You are not at fault, Sandhya; stop blaming yourself for something you didn't do. Were you aware that Ayush would get assaulted on his birthday? Did you know that Ved would get beaten up by that motherfucker while saving his best friend? Do you really think everything happened because of the doll you gifted Ayush?
No, I didn't think so, but I couldn't deny the fact that Ayush got hurt. I also knew very well that he didn't blame me entirely but there was a part of him which still blamed me for what he suffered. And he was right - it was Ved who was beside him all the time, and I wasn't there when he needed me. But again, I didn't vanish on purpose... If I had known something like that would happen, I would have killed that man myself.
"Sandhya, out of my classroom this instant!" Mehta Sir scolded.
"Sorry, Sir," I mumbled and got up from my seat.
He narrowed his eyes at me and asked me what was going on with me nowadays. Yesterday, I was zoning out in the classroom, smiling like a goof and today, I was staring at the wall blankly with no expressions on my face. Instead of giving him an excuse, I apologized again and left the classroom.
I wasn't concentrating as it is, and I was tired of Surbhi and Parth asking me why I was looking like a zombie and trying to stuff me with food to cheer me up. Even my girl gang was worried when they saw my condition in the morning, but just like I did with my parents, I told them that I watched a really emotional movie and cried all night.
They had a hard time believing me and it wasn't their fault because I was keeping them in dark on purpose. Apart from Nikhil and Ayush, no one knew the real reason behind my current behaviour. To avoid any interrogation, I was isolating myself and spending more time in the library.
I knew my actions were totally opposite of what I had intended but I just couldn't keep yesterday's events out of my head. Ayush's words kept echoing in my ears, his tear-stained face kept flashing in front of my eyes and his devasted look kept reminding me that I failed to keep my promise.
So, just like Mehta Sir's class, I got thrown out in other two classes, got scolded by my Coach for not focusing in the volleyball practice, got in a fight with Mahek when she accused Shree of not paying her more attention after that 'Beauty and the Beast' play, and almost got myself in an accident just outside the college gates.
As for my Princess... it was really hard to stay away from him - I didn't want to do that at all. Just like others, he got worried that I was being aloof and when he enquired me about it, I pulled out my acting skills, gave him the same excuses and tried to distract him by throwing nonsense jokes at him.
When I sensed that he was getting suspicious, I called Nikhil for help, who managed to get me out of the tough situation but managed to piss off Ved whenever he came between us. As for Ayush, I could say he was happy to see me not bothering Natural Heater, though he looked a little sad somehow.
As I had already dehydrated myself by crying all evening on my terrace and worrying my parents over my sudden outburst, I managed to go through a torturous day and left for home as soon as the last bell rang. While taking out my scooter from the parking lot, I noticed Ved making his way towards me with a frowned expression, but fortunately, Nikhil arrived on time and saved me from blurting out everything as soon as I saw Ved.
After a lot of bantering and awful performance from both Nikhil and me, we escaped before Ved turned into Red Hulk. I was really thankful that Nikhil was helping me by accompanying me and trying to keep me busy with his lame jokes; if he wasn't talking non-stop, I would have surely landed myself in a drain.
Once I got home, I retired to my room, followed by Nikhil. As soon as he closed the door, I burst out crying, and he gave me the tissues from his bag. I had already emptied out my stock, so he bought some more for me on our way. He sat beside me on the bed and let me cry all I wanted.
"Why can't we tell Ved?" he asked.
"He will get angry with Ayush," I replied.
"He might, but he already knows the whole situation. I am sure he would solve the matter if we told him," he argued and patted my shoulder.
"I have always come between Ayush and Ved since we were kids - I forced myself into their friendship because I also wanted to be cool like them, but I never fit in their world."
"Sandhya... Stop thinking about the past, okay? You also know that Ayush is just afraid of losing Ved; everything he said yesterday was out of fear and not hatred. It was his pain and trauma talking..." Nikhil consoled. "Are you listening to me?"
"I think I need some more time to wrap my head around it. Don't worry; I am not blaming myself - I want to clear my thoughts, that's it." I gave him a small smile.
Nikhil pulled me in a side hug and rubbed my back. He stayed with me for one more hour before leaving and making sure that I wasn't overspilling the trash can with tissue papers. When he left, I began my assignments and distracted myself for two hours before my stomach churned, signalling me to get my butt up and go downstairs.
I skipped two stairs at a time and skid towards the fridge but applied brakes when I noticed the person I was avoiding the whole day, standing beside my mom near the kitchen counter and holding a frying pan in his hands.
"What are you doing here?" I yelled.
"Sandhu," Mom scolded and told me to close my mouth.
"Hey, Sandy Pandy." Ved grinned and waved his right hand at me.
"Why is he here?" I screeched and glanced around in panic.
"Is that how you treat your friends? Where are your manners?" Mom shook her head and told me to leave if I wasn't going to help her in preparing dinner.
