Chapter 16. Okay

🎶 Offo

Published on 04.06.2022

| AUTHOR'S POV |

It was Wednesday and Inaaya was just coming out of the music room after a practice session under Mrs Rao and was walking to her class when Tushar spots her and calls her out.

"I wanted to talk to you." He says hastily.

Inaaya nods at him to continue.

"We actually don't have much to do in the project. It's almost over so I don't feel we need Ayansh anymore. He's a working guy and yet he's helping us, taking out his time. We shouldn't bother him unless it's something important." He says softly, being considerate.

Inaaya feels her stomach sink at that advice. She somehow was getting used to Ayansh's presence and his absence was weirdly affecting her. She would find herself thinking about the time spent with him and it felt comforting to let her thoughts wander in that direction. It was frustrating to wait for three days till they meet again but it was even more frustrating to think that not seeing or talking to him frustrated her. The wait frustrated her. And now the fear of not seeing him again seemed to be upsetting her. Everything was frustrating.

She doesn't know what to answer but she surely knows that there's no way she could oppose Tushar when he was right. "I- I'll talk to him." She forces herself to say and he smiles.

Inaaya sees Ayushi coming towards her when Tushar walks away and she grits her teeth. She really doesn't feel like talking to anyone right now.

"Is everything okay?" She asks worriedly. "You look stressed."

Inaaya blinks. "Me?" She says with a tone of incredulity. "I'm good. Maybe because of the piano practice you might think so. It's a little annoying." She lies when in reality, she actually felt satisfied with the practice.

"What was he saying?" Ayushi inquires referring to Tushar.

It takes a couple of seconds to understand about whom she was talking about but when she does, Inaaya fills her in.

"Oh, no, no, no." Ayushi says hurriedly. "Don't you dare do that. Let Ayansh come." She warns. "It's anyways a matter of one or two hours."

Inaaya looks at her with a newfound amusement. "Have you developed a crush or something on him?" She eyes her mischievously.

Ayushi shrugs. She doesn't even try to deny. "I mean he's good looking and helpful, chivalrous and polite; it's natural to be attracted to him."

"And he's elder to you by two years too." Inaaya points out as a reminder.

Ayushi's eyes shine with excitement at that statement. "That's even better." She whispers. "He's older to us and that makes him more mature and attractive. It's even more of a turn on." She winks and Inaaya laughs at it genuinely, wholeheartedly. "Listen, please let him come. I really don't know how many times more we'll see him so let me just get as much time as I can to behold his sight." She pleads with squinted eyes.

"Okay, I will." Inaaya doesn't even need to think twice before she answers and agrees.

~

"I hate the moment when Kabir came into my life." Dhruv announced, taking a sip of his radler beer from the can.

Kabir scoffs. "I hate the moment when Ayansh came into my life."

Neha rolls her eyes at that. "I hate the moment when Inaaya came into my life."

"Technically, she came into Ayansh's life, not yours." Kabir corrects her and earns a stink look in return. "Chill babes."

Ayansh sighs. "I hate the moment when I came on this earth."

Everyone chuckles at that. It was Wednesday night and they had gathered at Neha's place since her flatmate had gone for a work trip for three days. The boys were sprawled on the bed while Neha worked with her files on the study table. Ayansh felt awfully low, void even. A faint voice keeps whispering to him, mocking him that he misses Inaaya but Ayansh shuts it up; yet his thoughts wander off to her, the time spent, the moments shared. It wasn't something great. They were ordinary, weren't it? He smiles with his friends too, he argues with them, they've good and bad and monotonous and special moments together; but it made him feel contented. With Inaaya, it seems they left him craving for more. It was frustrating.

Ayansh convinces himself that the restlessness he feels is just because she's a nice person. And he likes to spend time with nice people. It's nice to be in the company of nice people. After all, he was a nice person and nice people deserve nice people. That's the reason. Yes, that's the reason! It's nice.

Dhruv throws a cheetos ball at Ayansh who looks lost. Ayansh is brought out of his daze and he blinks.

"Aww my cutipie, where are you lost?" Dhruv questions in a sickly sweet voice.

Ayansh cringes at that.

"Are you drunk?" Kabir asks, aghast looking at Dhruv in disbelief.

