2 New Dawn

There are times in life when people feel like they've reached the end to a chapter. It's when our hearts break and everything is sad and gloomy. We don't want to let go of the things we've gotten used to all this time. But maybe they forget to recognize that the first heartbreak is always the first twist in the upcoming drama. After all, is there any story worth reading if there's no spice to it?

After a long torturous night of tears, pain and heartbreak, the sun finally came up. However, it carried a new air around it, a sense of positivity and new beginnings.

Nitya woke up to the sound of her Chaachi[1] calling out to her. Her eyes were red and swollen just like her face. She remembered the events of last night but didn't want to delve in those thoughts more at that time as they would see through her face. After getting ready for the day and praying to God, she moved downstairs in intent of not going to college.

Greeting her family, she had just sat down on the dining chair, when two palms covered her eyes.

"Guess, who?" At first, she was confused but then remembered the boy she'd spent her childhood with.

"Nikith!" It was hard not to be excited at the thought of the cheerful boy who was always wrapped in optimism; one who could always make her smile, no matter what.

Nikith Kapoor was the son of her Chaachi's sister. Since her Chaachi didn't have any kid but loved all children endlessly, they used to spend their vacations together at their home in Mangalore. Suffice to say, he was a brother to her, just like Kanav, her biological brother. Though there was an age gap of 4 years among the two, his childish streak never made her feel of any of that.

"What are you doing here? When did you come?" She asked, excitedly. Nikith was happy to see his second family again. Though he had horrors of his own, the love that this family showered upon him made him forget about all that. And this little girl, that he lovingly used to call 'Mouse', was one ray of sunshine in his life.

He could definitely see her swollen face and red eyes that she was desperately trying to cover by smiling and a little bit of make-up. Making a mental note to bring up the topic again, he put on a cheerful face again.

"Well Mouse, you see, I've been getting reports of how you've been hogging all the love of my family to yourself. So, in fear of me and Kanav getting disowned, I'm here as a savior. To protect my family." Nitya could hear the teasing tone in his voice.

"It's not my fault they love me more than you two." Sticking out her tongue to him, she gloated.

"But seriously, what are you doing here? New job in the city?" She asked with a mouthful.

"Nitya, first eat properly and then talk." Chachi scolded lovingly. Nodding her head, she focused on the breakfast, which she had no stomach to eat but had to so as to not trouble her family.

"It's a surprise!" Nikith whispered to her, before shovelling a spoonful of cereal into his mouth.

*****************************************************

On the other side of the city, Avyan woke up when sunrays fell onto his eyes through the sheer curtain. He stretched his body that ached from sleeping on the couch in a sitting position. His eyes then fell onto the boy for whom he had spent the night in a hospital.

Yesterday, was a hellish day for all of them. Though their musical band, Elements, had bagged the first prize in the music festival, Apache, yet there was no joy in their hearts owing to the other events in their lives. While he had pushed away the person who he was beginning to love, his friend, Vivaan, had been beaten up by goons arranged by their rival, Rushabh.

In a quest to harm their reputation, Rushabh had released inappropriate videos of Vivaan with their male professor. However, Vivaan used this as a motivation to come out of the closet openly which enraged Rushabh more. In order to extract revenge, he had then arranged goons outside the college to beat him up. Thankfully, he and Nitya had arrived at the scene soon or else Vivaan would've been in a much serious condition now.

Vivaan was sitting up in his bed staring out of the door. Avyan sighed and moved towards his friend. Taking the stool near his bed, he placed a hand on Vivaan's shoulder.

"Don't worry, Aunty will come back. She'll understand." Avyan consoled his friend. After coming to the hospital last night, he had witnessed how the interaction between Vivaan and his mother went down. He understood. The thought of being a gay was still not acceptable to most people. But he was sure that his 'Cool Aunty' would understand things. If not, he was there for his friend and he'll make things right for him.

Vivaan let out a slow, sad smile and then gazed at Avyan's face. Though still devilishly handsome, Avyan's face was worn out, not just from tiredness.

"What did you do to Nitya?" He asked Manik. The latter was surprised for a moment but then he knew that Vivaan could always understand him without a word.

"What makes you think I did anything to her? And why am I always the bad guy?" He asked sarcastically.

"Uh, Avyan, you're the bad boy. And honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if would've done something to her again. So, spill." Avyan was a little hurt with Vivaan's words but then he realized he didn't have the right to. He had indeed done horrible things to the girl.

With that, he narrated what went down in the past two days between the two. It was not easy to do since he was revisiting the pain in her eyes when he pretended to have played with her.

"Are you an idiot, Avi [2]?" Vivaan couldn't believe what he'd heard. His friend had thrown away the thing that made him happy. He could see the difference that Nitya's presence had brought in Avyan's life. His friend seemed more….alive.

"I am, Vivaan. I am. But it's the best for her." Avyan sighed. Vivaan knew that his friend was stubborn and wouldn't understand a word he said.

'I think it's time to knock some sense into his brain.' Vivaan smirked inwardly.

[1] Chaachi= Aunt. An Indian term used for the paternal uncle's wife.

[2] Avi= A nickname for Avyan