R U H A A N A

Seconds ticked into minutes.

Minutes into hours.

It was Morning. I was home, but far-away from sleep.

I kept staring at the blank walls of my room after I got home, thinking nothing, the music on in vain, mostly to make my parents believe that I wasn't going crazy.

None of them called.

And I couldn't be more grateful for that. I would never be able to look at anyone in the eye again.

I promised I would keep all of it inside.

And looking at Aarav with Kaira just broke He last straw.

But I shouldn't have--

My thoughts were interrupted when I saw Abeer entering my room.

"Can I-- Can I come in?" He asked.

"Yeah," I smiled, turning to him, wiping my face with my hand, trying to erase the dried tear marks, "You're already inside," I tried to lighten up the air.

In vain.

He came on the bed and sat beside me.

I didn't look at him. He didn't look at me.

"You look tired?" He asked, breaking the silence.

"I didn't sleep last night," I answered.

"Neither did I. Actually, any of us." He replied. Guilt spread over my heart again.

"I really hurt Myra, didn't I?"

"You did," he replied, "She almost cried. Didn't talk to anyone for an hour after you left. But it's not about her anymore. It's about you."

"What-- What happened after I left?" I asked, spinning the topic.

"No one spoke for a while. Didn't know what to, actually. Then Aarav said he couldn't do it anymore. He apologised to Kaira, told her she's one hell of a girl, but if there's anyone he's liked since the camp, it's you. And it'll be you, even when he knows he'd hurt you more than he can repair. It'll be you."

"Myra got mad at him. Like totally mad. Shouting at him, cried a little. He told everyone about the camp. Kaira was so embarrassed and guilty. Myra couldn't stop blaming herself. Ishan was mad at everyone, himself mostly. Aarav was going nuts. Wouldn't talk to anyone, just plugged in music and kept listening to it for hours. It went bonkers," he said.

"And you?" I asked.

"I followed you. Made sure you reached home safely. Then went back and took care of all those retards feeling depressed in different corners of the room."

"God," I cussed, face palming myself. "I am very sorry. I didn't mean any of it to happen."

I couldn't stop blaming myself.

I shouldn't have told anything.

I should have kept it all inside like I always do.

"No!" He said, "That's not why I am here. I'm here to ask you why didn't you ever tell us that's how you felt."

"I couldnt, you know. What would I have told y'all? That I miss having friends who weren't so complicated and fucked up? Or that I was feeling ignored? I would have seemed like an attention seeking bitch. And moreover, everyone was busy, Abeer. Myra focused on studies. She'd never accept it was to forget you but I knew it was. You three were not there. Kaira... something happened to her in ninth grade and the Kaira I knew was gone. She was bold and extrovert and cared just about herself. And I was fine, really. I had learnt to accept it and have a way to live with it. I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I feel terrible. I-- I--....." my voice faded when his arms wrapped around me and he pulled me for a hug.

I held his hoodie and cried into it. He kept patting my head.

I was tired. So tired.

I was tired of my studies.

I was tired of being ignored.

I was tired of pretending to be happy.

I wasn't happy.

I wanted to live my life.

I wanted different things from life and right not I was stuck in an abyss in which I just kept falling deeper and deeper and I couldn't do anything. I felt stuck.

"You know," he said when I calmed down, "When I think of you and me, all I can think is a eleven year old Ruhaana running to a thirteen year old me in school, crying after being called short, and me having to wear my boxing gloves cause hell, I was about to beat up another boy for making my little sister I cry."

I giggled, wiping my tears away.

"And after that, all these years, they went away in a blink. And somewhere, you're right. We all were preoccupied. I don't know about others, but I forgot you. Not literally, but I forgot what we used to be. But one thing I know for sure is that you are my little sister. And I miss her, so much," he tucked hair strands away from my ear.

"So fuck the world. Fuck everyone else today. Let's just forgot everyone, even Aarav and Myra and Ishan and Kaira. It's just you and me, okay? So Ruhaana, would you forgive me? Would you be my sister again, and give me another chance to box all the boys who make you cry?" He asked and I laugh cried.

