Chapter 8 ~ "Stop Running"

EDITED.

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Akira's POV

Do you understand that feeling?

That burning feeling you get right at the centre of your chest, as if your heart has be scorched on an open fire and then left to brittle onto the ground. I feeling that right now. 

Even though Kabir had walked away ten minutes ago, my body remained paralyzed, leaning against the railing as my only support. He was right, though. Everything he said was absolutely true, and it affected me even more. A few treacherous tears had escaped, but I swiftly wipes them away and exhaled a long breath. 

Here was another memory that would haunt in the future to come. 

"Hey, are you okay?" Someone questioned, startling me. Slowly I turned towards Adhaya, who wore a look of concern.

"Just peachy," I muttered, already knowing everyone had seen our siblings dispute unfold. 

Adhaya was quiet for a few minutes, opening and closing her mouth trying to figure out what to say, before she finally settled on, "let's head home, okay?"

I nodded in return, thankful that she didn't push me to talk about it. But now, it felt like I needed all those pushes to get rid of the taste of regret on my tongue.

As we made our way back to the cars, I noticed Meera's car gone, and the two sisters as well. Kabir's car was almost full, leaving only two spots available, and I certainly didn't want to sit in there. 

"There's still a seat in here," Adhaya turned to me.

I sighed, "we both need a little space right now."

She nodded, "well as much as you won't like it, I asked Ayan to drop you home too—if you prefer that."

"And he agreed?" I asked incredulously.

"It took a bit of convincing, but finally he caved in."

"Yeah, not happening. I'll take the bus," I scoffed.

Kabir's silent voice shuddered through the car, "You get in this car. Or Ayan's." 

"But—"

"That's final."

I bit my lip to swallow the protest. One glance around the car, and I was met with sympathetic looks from Abhi and Vivan. I couldn't handle that. And as much as I hated that asshole, at least he wouldn't look at me with pity, far from it.

Releasing a dejected sigh, "I'll see you at home."

Nearing the car, I saw Dhruv closing the trunk, giving me a wave of relief. At least he would be in the car too. "Hey Akira, are you okay?" Dhruv asked in concern, with his brows furrowed in a cute way. I nodded with an exasperated smile.

Gratefully, he didn't ask anymore. But then he reached into the front seat to pick up his briefcase. I turned to look at him in confusion and horror.

"Dhruv, where are you going?"

"Work. I still have to prepare for a presentation tomorrow," he shot me a tired smile.

"Oh," I nodded in understanding before a thought struck me, "how are you getting there?"

"I have a colleague that lives nearby. He'll be here in a bit." 

"Ah, okay. Well I'll see you soon and don't over work yourself." I leaned forward and wrapped my arms around him. He returned the hug, chuckling lightly. 

Bidding me goodbye, he walked off towards the main road. 

Leaning against Ayan's car, I didn't notice his presence until he hollered his usual insult my way.

"Hey train wreck. This isn't your station." With an eye roll I pivoted on my heels, watching as he strolled closer, an arm slung over a petite Latina. 

"Please do us all a favour, and return to whichever of Hell's portals you escaped from." 

"With you here, I'm already back in hell." 

I scoffed before moving my gaze to the pretty but confused woman. "Hi, nice to meet you. Please head my warning, and don't waste a second of your time on this demon."

She looked at me with wide eyes, "so I'm guessing you're not his sister?"

Ayan snorted, "No one would want a sister like her." 

He crossed the line. Again. 

I breathed a sigh, and shooting him a blank look I plopped into the back seat. 

Fiddling with the seat belt as they settled into their seats, I looked out the window and prayed to all the Gods that this torture would end soon.

After ten minutes, I learned that Ayan was dropping the brunette at a nightclub. Repeating the Hanuman Chalisa—that maa had ingrained into our heads as children—I begged for just a glimpse of my home. If Kabir hadn't warned me, I would've jumped out the car and walked home, barefoot.

I sighed in relief, when she stepped out of the car after we reached the club. She turned to Ayan, plastering a synthetic smile, "Hope you can make it tonight," before throwing me a small smile, which I returned. 

Ayan simply waved her off before joining the growing traffic once again. With the absence of the random brunette, the car was swallowed in intense silence. She had kept the comedic air that kept us both from suffocating each other, and now the real misery was here.

I was still in the back simply looking out the window to avoid any conversations. Unfortunately, by running away from any forms of communication with the man in the front seat, my mind wandered off to a terrible place.

Rhea. A name I had not uttered for the past six years. Just the single word brought tears instantly. But I wouldn't cry in front of him, anyone else but him. I looked up, meeting his eyes in the rearview mirror. His brown orbs shined with too many flashing emotions that I couldn't grasp. That was before his rude mask was back in place.

