What are we?

Part 6

Dear Diary,

It's good to be in a relationship. But sometimes I wonder about the hardships that he is going through. He is resisting his desires for me. I very well know that. And that fact hurts me very much. I just want him to feel comfortable with me, he may be, but not 100% I see him admiring other couples and not talking about others when I am around. I like the way he expects me to change without leaving me. I am sure that if it was anyone else, they wouldn't take much time, but would have dumped me. I like this behaviour of his the most. He is super gentle and calm. He ensures that I am not hurt. I too want to treat him the same way, hope I don't take way too much time.

"Yes speak."

Aanya asked, "What are you doing?"

"I am sitting idle. No class this hour and Ethen is out with his friends."
"So, the time is perfect."
"Yeah. What's the matter."
"We talked about this Literary fest right?"
"Yes, why?"

"We got someone who is ready to join us."

"Great!"
"But-"
"What? That doesn't sound good.""

"It's not Somathmika."
"Then."
"Um...I will give you a clue." Aanya hesitating.

"Fine."
"It is someone whom I love."

"Don't say it's Peter!" Zoya shouted.

"You guessed it right." Aanya still hesitating.

"Peter?"
"Yes."
"Are you serious?"

"Yes. His cousins have work, so they called off and I was complaining to him about not having anyone to join us, so he said he would come."
"Wow! What a caring one."
"Excuse me."
"I am sorry, but this is ridiculous. How am I supposed to feel comfortable between you guys?"

"You will manage it!"
"How, sleeping outside the room and by keeping a meter distance from you both?"
"Nothing like that will happen. We will plan everything tonight. Okay?"
"Hmm."
"What's that?"
"Okay.!"

"Good girl."

It was lunch break. Everyone sat in a circle, passing their lunch boxes.

"Anyone planning to go to Literary Fest tomorrow?"
Asha replied, "Are you going?"
"Yes. You?"
"I am not. So you will be on leave tomorrow?"
"And the day after."
"Oh!"

Nithya spoke, "With whom are you going?"
"With Aanya. Anyone interested?"
No one answered.

"Why!"
Kiran spoke, "I am having some work left at home. I can't come."
Nithya spoke, "I am not interested."
Sara added, "Me too."
Zoya turned to Asha.

"No man, not me."
Zoya complained, "Are you literature students?? None of you is interested??"
Everyone nodded.

"Wow. Strange!" She filled her mouth with a spoonful of rice.

"Fight? You boys even fight?"
"Why is there any law saying that boys shouldn't fight?" Ethen walked with hands in his pocket.

"I meant, you boys don't seem to be of fighting type."
"Leave it. I am disappointed."
"Tell me. What happened?"
"Anand was about to book a room and Ayush stopped him. Ayush wants a more luxurious one. And Anand asked him to sacrifice. Ayush called him a bad word and they ended up fighting. Now within us, we have twō team."
"Wow! What a mature way to fight." Zoya clapped.

"Leave it. You won't understand how intense this fight is."
"Sorry for that. But this could be sorted with an open discussion."
"He went home."
"Who?"
"Anand."
"So what about your tour?"
"Cancelled."
Zoya paused. "You are sad?"
"Of them all, I was the one most excited."
"AW...it's okay." Zoya hugged him. "Wait."
"What happened?" Ethen looked at his dress, "Anything on me?"
"No, no. Are you interested in coming with us?"
"Us?"
"Yes, Aanya, Peter and I?"
"Really? Are you guys ready for that?"
"Of course! That would be a great trip!"

"I can't even hold now. That would be awesome!"

"So, can I tell Aanya?"
"Sure!"

Zoya jumped, and then she hugged him.

Zoya took her phone out to message Aanya.

You: Good news, good news.

Ethen is joining us!

So, you and Peter.

Ethen and I

Call me when you are free. Let's plan it better.

Aanya: Wow! That is great!

I didn't expect him to join us. Whatever, it is great.

We can book two rooms, then a train ticket and more.

Call me after college

"So, what are the plans? It's a one-night stay."
"Yeah. See the first two good rooms. Then train ticket for the four of us. At last the return ticket. That's all with the booking. Now about what all we are doing. Morning four of us would be boarding the train to Kozhikode, we will pack lunch to avoid that expense."
"Okay. Then."
"Then, by evening we will reach there. So straight to the hotel room. Taking rest, then by late evening, we will go somewhere near depending on the location of the hotel room, then night food from the hotel and the next day morning going for the Literary Fest. By evening boarding the train and coming back home."
"That sounds good. Now the question is where would we be going on the first day."
"Wait. When we went to Kozhikode for the tour, we had booked a hotel room, and quite close to it was a beach. If we manage to get it then, we can spend time on the beach, then if we still have time we can go to the Literary Fest. It is quite big."
"Then we better book that hotel. I am checking the trains. We would be reaching there by afternoon. It's a 2 hr 15 minutes journey."
"Only that much?"
"Yeah. We have one train at 9:35 am."
"We can go for that."
"Yeah. I will book 4 tickets. Peter won't have any issue right?"
"Hope so. If I say that the tickets are already booked, then I don't think he will say anything."
"You phone him and ask in advance. I don't want to run to cancel it."
"Okay. Let me also confirm this hotel room. Got it!" Aanya kept staring at her laptop.
"Room available?"
"Yes, from tomorrow. We can get it."
"Great."
"You call and ask Peter. Then let me know. I will book the tickets."
"Fine. What about Ethen."
"He won't have any issue."
"Then, let me phone him. I will message you."

"Okay."

After 5 minutes.

Aanya phones Zoya.

"Zo."
"Yes."
"You can book the tickets!"
"Wow! Great."
"I am going to book the hotel room."
"Yes do it."

Both of them are silent. Aanya books the hotel room and Zoya does the tickets.

"So we would be reaching by 11:50. Don't you think it is better to have food from the hotel? We won't get time to eat from the train and it seems cringe to eat from our lunchboxes in the hotel room"
"Yes, true. Breakfast we can have from home. Lunch and rest of it till the next day evening it would be from the hotel."
"So that is that. Nothing more right?"
"Yeah, let me confirm. First, we will reach by 11:50 then we will check in the hotel room, a break till 12:30. Then we will go for lunch, and after that, we will go to the literary fest till evening. Then by evening go to the beach and spend time there till night. Then the next day, soon after breakfast going to the fest again. By afternoon returning for lunch and boarding the train so that we reach by evening."
"Hurray! That is perfect."
"I am so excited!"
"Me too!" Zoya jumped.

"You told them? Your parents?"
"Fought with them, but success."
"Good! My parents are planning to go to a tour, so the house would be empty."
"Oh. So let's pack our bags!"
"Yeah. See you tomorrow from the station. You phone Ethen and explain everything."
"Yes. I am going to."
"So see ya."
"Sure!" Zoya jumped.

Zoya now phoned Ethen.

"Hey."
"Say."

"Busy?"
"NO, no. What's with the plan? All done?"
"Train at 9: 35 am tomorrow. We will reach by 11:50, and then the hotel room is booked, so we will check in and take a rest. At 12:30 or so, we will go for lunch and then to the fest. By evening we will go to the beach close to the hotel room. Then next day after break fast back to the fest, the lunch and boarding the return train."
"Wow! You planned the entire thing?"
"Me and Aanya."
"Nice. Sounds so good."
Zoya jumped again, "I know. I am super excited!"
"Me too."
"Pack your bags. Let me go and pack mine."
"Okay, okay."
"So see you tomorrow."
"See you, Zo."