7 Rana's Secret Feelings

Well as the author this story even I was surprised of Rana's feelings for Zoe. The fact was Rana did not share much of his secrets with any one. Zolo was the only living thing that Rana did not fear and did trust. But even to Zolo Rana had not opened up his feeling. Rana hugging Zoe was considered a sudden normal social behaviour and so no one brought the topic in to discussion. But Zolo was different from the others. He really wanted to know about Rana feelings for her.

"Guys the Emperor has announced a reward for turning over you. And other than this place every one in every other place has been searching for you." Zoe said as she entered the cave with dinner. The sun was setting and people of the village started preparing for the cold night.

"The emperor is planning to use me for a ritual. That means he doesn't want to me behind bars. Then who killed Ganesh? And why?" Rana was blank.

"Why are you here? Why did they catch you?" Zoe suddenly asked John. John who had not paid any attention to anything that has been going on was actually playing with Tongs. The three of them were astonished by the man's ignorance.

"Are you mad or something? How did you get caught?" Rana shouted at him. John slowly turned to Rana with an annoyed expression.

"Did you ask me?" John asked.

"No I asked Tongs!" Zoe said sarcastically.

"So the Kumiho's name is Tongs, huh? Can she speak? Don't think I am a fool but, you just asked her a question. Does that mean she can speak?" John's face held no expression.

"Oh, man. I know you are very good with beasts, but this foolishness is irritating. They asked to you, how you got caught!" Zolo said turning to John.

"Come on Zolo, whatever you try, no one can understand you other than me." Rana said out loud.

John looked puzzled.

"So you guys were asking me?" John asked.

"Yes." Zoe said.

"Did you just understand Zolo?" Rana was shocked.

" Yes I can understand the coyokey, Zolo." John said.

"Well that was unusual. And why were you caught with us?" Rana asked unable shake away the feeling that his best friend will no more be his best friend.

"Because I killed Ganesh." John said. Zoe fainted. Rana started shaking. 'He is a murderer!' Rana thought. 'More worse, he could be the beast.' Rana was sweating in fear. He had to do something. What if the beast comes out? Slowly Rana got up. " I think, it is time to sleep. Come on." And so they all took their places in the cave. Rana wrapped a blanket on Zoe before going to sleep. Zolo noticed Rana's concern and was very curious about his feelings towards Zoe. Rana slowly drowned in his dream when he felt a presence in his head. It was Zolo.

"We need to talk." Zolo said.

"I know what you want to ask me. I think my consciousness can help you understand my feelings, buddy." Rana's consciousness said.

Well the flashback goes back to the time when Rana was 14 years old. Rana's mom had already died. Rana's only friends were Zolo, Zoe and Josh, a kid from Academic school. Josh was a very good friend to Rana. Once Rana came across a street dog. He was scared out of his skin. If it had not been for Josh Rana would never have crossed a bridge in time. And unlike others, Josh never made fun Rana.

Even in those times Rana had a liking for Zoe. Her beauty and selfless acts always attracted him towards her. His fear never allowed him to talk to her in person. He feared her a lot during that time. Everyone thought that he feared her skills but the truth was that his affection for her made her fearful. But one joke changed everything. It was on bright morning, Rana got a message. It was a love calculator. It was joke on social media. Rana knew what it was and typed irrevelant info. But later he wanted to use it on everyone else and so he sent it to everyone in his contact.

Josh replied: Don't you have any other work?

Well but Josh didn't get scammed. He was lucky enough not to trust it. The calculator was a site created to make people believe that it can predict matrimonial matching but only to show the names to the sender later.

Later that evening, Rana got a reply. It was from Zoe. She had typed "Josh" with a Loving-emoji! Rana was heartbroken. He didn't know waht to do. His favourite girl liked his best friend. He buried his feelings deep. Guilt swept his consciousness. That day his feelings split into two. Two parts that are completely opposite to each other. One liked Zoe and other didn't care about Zoe. He was scared that some might find out about his split soul and so he never told about his feeling to anyone. Not even Zolo.

Days went by. A week after the joke, still Rana was behaving unusual. Sometimes he ignored his friends in the canteen and sometimes he was very close to them, like he could speak with for a long time. Even though he had split feelings, he still had fear within him that someone might find out. One evening Zoe went home early. Rumours were that she got dumped. That day as usual Josh messaged Rana.

Josh: Hey dude, I thing I just had my heart broken.

Rana: So what? Everyone has their breaking point.

Josh: But this feels different. It hurts worse than death.

Rana: Maybe death is better....

Josh: Don't you want to know how my heart broke?

Rana: No. I don't really care.

Josh: But I just want someone to listen to me.

Rana: Sorry buddy, I have got other important things to do. Bye.

Josh: Rana...

Josh: Rana???

Rana's ignorant soul blocked his others soul too. The two angry souls fought and the result was chaos. Rana's aura produced in much quantity his whole room. All that was left was black smoke.

The next day as the sun rose, Rana got a call. It was from Zoe. What she said shook Rana's interior foundation. Josh had committed suicide. The doctor had said that it was due to depression. But Rana knew better. He had killed Josh. He ran to the mortuary where Josh's family members were mourning for his death. Zoe was also. Rana's thought wandered to everything. From the sound in his ears to the heavy breath in his nose, everything felt GUILT.

'Did I kill him purposefully?'

'Was it for Zoe?'

'Am I such a heartless person?'

Rana's thoughts were from his damaged heart. Totally destroyed, Rana's soul joined back as one. The feeling was now hidden. His mind had won the battle. He no more had to listen to his soul. That day his mind decided to protect Zoe on behalf of Josh. And then on not once did his mind acknowledge his soul's feelings.

At present as Zolo listened to Rana, he felt sorry for his friend.

"Man, maybe we were not meant to find our love. After all we are friends forever and we have got each other." Zolo said and howled happily.

"Well then can we get back to our sleep know." Said a familiar voice from behind Rana. It was John. Rana was shocked.

"What the....." Rana and Zolo shouted together.

Seems like John can also communicate telepathically with Rana and Zolo!!!