Acceptance heals everything

Part 8. Not easy

Rohit expressed his inability to walk as he wept, still clinging to Mahi as if his life depended on him. He was searching for solace and finally allowed himself to be aware of their presence.

Jaddu, who was in a state of shock at the sight of Rohit's prolonged crying, asked, "What is all this rubbish about?"

"Jaddu" Mahi said sternly seeing Rohit's devastated state.

"It's not rubbish, I can't feel anything in my legs", said Rohit breaking the hug but Mahi kept his hold on his shoulder knowing he needs it.

Mahi made Rohit sit properly offered him water. Rohit closed his eyes feeling exhausted.

"Jassi and Rishabh go back to hotel please, I will call you okay?" Mahi said not wanting to crowd Rohit by everyone, he needed time.

"Don't argue on this and dont tell anyone anything, I promise I will call you" Mahi said before they could say something.

"Also dont say anything to Virat, Rohit will talk to him whenever he is ready. Ash go with them for sometime", Mahi said to which Ash agreed as both of them looked really out of it, numb.

Once Ash stepped out of the room, Virat rushed to him.

"Ash?", Virat looked for answers if he could get any. His eyes pleaded for answers.

Ash signaled Jassi and Rishabh to sit in the car. Rishabh and Jassi wanted to be with Rohit and Virat but Mahi bhai had instructed them so they had to obey.

"Ash please, say something", Virat didn't want to sound desperate but he couldn't help it.

"It's not my place to say it Virat, I am-- what happened to ur hand?", Ash looked how his hand was swelled and almost greenish in color.

"It's nothing, is he upset with me? He doesn't want to see me?" Virat asked not understanding why Rohit didn't want to see him.

Ash sighed at his desperation knowing how much he was waiting for this moment, "To be honest I don't know why he doesn't want to meet you. I am going to hotel to drop them, will come back in sometime", he said keeping hand on his shoulder. He left before Virat could ask anything more.

Virat just sat there waiting to know something atleast.

"Did he loose Rohit's friendship? Was he not important for him anymore?"

He could not control his thoughts at that moment. He held his head in his palms to stop it somehow. Why he couldn't just meet him?

In Rohit's room,

"Rohit", Mahi called softly to which Rohit opened his eyes and met with questioning gaze of them.

Rohit looked down, "I am not yet ready to talk about it", he said in a low tone.

Before Jaddu could burst out at him Mahi quickly intervened, "Sure kiddo, we understand", he said eyeing Jaddu who went outside along with Bhuvi.

Virat saw Bhuvi and Jaddu coming outside, he knew they won't share anything with him. He just moved outside to get fresh air.

Rohit saw outside the window, there was Virat, alone again.

"Why don't you talk to him, it is clear that you are missing him?", Mahi asked taking a seat infront of him.

"It's not that easy" Rohit said looking outside where Virat was sitting on the bench alone.

"Ro? Why don't you wanna meet him? I am not going to tell you how he was or anything because I know you have been through worse already. But what is the reason u don't want to see him?" Mahi asked holding his hand.

"I don't want to see your face Rohit. How could you do this to me?"

"Virat you are misunderstanding, it is not like that. Please listen to me"

"There is nothing to listen Rohit. I never thought you would do this to me. I can't look at you now"

"Virat wait, Vi please"

"Rohit, Rohit! Ro" Mahi called him as he was lost in thought and was breathing unevenly.

"What happened?" Mahi asked giving him water and rubbed his back to calm him down.

Rohit just nodded in no indicating it's nothing. Mahi sighed thinking how many walls Rohit had created around himself. He was not sharing anything.

"How is everyone?" Rohit asked once he was calmed down. He asked in such a quiet voice feeling that he didn't had a right to ask that.

"All okay, don't worry" Mahi assured him.

"And.." Rohit tried but he didn't know why he couldn't voice out what he wanted to ask. But Mahi understood.

"He is not.. honestly if anyone from outside saw him, it may seem that he is okay. But he has changed a lot. Sometimes even I feel I don't know him" Mahi said looking at Virat who was lost in thought.

"I know it's not easy for him but.. I can't bhai" Rohit said with moist eyes.

Mahi tried to understand what exactly was going on.

"Rohit, is everything related to your fight with Virat?" Mahi asked once he connected the dots of Rohit's behaviour.

He again noticed him getting stiff at that mention.

"Is he— I mean" Mahi tried to ask but he himself was having difficulty getting to the point.

"Is Virat responsible in any way for this situation?" Mahi asked taking a deep breath.

Rohit just looked down and a tear slipped from his eye.

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