Midnight Whispers (short stories collection) - Chapter 27: Chapter 27

2 years later
Aaravi's POV
Two years of travelling and I realised, that my country was a very beautiful place. I realised that if I had to see different places, there was no need to go out of country. From snow to desert, from monsoon to spring everything was available in our country!
I had been saving my money for going to different places in worlds. But before my bank balance could've been up to the limit I needed it to, I had to take a break from the tired life I was living. I won't say that Ayudh was the reason for it! maybe it was the years of responsibility I had on me. My father and Mom had a small restaurant and my brother was too small to work, when my father faced the crisis. I had to work day and night in order to have our restaurant back on its path! So I was tired of doing it all.
Surprisingly when I told my parents about my plans to take a break from my life, they did not even gasped. They told me, go live your life (?) they told me that they knows that I had too much burden on myself ever since I was young, so it was time that I finally take a break from life, from me, from everything!
It's just Ayudh escalated that decision!
My father and mother kept sending me money so I won't have any problem in travelling. I visited every state of India, I ate every kind of dish I could get my hands on, learnt to make them. I learnt their languages and enjoyed their festivals. And Maa and Papa told me that the restaurant was flourishing! So I had no worries on me! My family had relocated to Banglore, the city my college was in. I don't know much about it! I just know they are living a good life.
But now, I was in flight back to Banglore. I needed to go back to my place now. To my people! It had been two long years I had talked to them face to face. I talked to them on phone, but that was not enough!
Obviously it was not, they were family!
And I was going to give them a surprise!!
I smiled looking down on the clouds moved past me, making me leave behind any negative thoughts about the city so beautiful! It did carried bitter memories. Like my roommate and supposedly best friend Raavi, who was behind all the hell years I had spent on the campus!
But it had good memories too!
I closed my eyes and sighed.
That one person, who, despite of everything happened, was continuously on my mind. His voice begging me to not to leave, his voice pleading me to trust him and give him another chance. But perhaps, I was not ready at that time. And now, it is too late for us. I did not wanted to be involved with him, and maybe even he moved on.
He and his family were continuously on tabloids, but I had not had a phone with me to keep a track of him. Maybe it was a good thing. I got up when the announcement that we had landed came and took my luggage with me.
Banglore was a season neutral city. Not too much cold, and not too much hot, and I had not changed my clothes from hiking., it felt hot! I got a taxi and gave uncle the address of where to leave me! I still looked like I ran away while hiking. I had my goggles on and everything I had on while I was in Himalayas.
Himalayas were the last place I visited to after which I had this clearance of mind and wanted to come back to my place! Back to my people! The holy mountains did had some powers I think! My heart beat, for no reason at all, picked up the pace, as my destiny neared. I gave the taxi man his fee and turned to see a very beautiful restaurant. Well, it did looked beautiful.
I stood there for a moment, as I saw through the glass window, my mom taking orders and my father on the reception. They seemed busy. The place was buzzing with noise. They did became famous. I saw my brother and a girl sitting on a table in the corner, studying!
Looks like my brother found a girl for himself.
I smiled as I stood there for a minute, before removing my goggles and finally entering the place full of so much people. The door bell chimed as I opened the door.
"Welcome to heavens, what will you like to have" Papa said, without looking up from his book. I smiled and leaned on the table. This was how we used to meet whenever I came on holidays from my college.
"Maybe some coffee" I said, what I used to say. My father's eyes snapped up as he looked at me. "with some love mixed" I joked and his eyes welled up as he rounded the large table and hugged me.
"Aaru" my mom shouted and ran to me, making my brother aware of my presence. I hugged all of them and finally removed my bag. we cried and laughed in the synchrony, finally being able to meet. I took the mug from the counter to inquire it, when I heard the door of the kitchen opening and a very deep voice asked maa
"What is the next order Mom" The voice, I can never forget asked, as I turned around and my eyes clashed with the man who was constantly on my mind.
His eyes turned from cold to shocked the moment his eyes met mine, and the spatula left his hand and fell down!
