his law degree as fast as possible left little opportunities to make friends. He had tried in the beginning, but often he overheard people calling him stuck up when he refused invitations to go out to study instead. Eventually he had stopped trying and just buried himself in his books, it was easier that way.
His Babai was always worried he was lonely, and Sita encouraged him to get out and enjoy life every once in a while. Ram wished Sita was here with him, but she had been accepted to the University of Cambridge where she could pursue he dream of becoming a Doctor. It would be a few years before she came home, and Ram was forced to be content with their video calls every other day.
No one understood Ram like Sita did, no one understood his drive like she did. She had been there that day when Ram’s family and village had been forced off their land illegally. Ram’s Father had physically fought, and it had resulted in his Amma’s and Chinna death. Ram’s father was never the same, losing the will to live with the death of his beloved and youngest son. Ram knew a broken heart had killed his Father in the end not the illness he had caught just a year later. On his death bed, he had made Ram promise that one day he would find a way to get it back for their people.
Becoming a lawyer, understanding the legal paperwork and knowing how to fight it was Ram’s driving force since he was twelve and now he was in so close to his goal, he couldn’t fail now!
Ram had been on his way to his small dorm to review his notes from today when a small sound of crying had caught his attention. There had been a small girl curled up at a base of a tree, crying her little heart out. Ram looked around, no one else was in the area beside him.
He approached her with caution, “Are you alright?” he asked softly coming to squat in front of her.
At the sound of his voice, the little girl flinched but lifted her face from where she had had it buried in her knees.
“I can’t find my Amma!” she cried, tears streaming study down her face.
“Hey, hey don’t cry,” Ram said softly. “I’m Ram, whats your name?”
“Malli,” she whispered wiping at her face.
“Malli,” smiled Ram, “Were you here to visit someone?”
It was the only reason Ram could think that a young girl like her would be on campus.
Malli nodded, “My Anna, he studies here.”
Ram nodded, they were getting somewhere. “Do you know what he was studying?”
“Environmental studies.”
No wonder the poor girl was lost, the main building those studies took place was all the way across the campus.
“I know where they have class, we can find one of your Anna’s professors and give him a call,” Ram said holding out a hand towards her.
Malli hesitated a moment before slowly grabbing his hand and standing up. Ram stood up and adjusted the bag on his shoulder. “Alright, the environmental studies building is this way,” he said pointing further into the campus.
Malli didn’t say anything else but clung tightly to his hand as they walked. Though Ram liked kids, it had been awhile since he had interacted with one, he didn’t know what to say to her. So he opted to stay silent as they walked.
“How much further?” Malli asked after a several minutes.
“Were about half way there,” Ram said, Malli sighed and stopped to adjust her shoes. Ram caught sight of a nasty blister on her heel. Ram squatted down. “Why don’t you climb on, your feet must be hurting from all this walking.”
Malli smiled at Ram, climbing up with no further prompting. After making sure she had a firm grip he stood back up and continued walking, trying to ignore the way his heart fluttered when Malli laid her head on his shoulder. It was humbling to feel the trust she had in him, him a stranger to her not ten minutes ago.
“There it is,” he said when they arrived in front of a large white building that proclaimed it was the environmental studies facility. Malli visibly perked up at the sight of it, her arms squeezing his neck tightly. "Let me know if you recognize anyone,” he said as he opened the door.
The barely made it a couple feet in the building when Malli yelled into his ear “Amma!”
Ram flinched at the tone but saw a woman who was crying and gesturing to a member of campus security stop and turn towards them.
“Malli!” cried the woman, catching sight of the girl. Malli quickly let go of Ram, his quick reflexes the only reason why she didn’t crash to the floor. He made sure she had two feet on the ground before releasing her Malli taking off at a run. Malli’s Amma fell nto her knees to embrace the little girl, crying fresh tears and asking if she was alright. Ram registered a man about his age coming up to embrace Malli as well, this must be Malli’s Anna.
Mission complete, Ram turned and walked away not wanting to interrupt the reunion. He missed the brown eyes watching him leave.
Ram was sitting at his usual study table in the library, surrounded by book on every available space on the table, working on his personal project. Many of the books were old law books, he was looking for similar cases like his own and any law that could be helpful to him, making notes as he went.
In all his time at the University, he had never been bothered when he was at his table. So he could be excused for jumping when the sound of someone sitting heavily is a chair, making his table shake. With wide eyes, he looked up to see a pair of brown eyes sparkling with hidden mirth looking at him. He had crossed his arms over a stack of Ram’s books and had his chin resting on his forearms, a wide grin on his face as he looked at Ram. It was the first time anyone had ever sat at Ram’s table.
“Can I help you?” he asked, breaking the silence. Though this man looked vaguely familiar, Ram was positive he had never spoken to him before and the only reason people sought him out was to try to pay him to do their assignments.
It seemed as if the man’s grin grew bigger. “Bheem,” the other man said, reaching out with his left hand to shake. Still confused, Ram reached out and shook it. “Ram.”
This introduction somehow ended with Ram eating a homecooked meal at Bheem’s host family and being thanked by Loki for bringing her daughter back. In truth, Ram was a little overwhelmed by all the attention. He nodded and smiled and answered direct questions, but said very little. He mostly basked in the cozy atmosphere, reminded of meals with his family so long ago. As if sensing his melancholy thoughts, Bheem would bump his shoulder against Rams and give him a warm smile.
When he had left the Parsha’s apartment to go back to his dorm, he was loaded down with enough leftovers to feed him for a week. It seemed as if Fatima and Loki both agreed he was to skinny and would not hear about him leaving without taking food back with him.
Only the streets of Hyderband witnessed Ram’s tears at the gesture as he walked back, pressing the food made from such loving hands to his chest.
Ram had thought that would be it. He had been thanked for his help in bringing Malli back to Loki, there was no further reason for Bheem to seek him out. But to his surprise the other man kept appearing, always with a smile. Ram found himself in places he had never been before on campus, the coffee shops, little bistros, and small gardens, all accompanied by Bheem.
Ram began to look forward to Bheem showing up at his table and dragging him way. He felt lighter and his face often hurt from all the smiling he did around the other man.
It was so apparent that even Sita commented on it during there video calls.
“Well my love, it finally happened,” Sita said with a smirk.
“What do you mean it finally happened?” Ram asked.
“You, my shy introverted friend, have been adopted by an extrovert. In cases such as this, all adoptions are final, there is no escape,” she said with a laugh, a laugh that continued at Ram's dumbfounded face and the slow realization that what Sita said was true. Sita couldn't wait to met this Bheem when she came home for spring break in a few weeks.