Chapter 18. Last Day

🎶 Ishq Vala Love - Instrumental

Published on 12.06.2022

| AUTHOR'S POV |

Life hardly ever goes according to our plans. It always manages to find some loophole or create one. It's infuriating, isn't it? But when life goes better than you had planned, it's exhilarating. You're soaring and nothing could bring you down it seems.

But what if you don't want to go according to your plans?

What if you want to break every rule that you had made and follow your heart? What if you know it's wrong and yet you want to do it? You know it's going to blow on your face and yet you can't bring yourself to care enough about the consequences. It's like you want to get drenched in the rain knowing very well that doing so will get you sick. It's like that one moment is worth the pain of several others.

It's Saturday. It's the day. The day when it's supposed to be over. Today's the competition day, the last day of that one month where he said to himself, he would've nothing to do with Inaaya hereafter. It's supposed to feel like freedom and relief and taste like fresh air but all he feels is a mindless struggle and wrecked liberty and tastes an air heavy with melancholy.

It doesn't help when he wakes in the morning, all he feels is going back to sleep so he doesn't have to face this day, so he doesn't have to part ways. It doesn't help that his mind is clogged by memories of everything in the past few weeks that made him feel alive and belonged without needing to put in that extra effort and try to fit in. It doesn't help when he comes to the college and sees her with her team in formals, a navy blue blazer with their college badge. It doesn't help when he walks towards all of them, she walks away towards the backstage without noticing his presence. It doesn't help when he comes to know from the others that it's her birthday.

He wishes the team luck and goes and stands somewhere in the corner near the center of the auditorium. His eyes fixed towards the entrance of the backstage as he desperately wishes to get a glimpse of her. It's hard to come to terms already that he won't see her or meet her or talk to her after today. He wants to talk to her about anything or something. He wants to look and stare at her thoughtlessly. As if granting his wishes, she comes out with someone, probably a teacher. She looks a little grim, he notices it but as she talks to that teacher, she's cordial and assuring. The teacher leaves and she spins around without sparing him a glance again and his heart sinks. Maybe it was the strength of his prayers or maybe it was some peculiar connection between them or maybe it was just random but she doesn't move. Instead, she turns around, her high ponytail falling over her left shoulder as she does it.

And when her eyes fall on him, a relief spreads throughout his body and he sighs. It's like she resonates with his feelings because her lips part as she exhales, she laughs, a nervous laugh and her eyes gleam. They stare at each other for what feels like an eternity and then she smiles at him softly and he smiles back at her with the same sincerity and does a thumbs up wishing her luck. She gestures him with her hands that she needs to go now and he nods at her. What he doesn't know is that her eyes had been searching for him since she came to the college. And the smile she gave him? That's the first smile since the day has started that wasn't forced or fake. It was honest and real and it didn't hurt. For the first time in the day, it didn't matter that her Dad was back just minutes before her brithday started and she felt miserable till this moment because she couldn't stop thinking about the 'thank you' she had to say to him when he wished her. It didn't ache anymore because looking at him with his kind eyes and childlike smile that he gives her is healing and hopeful and everything nice.

The lights in the auditorium goes a little dim and there's absolute silence when the piano plays. Ayansh quickly removes his phone to record the music. Everything and everyone seems immersed in the music as the notes being played capture everyone, making them one with the music. The music weighs heavy but it calms you, makes your heartbeat slow down and makes you want to take a pause and just feel the vibe. It gives the event a perfect start and the claps that follow when Inaaya stops playing the piano confirms it.

There are a couple of speeches and introductions and welcome of the chief guests and judges before everyone finally proceeds to the actual competition which starts with the names of the participating colleges and the participants names being announced. Ayansh simply observes as the day proceeds. He watches when it's the host college turn. There's pride and happiness when one of them explains the theme, then the other one speaks about the model they've made and when Inaaya presents the presentation made and talks about it, he's enthralled because there's confidence and command as she speaks and it's absolutely breathtaking. Everyone was pretty confident but for him, she stood out. Maybe she actually stood out or maybe it was his eyes who were gazing at her that made her look a level above others but whatever the reason was, she did manage to take away the attention, atleast for him.