"I don't cry anymore," I whined.

"Visibly," he teased wiping a tear away as I hugged him again.

"I missed you so much," I sobbed.

"I missed you so much too," He whispered slightly kissing me over my hair.

Atleast something good came out of this.

"And I am breaking up with Myra," he said.

"WHAT?" I shouted, moving away, "You do that and I'll punch you in such a place that you'd never be able to even think of being with a girl again."

"What?" He shrugged, "You said she studied to forget me. God, that's obsessive. I don't want to date a girl who's addicted to me."

"You're kidding right?" I stared at him as if he was an alien from Mars speaking a language I had no idea about.

"Of course I am. Hell after so many years I've got her, I'd never let her go," he chuckled and for the first time in the past twelve hours, I laughed.

~~~~~~

Hours turned into days.

Days into weeks.

I heard from no one after that. It's been nine days. I talk to Abeer almost everyday, met him four times, but nothing more.

I was in my college.

Today was the day all of us get appointed a senior who would guide us through the next year.

Krishh was Myra's senior.

And we always thought Myra would be mine.

But after what I did, after what happened, I didn't expect that from her. I didn't expect from anyone to do anything from me.

I deserved to be ignored more.

The day was almost over and the part I was dreading the most was here. Senior selection.

I had already put Myra's name into the slip submitted in the beginning of the year.

"Professor Raghav?" I called him when everyone had left.

"Yes Ruhaana?" He turned towards me.

"I was wondering if I could change the senior appointed to me," I said in a low voice.

He checked his diary to see who was appointed to me. "Aren't you and Myra, like best friends or something?"

"We are. But she's just busy these days and I didn't want to disturb her you know. And plus, when we come together, we just talk a lot. I think it'll be better if I get someone else..." I didn't look up at him.

"Ruhaana...." he called, "Myra's a good girl and so are you. Sincere with your work. You'll figure out a way, I'm sure. And plus, I asked the appointed seniors in the morning today if they wanted to change. Myra didn't object."

"She didn't?" I asked, surprised.

"Nope," He said, getting up to leave, "I know you'd be just fine."

He left the classroom, "And here Myra is," he said pointing out. I peaked out to see her standing outside my class.

The professor left.

"I know you're angry. But itna gussa that you don't even want to work with me for something we've been excited for since the beginning of the year?" She asked slowly.

My eyes remained glued to the ground.

"Gussa? Me?" I whispered, "you should be the one angry with me. I-- I said some very mean things to you. Regretted all of them later. Please forgive me? I miss you," I say, on the verge of crying as I walk to her and she engulfs me in a hug.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "Me more," I whispered back.

"Let's forget all of this please," there were tears in her eyes, "Lets put this behind us. I-- I miss my best friend. Just promise me next time, even when the world is breaking on me, if anything disturbs you, you'd come to me first like I come to you. Please?"

"I promise," I say, "And I missed you too."

"And... Aarav's been sick. I understand you might not want to talk about him, but he's my brother, and I had to tell you. He's been so stupid, hardly speaks, doesn't eat, I don't even know if he sleeps all night. Please talk to him once, please," she whispered. Guilt laced me.

I'm a terrible, terrible person.

"I will," I say immediately, "Where can I find him?"

"I don't know," she whispered, "He spends his days away from home these days. I think there's this place he could be. Just five minutes behind our college, that one place where we went to spend my birthday once remember?" She said.

It stroke me.

"I know where he is," I say, my face lighting up. "I'd see you at home," I shout, running out of college.

I immediately get into my car, "Euphoria Lawns" I tell my driver and he takes off as I stare out of the window.

Please be there Aarav.

Please.

When we were on the camp, he'd once told me that this was Myra and his' go-to place. Whenever either of them were upset or stressed, they'd go there to find their peace. It was originally owned my Manik Uncle himself who later sold it to someone who made it the Euphoria Lawns but that couldn't stop the twins from going there. I've been there twice, both the times after Aarav left to London, but it seemed the more I tried hunting him, the more his distance hurt. So I stopped going there. I disconnected myself to him, and everything that possibly reminded me of him.