"But, Mom..." I pointed at Ved.
"Ignore her; she has been acting weird since yesterday," Mom told Ved and began guiding him on how to cook a dish.
I couldn't believe that he was there, so I took a fork and poked him on his arm. He grabbed my wrist and twisted my hand towards me; he shot me a mischievous smile before moving my hand and hitting my forehead with the fork. He laughed at my reaction and continued with his work as if he lived in my house.
I exited the kitchen when Mom began lecturing me again and soon, Dad also arrived and joined them. The trio spent a lot of time conversing among themselves and then announced that dinner was ready. From the moment I saw Ved in the kitchen to the moment he exited the house after hugging Dad and thanking Mom for the meal, I was in a daze.
"Good night, Sandhya," he said.
"Good night, Princess- I mean Ved," I replied meekly.
He tilted his head while swirling his car keys around his index finger and darted his eyes around my face as if looking for a clue. I raised my eyebrows in question but he kept staring and suddenly hugged me. I was about to wrap my arms around him but stopped myself as Ayush's words rang through my ears.
Ved also hates you!
"What's troubling you?" Natural Heater questioned.
"It is nothing, Ved," I answered.
He broke the hug and cupped my cheeks. "You can tell me, you know."
I opened my mouth as I felt myself losing strength and throwing myself in his arms, but instead, I took a step back and plastered a huge fake smile on my face and stuck out my tongue at him.
"You don't need to pay too much attention to me." I shrugged my shoulders. "Don't you you have other stuff to do, Mr. Busybody?"
"Don't try to fool around, Sandy Pandy," he warned.
"I am so scared," I teased.
Ved rolled his eyes and after bruising my cheeks with all the pinching, he sent me inside my house and walked away to get his car. I stood in my spot, observing him getting in his vehicle and driving off - I was feeling so sad for lying to him and my other friends too.
Even after he left, I kept standing in one place and wondered if Ayush was planning on telling Ved about yesterday or was waiting for me to do so. But that wasn't the only problem; I was teamed up with him for a group project with two other classmates.
"Sandhu, are you rehearsing to become a statue?" Dad asked from the living room.
"Yes, I am," I replied plainly.
"Come here; we need to talk to you," Mom said.
I sighed in defeat and made myself comfortable on the sofa adjacent to where Mom and Dad were sitting. Both of them kept exchanging glances as I waited for them to ask me anything they wanted. After approximately fifteen minutes of silent torture, Dad asked me why I was crying on the terrace in the middle of the night.
"Middle of the night?" I questioned in confusion.
I remembered doing that in the evening but not in the night. Wasn't I asleep?
"Your Mom heard you wailing and went to check on you, but you weren't in your room. She noticed you on the terrace and crying in your sleep, chanting Ayush's name continuously," Dad informed and called me to sit between him and Mom.
"What happened, beta?" Mom caressed my hair and told me to tell them what was bothering me.
"Did someone hurt you?" Dad asked in concern.
"No, Dad," I whimpered. "Ayush... hates... he hates me..."
Dad and Mom hugged me and told me to relax. I put my head on Dad's shoulder and even though it was a lot of difficult for me to recount the incident, I told them everything and also ended up confessing that I liked Ved. I thought that my parents would get angry and lecture me, but they didn't do so and consoled me that I shouldn't be blaming myself.
"It is okay to cry, beta, but don't picture yourself as the criminal," Dad said and patted my head. "I am really sorry for what happened with Ayush. Poor kid..."
"Relax, Sandhu." Mom kissed my forehead and hugged me tightly.
"As for Ved, I think you should not cut him from your life completely. I am glad you told us you like him - I don't have any complaints against your choice," Dad assured and gave me a genuine smile.
"But take your time and don't torture yourself; I don't want to see you disheartened like this," Mom pouted.
Dad agreed and both of them crushed me between them. I knew they were concerned about me and trying to cheer me up in every way possible, so I decided to throw off some load from my chest and be with them till they made sure that I didn't look suicidal.
"Do you want to take a leave tomorrow?" Mom queried.
"No." I shook my head.
"Make sure to call us if you need anything," Dad reminded.
"Yes, Dad." I smiled. "Thank you for always being there for me."
"You are our child, Sandhu." Mom pulled me in another bone crushing hug and peppered my face with kisses.
"Now go and sleep before you turn into a zombie again," Dad joked.
I returned to my room after the emotional session and plopped down on my bed. I stared at my ceiling fan and mentally thanked the universe for giving me such wonderful parents. I also prayed for them and my friends to always be happy and joyful - if I didn't have them, how would I have survived?
Ved... I am so confused. I want to tell him everything, but I don't want to cause a rift between him and his childhood best friend.
"I beg you, Sandhya, I don't want Ved to suffer again. I don't have anyone to rely on - please, don't take my brother from me."
I would have completed your any wish, Ayush, but why did you ask me to stay away from the person I love?