Invisible String

the string grows stronger

Chapter 11

15th April 2023

(Aabha)

Yeah, he ghosted me. Correctly predicted. I saw it coming. From like, the first time he started texting dry, I saw it coming.
I didn't expect him to be over the moon about me popping into his life. He was a popular guy since Grade 1. Not just with the ladies, but the teachers, the guys, everyone.
Shaurya was my best friend too, before popularity took over him.
It's upon us to allow that popularity to drown us into being apathetic. I was a popular kid too. But I didn't let that popularity define me. I never fit into the conventional description of a 'popular kid'.
Whatever happens, you should always stay humble. Or else, the situations will flip out to humble you. Some day or the other, they sure will. And you will never know what the consequences would be.
I decided to brush it off. Did it hurt? Yes. Was I feeling replaceable? Yes. Was I feeling unimportant? Yes. Was I going to let it affect my current life? No.
I wouldn't at any cost. The life I had built, the walls I had put up and the guards I had strengthened were not gonna tear down and fall apart because a boy didn't text me back. It had taken a long time for me to be emotionally strong. I was not gonna let this slip out of my hands.

"Earth to Aabha! What are you thinking about so deeply?" Naina jerked my shoulder breaking into my thoughts.
"Nothing. Tests."
I hadn't told her about Maanav yet. I didn't know when to. So I just went on with the flow. I knew it'd come out eventually, at the right time. But not right now.
"Till what time does the break last?" I asked Tara who was eating her lunch.
"Ten minutes more."
"Cool. I have to get some books. I'll be back in five." I told Naina and walked downstairs to the library. I needed to get my Chemistry strong. So, I decided to work on it for the next few days.
"Yawning Girl?" A guy called as I was going through the Chemistry Section.
Turning back, I saw the same guy I had accidentally pushed the other day.
"Hey. Clumsy Guy." I waved at him.
"Chemistry, eh? Is it your favourite subject?" He asked me.
"No. I actually hate it. So..."
"Oh. I see. I love it. It's my favourite."
"Well, you must be really strong at it."
"Yes. That, I am." He winked.
"Good for you. I just don't understand it. There's a gazillion exceptions and the Organic part sucks. Who even named these compounds? Were they drunk while doing that?" I scoffed.
He gave short laugh in response as a guy walked up to him.
"Hey, Keshav! Can you please teach me this concept again?" And he showed Keshav his book.
"Sure. But not now. Later. I have class in some time." Keshav said.
"Can't you miss it? It's chemistry class anyways and you already know more than anyone." The guy insisted.
"No. You know I never miss class for anything. Stay after the lectures today, I'll teach you whatever you want." He then looked at me, "See you later, umm..."
"Aabha." I smiled at him.
"Right. See you later Aabha. Good luck with Chemistry." And he walked away.
There was something so charmingly mysterious about him.
I don't know what it was. But for sure, there definitely was something.

16th April 2023

(Naina)

Fucking. Unseasonal. Rains.
I mean, rains in April? Seriously? I was glad that I had decided to take the car today and not the trains. I had gone to South Bombay for a solo date. Solo dates are necessary. People went to therapies. I went for solo dates. Simple as it is.
I still had to drive for another half an hour to get home and then I'd sleep in the heavenly comfort of my bed, blankets and pillows. What is life? This is life.
As I was driving through the mind-numbing Bombay traffic and vibing to random raps playing on the radio, I saw Aabha's friend, Arjun, standing on the footpath. He was taking shelter under a tree, which off course, was no help, because his grey hoodie was definitely looking soaked. He was shivering from what it seemed like from a distance because I could see his legs dancing. Such a dork.
"Oi, hop in. I'll drop you home" I said as I pulled up in front of him and lowered the passenger seat window.
He looked at me for a moment, trying to recognise who I was, and once he did, he asked me while clattering his teeth, "Do you have driver's license?"
"You are shivering, soaked wet. Your house is probably twenty minutes away from here and it'll take you around forty-five minutes to reach if you go by foot. The rain, I think, is not going to stop for a couple more hours and all you care about is if I have my driver's license with me. Seriously? Do you want me to go?" I looked at him, annoyed, "And I'm just 17. Off course I don't have a license. And technically, I'm breaking rules, but I love driving. So you either get in or I'm leaving you here alone."
"Okay. Okay." He opened the door, but then paused again and asked, "Please tell me you're not drunk."
"Okay. I'm going now. Bye." And I started the car.
"Sorry. Sorry. I'll get in. Sorry." And he sat beside me.
"Seriously, you are a pain in ass." I chuckled.
"Thanks." He smiled at me.
"For calling you a pain in ass?"
"NO. For giving me a ride."
"Well, what can I say. I'm used to saving the day." I winked at him and he giggled. He giggles.
I could feel him glance at me at times.
We were stuck in traffic for the past five minutes.
Suddenly, the radio played 'Steal My Girl' by One Direction.
"My favourite song!" We both exclaimed in unison.
He looked at me briefly as the song went on. I did too.
It was long eye contact. Our eyes were locked longer than they should have. Why did I look at him? Why did I hold the eye contact? Why did I not look away immediately?
The honking vehicles broke the intense moment and the traffic light turned green.
We stayed silent for the rest of the ride and soon reached his house. The silence didn't feel awkward, rather, full of heavy thoughts running through both of our minds. Questioning if there was something between us. Some invisible string.
"Thank you, once again, for the ride." He said and unfastened his seat belt.
"Yeah. No problem. Easy breezy." I said without looking at him.
"So, I kinda wanted to ask you something." He said as his eyes stayed fixated on the raindrops pressing through the windshield.
"Yeah?" I looked over at him. Trying to ease the tension.
"Do you...umm...are you..." He shook his head as if he was trying to put words together in a sentence.
"What's up, Arjun?" I questioned.
"Syntax error." He finally looked at me and we both burst out laughing at his lame ass joke.
"Do you, by any chance, want to go out on a date with me?" He looked into my eyes and gave a gentle smile.
Arjun was an unproblematic, a non-dramatic person. He had been Aabha's best friend for years. And as far as I knew, she was selective with her circle. So there must be something about him. Something about him that made me say, "Yes. Sure. Text me later?"
He gave my wide grin. Such a goof.
"You bet. See you later, Naina." And he hopped out of the car and disappeared inside the building.
Easy breezy.