For Our Love... {Eternal Ishq #2.0}

Ch-10 Through Thick and Thin

       In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

'Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon our beloved Prophet and Master Muhammad (s.a.s), all his blessed descendents and noble companions.'

- Aameen.

Chapter Ten

Through thick and thin

"So, what is this all about?" Michael looked around the littered apartment, bestowing a disappointed glance at his slumped friend.

"Nothing," George mumbled, raising his head and peering at his friend amidst the gloom. Light filtered through the drawn curtains and from the way his head pounded George realized that morning had arrived once again. And Michael had come just like before... he always seemed to know when George messed up badly.

"What happened to your promise?"

George looked at the empty bottles and cans before him, a vague sense of shame pervading his dull senses.

"I'm sorry," his mumble was lost in Michael's sigh who came and sat beside George.

"Spill," Michael's thin face was serious but the eyes behind the spectacles shone kindly.

"I ...don't know. I don't know Mick!"

"Just the reason, why? Why now after all these years?"

George shook his head. "It had been coming on slowly, always lurking, I knew it would spill and choke me sooner or later."

"But why George? You have a career that you love, a great place," Michael paused as if remembering, "and that beauty of a car, and women too no doubt...

"But that's what I'm trying to say, I have all that and I have this dreadful growing emptiness inside me which won't go away, no matter what I do..." George rubbed his chest, tears pricking his eyes.

"So when your dreams come true, you start burning what you have built?"

"I tried my best all these years and I was happy I guess. But, I don't know... and then I met someone wonderful, a woman," George noticed Michael's slight smile and felt anger stir. "It isn't like that, she isn't like that; Sophia is... she is so different from anyone I have ever come across.

"She flatly refused to go out with me, can you believe?"

Michael's smile deepened. "Why?"

"I'm not her type...being a playboy."

"Are you?"

"No. But the world thinks so... no matter what I do."

"No matter what we do, the world still thinks or says things which is far from the truth, is it because of her that you broke our promise?"

George shook his head. "I didn't break it fully...just, just took a bit more than usual."

"There's no need to deny George, what triggered? After all these years of hard work and control, you would once again fall into the deep pit, for what? For that woman's refusal? Why didn't you seek help from Alex and Wil?"

"Alex is angry with me, and Wil is... he will judge me."

"Don't be stupid. Of course Alex is angry with someone or other, it's his normal. If Will judges you, then you deserve it. Besides, he would do everything to help you after he gives a lecture."

George smiled feebly. "I didn't, we didn't go to Alex's wedding and it's been months since we chatted. I know he will be furious but I miss him ... and I miss you..."