chapter 92

       “Vibha”, Aarushi called out to her , both of their eyes still closed.      “Yes baby?”       “I still need to go to washroom.”      “You-“, Vibha pulled away looking at her in disbelief. “What?”, Aarushi asked giving her an offended pout. “Nothing.”, Vibha replied with a sigh, then a chuckle and held her hand. “Let’s go find you a washroom.”, she said leading her away.        Finally when they were back to where they left the two , Aarushi was shocked to find only Manas standing there like a statue. She hurried over to him with Vibha following after.     “Hey hey what happened?”, she asked as she approached him placing her hand on his arm to soothe him. He smiled despite his tear stained face words failing to come out even when he opened his mouth. Vibha too joined the comforting session rubbing his back slowly as he hiccupped trying to put the whole thing in words which only came as broken sobs and half made sentences, “He- hates me now. Didn’t even- didn’t even want to look at me. He left. Just left. I don’t-““It’s okay. It’s okay calm down. You confessed that’s brave enough. We can’t help it if he chose to be an ********. Forget about it.”, Vibha said and Aarushi gave her a frowned look. Vibha raised her eyebrow questioning ‘what’.    “He- I must have disgusted him. I can never forgive myself. I even kissed him- I –“, he broke down into tears again.    “Woah- that was brave , my little boy.”, Vibha proudly praised earning another frown from Aarushi.   “That was stupid.”, Aarushi spoke up.    “Love is stupid.”, Vibha added with a smile.     “No. People are.”, Aarushi corrected.      “You ain’t helping here , you know?”, she asked pointing at crying Manas.     “See I am not trying to make him feel bad. But that was stupid. You confessed and that was brave . But I think you should have given him some time to think over it and respond. You can’t just-“, Aarushi bit back her words and looked away realizing she might have hit two sensitive nerves at the same time. Vibha’s mood dulled equally down to Manas’s and it all fell silent.     “I-I think you should appologise first and maybe try making it upto him. He might just be confused because it was all too sudden for him. Give him some time to sort out for himself.”, she said and Manas nodded.     “I need to appologise.”     “You do.”     “But what if he doesn’t forgive me?”, he asked , his voice scared than earlier. This rejection had surely left him feeling more hopeless than he ever had been, “Then-“      “Then you keep appologising till he accepts . Make it upto him and just obey whatever he says. Even if he doesn’t wish to ever see you again. You accept it  and get out of his life. But you do need to appologise.”, Vibha’s voice was stern, too stern even for her own liking, “He might be angry, might be disgusted, would perhaps yell at you, ask you to never show your face again, cut all ties with you but you still need to take the responsibility of what you did. Go appologise.”    It was now Aarushi who fell silent.        Vibha had meant to address this but never in this way. She could see how bad it had affected her girlfriend and immediately walked back over to her side. Aarushi looked at her with a failed smile trying to reassure.     “You are right. I will appologise. And move on. That’s what we agreed on. I confess my feelings and let go. I expected nothing.”, he said trying to smile again , “But it still hurts.” “I know it does. But trust me it will all get better soon.”, Vibha said and he nodded.      “I think we should leave now. It will soon get dark and mam won’t spare us if she finds out we have been on our own for so long.”, Aarushi reminded them and they decided to walk back to the group.       Manas wiped his face and followed them. Vibha intertwined her fingers with Aarushi’s gently brushing her thumb over her hand . Aarushi noticed it and tightened her grip giving her a genuine smile.     “Where were you guys?”, as expected they were greeted by an aggressively concerned madam. “Washroom.”, Vibha answered. “Atleast inform and go. Where was I to search for you if you got lost?”, and the lecture continued till half way back when madam couldn’t keep up her energy to walk and scold simultaneously.     Manas though wasn’t hearing any of it. His eyes kept sneaking glances at Rupesh who didn’t even turn his direction. He was busy with Kaustubh and Aaditya but his stiff posture, clenched jaw and pocketed hands didn’t conceal his anger. It was his habit. He knew he had definitely pissed the boy to a point that if it weren’t for their so many years of friendship he would have been beaten to pulp by now. And this definitely didn’t look like a suitable time or place for apology. He could wait for them to be alone and perhaps his mood to  calm down a bit. That would give a better chance at earning forgiveness , perhaps. Or was he just scared and kept delaying it?     By the time they had reached back it was already dark. The entire place was now beautifully lit by colourful, decorative lights. Most of the crowd was busy taking pictures while the tired ones retreated to their rooms. Kaustubh , Aaditya and Prisha though had another level of enthusiasm to go play badminton in dark. The college faculty had all been gathered together and their madam though reluctant had to join as well. Niharika had dragged Sneha all the way to help her click photos in the light.Rupesh retreated to the room saying he was tired. Manas had used the same excuse to follow after him.     