The best arrangement: Between us...

Chapter 2 - Confusion...

Confused.....

If Abhishek's feelings were to be described in a single word, it would be 'confused'. He was totally confused, about everything. Siddharth was sitting beside him, engrossed in his work. The library was deserted, save for them. Abhishek was trying hard to focus on his work, but no... His mind was loitering somewhere else.

Siddharth was wearing a blue shirt.... The colour makes him look even more attractive. His hair looks even hotter, now that it's a bit ruffled. But he looks the most handsome in the morning, with his bed hair, messy and unkempt. How nice it would be, to wake up every day, in Siddharth's embrace, with unhurried morning kisses......

Wait, what??

Abhishek jolted out of his thoughts, once reason struck. What was he thinking about? And why? For god's sake, Siddharth was a man, and so was he.... Growing up, Abhishek had never felt anything not-platonic towards girls. But that was quite normal, wasn't it? He had had some complicated emotions about some of his male classmates, but those were more like a phase, which he eventually outgrew.

But recently, those complicated feelings had returned, for Siddharth, of all people! He and Siddharth had been close since their toddler years. Their fathers were friends, and often, there were marriages arranged between both the extended families. He and Siddharth were also betrothed- not to each other, why is he feeling bothered by that!?- Him to Siddharth's maternal cousin- Neeti, and Siddharth to another American cousin of his - Riya.

Did he like men?

No, he didn't think so...

What about Siddharth?

Not at all! Siddharth is his best friend, his brother! And he doesn't deserve these complicated things forced upon him. Abhishek resolved to take time, to think about this. Even if he did like Siddharth, or men in general, Siddharth didn't need to know that.

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

Siddharth was lounging in his classroom, when his phone beeped.

Mekhla Kaki : Is Abhishek with you? (Kaki - aunt)

He frowned. Abhishek was not currently with him, but he should be somewhere around. Why was Abhi's mother asking for him now?

You : He is somewhere around

Mekhla kaki : Ask him to come home tomorrow. I'm not able to reach him.

 'Was there some kind of emergency, that perhaps required Abhi to leave the hostel and go home?'

You: Sure. But why?

Mekhla Kaki : Neeti is coming back, right? She and Abhi should at least get to know each other, before the marriage, don't you think so?

You: ..............

You : Ok, I'll tell him.

Mekhla Kaki : You are also coming back right, to meet your cousin?

You : Yeah, sure....

Neeti is coming.... Back then, he hadn't given it much thought. Inexplicably, he felt spiteful about the whole thing. Now his cousin was coming to monopolize Abhishek's time. great! Neeti was a good girl, to his knowledge, and ideally, she would be great for Abhishek.

But somehow, Siddharth found himself resenting the arrangement. Was it a feeling of jealousy? Or mere pettiness? He didn't know. Briefly, he considered not telling Abhi about this. Then, Neeti and Abhishek wouldn't meet. But that felt childish. If anything, he should be happy for Abhishek. And it was not like Abhishek would ignore him after getting married. Abhishek was not that kind of a person.

And, Abhishek was his own person, free to choose his partner. He was not a thing to be owned.

Still, a part of him thought that it would have been nice if Neeti was not in the picture. Him and Abhi, together, like they always were, no one to come between them.

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Well, this has become more of a filler chapter. I have been editing this, and after writing this much, I find that there is nothing more, to put here. Please do share your thoughts about this, and do vote and share this story!