Ayansh looked at Kabir blankly like he was tired of him. "It's a non-alcoholic drink."

Kabir looks at the two guys dumbly, feeling speechless.

"Please, someone donate some of your brain cells to him. I can't keep up with him anymore." Neha comments from her place, sounding exhausted.

Kabir gasps. "You should break up with me if I'm that bad. Even better, make Ayansh your boyfriend." He whines and Ayansh grabs a pillow and throws at him, making him wince.

Neha grimaces although nobody could see her. "He's like my brother. And not my fault that he's better than both you and Dhruv." She turns her chair around and gives him a look, daring him to deny her.

"Hey!" Dhruv looks at her in offence. "I'm the best." He declares and goes back to his cheetos and drink.

Kabir ignores him and continues. "Best because he gave you chocolate?" He raises an eyebrow and snorts.

"I- I didn't have anything else to give." Ayansh murmurs meekly.

The stern expression falls off Neha's face as her mind reminisces the memory. "He made me laugh when I was crying because of you, asshole." She chuckles and shakes her head at Kabir. "We had a fight over something really stupid and then you say something even stupider, "I can't deal with the stress of this relationship. Let's break up." I went to the park and was crying for literally half an hour when this random guy whom I didn't even know hesitantly approaches me because he felt pity and sympathy towards me and since he's such a bad conversationalist, he forwards a dark choclate bar as if we're in kindergarten and says "chocolates are known to improve mood. Have it, you'll feel better." He looked so awkward, so nervous yet so adorable that I couldn't help but laugh at him." She adds, amusedly.

"I did come the next day and apologized to you. Even said, begged actually, that I would take the additional stress of completing your assignments and notes but don't break up with me." Kabir says in defense and looks at his girlfriend guiltily.

"Still doesn't change the fact that Ayansh is way better than y'all. The least crazy, sane in the head and the one who doesn't unnecessarily invite trouble."

"More like boring." Kabir opposes.

"Responsible." Neha counters back.

"I'm humbled." Ayansh mutters, looking at Neha although he doesn't take this bickering seriously. It's a common sight for them.

"You two," Dhruv interrupts, pointing at Kabir and Neha, "need to have sex. You both are sexually frustrated." He throws the empty can towards the open dustbin at the corner of the room and clicks his tongue in disappointment when he misses the target.

"Dhruv," Neha grits, drilling holes into him with her glare. "Stop making comments on our sex life and pick that can and throw it in the dustbin before I throw you."

"Let me have my cheetos in peace. Then, I'll see." He retorts back lazily.

"That's the reason I keep saying Ayansh is far better than you two." Neha huffs exasperatedly.

Ayansh laughs. "By the way, I agree with Dhruv's suggestion."

Before Neha could snap at him too, Kabir intervenes. "Shut up, you chocolate offering girlfriend stealer!"

Dhruv throws another cheetos ball but this one was aimed at Kabir. "That's karma for you. You became her boyfriend and stole my bestfriend from me."

Somebody's phone rings and it puts a halt on their meaningless banter. Ayansh looks over at the table where his phone is kept and gets down from the bed. A smile which he couldn't stop from breaking on his face, creeps up his lips on seeing the caller id. He turns around. "It's an important call. I'll be back." He doesn't even try to hide the sudden elevation in his mood that reflected on his face and tone.

"Guess he doesn't hate the moment he came on this earth anymore." Dhruv comments, watching Ayansh waltzing out of the door.

"Or maybe he got his personal chocolate to brighten up his mood." Kabir adds and chuckles at his own joke as the door closes behind Ayansh.

"Hello," Ayansh says excitedly, sitting on the staircase after picking up the call.

"Hey!" The voice on the other side replies and his heart goes into a frenzy but he feels more peaceful than he felt since he last heard the voice.

And just like that, he's again blank on what to say. "Why did you call?" He blurts out and squeezes his eyes shut, hitting his forehead with his palm, regretting because it sounded rude and as if he wanted to just get done with the call when the case is just the opposite. "No, no. I mean- I didn't mean to say that. I just didn't know what to say— "

"I hope I didn't disturb you." Inaaya cuts him off, her voice kind but he still heard the soft chuckle and he's sure she must be amused right now.

"No, of course not." He laughs nervously and suddenly stops. Why the fuck am I laughing?

