Not Around The Corner

Behave

There are moments in life that you wish with all your heart you could take back. Like, just erase from existence. Like, if you could, you'd erase yourself right out of existence too, just to make that moment not exist.” ― Jenny Han

 

It was a lovely Friday evening. Gaurav had invited Akash for dinner tonight. It was a double date. Anushka had made a lovely meal and we had just finished. She went into the kitchen to get the dessert. Gaurav offered to help. Akash and I were busy chatting in the hall. I was to leave for Singapore tomorrow early in the morning, for Gaurav and Anushka’s wedding.

“I wish you could come,” I said to Akash as I sat next to him on the couch.

“He has invited me,” Akash slowly whispered,” but you and I both know, I can’t make it,” Akash said.

“Why?” I asked in a whiny tone. I was going to miss him. He had meetings all of next week and he couldn’t come with us. Stupid stupid meetings.

“Rhea,” he said with a smile.

“I am going to miss you,” I said as I leaned on his shoulder.

“I will miss you too,” he said sweetly. He put his arm around my shoulder and I snuggled into him. Five days without him, five whole days. I couldn’t wait to come back to him.

Just then the bell rang. Gaurav went to get it. Jai was at the door with a couple of bags and a box. I sat up straight and got out of Akash’s arms.

I heard Gaurav ask him, “What is all this?”

“Gifts,” he said with exasperation.

Gaurav ushered him in. “Dad cannot make it to Singapore for the wedding and so he’s sent all the gifts now. There are sarees for Anushka in the bags and that box is for you. You will have to open it because even I don’t know what’s in it,” Jai said.

Anushka came out just then. She saw all the gifts and smiled.

“What is all this?” she asked Jai.

Gaurav answered, “Gifts from uncle.”

“Hey beautiful,” Jai said looking at Anushka.

“Watch it,” Gaurav said as Jai and Anushka burst out laughing. I smiled. Gaurav was such a freak. What was with this unnecessary jealousy?

“Is he always like this?” Akash asked me.

“Joking around, you mean?” I asked him.

“Yes,” he replied.

“His defence mechanism,” I answered.

“For?” Akash asked.

“To hide the pain he feels sometimes,” I answered. I wondered as to what gave me this insight into his world. Nobody could be fun all the time. And Jai had his share of downs. And he hid it behind this façade.

“His mother, right?” Akash said.

“Uh-huh,” I said as Jai looked at us and smiled an evil smile. Mischievous and evil.

“Want to stay for dessert? I have made cheesecake tonight,” Anushka asked Jai.

He looked at Akash and me once more before saying yes. He approached us. I saw Gaurav mouth a ‘Behave’ at Jai. What did he have on his mind?

“Akash?” he asked as he approached us.

Akash got up from the couch and they shook hands.

“Haven’t seen you since school man,” Jai said.