The best arrangement: Between us...

Chapter 7 - You don't know....

It was a sunny morning, and the six friends were on a summer break. Arjun had dragged Neha along on a date, and Siddharth, Abhishek, Arjun and Prateek were bored and discussing about what to do

" How about having a swim? We have an indoor pool nearby, and it is scorching hot and stuffy" Siddharth was the first to come up with an idea. The others were more than ready, except Abhishek. He, on his part thought that since he had realized the truth of his feelings for Siddharth, and was yet to confront him, it was better not to watch Siddharth like......... that, in a swim suit, and wet... He brushed the thought from his mind and said

" I am not coming, but I think you guys should totally go"

Siddharth's excited face fell " Why Abhi? Between us, you are the best swimmer and in summers, it was you who used to be a water baby"

" Water baby?? " Arjun snickered. Even Prateek found himself smiling.

" I think I'm not well. Maybe a cold?" Hearing him, Siddharth became concerned and moved towards him, feeling the temperature on his forehead with the back of his hand, followed by his pulse. Sure enough, Abhishek's pulse was not normal, not because he was ill, but because he was lying, that too to Siddharth, who knew him like the back of his hand. However, Siddharth did not figure out that he was lying " Ok, then you don't have to come"

So, it was decided and Abhishek drove them to the swimming center. After dropping them, he went to a park nearby to wait. As he was sitting on a stone bench, gazing here and there, his eyes fell on a couple, walking hand in hand. That is when he thought about his and Siddharth's brutal reality. Clearly his feelings were one sided, and most importantly, Siddharth was into women.. He had even started planning a proposal for Riya and intended to talk to their parents about this soon. There was nothing to talk, though. Riya had been betrothed to him by the elders not long ago, unofficially. Thinking about that, he was reminded of his own engagement to Neeti, Siddharth's cousin, who stayed in London and seldom visited India. The consequences of having a bunch of impulsive elders....... He knew that he would have to break the engagement. Next, he pondered over whether he should confess to Siddharth or not. It was not of much use anyways, but he felt that Siddharth had the right to know. Because their degree of closeness was too high, and even Abhishek was human. He feared that someday, he would end up behaving in a lewd way, hurting Siddharth. So, it was better for Sid to know and keep a distance. Still, he hoped against hope that Siddharth would accept his love.

He was brought to his senses by his phone ringing. He picked it up, to see Sid's name on the display. He immediately answered. " Hello... Sid, what is it? "

" Hey, Abhi.. Come back to pick us, will you?"

" Why so soon? "

" It is quite boring here as well. I am stuck with two lazybones, simply frolicking in the water. There is no fun. "

" Ok, Sid. I'm coming" He hung up and went back to the swimming center.

Surprisingly, there was no one at the entrance. Abhishek found it odd, and entered the lobby. No one there as well. There was only the receptionist, dozing off on his chair. He went over to the pool area quickly. Sure enough, Siddharth and their friends were still in the water. Suddenly, Siddharth noticed him and came up, wading towards him. 

Abhishek found himself heating up at the sight of Siddharth's bare, dripping wet torso. He had a tall and lean frame, yet was surprisingly muscular. His abs were well toned, thanks to his years of kickboxing training. He did not spend his childhood playing under the sun like other kids of his age, and so had quite fair skin. His skin had a soft creamy texture( not his hands, though ). His sculpted clavicles arched across the upper chest, and his waist was thin. He looked incredibly handsome, no wonder girls swooned over him. Abhishek's eyes lingered on his protruding Adam's apple and eyes were almost devouring that handsome masculine face.