"I just wanted to let you know that we're almost done with the project. There's not much left so you don't have to wait for two hours tomorrow. We'll be done in an hour." She tells him the reason behind her call.

"Okay so at what time I need to come?"

"3 pm is fine."

"Fine." He repeats. "Anything else?"

"No, that's it. Just called you for this."

"Okay." He mumbles.

"Okay." She repeats.

Both waited for the other one to hung up, unaware that the other person too wished the conversation could somehow keep going. It was conflicting.

"Okay." He again says.

"Okay." She whispers back.

Why did they want to keep the conversation going? They didn't know. They didn't understand. But a stubborn part of them wasn't willing to hit the red button and end the call so it kept trying.

"Okay." He chuckles.

"Okay." She chuckles too at their idiocy. "Cut the call." She says lightly and he could hear the smile in her voice.

"You do." He says in return.

"I called you. So now, you cut the call."  She was being childish but she didn't care.

"You started the phone call so you end it." He said simply, standing up and leaning against the banister.

Inaaya sighs on the other side. "I'll count till three and then we end it."

Ayansh laughs. "So mature, so mature." He mocks playfully and she titters.

"One, two, three."

And just like that, both hung up finally.

~

When Inaaya had said that there's not much left, she actually meant there's nothing left. There was Rohit who had brought his camera to the college, unknown to the eyes of teachers and everyone except the people involved in the project and couldn't stop clicking pictures. He said that he's going to miss this and hence, he's capturing the moments as a memory. They all were gathered in the auditorium now because they had nothing to do. There was some defect in the project, a couple of things to be fixed and they were already done with it in half an hour.

Tushar was going to give a speech on the competition day and he had prepared it already. So, he wanted everyone to hear him. He went on the stage while everyone removed chairs for themselves and took a seat. Ayansh kept glancing at Inaaya. He was curious to ask why did she even tell him to come when he had nothing to do but then why wasn't he just leaving when he had nothing to do!? So he kept the question to himself. Tushar started his speech and everyone focussed their attention on him. They all clapped and hooted for him in exaggeration when he was done.

"Inaaya?" Ayushi called out. "You're playing piano on Saturday. We should hear it." She said excitedly.

Priya, who was sitting beside her, slapped her forehead lightly. "You want us to bring piano from the music room now?"

"Oh," Ayushi said sheepishly and everyone chuckled.

At this point, everyone was just bunking their classes. They'd even locked the auditorium from the inside.

"Even if the piano was here, I wouldn't have played." Inaaya said in a bored tone.

"Why?"

"My life, my choice." She shrugs, earning a scowl from Ayushi.

"They should've kept dance. I would've volunteered. Pity that they lost the chance." Ayushi makes a tch sound.

"We aren't hosting a cultural fest." Gaurav comments and that causes everyone to laugh.

"On another note," Lekha being the thoughtful one says. "You can dance now and have your moment. We'll cheer for you." She smiles at Ayushi who grins back.

"And I'll capture it." Rohit beams, pointing to his camera.

Ayushi stands up in anticipation. "That's a good idea."

Meanwhile, Ayansh looks surprised at the confidence which Ayushi held. A little envious too because he didn't possess even five percent of it. Without any practice or whatsoever, she was ready to perform as if she was sure she wouldn't fail. If such an opportunity ever arises for him, he knows he'll die of nervousness and embarassment firstly in his head and then actually die when he goes on the stage.

"But I need a partner." Ayushi adds, looking at everyone.

Nobody volunteers and then an evil idea slithers its way in Inaaya's brain. "Ayansh is a great dancer. He'll be your partner." She grins so wide that a little more stretch and it could spill out of her face.

Ayansh freezes and looks at Inaaya like she just signed his death certificate.

"Will you?" Ayushi almost jumps on her spot, her eyes bright with happiness. "Come with me." She doesn't even wait and goes up on the stage.

Inaaya smirks at Ayansh and he knows this is her revenge. He lightly shakes his head saying he won't be able to do it but she simply ushers him to go.

"I can't dance." He mutters feebly.

"Shush, stop lying." Inaaya scolds him.

