Sunshine

Chapter 5

Rohan

When I was 10 years old, my family moved from a smaller town to Delhi and we began to live in a new house. Our neighbours were a working Lady and her son. The son was of my own age. But he was blind. In the first few months, we did not talk much. One day I was playing on my own with a ball, and the ball rolled into the neighbours' yard. I went into their yard to look for the ball. I saw that the neighbour's kid had picked it up. I went to him to get that ball. And he returned it to me, I stayed back and chatted with him for a while... And then began to talk to him more often. And we began to get along so well. That is how Aditya and I became friends.

Adi was the first person I would tell everything to. He would know all my secrets. It's him that I first told about liking Esha as well. "Go for it. Go and tell her." Adi had encouraged me at that time. But I was really nervous and scared to confess my feelings for Esha. If it was not for Adi's support, maybe I would not have confessed to her and may have lost her. Not just this...Adi was with me supporting me in every step of my life for the past 10 years. He is my best friend. And we know everything about each other...

"What are you thinking about?" Esha asked me. It was the lunch break and we were walking to the college grounds. "You are just too silent."

"Hm...About Adi." I said.

"What about him?"

"Hmm...I think he likes a girl." I said. I was not yet prepared to tell her who the girl is.

Esha looked at me and parted away a lock of hair that wind had blown to her face. "That is a bit...serious, right? I mean, Adi to like a girl... Has he liked anyone before?"

"That's the point. No. He has not." I said.

"Did he tell you that he likes a girl?"

"No. He did not. But I know him... I can sort of, feel it. It's a sort of suspicion. That is all."

"Which girl?" Esha asked.

"Hm...That's another main point here. We know her."

"Who?"

"Piyali...?" I said.

Esha took a moment to register that. Then she went, "What? Are you... I mean, seriously? Do you think... I mean, Adi likes Piyali?"

"Well, as far I can understand."

"No way." She said. "Stop him."

"What?" I asked.

"Stop him. He can't like Piya." She said.

"Why?" I asked.

"Oh come on..." Esha said.

"Why the hell can't Adi like Piyali?" I asked her. I was getting irritated now.

"Rohan..." she called me as if I have gone mad. "Come on... I know that Adi is all cool and all that. He is one of the most charming persons I have ever met. I know his charisma and all that. But a fact is a fact, Rohan. Aditya can not see. He is blind."

"So?" I asked. "Do you think blind people do not have the right to like anyone?"

"I did not say that. I just don't want Aditya to date Piya. She deserves a normal guy, who can see her."

I did not expect even Esha to say this. Though I am sure that everyone else would say this...that a girl deserves a normal guy next to someone with a disability.

"But Adi is a good guy," I said to Esha... "And Pyali is... I mean, she feels right for him. I just feel...if Adi ever gets a girl, it should be a girl like Piyali. Piyali is caring and sensitive. She is just the right kind of girl for Adi. She will take care of him well."