The best arrangement: Between us...

Chapter 1 - Friends..

'Perhaps this is the best arrangement between us........'

This was the only thought in Siddharth's mind, as he boarded the bus from Ghatkopar to Ahmedabad. In his life so far, Siddharth had been anything but a coward. But here he was, running away from life.....

He had taken his child with him as well. Even the thought of leaving the kid behind was torturing. Where he would go, where he and the child would live, he had no idea.... At his particular state of mind, he could only hope that their  parents would take care of it. So much for staying independent of his parents' money. Ironically, he had always wanted to be independent, live on his own money and choose his path himself.He could only laugh at his fate....

He was no stranger to the concept of love. Love had struck four times.... Two times he broke up amicably, after months of flirting and dating. Third one had cheated on him. Those were tough times. Fourth one....

Fourth time was pure magic... He smiled, upon remembering those times... He knew only too well, that his man would be heartbroken, to find him gone. To find them gone... But this step was necessary. That guy was too much of a sacrificing idiot. He had chosen to throw away his passion, the career he was so painstakingly building up, and his freedom, to save Siddharth. What a passionate love! Siddharth himself was not sure if, had their situations been reversed, he would have done the same thing to save his lover.

Of course, he would have fought tooth and nail to prevent that stupid man getting jailed. But the thought of sacrificing everything..... No, Siddharth resolved not to think about it anymore. He was the root cause of all this. And with him going away, everything would soon be alright. The idiot would get off scot free, because the case of medical negligence, which he had confessed to committing - to save Siddharth - would be withdrawn. Khyati Kothari was a woman of her words, and she would not fail to keep her promise. In exchange of Siddharth's disappearance, the case would be erased without traces - alibis would spring up, and crafty advocates would appear for them-  soon, his idiot would have his life, career and freedom back.

And Siddharth, he could only wish that Abhishek finds someone better. Someone who was not so unlucky, as himself. The pang of guilt, and the grief of heartbreak, were killing him.  He caressed his child's sleeping face... Upon waking up, he would ask for his papa....

Siddharth would have no answer. And as time rolls by, the child would forget. Sometimes forgetting helps with managing grief and shutting out pain.... But he didn't want his child to ever forget his 'papa'. The child adored the other man and idolized him. And he too loved the child. No, the child deserved to remember, to know, to......

A truck whirred out of track, out of the blue, and...

BAM!!

...............................................................................................

Two  years before.....

It was a normal college day, and Siddharth was definitely not in a good mood. His family, being the 'traditional' business household, did not approve of their son pursuing a different career, like psychiatry. But Siddharth, and Abhishek had been utterly fascinated by the mysteries of human mind since a very young age, and wild horses could not drag them away from their passion.Only it had been a bit more easier for Siddharth, since his father had reluctantly given in , to his constant nagging. But choosing this path was extremely difficult to Abhishek, since his father was totally against it. He wanted his son to inherit his business empire, The Mehta group of companies after him. Abhishek, on his part, had been a willful and ambitious child. He had ' inherited' his father's stubbornness instead. Going against his whole family, he was fighting to follow his passion. Appearing for the medical entrance was a backbreaking task in itself, pursuing MBBS and successfully completing it was a hard row to hoe.

"Hey Sid, still dreaming of your girlfriend?" Arjith Mehta's no good, sneering voice woke him from his thoughts. Early morning, and gods! the guy was scowling already!

"Nope, I was just thinking of a book I once read..." Siddharth said, leaning across the table with a solemn face.  Arjun, who was buried under a copy of the psychiatrist's bible- DSM- suddenly resurrected.

"Which book?" He asked. Arjith flashed an incredulous look. 

"One hundred ways to deal with sulking princesses!" Siddharth replied, and flashed his signature grin. Arjun sighed in exasperation, and went back to sleep under his book. Arjith puffed up like a puffer fish, and yelled

"WHOM ARE YOU CALLING A PRINCESS?" Siddharth chuckled, and ran for his life, with a flustered Arjith hot on his heels.

The cat and mouse chase ended, when Siddharth ran into Neha- Arjun's twin and their classmate- and Abhishek. Siddharth flung an arm around Abhishek's shoulder, and had the audacity to look smug! Arjith stood where he was, glaring at Siddharth, and - the betraying brother!- Abhishek.

"Arju, what is the matter? Why are you chasing Sid?" Abhishek asked, in all innocence Pah! he was faking it. he knew too well what would have happened! . Arjith felt quite annoyed. Siddharth lets no opportunity to tease anyone go, and  Abhishek never scolds him! Sure, Siddharth and Abhishek were childhood buddies, always attached at the hip, but Abhishek and himself were cousins! Then why does he get told off by Abhishek for starting fights?

"Because he is a brat, that is!" Arjith huffed.

"Says his highness 'brattiness personified'" Siddharth scoffed.

"You..!"

"Come on Arjith, Siddharth was just joking. And, you know too well, why you are called Princess Mehta. It's because of the famous temper and sulk of yours." Neha interjected. 

"Neha? Well, thanks, for rubbing it on my face!" Arjith muttered. Neha grinned, and squeezed Arjith's shoulders, and said "Arju, my dear princess, there it is! Your sulk is back! Let's go wash it off!" She grabbed his arm and yanked him away.

Abhishek looked at Siddharth, a bit reproachfully. " He felt bad" He said. Siddharth sighed, and said " Fine, I'll go apologise to your brother...."

Abhishek's eyes widened in surprise. This was a first. Had Siddharth felt remorse about teasing Arjith? Was he really going to..... 

"Ha, when to apologise?....." Siddharth pretended to think.

"Today is Wednesday, so....... never??" Siddharth said, and the mischievous glint was back. Abhishek shook his head. Some things would never change. Siddharth ran away again, and yelled "I'll be in the library with Mr. Placid!"

Oh, so Prateek was in the library... Among all of them - according to Siddharth- intelligence was distributed equally. Just the personalities that came with it were different. Prateek and Abhishek were the calm guys- Prateek 'Mr. Placid' was a walking 'solutions to all problems under the earth'. Arjun was the Chupa Rustom (Hidden talent). Arjith was the mad one out, and Neha had the guts. Siddharth was the craziest of them all, Arjith would like to add.....

Abhishek smiled at his retreating form. Why was this heart of his having an arrhythmia every time Siddharth came close? Should he visit a cardiologist?......

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So, here is the first chapter (Edited version, as on 3rd Feb, 2023).........Hope you guys are enjoying it...