34) friend

T/W : substance use

MAUSAM

My steps hesitantly lead to the library.

Right now , a new building , when I visited this I'm my previous life ? Or future? No definitly not future I don't want that kind of future at all. This was old building. And Shiv worked there.

I don't know in what hopes I come here today?

Maybe it was just habit to go here when I was troubled , or maybe I wanted to meet my friend.

I felt winter breeze and thighten my arms around me.

I sat down at the bench I always sat. I had sat on this bench after I had gotten divorced .

Then a man suddenly sat next to me.

I looked at him in surprise and scooted far away , thinking I should just stand up ,

" So how are you today? I am really into reading webnovels these days , Chinese ones , what about you?" He asked , his head tipping towards me , I gasped it was Shiv.

" Shiv." I whispered.

" So you do recognise me. Mausam ji." He said and smiled at me sheepishly.

My eyes were wide with shock , so it was true! Shiv was , he recognised me in that restaurant. It was the Shiv I knew , my friend , so what I suspected was true, he had come back in time just like I did , otherwise he would never recognise me!

" Close your mouth , makhhi ghus jayegi." He joked.

I suddenly closed it and felt m6 cheeks redden.

" Shiv , please , mazak mat kijiye , mujhe bahut bada jhatka Laga he ! Kya AAP sach me? MATLAB AAP yaha kese?"I said frightened , what I thought was so ridiculous , I mean how could I ask someone that they have come back in past? I felt a shudder thinking people might actually think I was dillusional.

" That I came back to past? Don't be scared just ask me outright! You were always so cautious!" He laughed at my expense.

" All right , mr.confident." I smiled a little.

He was so infectieous. I felt happy and calm in his presence.

" So how did you get here?" I asked him seriously.

He looked somber and shrugged ," I don't know! First I thought it was a dream. But then I was still here after days , My brother , my mother and my father all were there , talking to me." He whispered the last words.

" I see." I nodded.

" I thought it was a dream too , I even cursed my husband and ended up scolding him for dying early." I laughed sadly and looked down.

" It is like novels , is not it?" He asked and nudged my shoulder.

" Yes , I feel like I am down heroine from the we novels , and if it is the title of my book would be 'THE RETURN OF UNFORTUNATE BRIDE'." I laughed .

" And mine would be ' THE SCOUNDREL HEIR RETURNS." He said spreading his hands with a cocky smile.

" Do you think I should write this story , I bet it would make a lot of money." He boasted.

I scoffed." with your writing I doubt it , but if you take my help in co-writing it has a chance. We would be millionaires." I cockily raised my brow and we both grinned like fools.

We ended up laughing like maniacs and the birds got startled and flew away.

It made us laugh even more.

" So what are you going to do now?" I asked him.

" Well I have not gone to any parties since I came here and ghosted every friend who might have gotten me drugs" he said in a quite voice.

I nodded. I covered his hand and squeezed.

" I am not seeing Reyansh anymore , and I don't drink alcohols now " I confessed to him.

His head shot in my direction , and he smiled slowly.

" See , how mature of us ." He said.

" Well we are 35 years old.  So old and mature." I smirked .

" Yeah , yeah. "

" Did they not think you were weird ? Your family? " He asked me.

" Armaan did . He still does not trust me. And Reyansh , I don't want to see him." I answered.

" Reyansh is one son of a bitch. It's best you stay away from him and your mother in law , and your husband I don't like him much , he always refused he was having an affair but married that ogre right after you left him." He ranted angrily.

" Reyansh is not bad , he has always supported me. " I weakly defended him.

He scoffed ," so you are not denying Your husband is having an affair."

To that I stayed silent.

Some things were too painful to tell even your best friend , who you tell everything.

" Now tell me what is on your mind?" He asked me , changing the topic.

" Huh how do you know something is on my mind?"

" You always come here to meet me when something is troubling you."He said.

" Well then you too. What is bothering you? Is it about your family thinking you are weird." He looked like I got the thing right.

" Yeah , my dad and my brother thinks I am planning something PLOTTING on their language , you know. My mom does not say anything but she is scared that the change in me is just some EVIL  SCHEME of mine." He sighed tiredly.

I scooted closer and patted his hand .

" Well then I must tell them that you are not a good actor , at all." I smiled.

" And it's good they notice right? Means they care about you , they know you " I said trying not to sound sad that no one noticed the change in me.

He looked in my eyes and I knew he understood my unsaid plight.

Then my phone pingged.

It was Armaan.

'WHERE ARE YOU?????"

Updated on - 12/12/24