Suffering is like a teddy bear stuffed with broken glass pieces. The more you hold on to it, the deeper it will cut you. However, as you make dignified choices and work through your suffering, you'll heal and reach a point where your life improves, and you find comfort and warmth again.

I immediately called my only reliable friend. "Kiran..." My voice was slurred, and I could feel my hand trembling slightly.

"Hey, you don't sound okay. Everything alright with you? " he exclaimed.

"I had a sudden operation," I managed to say, my words sounding muffled.

"Wha-what happened?"

"I'm fine... Meet me at the TRUST hospital."

"Wait near the entrance, I'm on my way!"

"Hurry," I urged, my face instantly flushing.

As I stood near the hospital entrance, the surroundings felt unfamiliar, heightening my sense of vulnerability. Moments later, Kiran appeared, his face etched with nervousness. We quickly made our way to his sleek car, its polished exterior gleaming under the streetlights. With his assistance, I settled comfortably in the back seat.

"You almost gave me a heart attack, dude!" He exclaimed, his voice booming.

"I'm sorry, Kiran. It was all so sudden," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.

"I don't believe what I'm seeing right now." He responded, inspecting the broad bandage around my abdomen.

Before I could say another word, my phone rang again, this time it was my dad calling. Summoning all my strength, I answered. "Hi Dad," I spoke softly before the silence grew too uncomfortable for both of us.

"Jai, why didn't you pick up your mom's calls? We have been so worried!"

"I'm sorry for worrying you." My words were low but deliberate. "I'm with Kiran."

"What are you two up to?" he hissed, his tone filled with sternness.

"I-I'm helping him with his project." I replied, weaving a lie to put him at ease.

There was a brief pause on the line, and I could sense his skepticism. "Are you sure?"

"I promise, Dad. Just another day or two, and I'll be back home," I reassured him.

Mom took over the phone. "Well, just be careful, Jai. You know how anxious I get..."

"Mom, please don't worry. I'll be alright. I'll keep you updated," I mentioned, before ending the call. Kiran grabbed his shirt collar gently, letting out a sigh of relief.

Shortly after, we reached his guest house and stepped out of the vehicle. Kiran's strong arms supported me as he gently laid me on the bed. Handing me a glass of water, he helped with the tablets. Despite the lingering pain in my abdomen, I sat for a while, gazing out the window at a tree.

After dinner, I found solace in a restful sleep. The following day, he gently woke me, helping with a thinner bandage and supporting my tentative steps. By day two, I noticed a significant weight loss, a result of the surgery. On the third day, I removed the bandage, revealing scars that gleamed like narrow threads of silver under the sunlight. He cared for me like family throughout, even buying me some clothes.

"Jaikar, I hope you're in better shape now. I need you to tell me the truth."

I stood before him, utterly speechless, my gaze fixed on the blank wall in front of me. His presence seemed to fill the room, his eyes searching for mine for a reaction, but all he found was silence. My thoughts raced, but I couldn't seem to gather them into anything resembling a response.

He uttered each word ominously. "You have come to my house! Don't you think I deserve to know some truth by now?"

"Ritu's father suffered from a late stage liver disease," I said, shifting my gaze from his eyes to my stitches. "I -I had to donate a part of my liver to keep him alive."

He continued to examine my scars and then remarked, "I thought you'd make a wise decision. You're insane, Jaikar!"

"Why are you so angry?" I questioned, my tone laced with frustration. "I did what I had to do to save a life. Can't you see that?"

"I understand that, but you didn't even tell me," he replied, his voice tinged with hurt. "I could have helped you through it. You don't have to bear everything alone."

"I'm- I'm sorry for not telling you. I didn't want to burden you with it. But I realize now that I should have shared it with you."

"Alright, but at least you could've told your parents about it!" he exclaimed, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. "What about the girl, does she know about this?"

"She doesn't," I replied softly, my defeated gaze falling towards the floor. "I'll try and talk to my parents about it soon."

"Hiding such things only adds to your burden," he remarked, his tone softening as he uncrossed his arms. "I can't keep you here, my relatives are arriving today."

"Can you take me home now? I don't want my parents to have any suspicions."

"Sure thing. Pack your medicines! We're leaving," he commanded, preparing for the swift departure. As I gathered my belongings, he helped me pack the necessary things. With the bags packed, he led the way out of the guest house.

The car journey back home was filled with thoughtful silence. Kiran sat beside me, looking like a warrior, unshaken by the brakeless battles he had fought for me. After arriving at my house, we bid farewell, and he drove off, leaving me with gratitude for his unwavering support.

I noticed the surprise registering on my mom's face as I quietly entered the hall. Carefully hugging her to avoid any strain on my stitches, I was enveloped in the comfort of her presence. Her apron, a nostalgic emblem of my childhood, carried with it the memories of her freshly cooked meals flooding into my mind.

"Did you enjoy the vacation thoroughly?"

"Yes! The project was a new experience for me," I replied, holding her hands.

"You smell like a hospital! Go take a shower." She pushed me towards my room.

"Alright, alright, I'll freshen up," I chuckled before heading into the bedroom and instantly shutting the door behind me.

