Uncertain Love

Chapter 3 - We were friends

Shiva's POV
Aahana chechi and her sister Anu left to check how their dad was doing organizing everything. Harsha sent Hemanth and Sandeep to check if the music was being heard from the speakers around the neighbourhood. She started tying one of the support rods to the tent. She tied the bottom and the middle together with little pieces of rope. When she reached the top, she looked to her right and was about to grab the chair, when I already reached behind her. I grabbed the little rope from her hands and started tying it higher. My fingers brushing against hers.

Harsha's POV
I jumped a little from the sudden contact, half of my back was pressed against his chest, so close I could feel him breathing. My heart beat started to rise. Shaking my head I stepped away from him, acting it cool. He gestured to his brother and his two other friends to come and help tie the others rods to the corners. The sudden change in his behavior led me to eye him suspiciously. I casually stepped out of the panthal and stood outside observing them closely. Shiva raised his eyebrows slightly, smiled and asked "What?" I shook my head.
Maybe he has a weird personality disorder? Or...maybe he's trying to invite trouble.
"I'm just being cautious just in case the panthal falls on me and I suffocate in there while you guys laugh at me," I reply.
"This is for support," Anand said pointing, "Not the other way around." They chuckled. I crossed my arms and stared at them. This time with great emptiness. I smile and looked to the side. To the green paddy fields, the tall coconut trees, a small bus stop in the corner, and the little shop across from it. Then I realized how much I've missed everything here. When I was little the guys and the children around here were my only company, even though I'd only mostly get into trouble. Or they got me into trouble because I'd always annoy them. I miss those days. And I can't get them back.

Shiva's POV
Harsha wasn't afraid to be with all of us. She knew us. The other of her cousins did not. Ranjan's sister Neelu came to the preparation. She was one of Harsha's best friends. Harsha used to come here often when she lived in near Kerala, but she doesn't come here now since she moved to America. Plus, we all got older and she's a girl so she mostly only talks with Neelu now. She put her hand around Harsha and looked at me. Her chin moved up along with her eyebrows in a teasing way to ask "What's going on?" And she mainly meant about what's going on with Harsha and me. Apart from her there was also the grasp of Chandra mama [uncle not related] and my mom playing matchmaker. I shook my head to myself. After we were done tying the supports, Neelu and all of us took a seat near the panthal on the small ledge.
The other of my friends came over.
Sandeep came running in a few seconds later saying one of the megaphones at the end of the street wasn't working. Harsha sighed and said "Call Anu."
Anu came in, surprised to find us all together and went to the laptop. Harsha went in next to the rectangular speaker to find one of the cables not connected. She took the cable and showed it to Anu explaining the problem. Anu slumped in her chair, a little disappointed that her job was over. Harsha laughed and plugged it in as Anu and Sandeep left to check if the megaphone was working now. My eyes followed Harsha's every move. A hand squeezed my shoulder and I looked up to see Chandra mama smiling at me.
Here come the next, I thought
But in a good way.

A/N: Please vote and feel free to comment! Thank you 😊