He cocked an eyebrow and said, "So are gonna tell why your eyes are puffy, and how you've kept that obnoxious mouth of yours, quiet for so long?" That broke me out of reverie. 

I simply returned to gaze out the window again, having no energy to invest in his bizarre feuds. 

"You should've seen it coming." He muttered in a low voice.

"Excuse me?" I replied with narrowed eyes, irked enough to forget my original plan.

"You're excused." He replied nonchalantly. "But really? How did you not realize the conversation happening sooner?"

"Whatever happens between Kabir and I, is none of your business." I declared.

"And whatever happened to the conversation you had with Shanaya is also none of my business?"

I sputtered, "How do you even know about that?"

He paid no mind to my question and continued on, "And all those confrontations you're definitely avoiding? None of my business I guess. But you know who's business that is? Yours. So learn to deal with it."

"You're the last person who should be giving me a lecture," I shouted. 

"Why are you taking your anger out on me? It's not my fault that you're too much of a coward to face your problems!" His words slice through me.

I scoffed, "Please, you're just as guilty as me for what happened six years ago." The revelation hit hard. 

The conservation was soon cut and the atmosphere in the car was tense, with loud silence following after.

Just turning around the corner of my street, he spoke up once more. "At least I took responsibility. I apologized to you. I apologized to Rhea. But you ran away."

As we reached home, I almost leaped out of the suffocating car. I jumped two steps at the time till I finally reached the front door.

Ayan calls out again from behind me. I don't turn around, but I hear his words clear.

"I know you hate me. And I know that you know what I'm saying is right." He let out an exasperated sigh, continuing, "But just stop running. If not for yourself, then at least for the people you love. Give her memory the respect she deserves."

I drew out a deep breath. He was right. All my memories of my sister were tainted by guilt and tragedy. I had done that to her memories. And only I could fix that.

I murmured a quick 'thank you' before running into the house. Tears were threatening to spill again, and since I wasn't watching where I was going, I bumped into someone. I look up at the face.

"Kira, kya hua beta?" 

I shook my head before wrapping my arms around my dad, and that was when the waterworks broke out. He hummed silently while patting my head, waiting patiently for me to stop and speak. It felt so familiar to cry in my daddy's arms, even after so many years. At that thought, I cried even more.

I didn't even notice that he had somehow managed to sit me down, with a glass of water in hand.

"What happened?" He asked in worry.

"Kabir." I said in a cracked voice.

"You guys are adults now, not little kids. What did he do now to make my angel cry?"

I smile slightly at the nickname, before whispering her name. "Rhea."

At the sound of her name, he stiffened. I looked up at him, but he had closed his eyes. 

Hearing that name after a long time, could hurt any of us. Especially since Rhea was our daddy's girl. Countless times had I fought with her over papa, but even I finally acknowledged that she was the closest to dad, and I was completely fine with that.

Couple of minutes later, he returned to his usual self. Giving me one last hug, he said, "I have to go back to work, but I'll talk to Kabir about this."

"No papa. It was my fault. I'll resolve it with him, myself."

He smiled at me, "My angel's so grown up. I missed you a lot."

"I missed you too papa." I replied with glassy eyes. He kissed my forehead before stepping out the house.

I sit there for a few minutes, before quickly retrieving my phone from my jacket's pocket. I take a minute to finalize my decision, and type out the text.

Looking down at the delivered message, I rest my head against the sofa arm. Briefly closing my eyes, her face popped up before me. The same dimpled smile that warped into one of pain. Silent tears ran down my cheeks as I remembered all the pleasant and heart-wrenching memories.

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Author: Ahhhhh! Finally updated!! OMG did you all see Deepika's dress in Filmfare! <3 Ayan was there too!

Ayan: Of course I was ;)

Akira: The less jerk one though.

Ayan: Yea right. And we all know you secretly love the jerk me.

Author: Really? Do you guys need to argue in every A/N?

Meera: That's what keeps your audience alive.

Abhi: Exactly!

Shanaya: Aww, look at Abhi agreeing with what my sister's saying!

Author: Ah yes, maybe I should make another couple.

Meera: No please, I'm gonna be sick. *walks away*

Abhi: Yeah, me too. *gags*

Akira: Look at them agreeing again!

Author: Now this couple is under consideration. So, Kabir decided not to take part in this A/N.

Ayan: *cough cough* Thanks to someone...

Akira: Oh go kill yourself.

Author: *face palm* These characters are killing me.

Shanaya: And you grammar is killing me.

Author: THIS IS EDITED. OMG STOP WITH THE JUDGEMENT.

Akira: Anyways please: Vote, and Comment to support us guys!

Ayan: Don't be the silent reader, or I won't know how to give you my love! 

xoxo,

loveYJHD