"Aaru" he whispered my name, but I did not react.
A few minutes flew by as my mind registered what was happening....
But wait.
What the hell was he doing here?
You know what the most awkward moment is?
Sitting with your ex-bully plus ex-crush on the dining table, while my mom tended to him and me. My eyes again met with him, when I looked at him. He had been continuously staring at me ever since I arrived, as if I will disappear from the surface of earth if he looked away even for a minute.
I smiled awkwardly at him, and he returned it with the most genuine smile I had ever seen. I was taken aback. I never knew he could smile like that.
I also came to know that, the girl with my brother was Anya, sister of Ayudh, who woke up from her coma, not long after I left. She had been in a relationship with him ever since she woke up, as my brother was the one who took care of her.
But right now everything was awkward, as everyone on the table was looking at me as if I was some alien! I smiled and took some pasta and ate it. The taste of the amazing pasta blasted my taste buds.
I savoured the taste.
"Ayudh is a very good cook, Aaru, this pasta was made by him." I choked on my food, and Maa patted my back. I looked at Ayudh to see him glancing at me nervously.
What the hell was happening?
It looked like in these two years everything had turned upside down. My father and mother were happier. My brother looked smitten. And Ayudh looked greatly changed! I don't know what happened between them. Why they were being so friendly with people who threw us in hell hole. I had known my parents were one of the kindest people I had known, but they forgave them! That was something I was not able to digest!
Everyone ate dinner while chattering. I, on the other hand, was very silent. I glanced at Ayudh now and then, and he always looked at me quite concerned, which made me feel even more awkward!
After dinner we all went on a stroll down the lane! Maa and papa were ahead of us along with Vidyut (my brother) and Anya. They were talking animatedly as I followed them. Ayudh had slowed his pace, to match my speed. But even after so many reactions he had not initiated a conversation with me!
I looked at him again. He looked so dull. He looked like he had lost his charm. It was not like his eyes were ever shining with glee. But his eyes had lost something that I had seen a glimmer of, years before, while he was in denial that I will forgive him, and that I don't hate him.
Hope!
Ayudh Suryavanshi had lost hope. Of what, I don't know... but wait.
Why the hell was I thinking so much about him?
"How have you been?" I asked to stop unwanted thoughts from coming into my mind!
"Huh!" He looked startled. He looked around and then pointed at himself. I nodded. Obviously I was asking you!
"I.. I am f..fine" He stuttered. And I thought what had changed in these years that the person reason for everyone's agony was stuttering!
"How were you all this time?" He asked me.
"I had been great. You won't believe how much I saw. You know I was so excited. I already visited the places about whom, many people even don't know about. People all around India are so warm and hospitable that they gladly gave me whatever I wanted. I was so so happy all the time whenever I was out!" I blabbered in excitement. I looked at him after I realised, only to find his lips tugged in a small smile.
"Really?" He said. "I am glad" We walked and talked even more.
Ayudh had changed. I don't know if it is for good or bad, but he changed way too much from his past cold persona!
He had become a totally different person now!
I was on my bed still thinking when I heard my door open. I closed my eyes and pretended to sleep. My heart raced as I heard footsteps coming near me. Someone sat beside me on my bed and stroked my head lovingly. I can feel it!
"I am happy that you are finally happy" Ayudh said. He kept stroking my hairs unaware that I was not sleeping.
"I am sorry." I heard his voice shiver. "I don't deserve your forgiveness, so I will never ask for your forgiveness. I just want to say, I regret it all. I regret it because I lost you. I am sorry." Few tears fell on me as my throat tightened for unknow reason! "But I am telling you I am getting my karma back! And I don't want to guilt trip you into forgiving me. So I won't tell you. I just wanted to say, that..." He stopped as if weighing over his words. "I am sorry!" He said and kissed my forehead before getting up and leaving.
As soon as I heard the door close, a few tears left my eyes. Why was I crying?
Did I fell in love with him --again-- at some point?
No it can't happen! I closed my eyes and let the sleep overcome me not knowing something much bigger was awaiting me!