Going there was a wild guess. Very wild, actually. But I could just hope I see him.

The driver parked right outside the gate. I ran in. I ran and I ran and I ran, looking everywhere for him.

No trace of him.

I was going to return when my eyes caught someone. His back faced me. His front to the river bed. Headphones in his ear.

A smile covered my face as I ran to him. The more I ran, the faster my heart beated.

But that didn't stop me, at all.

"Aarav!" I called, as I stood panting, around six feet away.

He didn't hear me. I took a deep breath.

"Aarav!" I called, louder this time. He flinched, lifted his headphones off his head and turned.

A smile covered my tired face as he turned. His eyes were tired and red and saggy, and he didn't look like himself.

"Ruhaana?" He sounded so shocked.

"Yup, me!" I said, giggling a bit. I just got here, I didn't even think what I would talk to him.

"What are you doing here?" He asked, getting up.

"I don't know," I said honestly, "I just wanted to see you. I thought maybe you'd like to see me too?"

"No," He said, "I mean yes! I wanted to. So much. But I thought you'd never want to see me again."

"I can't do that," I said in all honesty, "Even if I wanted to, I can't do that. You're my best friend, silly."

I smile laughed, small tears glistening my eyes. Sunlight made the place shine, and even when he was so tired, he looked so amazing.

"I broke up with Kaira," he chuckled, "Just for the record."

"You shouldn't have," I say slowly, "She really likes you."

"And you?" He asks, "What about you?"

"She's my best friend, Aarav," I try reasoning.

"And you're mine." He says. "I know I haven't been acting like a best friend lately, but you are my best friend. And nothing can change that. Ever."

"You're my best friend too," I whisper, as I take a step closer to him.

He wraps his arms around me, slowly pulling me to his chest. I was so much shorter to him, owing to the fact that he got his height from his dad. My head barely reached his shoulder but he didn't mind that. He breathed in my air slowly, and I could hear his heart beat.

"I missed you too," He whispered. "Let's start over."

"Start over?" I ask, breaking away.

"Hmm. No fake stuff. Just you and me. Being us, being real. And nothing in between," He offers.

"Deal." I smile. He nods negatively.

"No deals anymore. That's the only deal," he said, his eyes suddenly thinking in the broad daylight, "We'll make it fine this time. We'll do us better."

I nod, real tears floating in my eyes this time. I was over emotional these days.

"Okay," I say, smiling.

"Okay," he repeats, smiling too as he rubs his hand from his hair, looking down before looking at me again.

"I'm Aarav Malhotra, masters in business management," He smiled giving me his hand for a shake.

I put my hand into his, "Ruhaana Khurrana, student of doctory."

"I was wondering if you'd like to come for a walk with me, back on our way home? We could even grab your favourite ice cream f you'd like," he offered.

"Are you asking me on a date?" I asked as he turned my hand into his in a way that his hand was now my shoulder and mine into his as we walked or way out.

"If you'd like it?" He asked, nervously smiling.

"I'd love that, thank you," I laughed and he laughed along until it met mine.

"And I'm having chocolate flavour at Baskins and Robbins only," I kept my offer.

"Ew. No Baskins & Robbins please. Let's go to Haagen Dazs. It's elite and the Belgium there, God, chocolate to die for," he argued.

"Baskins," I whined.

"No!" He argued too.

"Yes!"

"No!"

"Yes!"

"Okay, yes!" He agreed and I almost jumped in the air in happiness.

"You always have your way don't you?" He asked, mocking.

I smiled sheepishly, "Always."

He sighed, then pulled me closer than I already was, "Then so be it."

Then we let us be it.

~~~~~~~

[ Bonus Chapter 2 gets over here. It has an open ending. Ruhaana and Aarav's story has an open ending. It is upon you to decide what happens to them after it, whether they're better as best friends or more. Although, it's not the end of their story. You can catch up more of Myra-Abeer & Ruhaana-Aarav in Bonus Chapter 3, 4 and 5 right ahead. ]

Any guesses who will Bonus Chapter 3 contain? Not so difficult to guess! ;)