Aarushi and Vibha just sat on a swing doing nothing. “I am sorry about earlier. I shouldn’t have said that.”, Vibha appologised and Aarushi immediately grabbed her hand. “No, I – it was my fault. I didn’t realize what I spoke until I did.”“You didn’t say anything wrong though.”“Neither did you.”Vibha chuckled. “You will just keep flipping my tables back at me , won’t you?”Aarushi nodded leaning on her shoulder. “My  wifey is suddenly affectionate?”, she teased .“Tired.”, Aarushi replied. Her voice justified her state.“Want to go back and lie down properly?”“No. I won’t wake up for dinner then.”“I can wake you up.”“No. Why? You don’t want me –“, Aarushi complained looking at her offended. “I didn’t say anything like that. Don’t you start now.”,Vibha cut her off putting her head back on her shoulder .Aarushi didn’t argue further. The silence was too comfortable to be broken.    This feels like a perfect life, my dream life. [Meanwhile]    Manas had followed him in but suddenly couldn’t figure out what he was supposed to do next. Rupesh on the other hand , turned on the T.V and sat on the bed scrolling on his phone. Manas walked straight to washroom. He splashed his face with water. I can do it.He told the reflection in the mirror. Wiped his face and turned to the door.I cannot do it.Went back in again.I have to do it.Walked to the door.But what if he gets more angry?Walked back in.But I still need to appologise atleast.Walked back to the door. What if-No more ifs Manas . Just do it! Get over with it! You have already did the worse how more bad can it go?      This time he opened it and stormed out straight to his bed and plopped on it burying his face in the full brightness of his phone.Rupesh did bare minimum of sparing a quick glance through corner of his eyes but didn’t react. Manas lay there scrolling his phone occasionally stealing glances but couldn’t do much as get up and go talk. After another awkward half an hour of the two scrolling on their respective phones with a random movie going on in the background. Finally Rupesh put his phone on charging and stood up to leave. Manas felt the panick rise within him. It was as if he lost this chance he wouldn’t have another and would only succumb  to his fears further. Might never be able to appologise at all at this rate.     “Rupesh.”, he finally called out making the other stop in his track . He turned around staring at Manas with an intense gaze. All the courage he had gathered was put into calling out that name , the next words just came out as murmur, “I am sorry for what I did – I should have never-“     But Rupesh didn’t wait much as to hear him complete. His intense gaze dropped dead uninterested and he just walked out closing the door after him.      Manas sat there with a heavy heart feeling all those emotions rush back again which he had with so much difficulty pushed back. He got up and headed back into the washroom.     Rupesh stepped out and went to Vibha straight who was just sitting watching the others play while Aarushi seemed to have fallen asleep on her shoulder. She looked up at him when she saw him come alone. She raised an eyebrow and he awkwardly stuffed his hand in his pocket looking away as he ordered, “Go tell him to come down for dinner.”    “Do it yourself. Not my princess, not my responsibility.”, Vibha replied in equally blunt tone. “Please?”, Rupesh put all his years worth on sweetness in that single please. “I can’t disturb my love.”, Vibha’s eyes gestured at the resting figure on her shoulder.“I will wake her up for you then.”, he said trying to pat her but his wrist was caught mid-air. Vibha’s sudden shift in gaze was much stronger than any other verbal warning and he stepped back with a teasing smile, “So protective huh?” “As if-“    They were interrupted with the ones playing badminton returning to them. “Guys lets go have food.”, Aaditya suggested. “Yep. Call those two as well and where is Manas? Call him too.”, Kaustubh added. “They are coming. I texted Sneha.”, Vibha replied. “Manas is in room. Go call him.”, Rupesh replied. “Why didn’t you bring him along when you came down?”, Kaustubh asked giving him a weird face. “He has legs to come on his own if he wishes too. Not like I am supposed to carry him in my pocket.”, he retorted and left ahead leaving everyone puzzled.     “These two fought?”, Aaditya asked and Vibha nodded in response.      “They act like old married couple. Go tell dad dinner is ready – Tell mom I fixed the sink.”, Kaustubh acted out the tones making everyone chuckle but nevertheless went to call him telling Vibha on the way, “ Wake her up as well .”    Vibha gently caressed her hairs and stroked them until she felt the other shift a bit. “Get up love , we have to go for dinner.”, she whispered. “Not hungry. Want to sleep.”, Aarushi mumbled. “Sleep after eating baby. You need to eat atleast eat something.”, Vibha continued gently persuading her while Aarushi stubbornly held her arm refusing to get off her shoulder. “Baby, I am hungry though. Please?”, Vibha tried the other way and it worked; though reluctantly, Aarushi got up rubbing her eyes and trying to make sense of the real world. Vibha helped her fix her hairs as she cooed at her sleepy girlfriend, “Cute.” Aarushi who was so used to it by now didn’t bother responding.    Finally when Kaustubh got Manas down did they all leave to go eat. They all sat at the same table with Kaustubh trapped in between a depressed puppy looking Manas and ‘I am mad don’t talk to me’ looking Rupesh.Though the girls were busy laughing and chatting, these two radiating two opposite moods definitely made the middle guy too awkward. He noticed how Manas had simply been fondling his food and decided to take it as an opportunity to tease Rupesh, “ Come on man, make it upto your darling; he is so sulky, hasn’t even eaten anything.” Rupesh barely spared it a glance and continued eating, “Not my problem.” The tone was rough and it made Manas feel the turmoil of his emotions re-erupt. He didn’t want to end up crying in front of them all and so he got up and tried to excuse himself from the table.     “Bro- you haven’t eaten anything.”, Kaustubh tried to reason him but Manas just wanted to be out of here. “I am not hungry. Really.”, he tried to excuse himself but just as he passed Kaustubh Rupesh caught his wrist and stopped him. His grip was firm, tight enough to convey his anger but not much to cause any real harm. “Sit down and eat.”, he ordered not once looking up . Manas wasn’t having any of it. “I am not-“ but he was cut short with the angry eyes turning his way suddenly , “I . Said. Sit. Back. Down. And. Eat.”, he stressed each word, his tone dripping in held back frustration as if his limits tested further would lead to an explosion. Manas though sad and emotional definitely didn’t have the guts to disobey that angry gaze. Realising how everyone had turned awkwardly silent he decided to sit back down and stuff the food down his throat quietly without causing further scene. Rupesh too went back to eating . Not too comfortable with this awkwardness Kaustubh started off with his nonsense stories.       Finally after everyone was done eating they gathered together under a tree for Kaustubh’s horror stories. Aaditya walked besides Kaustubh to provide sound effects, Sneha sat besides Manas on the platform around the tree, Vibha and Aarushi on the swing , Prisha was half listening half busy on phone at distance, Niharika decided to walk for a while and Rupesh just stood leaning against the tree eyes closed. The limited lightening didn’t do full justice to his beauty but he still managed to look strikingly admirable .  Manas couldn’t keep his eyes off and paid  the least of attention on the story.     " And just then as the girl turned back-", he slowly approached with sneaky steps and caught Prisha by shoulders giving her sudden scare. " Hahahaha. "  " Ahhhhh ! ", Prisha screamed so hard  and flinched that her phone fell from her hands. For a second everything froze ; the pairs busy in their own little worlds were pulled out of it by the sudden scream. " I swear I am going to kill you bastard! ", she picked up her phone and chased after Kaustubh who ran ahead laughing and teasing. Watching the two pull on their antiques no one could help but laugh at them.    " Come on kids. Back to your rooms. It's time to sleep. ", the professors came over hurtling them back to their respective rooms. They bid their goodbyes for the night after agreeing to go see sunrise together next day.      " My baby tired? ", Vibha asked Aarushi who had her half weight supported by Vibha as she walked lazily. " Hmm. " " Want me to carry you? ", Vibha sincerely asked but Aarushi pretty much aware of how her girlfriend would actually do it went ahead walking properly.  Vibha followed after chuckling and giggling, " Wait for me baby. "     Here Aaditya and Kaustubh had settled themselves on one bed while the ones in both corners were each occupied by the professor and Rupesh respectively. Manas stood there totally confused.    Am I still allowed to share bed with him or am I to go embarrass  myself by squeezing next to professor?     As if reading his confusion , which was well written on his face, Rupesh removed his legs and sat on one side keeping the way for him to get in. A clear indication that he was supposed to get on and sleep in the inner side.     Manas though understood was still reluctant to move.      " Why are you standing like a ghost watchman ? ", Kaustubh taunted and then turned to see Rupesh who sat like another dead corpse. " You two still didn't make up? ", he asked sighing. That had definitely caught professor's eye but he didn't interfere and Kaustubh wasn't going to spare him that lack of responsibility. "Proffessor it's your duty, you should help in such situation. ", he taunted.  " As long as they ain't breaking each other's bones; that doesn't look like my problem. ", the professor replied. But then looked at the two. " If you two don't want to be near each other switch with these two or one of you can sleep with me. I don't snore anyways. ", he added. There still wasn't any response from both ends. And Kaustubh just couldn't mind his own business so he tossed a pillow at Rupesh. " Go make up with your wife. Don't keep him sulking, he looks like a lost puppy. ", his words only affected him enough to spare a fleeting glance at Manas. Rupesh got up and walked past him to the washroom.    " Come on bro! Capture the territory while the owner is away. ", Kaustubh  called him over. Manas didn't supress his smile at the guy's antiques . He got on the inner side and faced the wall as he laid down. " Turn off the lights bro. ", Kaustubh said and Rupesh did so on his way back before settling besides Manas. Since the beds were provide with only a blanket and a pillow each they had no option but to share.  Manas had sacrificed both and wrapped his own arms around himself as a cover and decided to forsake his habit of pillow for one day.     Rupesh pulled over the covers gently placing it on the other before lifting his head and placing his arm underneath letting the other use it as a pillow. Manas felt his heart beat rise at those simple gestures. Despite the fact that he was mad he still didn't fail to care for him.     If you keep doing this how am I even supposed to move on!?