"Ayansh! Ayansh! Ayansh!" The rest of them start cheering his name, adding even more pressure on him and he reluctantly stands up. Sending a small prayer heavenwards to save his dignity, he walks to the stage, towards the girl who seems to be on cloud nine.

"I- I really can't dance." He again tries to tell her but she holds his shoulder.

"You don't have to do much. Just follow my lead and sway a little." She assures him and pushes him a little towards the centre.

"Which song you want?" Priya shouts.

"Play anything that we can dance on." Ayushi shouts back.

Inaaya actually feels bad for Ayansh who looks like a lost puppy on the stage when the song starts playing and Ayushi starts dancing. After a few steps, she comes to him who looks startled. She holds his hands and tries some duet steps which nobody is able to decipher because Ayansh looks so out of place, so confused while Ayushi keeps trying to make him move to a certain beat. It's chaos on the stage. She herself moves his hand up, holds his finger and twirls and everyone laugh at whatever was going on. At this point even Ayushi looks as if she has forgotten how to dance. Ayansh even ends up stepping on her foot and is now apologizing while Ayushi tries to convince him she isn't hurt. Inaaya has covered her mouth, her laughter muffled as her eyes almost has tears.

Tushar and Samson get on the stage and pull their hands away.

"Your time is done. We didn't sign up to see two chimpanzees struggling." Tushar says as Samson ushers something to Priya.

Ayushi gasps. "I'm not a chimpanzee and neither is he." She turns her face to her side to look at Ayansh who had disappeared already. He didn't even wait and made his way down the stairs, glaring at Inaaya who holds her ear in apology although she didn't feel any remorse and that was visible as she kept giggling.

Another song plays. This one more peppy and a dance number. And no sooner than anyone knew, the boys on the stage start dancing.

"I made a fool of myself." Ayansh grumbles, sitting on the chair and covering his face.

"You did." Inaaya doesn't even deny but her eyes were fixed somewhere else. Samson and Tushar had involved Ayushi too in their madness.

"I feel so embarassed. I can't think I can face anyone. I feel such a fool." He rants, still not removing his hand, his self consciousness at an all time high. "What they must be thinking about me? God!" He groans.

"Nothing." Inaaya simply says and he finally looks at her, confusion marring his face. "It's okay to make a fool of yourself once in a while." She nudges his shoulder and he follows her gaze to look at Samson twirling Ayushi, Tushar sitting on his knees and hooting.

Rohit comes to Inaaya and gives his camera. "Hold this." He says and goes without waiting for her response. He drags Priya and Lekha with him on the stage.

The six of them were now dancing as if they were in a Ganpati visarjan. Inaaya wondered if they could even hear the song but she realised it didn't matter. They were just enjoying themselves.

"Now everyone is making a fool of themselves and nobody cares." She tells Ayansh with a heartwarming smile looking at everyone being so happy.

Ayushi looked over at them and beckoned them. Inaaya's head turns to her other side to see Gaurav already looking at her. He smiles at her and she already knows what he's thinking. She averts her gaze. Gaurav walks to her and holds her hand. "Let's go." He ushers.

Inaaya's eyes go wide at that suggestion, her head shaking in denial already. "I'm- I'm capturing y'all. Enjoy." She quickly comes with an excuse, the camera in her hand at her rescue.

Gaurav pouts in disappointment but she doesn't move from her stance. His eyes fall on Ayansh. He holds his hand and starts dragging him. "You can't give me any excuse. Come-on man." Ayansh doesn't even get to protest as he's dragged. He tries to free his wrists but to no avail. Inaaya laughs at his helpless state as he looks back at her, pleading for some relief.

Inaaya knows it won't be a good idea to simply stand here since someone or the other will take notice and drag her too. The song seems to come to an end so she goes over to the place where Priya's phone is kept and changes the song. Everyone except Ayansh cheers as another song plays and start doing some other strange steps. Ayansh also sways a little on everyone's insistence. Samson and Tushar do naagin dance although it's a complete mismatch with the song playing. The rest of them are in a circle, dancing to the tunes.

Inaaya couldn't leave the auditorium without everyone so she makes her way to the backstage. She had captured few pictures in the camera. Unknown to her, a gaze had followed her throughout the time even when he was on stage and not beside her. She's looking through the pictures when she lifts her head up and jumps back in suprise when she meets a very familiar face.

