Read Online Neel Dervin and the Dark Angel by Neeraj Chand - Free Book Online Page A

as earnestly as he could.
“I‟d never seen your mother cry the way she did that day.” Priyanka said quietly.
    Neel nodded and looked away, wishing intensely at the moment that he could tell the
complete truth to Priyanka, to his mother, to Aryan and all those who had been worried for
him. But again, DoctorFahim‟s instructions held him dumb.
“Do you remember anything about the accident?” Priyanka asked him.
    “Not much.” Neel said, so relieved that she had
changed the subject that he did not
even mind talking about a memorythat seemed to fill him with dread even now. “It was all
over so quickly. One minute I was cycling,the next I… I hit that woman‟s windshield.” He
remembered just in time what the revised version of the accident had been. “But now, I am
one hundred percent all right, so there‟s no need to worry any longer.” He led her into the
living room, where the light coming from the tube light brightened the gloom of the darkened
sky outside.
“Is that Priyanka?” His mother looked out of the kitchen with a smile. “So good to see
you, dear! I was going to tell Neel to go to your house after he‟d rested a bit.”
     
“Mummy saw the gate unlocked, aunty, so she sent me to check if Neel had returned.
She says to bring you both over for dinner.” Priyanka said, trotting into the kitchen after her.
     
“Thank you, dear. But I‟m not sure if Neel should eat anything too rich for a few days.”
His mother looked at Neel questioningly.
    “I think I can handle it.” Neel said quickly. “All I‟ve had till now
has been that hospital
food.” He looked at her hopefully. His mother was a fairly competent cook, but not in the
same league asPriyanka‟s mother, who was famous for her excellent culinary skills.
“Very well.” His mother turned the stove off and began to put back the utensils. “Give
me two minutes to put everything away.”
     
While Neel and Priyanka waited for her to finish, he told Priyanka about his week long
hiatus from school.
    “A week away from school?” Priyanka said in amazement. “I could never do it! Won‟t
you get bored staying at home all the time?” Priyanka attended a different school from the
one Neel and Aryan went to, and it was a constant source of bafflement to them that she
seemed to actually enjoy going to school. Aryan had long had a theory that the teachers there
used brain washing techniques on the students to make them like classes.
“I think I‟ll keep busy.” Neel said truthfully. “And a week passes pretty quickly.”
    When his mother was done, they locked up their house and made their way to
Priyanka‟s house next door. Neel could smell a delicious scent emanating from the kitchen.
His spirit rose as his stomach growled.
“Mum, Neel‟s back.” Priyanka called out as they entered.
    “I can see that, Priyanka. There‟s no need to
shout.” Her mother said as she came out to
greet them. She was a tiny, plump woman, and had the same mischievous twinkle in her eyes
that Priyanka did. Her tall, thin husband rose from the sofa and walked up to them with a
warm smile.
“Glad to see you on your feet, son.” he said, clapping Neel on the back.“You don‟t
seem much worse for wear.”
     
“It wasn‟t anything serious, uncle.” Neel grinned back.
     
“I‟m so happy to see you‟re all right, Neel.” Mrs. Ghoshsaid, giving him a hug. “We
were all so worried aboutyou.”
     
“Thanks for having us over, Amodita.” Neel‟s mother called out to Priyanka‟s mother
after greeting her father. “I wouldn‟t have had time to make anything too fancy tonight.”
     
“I know, Nisha. Now just sit at the table with Neel and relax.” Mrs. Ghosh said
soothingly, steering them towards the dinner table. “Priyanka, help me get everything ready.”
     
“So he‟s completely all right now?” Mr. Ghoshasked Neel‟s mother.
    “
The doctors seem to think so.” Neel‟s mother said, looking at himdoubtfully. “They
all said