Acceptance heals everything

Part 10. Meet

Virat was waiting.

It was so opposite to his nature. He was always so impatient and wanted to know everything. But this one year had changed him so much. It changed everything for him.

Now, he was waiting to know what was happening around him.

Specifically, what was going on with Rohit.

Rohit, the name which was so unknown to him. Same as the world right now. It felt familiar when it was 'Ro' to him and not someone who had vanished from his life without even sparing a glance.

Was he such a bad friend or person?

He was distracted from his thoughts by an unfamiliar sound. At first, he thought it was a hallucination, but then he decided to check on Rohit for reassurance.

Mahi, Bhuvi and Jaddu went outside for half hour. They just informed Virat and then left.

"Who is it?", he heard Rohit's voice from the other side when he knocked the door.

Virat took a deep breathe to steady his voice, "it's me, Are you okay?"

What can you do even if I am not okay?

"Please I can help" he heard Virat's whisper from the other side.

Rohit was in a state of confusion. He had no clue as to what he was thinking. He inhaled deeply and rubbed his face to compose himself.

"Come in" Virat heard and was shocked himself. Because Rohit was not ready to meet him sometime back and now he was calling him in. But he didn't want to think about anything else, just wanted to see him once.

Virat placed his hand on the door handle and turned it, his hand trembling. He put his other hand on the right handle to secure a grip. He did not want to miss the opportunity to see Rohit, even his body was not responding positively.

Once the door opened, Virat saw him after 367 days.

Virat noticed how Rohit had lost some of his weight. There was a grown stubble which was unlike him. His eyes had no shine. There was a weariness on his face that was so obvious that Virat felt a pang in his heart.

The next thing he heard was Rohit saying, "I can't walk, so you'll have to pick up the glass pieces since I know you've sent off Ritika and I'm not too surprised that the others aren't here." He then added, "Apply some medicine on my hand since it's been cut a bit."

Rohit waited for Virat's response to the fact that he was unable to walk, or in his heart, he desired a reaction from Virat that would make him feel normal.

Virat just moved ahead listening to him. He carefully picked up the glass pieces and put it in dustbin.

"The first aid is in the drawer that side of the room" Rohit said pointing to the drawer as Virat stood there looking around for the same.

Virat sat by his side and took his hand carefully not wanting to hurt him more.

The first thing Rohit noticed was that his hands were trembling while performing first aid. Still Virat was trying his best to not show it.

"Sorry", he heard Virat whisper when Rohit hissed on the contact of the antiseptic.

When it was all over, Virat was about to leave when Rohit grabbed his arm. He forced Virat to sit down while he sprayed some stuff on his swollen hand and put on a bandage.

Rohit expected him to look at him but all he did was to stare at the bandage.

"It's almost time for dinner, I will arrange something. Is there any specific u should avoid eating?" asked Virat keeping the first aid back in the drawer.

Before Rohit could say anything, Jaddu entered the room.

"What are you doing here? He didn't want to see you, still u came here!" Rohit noticed something in Jaddu's voice that he hadn't heard before in his life he had known him.

And to his surprise Virat didn't had any hurt or any kind of emotion on his face. But he had heard Virat arguing with Jaddu and everyone sometime back for him.

"Anything?" Virat asked again to which Rohit came back from his thoughts and nodded in no.

Virat moved out of the room and went into the kitchen.

"You okay?", Jaddu asked Rohit to which he just nodded.

Rohit couldn't help but wonder why Jaddu, who would have been worried about Virat if he was suffering from a normal headache, was now not even looking at the bandage on Virat's arm.

Virat returned 15 minutes later, but Jaddu was not present. He did not inquire about Jaddu's whereabouts. He knocked on the door to draw Rohit's attention, who had been staring out the window.

Rohit was going to say something but stopped himself. He watched Virat and his actions.

Virat left the food on the table and helped Rohit wash his hands in the bowl. Then he put the little table down on the bed and put out the food. Rohit thought that Ritika must've told him everything.

"Comfortable?" asked Virat gaining Rohit's attention.

Rohit nodded at that.

Virat just sat there aside on the couch till Rohit completed his meal.

If Rohit didn't push him away, he was gonna stay no matter what anyone tells him.

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