chapter 93

       “Wake up”, Aarushi gently shook Vibha’s arm holding her , “Vibha, wake up. I need to get up.” Vibha only grumbled in discomfort and pulled her closer. “Vibha!”, Aarushi tried again , this time successfully undoing her hold and getting up. Vibha gathered the blanket in her arms and hugged it instead. Aarushi went ahead to freshen up first. Vibha too reluctantly got up. While Aarushi and Madam had taken a shower rest decided to save that for later incase they might miss on the sunrise and chose only to freshen up. They all gathered out to leave. Rupesh and Aaditya were already standing out and professor had gone ahead to order tea for everyone. Manas and Kaustubh joined shortly both looking like half conscious zombies supporting each other’s clumsy steps .           Aarushi initially wanted to check on Manas but she had her own drowsy half asleep girlfriend sleeping on her shoulder. Manas himself looked as if his processor yet hadn’t started for the day to comprehend anything at all. And a process as tough as dealing with feelings was definitely not for a brain that was yet to register its own existence. He definitely looked like he had tired his eyes to sleep. Rupesh occasionally stole glances at him but Manas wasn’t even that awake to notice it. Aarushi though, did catch it.        “I feel like he still cares.”, she whispered to Vibha . “He does.”, Vibha mumbled a reply and rested her head back on Aarushi’s shoulder. “ Huh?”, Aarushi wanted to question it but given Vibha’s current state it didn’t seem like anything more than her own words parroted back.            “Lets get moving.”, Professor hurried them and they set out with the other groups going for the sunrise. It was the same with professor , Rupesh  and Aaditya leading the way while the rest walked in middle and Manas and Kaustubh supported each other at the rear. It was a miracle the two hadn’t stumbled yet with the way they walked leaning on each other, and a total of half vision with two ¼  open pair of eyes.       “How far is it?”, Kaustubh grumbled as he tried to force his eyes fully open to study the surrounding. “5 more minutes if you two stop crawling like snails.”, Aaditya replied. Kaustubh frowned but couldn’t come up with a good reply so decided to keep his lips shut. Once they arrived Kaustubh found himself a good spot to sit . Manas was about to join him but Vibha dragged him first.     “What?”, he asked but she just kept dragging him while Aarushi walked besides equally confused. “I know a better spot.”, she answered enough for the two to not protest more. Manas was still not fully awake and definitely not excited much, “I am not really interested in watching the sun rise. I could just sleep-“ “I have something more interesting for you.”, she replied with a smirk . “What-“       Before he could complete his question he felt a sudden push and was almost thrown forward. “Thank me later. And you owe me a meal. All the best!”, he heard Vibha giggle and soon her voice started sounding distant. He hadn’t really fallen face flat but gripped on two arms holding him. He maybe a bit slow but wasn’t a complete fool to not know who it was or what was happening; he just didn’t understand why.      Taking a deep breathe and readying himself to face him , Manas stood upright again but his gaze still remained fixed to the ground. He tried to take a step back but was blocked by the pair of arms circling around his waist restricting his retreat. For a brief moment there was complete silenece. It was suffocating. Manas felt himself shrink under the unwavering gaze.      “You know why I was mad?”, he finally spoke up, his voice deeper than the usual, the tone he used when he was horribly mad. Manas had witnessed it before and never have the outcomes been any good; now that it was directed to him, he felt it rip his soul apart to hold him in custody .        “I- I shouldn’t have…”, he couldn’t find the right words and the statement just hung empty in the air. “Shouldn’t have what?”, his voice was still stern but not urgent. A clear indication he wasn’t letting it go.      “I shouldn’t have confessed-“ , he heard a sigh and realized he had successfully made the wrong choice of words. “You know , this is exactly why I am mad.”, his eyes looked down in pity confusing the scared boy. “I-“ “Do you understand what you did that upset me?”, his voice fell, disappointed. Manas turned rock silent. Rupesh closed the distance between them and pulled the other by his waist. Placing his index finger underneath his chin he gently lifted the scared chin making the confused , trembling eyes meet his .      “I wasn’t upset about you confessing. I was upset about you choosing to let go. We have been together through almost our entire life how could you choose to give up on me then just like that?”, his words poured down filled with pain, his eyes searching desperately for an answer ; only to be met with guilt. Manas hung his head mumbling low, “I am sorry. I just, I just didn’t want to loose you but the feelings, they got heavy and I don’t , I don’t know.”, he started shaking uneasily , the emotions all pouring down his eyes. Rupesh immediately pulled him into a hug gently  rubbing his back and ruffling his hairs.  “ Shh. It’s okay, I am not mad about you having feelings for me but rather that you’d choose give up on them instead of trusting me for once. You didn’t even bother asking me what I felt.”, his voice was now soft, pained .          After comforting the boy for a few minutes he pulled back . Manas felt his emotions catch in his throat as he struggled to sort his thoughts right. Rupesh pulled him closer again and gently rested his forehead against Manas’s. “Can I ?”, he asked , eyes closed . As he felt the nod, he raised his hand caressing the tear stained cheeks, wiping them with his thumb. He kissed the lids of the eyes that were still shaking, then moved down to the nose and kissed its tip . He waited for Manas to relax before softly capturing his lips. It was a slow kiss, more like an assurance that he was here, he was going to stay, that he loved him.         It only took a few seconds before he felt himself melting completely in the moment. His legs were already weak and his head was spinning. If not for the Rupesh’s hands on his waist supporting his weight , he would surely have turned into jelly . None of them felt like parting away but they needed to catch their breaths. Reluctantly, Rupesh let him go.          He moved a step behind observing the boy in front of him. His soft features perfectly lit up in the morning sun rays, his curly hairs a mess of wind and  the smile despite the tears , oh how adorable he looked. Rupesh couldn’t resist the urge and immediately pulled his cheeks. “What the hell dude?”, Manas complained trying to get his hands off. “You are so cuteee.”, he justified his actions.  Manas had no option but to just mouth a ‘I am not’. “So…”, he tried asking, nervous eyes all over the ground , refusing to look up. “So?”, Rupesh asked back .“What- I mean what are we?”, he asked fidgeting with his fingers. “Humans I guess? Homo sapines?”, Rupesh answered acting all innocent.  And all the nervousness faded into annoyance and Manas turned to leave without another word. “Okay okay. I am sorry my Prince.”, Rupesh locked him in a back hug and rested his chin on the boy’s shoulder, “Why do you get mad so easily? It’s fun to tease you.”Manas didn’t respond. He wasn’t going to, not until the other answered the original question. “What do you want us to be?”, Rupesh still was in playful mood.     “Humans I guess.”, Manas replied in the same tone.  Rupesh sighed and buried his face in the crook of Manas's neck and mumbled, " Sorry. "  The tickling feeling on his skin made him squirm. It was too comfortable to separate so Manas just turned around in his hold facing the other who stared at him like a child would at some magical wonder. " Will- will you be my boyfriend? ",  he dared ask looking straight into Rupesh's eyes. " Boyfriend you say? ", he repeated the question staring into distance and pretending to think enjoying the impatient glares. " You won't? ", Manas asked in a pained voice knowing very well he would get his way using this trick, he always had. " Nah. I am not settling for being just a boyfriend. ", he replied pulling the boy closer until they were pressed together without even the gap for air to pass. Manas raised an eye brow questioning him. " I wish to be your husband and make you mine for seven lifetimes. ", he replied with a cheeky smile. " Ain't that too much? ", Manas asked giggling.     " Too much? That ain't even close to enough for this heart. ", Rupesh replied dramatically clutching his heart with one hand while the other still held onto Manas's waist ensuring the boy couldn't escape. “You know why I chose sunrise?”, he asked staring straight into Manas’s soul. “ Why?”, he asked.     “ If sunset suggests loving someone and still letting go, I believe sunrise means pursuing the same person through every phase every beginning. An endless pursuit and devotion and a promise to hold onto each other no matter what.” , his words matched the sincerity of his eyes as his thumb brushed the tears staining the cheeks.     “Thank you so much.”, Manas broke down into tears again and hugged him, “Thank you for  not ever giving up on me. For always being there for me for- staying.” He couldn’t continue and ended up sobbing in his hold. Rupesh didn’t pull him away nor said anything more only caressed his hairs and rubbed his back comforting him.  [ Meanwhile]      " But what if -"     " For God's sake my love, can you stop worrying about him? ", Vibha asked frustrated by the amount of questions she was bombarded with. Aarushi picked on it and sealed her lips after a quick, " Sorry. "      " I am not mad. It's just that, see leave that to them. You can check on him once they are back, for now can you, please focus on your own girlfriend? ", Vibha asked making the desperate eyes, " I need attention too. " She whined as she clung to Aarushi's arm.          " As if I don't spend my 90% of the day with you. ", Aarushi replied rolling her eyes. " Not enough. ", Vibha complained  . " Then what do you want? " , Aarushi asked and Vibha came in front of her holding her hands in her own staring at them as she brushed the back of it with her thumbs. " I wish my every moment, every second , every breath, to be spent with you. "      " What's-"  , Aarushi tried to cut her but instead Vibha backed her against the tree bark. Secured one hand behind her head as she stood side ways blocking one side while the other hand held her waist.         It wasn't her first time seeing Vibha up this close. But didn't matter how many times over, it always managed her to fluster her the same. She shyed away earning herself a giggle from her girlfriend. " Is my wife shy? ", Vibha teased and leaned closer , her breath tickling Aarushi's skin making her shrink further. " Shut up! " ,she retorted still refusing to look away. " Make me. ", Vibha teased.         Aarushi turned facing her to glare but oh heavens those eyes- The morning sun was hitting her face at a perfect angle giving a honey like glow to those deep brown eyes. Aarushi felt herself loose herself completely in them, never to look away. Vibha caught that and as much every nerve in her itched to tease her darling she did not, letting Aarushi savour the moment. She dared not disturb her , not even blinking in case it would break her daze.          Aarushi raised her hands and hooked them around Vibha’s neck still lost in those eyes. It was as if the entire world reflected in them, and it was still herself she stared at in them.          “May I ?”, Vibha asked softly. Aarushi only nodded and closed her eyes as she felt the soft lips on hers, carefully savouring them. It really fascinated her how her girlfriend could be both intimidating and equally gentle. The hand behind her head played with her hairs and the grip on her waist got firmer.         She gently nudged Vibha away who looked at her confused. She smiled and pecked her lips and answered her, “Let’s go back first. I don’t want mam to come hunting for us.”“Come on. Why-““Vibha.”, she scolded before Vibha could whine anymore .      “Fine fine. But-“, Vibha gave her a mischievous smile and came closer once again , her hands teasing her waist enjoying the flustered reactions, “Once we get back home-“     “You want me to beat you up and feed to the wild animals here?”, Aarushi threatened knowing very well if she didn’t it wasn’t going to end before she matched the shade of the rising sun. “Why is my wife sudden-“, Vibha wanted to continue but the glare made her rethink and she chose not to , “Okay okay. My lady’s word is the only command. I obey. Let’s go back first.”, she said and let Aarushi go settling for holding her hand.     Manas finally pulled away and Rupesh wiped his face for him. “You okay?”, he asked checking on him and Manas nodded. “If you want we can stay for a while . I love holding you anyways.”, he said with a smile but Manas slapped away the welcoming arms.      "  Enough. Let's go back. I don't want the teachers to come hunting us. " , Manas said nudging him away and as much as Rupesh wanted to keep teasing him , he knew better than to get caught this way.      " I wish I could stop the time forever in this moment but.”, he sighed and nodded. “Sure let's go. ", he replied and held Manas's hand as they walked back to their classmates.