'Hmmm. So let's get this out now. Do you think this was a mistake too?' Ryan asked in a flat voice. It was the next morning, they were sitting on one of the many boulders.
'Maybe Ryan...it certainly isn't what we expected it to be. Right?'
'Yeah I guess. So what to do now?'
'I don't know. We're out of money, hungry, with no shelter to speak of. I'm tired of fighting with you dear, but I've come to realize that we can't just live with each other and nothing else. We need those comforts. This kind of thing happens only in movies, and it shouldn't even happen there...'
Ryan chuckled and nodded his head. 'We've got to admit that both of us were really stupid to think this up, and not thinking it through. But there could be one last thing to try, it just might work'
'What??'
'I'll be back love. By evening. I'll tell you then, where I went.' He just smiled and ran his now rough hand over her face, in response to her expression of consternation.
He made his way to the town of Ramnagara proper. He scourged its meager streets for the bank, that bank. There had to be a branch. Ah! There it was. Some luck finally. It was the bank his dad had an account in. He went in and waited to meet with the manager.
'Hello sir. I actually have a request to make of you. Its actually a problem. My father has an account in this bank and I'm here on a trip with my friends and I've run out of money. Is there any way I could withdraw money? I could provide you with verification details..'
'I'm sorry son, but we can't do that. Its against procedure.'
'Please sir! I know the account number, his name and personal details. Couldn't that be enough??' Ryan pleaded.
Thus it went on for another five minutes. The manager eventually relented and allowed the withdrawal. That was when Ryan made the second stupid mistake.
'Don't tell him I took the money' he said as he smiled and winked, making it look like he actually was just having a little extra fun with friends and nothing else. Soon as he left the room, the manager patched a call through to the number provided in the form. Ryan's father's number...
The brief respite that the money provided was wonderful. They went into the city a few times. They had their first full meal in some days, and now could actually think of going to another city and start something. They had started to search for places, to move camp. However, two days later, as they were busy breaking down their hut, a small local boy arrived with a box of fresh apples.
'Excuse me sir, there's a man standing on the main road that told me to give it to you. There's a note inside too...' Saying so, he ran away, his task completed. Ryan picked up the box, perplexed as to what it said. Lynn stood beside him, trying to read.
'Son, this is your father. Stop this stupid little production of yours and come back home, your mother's worrying her kidneys out. I know the whole story now. The bank manager called me, I spoke to some of your friends, and for the last few days, I've been looking out for you, and I finally found you. Whatever thing you have with that girl, we can work it out, you didn't have to do something as thoughtless as this. My problems are with her father, not with her. I don't know how could subject her to hardship if you love her. Now stop this nonsense, and come to the road with her. There's a car here waiting to take the two of you home.'
They looked at each other, and some mute voice told the two of them that although it would mean they were giving up, the wiser counsel would be to just go. And silently, defeated, they made their way to the road, eyes lowered, not wanting to meet those of Ryan's dad.
He was there, right beside the road, looking at them, but not saying anything. When Ryan came close, he hit him lightly on the head and said,
'Einstein. Even if you had to run away, you could do a better job of it. One ATM card, a few clothes, and another individual to take care of? When did you come up with this half-witted plan? I never pegged you as a nobel prize winner, but this is plain stupid. You, girl, I don't know what you see in my son, but if you've decided to be with him, I won't play the villain. I'll talk to your dad, I'm sure there's a way.'
The two of them looked at him like two mutes, amazed at how easily he'd settled the issue. All the complications were the ones they had created. As if he'd read their mind, Ryan's dad said,
'That's right. You could've just asked us first! But no! Anyways, enough of this. Get in now!' he said, with something that could almost me called a smile, on his face.
They got in, thinking where their story would take them now. They were anyways richer by experience, and a hell of one at that.
So did they have a happy ending? How does it matter? This story's all about celebrating their stupidity!!...
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