Are We still Best friends......?

His Life During Pandemic

     It was a month after his return. Aayush was happy with his life but he did not have any friends. The old ones probably forgot him. He tried to act normal but he was always feeling that something is missing from his life. he tried to contact his old friends and they responded in good way. They all knew about Aayush's condition so they treated him nicely. Aayush was happy at beginning. But as the days passed his friends started to treat him like some weakling. They thought that he could not handle the pressure at that time. So, they tried to sympathize towards Aayush. 

    Aayush could not say anything but he needed friends who can truly understand him and not sympathy like some weakling. he began to feel low again. Suddenly, his friends slowly excluded him from their group. Whenever Aayush tried to reach them they had some excuse to tell him. He understood that they did not want to hang out with him anymore. He became more isolated and lost his self-esteem. He used to spend most of the time in his room. He started to overthink. "What did I do wrong?, why my friends are not hanging around with me?" He began to picture many things on his mind. It became his problem and he could not handle it well. He wanted a friend who would understand his situation and be with him in his lowest. But there was no one to listen to him and his trauma. He tried to make many friends but they all left him in middle. Aayush felt like it is a time loop where there is no ending of his friends abandoning him. It stressed him out and he could not sleep properly and he grew the problem of insomnia.

    One day he saw his old friends on the street through his window. They were laughing and having fun. Aayush looked at them and waved but as soon as they saw they left the place. They did not even bother to wave back to Aayush. That night Aayush could not sleep well. Picture of his friends leaving were on his mind. He was panicked and could not breathe properly. He called out his mom. "MOM......DAD......HELP....", Aayush screamed. His mother and father rushed to his room. They saw Aayush lying unconsciously on the ground. They took Aayush to hospital. Doctor said that it was a panic attack and Aayush was diagonised with PTSD(POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER). His parents were worried about their son's condition. Aayush understood that it is better to be alone rathar than being around the people who will leave eventually. So, he  started to spend most of his time in his room watching movies and series. 

    Aayush loved to watch English comedy drama ,teen, movies and series. He also love to watch action and horror movies. Days passed like that and Aayush became more introvert and distant from society. Whenever he saw his friends having fun without him he was always devastated. He wanted to cry but it was no point crying because there was no one there to make him better. So, he stacked all his feelings in his heart. He loved teen drama movies because he could see that what fun he was missing in his life and always wished to have that kind of joy in his life. Yes, there were some friends who cared about Aayush but they were very far and could not make much time to talk. Aayush knew there were some genuine friends but they did not know about his condition and he never told them because he feared that they would leave him if they found about his condition. 

    One day while he was walking  Aayush saw Tanya. "Hi" Tanya said. Aayush was walking and did not notice at first. "AAYUSH.....HELLO." Aayush snapped from his thoughts and said," OH HELLO SORRY I WAS...A......WALKING. Tanya laughed and said, "It's okay, long time huh, how have you been?" Aayush replied," Yeah, its just...."  "Well see you around Aayush" Tanya said and left.

    Tanya was Ex-girlfriend of Aayush's friend . Tanya and Aayush had not talk that much and it was after long time they both talked. Aayush was in deep thinking but he thought that she saw him in the way and talked to him. Tanya lived 8 blocks far from Aayush's house. and still they had not have any long conversation since his friend Praveen and Tanya broke up.

    One day Tanya was sitting on the park. Aayush saw her and tried to talk to her. "Mind if I sit here?" Aayush asked. "Yes, sure." Tanya replied. Aayush sat down and asked," So, how's things going with Praveen?" Tanya said,"  I haven't talked to him since we broke up." Aayush asked," Why? what happened? you guys were so perfect." Tanya said," Sometimes perfection is not enough its feelings that matters." Aayush did not say anything and sat there for a while. But deep in mind he wondered what had happened to them. Aayush and Tanya used to talk often now and then. Most of the time they used to text. Tanya knew about Aayush's break up but did not knew what he went through. Aayush also did not tell Tanya about that because he was hesitated. They became casual friends.

     One night Aayush texted Tanya.

Aayush, "HI"

Tanya, " HELLO"

Aayush, "What are you doing?"

Tanya, "Nothing just watching some Korean series what about you?

Aayush, "Oh.. nothing I am just on my bed." 

Aayush and Tanya talked for few hours and Tanya said," I am feeling sleepy can I sleep now?"

Aayush said," Yeah sure you can."

Tanya asked, "When will you sleep?"

Aayush," I cannot sleep at night. It is just one of my things." 

Tanya asked, " What happened to you?"

Aayush said everything except his mental illness.

     They say that night is the best time to express and that happened that night. They talked whole night sharing things. Tanya also recommended a Korean series to watch. Aayush watched that series and he liked it very much. 

    One day Aayush was sitting on park. Tanya came there and sat down. She was a little bit off that day. Aayush asked," What happened?" Tanya said," I just found out some big news."

Aayush," BIG NEWS???" Tanya," My best friend Kiran and My ex are dating now." Aayush did not know what to say and stayed quiet. Tanya was very upset not because her best friend was dating her ex but her best friend kept it  secret. Aayush knew that feeling and knew what it feels like to be left out. Though Aayush comforted Tanya, "Well we cannot so anything let it be now." Tanya and Aayush were getting along. 

      But after 6 months. Tanya texted Aayush," SOMEONE PROPOSED ME." Aayush," Wow that's good. What did you say?" Tanya," I don't know what to say." Aayush said," Well if you have feelings then you should go for it." Tanya said, she would think about it. After a month Tanya texted Aayush," I accepted the proposal." Aayush," Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!"  Aayush was happy for Tanya because she had found someone whom she san call hers. Slowly conversation with Tanya was shortened because she was busy with her boyfriend.

   It was Asyush's birthday no one wished him except for his parents. Aayush was hoping that Tanya would wish him but she was gone to watch movie. Later that night she texted and said sorry I forgot about your birthday. Aayush did not say anything and said its fine. Soon Tanya was also busy with her boyfriend. Aayush was not upset but he again thought he lost his friend. He always though why people change when they find someone new. He just wanted that his friends would stay by his side. But I guess it was not possible. Soon the pandemic situation was stabelized. 

   Then one day his friend Bivek came to visit. Bivek was a casual friend. Aayush had not joined collage and Bivek was in final year of his collage year. So Bivek asked him to join his collage. Aayush  thought and he decided to join collage. Then next day he went to join collage with Bivek. 

    This was the chapter which was going to change his life.