Chapter 16 - Take it slow buddy! (1/2)

|Eshan|

Ayush dragged me to the east side of my house. It was our favourite place where the wall facing the garden at the backside was made of transparent glass from floor to ceiling.

Every summer we five friends would plant, the new plants and would take care of them later onwards. It was our stress buster. As I looked down and watched the seeds we had planted that had turned into full-fledged trees, I couldn't help but feel more guilty for behaving the way I did with my friends.

”Now, speak,” Ayush softly said, pulling me out of my guilt trip.

”What?” I avoided his eyes, keeping mine on the rose plants. After a moment of silence I added, ”There is nothing to speak.”

”I have known you for long enough to understand the unspoken words behind your silence. Now either you continue or-”

My eyes snapped at his words. The frustration of hiding things, the earlier incident with Innaya, my brawl with Arjun and then my rude behaviour with my friends took a toll and I felt it turning into the anger. The person standing beside me with folded hands on his chest and blank face appeared the most appealing option to take it out upon.

”Or what, huh? Your empty threats won't work on me,” I rudely snapped at Ayush who wanted nothing more than to help me.

”Ok.”

'Did he just say ok? The Ayush Rathod had just let it slide. No, that's not possible. I know him to well to believe it to be true. That is not at all possible.'

”What okay? Where are you going?” I asked when he started walking and had taken few steps away from me.

Ayush stopped at his place but did not turn.

”To get my answers,” he simply replied.

'Okay! That's confusing.'

”And where might they?” I waited for him to explain. However, I was mentally strangling him.

”To your bedroom, I am going to wake Innaya up and -”

'That cunning monkey, how dare he?' If only I could swear then he would have been in need of the holy water to wash himself out and even that wouldn't have been enough.

”You will do no such thing,” I heatedly warned him before marching in front of him.

”You know better than argue.”

He was right. No one could win against him and I certainly did not stand a chance, I never had.

”Fine,” I muttered before turning away from him and taking my previous place near the glass wall.

”I don't know what's happening Ayush. One moment she is all happy, playful, and talkative and next moment something happens, triggering her and I see her on the verge of panic attack. I am unable to comprehend why?” I confessed tiredly as the magnitude of her actions, her behaviour was too much to ignore. It was more complicated than any puzzle available.

”Have you tried asking her?” He asked the basic question anyone would in this situation.

When I remained silent, he added, ”Ok. I know it is between both of you but do you realize, you getting agitated or frustrated is not going to help? Give her some time, she will come around.”

”I know that and I am ready to give her all the time. It is that every time I see that fear in her eyes— it breaks my heart.” I met his eyes as I answered with all my honesty.

”I understand champ, but you know how it works. The more you push, more it retracts, so just take it slow. I know, I don't have to tell you all this.” Ayush placed hand on my shoulder comforting me.

I hummed in response. I knew what he said was true and I was taking it slow.

We remained in silence for a while. Talking with him always had me at ease, no matter how distorted or disturbed I might be. He was my best friend in the end.