12 Can we have a talk

Arnav heard the special message tone he set for Sia. Previously he didn't want Sia to call him. Because every call was like an inquiry. Like "where are you? with whom you are?" But after the day she mentioned divorce, he really wanted to say to her, "let us not take divorce." But unfortunately, that never happened. He never thought he will miss Sia so badly. In the previous few months, he used to listen to her complaints, inquiries, her sweet words, her messages. Now he misses it very much, he is quite angry with everyone now.

 Especially Sia, when she wished to marry him, she got married. When she wanted to divorce, she is going to divorce him. She decided everything herself. She never asked permission to love him, nor while drugging him, and now for divorce.

  She even didn't ask him if he is willing it or not. He is really angry and unwilling to leave her even if she fights with him. Even if she said bad words about him, then he won't suffer much. But now, he is feeling like his heart is breaking every day. When he sees her with those expressionless eyes, which were previously full of love. This fact makes him feel dejected.

He quickly opens her message and sees the word "care." He really gets happy. He knows that she still has feelings for him. Otherwise, she wouldn't have stopped Udhav when he was criticizing him. He knows that she still loves him, but he doesn't know what to do next. He stops his car and comes outside to smoke.

   He remembers how she hates his smoking, but he is quite addicted to this. So when he smoked in front of her, she told him that this smoke would cause trouble for her and the baby. Listening to this, what can he do? He stopped smoking, but now she is not near him. So he can smoke. While he is standing on the road thinking all this, he sees Ani, who is also going home. Seeing Arnav, he stopped his bike and came to talk with him.

Seeing Ani coming towards him, Arnav gets confused. They once had a fight because of Sia. But after all, Ani is too young to fight with him. Ani asks him why he is standing on the road. On which Arnav doesn't reply. Ani knows that he doesn't like him, but he needed to talk with him. He also found out that Sia is quite sad, and only this person is the password of her smile.

"Can we talk? It is related to Sia."

"...Yes." Arnav agreed, then they sit on the roadside. Anyway, it is nighttime. So no one will ask them anything.

"I think we will go to a club instead of sitting on the roadside," Ani said.

"I needed to go home early, so it is better if we quickly finish this."

"Hey, I also have practice in the morning. So don't show the attitude."

"Hmmm. Okay, tell me what you wanted to say." Arnav questioned.

"Sia is not okay, you know I never saw her this calm. If a very talkative person stops talking, it is not good, you know," Ani said. Arnav remember the previous photo he took, the list Sia made, and also recalls the Doctor's word and said,

"She is suffering from depression."

"what?"

"Yes, she didn't tell you?"

"she learned to hide things, nowadays, after spending time with you."

"What is the relationship between hiding things and me."

"you hid your affair with that bitch Shivani."

"I don't have an affair."

"then those photos?"

"Fabricated. But how do you know?"

"Sia told me."

"hmm"

"that Shivani is not good, I am telling you, she is a drama queen."

"Really"

"Yup, she has a double face. Who do you think had spread the rumor that Sia and I have an affair."

"hmmm." this is new information Arnav learned today.

"You know she is too bad. She is too much jealous of Sia that she wanted to ..." But before he could complete the statement, Arnav said, "I think we are talking about Sia and not about Shivani. Right?'

"Yup, all I wanted to say that Sia really loves you. Don't leave her for anyone else. What more she will do and suffer a lot for you."

"hmm."

"Do you know once a Panditji told her to stand for 4 hours in the burning sun, so she can get married to you? And she stood for the whole 4 hours. Then, next, she was needed to admit to hospital."

"Is this true?" Arnav never know this too,

"yup, that's why uncle came to your house to ask about your and Sia's marriage. They didn't want Sia and you to get married. But in front of Sia, he compromised." 

"You are Sia's close friend, right? Isn't it better if you get married to her?"

"You know about my secret, right?"

"hmm, but I can see the love in your eyes for Sia. You are drinking because you had a fight with her, right? Still, you are denying that you love her."

"I didn't deny that I love her, but not the way you are referring. Do you know how Sia and I meet?"

"no." Arnav only knows they are school friends. But does not know the details.

"The woman who gave me birth used to teach in school. But then she ran away with her lover. My father started drinking and venting his anger on me. That time, I was in the 2nd standard. All these things make me timid. Too timid. Children in my class also knew this. One day, they teased me, and I started to fight with them. But, I was a little child at that time. The other boy had some friends. So they came together and started to beat me. That time Sia was also in the same class. She came and beat them. She is just like a superhero for me."

"She beat the boys of the same age?" Arnav questioned.

"Yes, she is pretty and strong, you know. Then after that, she took me to the principal's office and told our principal about what happened. The principal was a good person and knew about me. He told Sia that I was alone and she needed to take care of me. I didn't know that she would take the teacher's words to the heart. From that day, she protected me, and I also liked this feeling. My father would either be at work or outside. He told the neighbors to give me food, but they only gave me breakfast and dinner, and that is not even enough. I even couldn't complain to my father. Sia brought me lunch and even brought extra food for dinner. She played with me. And even taught me how to fight. I was very weak in my studies, she taught me. I met Udhav uncle at that time. After that, days went on, and we become 13 years old. And that time, she fell for you. I was quite jealous. I already shared my best friend with that ugly Neha, and even with Uncle, and now you came. But I know she had a special feeling for you. Later I realized that I also like boys. And I know I can't share it with her. That time Sia and I somewhat concentrated on different things. She was trying to become smart and confident; while I was sorting out my feelings. That time I also started to like cricket, but I had no money.

Sia, that time, again spent her money and gifted me a whole cricket set. Because of that set, lots of boys came and played with me. That time I also got special attention from the teacher, and my career started. Even though we spent less time together, we are still best friends. Later she also got to know about my sexual preference. She was shocked but again didn't say anything bad. But still, she tried to pressurize me. But that time, she also got to know that you were going to marry Shivani. So she left the country and went abroad to study.

  That time, also, we stay connected via video calls and letters. Still, we fought with each other. But, you know she is not only a friend of mine, but she is my teacher, my mother, my father too. She is so special to me, but I know we are not life partners and never gonna be. But she is gonna my best friend for a lifetime, no matter how much she annoys me, how much she acts bossy. She is my Sia. That time if I would haven't met her, I might be dead now. I know she is very different, but she is the most cutest person in the world."

"having a friendship like you is a really great thing."

"Thank you"

"then why both of you fight?"

"she is telling me to find a girlfriend. And even sending me some profile of girls."

"hmm"

"I fight with her, and even say that she is changed after getting pregnant, but that time I didn't know that her child will be... if I would have known that... I would have never fight with her. She is in so much stress, I .." Ani doesn't know what to say.

"I also fight with her, don't blame yourself," Arnav patted Ani's head for reassuring him.

"hmm, so you will not divorce her, right?" Ani looks towards Arnav with expecting eyes.