Chapter ~15: Aarav

Today, I saw my younger self in her.

She was scared, like I use to be back then when my dad uses to hit ‘her’, and I was unable to do anything. Yet, ‘she’ was thankful because I stayed by ‘her’ side, I was always there for ‘her’.

We used to hug each other for hours. ‘She’ uses to whisper happy words which build guilt, of not be able to save her from that monster, within me.

 N number of time I wished, I wished for ‘her’ death and one day, it came true.

‘She’ died with a happy smiling, in my arms, in the arms of 10-year-old boy.

Surprisingly, I wasn’t crying or begging in front of God to bring ‘her’ back. I was happy, smiling, thanking the God, ‘that’ she was free form that monster.

“Hai! Where are you lost?”, I heard Anshika voice and came out of the thought maze.

I just shook my head, “What should we do now?”

She huffed, “I don’t know, Nishkarsh is ignoring us, Vanshika is heartbroken and Shrutika-” she stopped in middle and looked at me.

“She will be fine.” I spoke in confidence. I know my girl will be fine.

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While sipping coffee, I was thinking what to do?

 The mess which Nishkarsh’s dad had created was nothing less than an attempt to suicide and murder of his family.

He was in fucking debt, taken from the underworld, and out of fear he ran away leaving his wife and sons alone to deal with all this.

When I heard the amount, it left me flabbergasted, my jaw dropped in disbelief.

I dig out all this information and the way out of it too.

But the way is quiet, umm, risky.

I shook Nishkarsh topic out of my head and pick up my phone and open Shrutika’s contact.

My finger was hesitating to click call option.

It’s being whole 5 hours since I left her.

I want to know, ‘how she is feeing now?’, ‘Is she out of that guilt pot?’ and many more questions.

Will she pick up the call or will hang up?

UHHHH!

A loud laughing voice hit my ear drum.

It’s ‘her’!

She was sitting beside me on sofa laughing so hard.

“Why are you laughing?” I asked in frustration.

“HA-HA-HA, Oh my god! I can’t believe.” ‘She’ again starts laughing.

“Ha-ha-ha, very-very funny.” I sarcastically, taunted.

‘She’ wiped her imaginary laughing tears and with a soft bright smile she said sweetly, “Accha! Ok, I won’t laugh.”

I huffed.

“Call her!” ‘She’ said softly.

“But what if she doesn’t wanna talk to me?” I throw out the questing which was teasing me a lot.

“What if she wants to?” ‘She’ replied with in a sec.

“But, UHHHHH!” I groaned while pulling my hair.

“Let her think, her part, whereas you do yours.” ‘She’ explained.

 I looked at her, ‘She’ gave me the warm smile and said “Relax, close your eyes and take a deep breath.” I followed her instruction.

I open my eyes and looked beside me at empty spot.

“Thank you, Ma!” I whispered, a smile took place on my lips.

I looked at my phone and tap on call icon.

My heart was beating so fast.

I can hear my heat beat.

She picked up in first ring, like she was waiting for my call.

She picked up, ok, umm, now?

Should I say hello?

No, it might be too formal.

Then hi!

No-no-no, it will be too casual.

Namaste kh deta hun.

What the hell is wrong with me!

Then only I realise that we both were silent for whole 5 minutes. Neither she nor I spoke, since call was connected.

Is she really on other side or it is just a mistake.

“Er, umm, Shru-Shrutika.” I spoke her name.

My heart will definitely come out of my body.

“H-Hi” She replied.

She replied, it was not mistake.

She really picked up my call.

Ask! Ask! Ask!

My heart was motivating me to ask ‘Is she ok?’.

I took a deep breath and asked “How are you”

Shit*

I want to ask “Is she ok” rather than this I asked “How are you”

Seriously!

Where does my mind, logic go when I talk to her?

“I am fine!” She replied.

We again were silent. Neither she was speaking nor I.

“Thankyou!” She said, out of sudden.

A smile spread on my lips.

“We are friends, and in friendship no sorry, no thank you.” I replied.

She hummed.

The silence was too awkward, I want her to speak up, everything which is bothering her.

“Are you coming school tomorrow?” I asked.

But she didn’t reply.

I saw that call was still connected yet she didn’t reply.