It's not until a couple of hours that the judging of the competition finally ends. There's a half an hour break before the winners are announced and Ayansh thinks he finally has the chance to talk to Inaaya for the first time today. There's anticipation and nervousness as he approaches her. His heart beats a little rapidly for some unknown reason. He also feels a little upset that he doesn't knew it was her brithday. And that feeling just intensifies when he reaches there and her group members tell her that she needs to wait after the event ends because they've arranged a small celebration for her. She's clearly overwhelmed and taken aback because her lips part in surprise and she's simply speechless. Ayansh takes a step back voluntarily because he feels he might be interrupting them all as they chat and smile and laugh. He wants to wish her but it just feels awkward because unlike others, he has nothing to give her. Inaaya has noticed him but she doesn't say anything.

After a few minutes, everyone leaves to grab something for themselves except Inaaya since her friends were coming upstairs. She raises her eyebrows at Ayansh and he just shakes his head, walking towards her. He's about to wish her when a voice interrupts him and he sighs tiredly.

"Are you two friends now?"

Inaaya looks at Alisha, tilting her head but doesn't say anything.

"Are you two friends now?" Alisha inquires again, looking between both of them.

Ayansh looks at Inaaya and she looks back at him for a brief moment before they answer.

"Yes."

"No."

Both whirl their head towards each other. Inaaya looks at him in shock while he looks at her in horror.

"We aren't friends!?" Inaaya gasps.

"We are?" He asks back in disbelief.

"Unbelievable." She shakes her head.

Nikita laughs and Alisha giggles in amusement.

"Usually Inaaya doesn't want to be friends with anyone. This is the first time, someone doesn't want to be friends with her." Nikita comments and gives her friend a teasing smile.

"That's- that's not the case." Ayansh immediately says.

"This is embarrassing. I'll get myself something to drink." Inaaya walks away, ignoring the way her friends laugh at her tragedy.

"Inaaya, wait." Ayansh shouts, following her.

She doesn't stop, she keeps walking even when he comes beside her and urges. The passage is almost empty.

"I didn't mean that. Please just listen to me- "

She suddenly pulls him in an empty room with her and closes the door behind. It just happens so fast that he's stunned and taken aback in suprise.

"Then what are we?" She questions in an agitated tone, standing a couple of steps away from him.

"I- I don't know." He mumbles nervously and she clenches her jaw.

"So, we aren't friends." Ayansh was about to interrupt but she raises her palm to stop him. "So, what are we? Strangers who write letters? Strangers who discuss about their future plans, likes, dislikes?" She quirks a brow. "That's some goals; don't you think?" She gives him a sarcastic smile.

He gulps and starts to take a step back only to realise he's already plastered to the wall. "You- you never said we- we're friends." He says in his defence and gets a look of disbelief in return. But it doesn't discourage him to not speak further. He really is desperate to explain himself. "I mean- I thought what if you get offended or felt it was too much if I agreed that we're friends. So, I thought it would be better to.... disagree." He tells the last word sheepishly.

Inaaya stares at him blankly for a few seconds and then a laugh leaves her. A silly kind of laugh. "Do we really have to put labels and declare it verbally when everything is so obvious?" She says in a small voice, her eyes gazing at him softly, her lips curved into a tiny smile.

Ayansh stares at her, partly in wonder, partly in awe and then he chuckles too. "Well, that actually makes sense." He admits.

Inaaya rolls her eyes playfully and turns towards the door to leave when a hand reaches out and grips her wrist, making her halt. She turns her head and narrows her eyes at him and mouths a "what".

"Happy Birthday." He whispers and her heart flutters at the voice which is barely audible and yet manages to cause a shiver run down her spine.

"Thank you." She whispers back.

