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

Eighteen

The rock I'm sitting on is situated deep in the woods. It's a very ordinary rock which sits under a huge banyan tree. Aryan and I discovered it soon after we stared hanging out together. Since then, it has become our regular hangout. It is away from all the hum drum and all the weird glances we get in college.

Today, as I sit on the rock, waiting for Aryan, I'm thinking something. Something of great importance.

Maybe today is the day.

Yes.

It's today for sure.

No.

No.

I can't.

But what is the problem? He likes me too.

What if he's stopped liking me? After meeting my parents?

I'm being ridiculous. He IS into me.

And today is the day I will tell him what I feel about him.

But what if-

My thoughts come to a halt as I see him walking towards me from a distance. He is not smiling like he usually does. He's walking slower than he usually does. He too far for me to read.

Okay, okay, okay. What should I say? How should I start? What if I just start casually and then very subtly change the topic? How about that? Argh! Why the hell am I being so childish? I'm a twenty-six year old woman who is doing her masters in psychology and I'm not able to do this?

I'm fidgeting with my fingers. I'm on the verge of hyperventilating when I finally hear him. And it's disturbing.

-What the fuck is wrong with my life?

I instantly look at him. He's nearing but he's not looking at me. He's looking at the ground as he walks. I'm confused and slightly scared.

-Why can't she just leave him. Why? WHY?

The loudness and intensity of his thought is frightening me. I know something is wrong. And I feel like backing off. I stand up. Aryan looks at me this time. He smiles.

-My life has become hell!

He's faking the smile. And in a second he understands that I have caught him. His face falls again. I can notice his moist eyes. He has almost reached me.

"Are you okay, Aryan? We can meet later." I say.

He has not changed his expressions.

-No, it's okay. WHY CAN'T SHE GIVE HIM A DIVORCE??!!!

I'm scared to death now. And I know it's time to go. I should leave him alone with his thoughts. See, that's the kind of problem that arises with my 'ability'! People can't choose what they want to think. With me, they have to give out their secrets unwillingly.

"Aryan, I'll meet you later." I say and start backing off.

He instantly grabs my wrist.

-No! Stay! Please!

"But-"

I can see tears forming in his eyes. He's on the verge of crying. And there's no way in hell that I can leave him now. I slip a hand into his and squeeze it lightly.

"Hey..." I whisper, "It's gonna be okay."

He looks at me after blinking his eyes. I can see tears falling off his cheeks, on his shirt, forming dark patches on it. I feel like crying too. We sit on the rock, next to each other. I'm rubbing his shoulder in an attempt to comfort him.