GOOD HUMAN!

19. Love is love

"Are you okay?" Shaurya pinged worried.

"Today is the day. I want to liberate myself. And to achieve that, I need to speak out. Can you bore with me for a while?" Ben replied.

"Do you like to join us? Shagun, Anokhi, me and Aahir are planning on having some self appreciation conversations and a fake trip." Shaurya said.

"Share me the location!" Ben didn't mind socializing with the Fantastic Four. That was the vibe they had.

"I remember these mandatory discussions from your English coaching classes. I was thinking about you the old day after that class." Anokhi reminisced the process of falling for him.

"We never realised, when we four became this close." Aahir smiled.

"We should name our gang. Rocking 4, Fantastic 4, F4.....oops that's a popular drama name."Anokhi giggled. "Mr. B would file charges for not including him."

They gathered around the campfire. To carry the feel of being on a trip, when it wasn't, they just were pretending like they were tourists in the city they were living.

Food, camping tents, weather everything was pleasant.

"I Shagun, am proud of myself for coping with pressure in childhood, my self confidence, and always having best comebacks to drive away toxicity."

"I Aahir, am making a toast for myself with this costly water, for amazing business skills, willingness to take risks, and standing strong even after losing my beloved toned leg. I miss football....."

"I Shaurya, am happy about the person I'm becoming. And my social skills. Especially for realising I was in the wrong with self pity."

"I Anokhi am proud of my choices in dramas, food, love, friends, career. And for speaking out my mind. And overcoming my biggest fear...fire. I can play with it now."

"I Ben am appreciating myself for not confessing my feelings and holding it in. I have been the best manager."

"When we were in school, I have a crush on Ashi. I was 15 something and was shy. When we coincidentally went to same college, it took me so long to realise I'm actually in love. She had a lot in her plat e Short films, fashion shows, arts club, studies. And the huge list of admirers she always had, made me feel, I was already out of her league."

"Before I mustered up some courage she had cancer. And when destiny again united us, I became her manager. I was focused on her career. Before I could confess, she had cancer again."

"To her I'm a guardian, well-wisher. There is no way she could think of me as a lover. There is no way she would misunderstood me for an opportunist. She would have cut ties with me, she wouldn't want me hurting. She would think keeping me close would be exploiting my feelings."

"I was afraid I was losing one last chance to open my heart. But contemplating saved our lives. I stood by her side until the end, made her smile, helped her work on her dream project, took care of her. I'm content. Yes, I'm proud of myself." That was the first time they heard Ben speaking about himself.

"This is so excruciating." Anokhi sighed.

"You did the right thing." Shaurya whispered.

"But I wonder if her heart ever fluttered for any!"Shaugun added an interesting point.

"If a person says they never loved anyone, I will believe it. But if they say they never crushed on anyone, I may not!"Shaurya's subtle smile looked ethereal with the campfire glow reflecting on his face.

"She is loved my many, from strangers to friends. Many had approached her, she turned down all though. My confession would have noway made her feel any special, indeed would have costed our bond!"It was so obvious that Ben was feeling much relived after revealing his long-standing feelings.