He moves away from the wall and takes a couple of steps towards her, not leaving her hand yet. "I'm sorry." He looks at her apologetically. "I- I don't have anything to give you. I didn't even know it's your birthday till I came here."

She titters. "It's just a birthday. Stop feeling guilty for no reason."

"I should have atleast given you something. Everyone has something or the other planned for you and I just- " he sighs.

"I don't want anything neither does it matter so don't feel bad." She says in a soft voice although they both somewhere know they're just prolonging the conversation. Ayansh doesn't want to let her go yet. It might be the last time he must be talking to her and the thought itself makes him feel heavy. Inaaya doesn't know why but she just can't bring herself to pull her hand back from his grasp. There's a long silence that stretches between them. It's not awkward but it isn't comfortable either.

There's something that Inaaya wanted to ask since long and finally she gives in. "Do you really want to give me something?"

"Anything." He murmurs.

She takes a shaky breath because it's stupid and doesn't make sense but she asks anyways. "Will you teach me how to ride a bike?" She stares at him nervously and as the question slips past her lips, she regrets. "Nevermind. This is- "

"Why not?" He cuts her off, his face brightening up suddenly.

It's an impulsive decision. He knows that. Every cell in his body screamed to deny it, to just get done with it, with her but that organ which beats loves to break rules, cross boundaries and play with fire, hoping it wouldn't burn him. He doesn't regret it because right now all he sees is hope, being blind to the obvious despair that awaits him. Or maybe them?

But the smile she gives him at his reply? Worth the mess.

"Really!?" She asks in confirmation.

He grins. "Just tell me when do we need to start."

"Okay, so I've my semester exams in a couple of weeks and since I've already invested a lot of time in this project, I have to give all my attention now to my books. Hopefully after the next month we can start. It won't take more than two or three weeks for me to learn since I already know how to balance atleast. That was how far me and my brother went when he was teaching me because we didn't find time later." She says excitedly.

"A month?" His voice drops as he says that. But not seeing her for a month is better than not seeing her ever so he shakes his head instantly. "I mean great! I've no issues. Whenever you're ready, I'm ready." He says cheekily, not able to mask his happiness at the fact that this isn't the last time he would be meeting her.

Inaaya laughs and it's beautiful to absorb that sight without any fear, knowing that life will give him more chances to witness it.

"I should go." She says. "The winners would be announced now."

"Yeah. Yeah. Let's go." He responds nervously and then raises his eyebrows in question when she doesn't move.

Inaaya gestures with her eyes towards his hand which is still holding hers, biting her lips to hold back a smile.

"Oh," he immediately leaves her wrist and shoves his in his pocket. "Sorry." He scrunches his face in embarrassment.

"Let's go." She tells him with a laugh.

They win the competition. There's applause and appreciation but that doesn't make Ayansh as happy as watching Inaaya makes him. She's all smiles and it's delightful to watch her from afar when she isn't aware. The restlessness he had been feeling since morning has vanished. The desperation of holding onto her is no longer there because he knows she isn't slipping away from his life yet. He's also aware that he's unintentionally rising his brother's hope. He knows he's betraying himself and maybe everyone else too by wanting to go on a journey with no destination but he doesn't care enough. He can't bring himself to care enough of what could happen because right now, all he feels is the high. And it's exhilarating.

***

The few days holiday I'd are finally coming to an end and I've an internship of 15 days for which I'm nervous and scared and excited as well. So, the updates will take a little more time but I'll try to keep up and not leave y'all hanging for long. Thankyou so much for all the love and support till now and I hope it just grows and the story too gets better with time and y'all enjoy it. Also, spend time making yourself happy; it's really such a good feeling and kinda boosts your confidence and belief on yourself as well. Btw, off late there have been too many people adding Unraveling You to their reading list and gosh that makes me smile so much and miss Vihaan-Aarohi too at the same time. I'm so grateful. Sorry for the rant and sending lots of love and positive vibes to everyone :)

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