Chapter Five

Aadhya

It was about midnight. It was dark and windy. I was at my house, in my tiny apartment. Prakruthi was at my place, troubled over him. We were seated at the dining table. She was resting her head on the table, supported by her elbow.

'I'm such an idiot.' She said this while sobbing. 'He must think of me as an idiot.'

I did not have anything to say. She truly loved him, and he rejected her. That was a tragedy in her life. I tried to console her before, but she just would not calm down. I had never seen anyone so devastated by a rejection.

"I can't look at him anymore." She said.

'It's okay.' I said. 'It'll be alright. Maybe he's not ready for one yet.'

'No.' She said. 'He replied,omeone else.' She replied crying.

"How do you know that?"

'He told me. He told me he loved someone else.'

I sat quietly. What else could I say? She had terrible heartbreak. I had nothing to say that could calm her down. All I could do was stay with her. I gently kept my hand on her shoulder and stayed for a while. Half an hour later, she stopped crying and lifted her head from that position. She wiped her tears with the tissues and calmed down.

'I'm happy.' She said. 'I'm happy for him.'

I had nothing to say to that. She was definitely unhappy. I just listened and stayed quiet.

Akash

I was confused over how to do it. What should I say? How do I say it? These questions were bothering me. Valentine's Day was in three days. Every hour that passed made me more nervous about it.

I was at the school in my room, taking classes. My classes increased to twelve per week. It would increase a lot when the events were near. I was unable to concentrate while teaching. Every ten minutes, I would drift away into my thoughts, like drifting away on a raft stranded at sea. That day, Aadhya was absent. So the day seemed a little dull. I felt the urge to just go home and rest until that day.

The next day, I was early at school. I was clean-shaven, put on perfume, some aroma gel, and tidied my hair. But that day, too, she was absent. I was afraid that she could be absent that day. Prakruthi was also absent. I wondered what had happened.

The day before Valentine's Day, she came to the school. Lively as ever. Beautiful and glamorous as ever. But that day I could not speak to her because she was busy with her tight schedule. The finals were near, and her portions were yet to be completed. My classes were reduced because of it. So I was free.

Time passed, and the day arrived. THE BIG DAY I was dressed well enough. Perfectly ready for it. My heart started beating faster. As usual, this morning she was late, so I could not meet her. That evening, I went to the staff room. She was sitting at her desk.

'Hey, Aadhya, I said.

'Hi.' She replied and went back to her phone.

"When are you free today?" I asked.

She looked at me and thought for a minute.

'I'll be available at six o'clock in the evening.'She said.

"I wanted to talk to you about something." "Can we do it then?" I asked.

'Okay. She said. 'Let's meet at my place.'

'Okay. Thanks.' I said.

It was fixed. All I had to do was wait. I waited until six. I was at her house. It was a compact flat, just enough for a single person. It was neat and tidy, just like her. I noticed a lot of books for government services exams, which were difficult. I could not imagine studying it.

"What was it that you wanted to tell me?" She said.

'Well, I don't know how to tell you this.' I said. She just glared at me.

'Actually, I'm not good with socialising, so I don't know much about it. And recently, I've socialised a lot. More than I ever did before.' I paused for a while.

'Good. But why are you telling me this? She said.

"I'm not sure." I said.

'I'm lost. Are you okay? She said.

'Yes. Sorry. I tit was because of a person who made me do it. And I... I love that person.' I said.

She looked at me curiously.

'That person has changed me into the best of me. That person has helped me a lot. And she does not even know it.' I said.

She nodded.

"That person is." It's MMM. It's you.' I said.

She was surprised. Her eyes were wide open. She was at a loss for words. For almost a minute, she said nothing. I had exhausted all confidence. Then she sipped a glass of water and sighed.

'Akash...' She said. 'I'm glad tht you felt like that for me. I really am. I was not expecting this. I'm preparing for an exam and I don't like distractions.' She said. I was puzzled at her response.

'But...' She continued. "I don't feel the same way about you." I'm sorry.'

I was staggered. Shattered at that moment. I should have expected something like this. More than that, I felt extremely pathetic to speak about this in her house and to be in this state at her house.

'I'm sorry.' She said it again.

'I-It's okay.' I said. 'I'm sorry.' And immediately walked out.

Aadhya

It had been three months since then. I got busy with my work. School for teaching and preparing for the exams at home. In those three months, I had not interacted with Akash much. He seemed to avoid me.

It was hot in May, at the peak of summer. Children had completed their exams, and we teachers had holidays for a month. I just continued my preparation. On one particular day, an old friend called me. She was a few years older than me. We spoke of a lot of things and just kept going on and on for an hour. Then I brought up that topic. Akash's proposal.

'I don't know what to do. He seems to avoid me. Does not speak to me or look at me. He's become irregular.' I said

'I see.' She said. 'Was he the same guy your friend liked?'

'Yes.

'Tell me. Do you like him?

'I don't. I consider him a good friend.'

'Aadhya, when it comes to love, don't let your mind speak. Listen to your heart. What does it say?'

There was a moment of silence.

'I don't know.' I said. 'I just don't know.'

There was a moment of silence again.

"You actually like him, don't you?"

'No.'

"Are you sure?"

I sighed.

'No.'

'I know it, Aadhya. I've been through this. I think you like him. You're just not honest with yourself.' She concluded.

I thought about it for a while. I felt like she saw right through me. I started thinking about it. Every time he was around, I was excited. Happy and satisfied. Now, it is empty. I realised it. But it was too late now. I don't know where he was or if he's still working at the school. But something compelled me to seek him out.

I ran outside looking for him. I went all over the places where I guessed I could find him. But I could not. I felt pain in my heart. A regret. How do I find him?

The principal helped me. He told me a place where he might be. I headed to a private park owned by a mall. It was like an extension of the mall. I went there. Generally, in public places, couples roaming around is seen as an obscene act.

I ran there. It was in the afternoon, so there was not much rush. Barely anybody was there at the mall, and no one was at the park. No one except one That one person I could even recognise from the back.

'Akash.' I called him loudly. He turned aroud and was surprised. But I chocked. I was osay words to speak. He looked at me and felt sad.

'Aadhya...' He said. 'I'm sorry.'

I felt my heartache. That word made my heart ache.

'I'm sorry. I was reckless in my decisions. I truly am.' He said.

I just kept looking at him.

I hope you forgive...'

'Shut Up.' I shouted.

He looked at me. My eyes suddenly filled with tears. I was controlling my tears.

'You're sorry? Huh?' I said. 'All this time I hurt you, and you are sorry?'

He continued looking at me. I bent my head down and wiped my tear-filled eyes.

'I should be the one apologising, and you're sorry?' I said. My voice cracked.

'I'm sorry.' I continued. 'I'm sorry for lying. To you and me.'

I could not control my tears. They began flowing. I suddenly ran towards him and hugged him.

'I love you.' I said. 'I love you, Akash.'

Akash

I was shocked. She loves me!? I just could not believe it. I hugged her. My tears started flowing.

"I love you." I said

We got it out of our grasp. Then held our hands.

Together

I love you.

[End credit music: Love Love Love, Kim Yoon]