The Mute And The Reader [#YourStoryIndia][#Wattys2015]

Five

I plan to apologize to Aryan but haven't quite thought how will I go about it. So I think of doing it tomorrow, after preparing myself well. I did attend all the lectures today. Coming to know that there is a boy in my college who is unable to speak didn't let me sleep in any lecture. Well, at least that was an upside. But even though I have decided to apologize to him tomorrow, some part of me wants to see him and feel assured that he's okay. I did hurt him today, even if it was unintentional.

I walk out of the college building to my Activa, practicing to control my mind and cease the voices inside my head. I am so engrossed in the activity that I don't notice that someone is standing just beside my scooter. I abruptly stop, bringing an end to my mental activity and the voices start rising in my head again. Aryan is standing right in front of me. There's a piece of paper in his hands he's fiddling with. Though I can hear his thoughts, I don't even need to read his mind to know that he is feeling guilty.

-She doesn't look that angry. I should just go, maybe.

"Stay." I tell him, trying to be careful that he doesn't interpret my request as a response to his thought.

He hands me the paper.

-This was a bad idea!

I smile.

-Why is she smiling?

I stop smiling although it's very difficult and unfold the paper. Something is scrawled in it in beautiful handwriting.

'I'm really sorry for that outrage. A guy just told me that you mislead Karan into the library. Thanks a lot. I'm a bit touchy about my muteness. Please don't mind. By the way, my name is Aryan. Nice to meet you Anushka!'

I give out my hand.

"Hi!" I say.

-Woah! That was fast!

I raise a brow. He shakes my hand. I turn to insert the key into my scooter.

"Want me to drop you home?" I ask.

He smiles vibrantly and nods.

-Yes!

"Cool! Hop on behind me!" I say, adjusting myself on the scooter. He sits behind me in one fluid motion.

"Ready?" I ask, looking at him from the rear view mirror.

-As ever!

He gives me a thumbs up.

We don't talk much throughout the ride. Well, technically I am the one doing all the talking. I conveniently don't ask him anything but I'm making sure, that I talk about things that he wants to listen to, by analyzing his thoughts. He's nodding the entire time, listening to me with interest. And I can tell from his thoughts that he's indeed a part of the conversation I'm having with him, even though he's unable to speak. I know what he wants to say and I respond appropriately and cautiously leaving enough room for mistakes so that he doesn't suspect anything. I notice one thing different about him. He's thinking all those things that one would want to say out loud. It makes me wonder if that's because he can't speak.

"I have to take a right turn now?" I ask him.

-Yes.

I take a right turn, without looking into the rear view mirror. We're nearly half a kilometer into the turn when I suddenly notice him staring at me through the rear view mirror. From what I can guess, he's been looking for the past two minutes.

-How did she know that I wanted her to turn right when she didn't even see me nod?

I look away and try to concentrate on the road ahead. I think of controlling myself but realize that I shouldn't take such a risk while riding a scooter. But I know he's still looking at me.

-There's something different about her.

I gulp and keep my eyes straight on the road. This is getting so intense! I'm relieved to see the place he asked me to stop at. I speed up and in seconds reach the stop. I apply the brakes softly. Aryan gets down. He looks at me for five long seconds.

-Thanks a lot! You ride pretty well.

"I guess...you want to thank me?" I ask carefully.

He nods lightly.

"You're welcome." I reply with a smile.

He waves his hands, turns around and starts walking away into some housing colony through a gate. But the last thing that I hear him think leaves me smiling.

-Sheis a good combination of weird and nice...a bit of sinister too!