Since the doctor had advised waiting another day before bathing, I settled for a quick refresh instead. I washed my face and arms carefully, making sure to apply antiseptic powder to my scars. Afterwards, I chose a loose shirt made of linen with a neatly trimmed edge instead of a collar. The colorful fabric displayed subtle stripes and cheerful floral patterns.

"You lost a lot of weight, Jai!" Mom exclaimed, her eyes widening in shock. "Did you misplace it somewhere?"

"I think I left it in my other shirt's pocket."

Mom rolled her eyes playfully. "Well, make sure to find it before lunch. We don't want you disappearing into thin air!"

"Please don't worry." I pinched her cheeks.

Later, in the evening, I leisurely strolled onto my terrace, relishing the gentle caress of the fresh air against my skin. As I looked around, taking in the peaceful surroundings, my eyes fell upon Ritu jogging alone. Inspired by her carefree spirit, I swiftly descended from my terrace.

"Did you run away after that fight we had?" she questioned, narrowing her eyes.

I shook my head, trying to explain. "No, I just needed some space to clear my head."

Her gaze turned skeptical. "And you just vanished! I thought we were friends."

"I'm sorry for disappearing and for the things I said. I -I didn't mean to hurt you."

"I'm fine. It's just a misunderstanding, I understand your intentions were good."

"I'm glad we're on the same page, Ritu."

"I'm glad as well! On another note, I've recently experienced a miracle in my life."

"That's good to hear!" I felt relieved that she took it so well. "What was the miracle?"

"Someone saved my dad! I can't thank him enough. After months of watching my dad in pain, it's finally over... He's doing better."

"Great news!" I clapped my hands lightly.

"Indeed, I'm in the mood for a celebration!"

"Have you heard about the restaurant on the moon?" I questioned her, with a smile.

"I don't think so, what's their speciality?"

"Moon pies!" I smiled, raising my eyebrows playfully. "The view is out of this world."

"I bet the service is very slow. Plus, it will take forever for us to get there, right?"

"True, but they compensate with low gravity yoga while you wait for your order," I added, mimicking a floating motion with my hands.

She laughed heartily. "Perfect, let's go for an interstellar dining experience!"

"Or we can just watch a movie together."

"Maybe later, Jaiku." She was the first person to call me that name.

That name sounded like a marble rolling on a damp deck.
That name tasted like a sweet lemonade on a torrid day.
That name perceived like a birth of a new adventure.

"Thanks for the epic nickname, Ritu."

"You are welcome!" Her hair played in the wind, adding an exclamation to her cuteness. "Something is bothering me."

"And what might that be?"

"I wish I knew my dad's savior..."

While looking at her shambles, I picked out words carefully. "Don't worry, Ritu. Truth can't be hidden for long because the truth is like the sun, it is not going anywhere."

"I hope you're right," she replied with a hint of uncertainty in her voice.

The path ahead came alive with a sudden flurry of brown butterflies, each no bigger than a penny. In normal circumstances, catching one would have been a challenge, but with dozens of them fluttering around, how could she resist? Crouching down, she skillfully scooped one up, then opened her hand gently, allowing the captured earthy creature to bask in the bright sunlight.

As I stood there, the flora pattern adorning my shirt seemed to catch the eye of a passing butterfly. With wings of brown and gold, it gracefully landed upon my shoulder, its colors blending and swirling like playful waves upon the night sands.

"Did you know that butterflies taste everything with their feet?"

"No way, really?" Her eyes widened in surprise. "That must be why they're so picky about where they land."

"Yeah, it's pretty wild!" I replied, chuckling at the thought. "Imagine a butterfly taking a taste of a flower and then being like, 'Hmm, not my flavor' and flying off!"

"You're funny!" She rolled her eyes, gifting freedom to the butterfly in her palm.

"You forgot to mention... Good-looking!" I replied with a playful wink.

"Wait until you see my boyfriend," she responded with a confident smirk.

I fumbled with my words, trying to find the right way to express my surprise. "What, I thought - You had a boyfriend? I didn't know that-" I quickly composed myself and continued, "He must be really charming."

"You're suspiciously jealous," she said with a sardonic tone. "Yes, he's adorable!"

Hearing that, my memories started to fade away like ashes scattered by the wind. I felt a deep sadness, like the distant roar of a steam engine running through my emotions. I closed my eyes, feeling a sense of vulnerability, as if my very skin had been stripped away, breaking my heart.

After an uncomfortable silence that seemed to stretch on for an eternity, I mustered up the courage to break it, my voice strained but still carrying a semblance of cheerfulness. "If there's any possibility of a breakup, let me know."

"Haha!" she cried, clapping her hands and pointed her thumb downwards. "Sorry Jaikar, we are very compatible."

"Good for you!" I saluted her. "Some people make the world special, just by being in it."

With a cheerful yell, she exclaimed, "Yes and yes!" She looked at me with a carefree smile, seemingly thinking that I had everything under control. But in reality, I am nothing but absolute chaos, barely holding on to dear life. Could I break free from the suffocating darkness that surrounded me, or would I succumb to it?

Will he step away from her now or will he continue being her friend? Let me know!