Ayansh grins at her knowingly. "It's okay to make a fool of yourself." He holds out his hand for her.

Inaaya keeps the camera on the table and takes a step back. "No." She shakes her head. "I'm not going on the stage."

"Why not?" He asked, incredulously, taking a step towards her. "You were the one who sent me on the stage and now you're saying you can't go. That's hypocritical of you."

"I don't care. I can't dance." She takes another step back.

He takes another step in her direction. "You're decent in it, you said." He reminds her. "It's alright. You're missing out on some good fun."

"It's fine— oww— ," a shriek left her lips as she almost stumbled on the threshold while taking a step back but Ayansh reaches out and holds her hand firmly and she clutches it back.

He pulls her, his hand still holding hers. Her heartbeat has considerably fastened and she wonders if it's due to the shock of almost falling or due to being in close proximity and holding hands of a certain someone.

"Told you to go on the stage." He whispers, staring into her eyes and she feels trapped, unable to look anywhere but him. And then he smiles. She doesn't know when he held her other hand with his free one or when he pushed her back slightly only to pull her, eliciting a gasp and a nervous laugh from her.

"What- what are you doing?" She asks when he brings her hand up and then twirls her.

"Ayansh," she giggles as she turns, staring up at their hands.

"We're dancing." He says with a smile, surrendering himself to this moment; every bit of awkwardness, nervousness, self-consciousness he felt earlier drowning away in the tunes of music.

He pulls her back and her hands go to rest on his shoulders. He brings his hand to rest on her shoulders as they look at each other laughing and eyes smiling. They simply sway side by side a little messily but it doesn't matter. The grin never leaves their lips. Inaaya is even lip syncing the lyrics.

She then slips her hand away and takes his hand that were on her shoulders in hers. Without warning she pushes him back, stretching her hands and since he wasn't ready, he almost loses his balance and falls but Inaaya bends and pulls him straight in time. They look at each other with widened eyes before falling back into laughter. She holds his finger and tries to twirl him but it's awkward and she realises she held the wrong hand so she drops it and holds his other hand. She has to go on her tiptoes to make him twirl as he's taller than her. Ayansh laughing continuously doesn't help at all. The twirl isn't smooth but she's happy, he's happy, they're happy and laughing, being carefree and enjoying themselves, losing themselves and yet managing to find the kid within each other.

A flash of camera breaks their moment and they both look in the direction, still holding hands.

"You both looked so cute." Lekha comments grinning from ear to ear as Rohit captures them again.

"Rohit yaar," Inaaya groans and moves back, pulling her hands away, becoming aware of the situation.

Ayansh looks down fidgeting with his fingers.

"Guys," Tushar says seriously. "We must leave now before someone suspects us for locking the auditorium for so long. It's almost time for the college hours to end." He adds looking at his watch.

Everyone make their way down the stage and gather their belongings.

"Rohit," Ayushi shouts. "Don't forget to send all the pictures and videos."

Rohit gives her a mock salute in return. "Yes ma'am."

They all walk together chatting with each other except Ayansh and Inaaya who walk in silence.

"So now just the presentation is left, isn't it?" Priya inquires.

"Yeah." Inaaya answers as they walk down the stairs. "I'll complete it."

"You'll do it all alone?" Gaurav almost yells.

"It's just a presentation." She replies, shaking her head as if it's not much.

"But still," Ayushi mutters, "It would be better if there's someone with you. You can ask help from Ayansh."

Inaaya opens her mouth to deny but no word comes out of it. She wants to deny but she also doesn't want to. Is she even making sense?

"That would be nice." Lekha supports. "Are you okay with it Ayansh?"

Ayansh looks at Lekha and then at Inaaya. "Why would I've any problem?" He simply says.

"Thanks." Inaaya mumbles back and he gives her a small smile.

"Great." Priya chirps. "We're done then."

***

Ironically, I thought this would be a short chapter but it turned out to be the second longest one so far. Also, it may or may not be my favourite chapter till date in this story 🌚 Hoping to see a good number of votes and comments :) And are y'all connecting with the story and characters?

By the way, what's the ship name for Inaaya and Ayansh? Inayansh? Or something else? Do let me know your thoughts *hugs*.

Vote and comment ❤️

• Thank you for reading •