Neighbour Next Door

22) Cowards

A shitty day

That was Sumedh's day for today. 

Back to back lectures with no supportive teachers neither cooperative students. Today even Vivaan and Arjun were absent to give them company atleast for 5 mins even. He didn't realised but few people have started meaning a lot, more than he could have imagined. They were always there cracking jokes, asking about his day or even ranting about their random day, or complains about their pathetic life. 

They were more than friends, something bigger which couldn't be expressed in words nor he could really understand. Plus, Mrs. Gill the annoying teacher was pestering him so much. He was a polite guy, not a rude one, he was kind and listened to people. 

But Gill was one painful experience in his whole life. The audicity of that married teacher to ask him for coffee, and even after countless rejections she was not at all guilty neither a tinch of shame. She looked petty and desperate every damn time. "I've some work/I'm busy." were his weekly excuses. 

Sighing moving towards the building he walks in, in the lift and pressing the 7th floor. The door opens and he walks out seeing his room's door open. Was Mallika not inside? He walked inside to see the plates washed in and a thankyou note neatly placed.

But why was the gate open? 

He walked to the balcony to find no one again. He keeps his bag on the table drinking a glass of water and moving towards Ruhi's apartment. 

"Hi, you're back?" Vivaan opens the gate

"Don't you have your own apartment, always lying at her place." Sumedh says entering inside

"Dude what happened?" Vivaan asks surprised by this tone

"A horrible day, anyways where's Mallika?" he asks cutting straight to the point

"Hi Sumedh, Good Evening, I'm good how are you, is everything okay?" Ruhi chirps emerging from the kitchen, removing her apron. 

"Thankyou for asking, I'm good. Now where's Mallika? My apartment door was open and nobody is inside." He says concerned

"Uhm.." The couple exchanged weird reactions and Sumedh waited patiently for their eye conversation to get over.

Ruhi sighed finally and turned towards him. "She had a lots of complain with her mother, so she, uncle and that lady had some heated conversation, yesterday no day before yesterday she rejected Saurabh, and well surprisingly he turned out to be supportive and a green flag, and now I believe she must be at somewhere peaceful, probably your balcony?" Ruhi points out

"I checked she's not there." Sumedh says processing all information

"Terrace?" Vivaan offers. The three look at each other and rush towards the terrace

And there she was. 

Sobbing silently, weeping in her own arms. 

"Should we leave?" Vivaan whispers but Sumedh shakes her head in denail

"Ruhi go, she needs you." he says

"She needs you Sumedh, go. " Ruhi says softly

"but-

"Trust yourself Sumedh, go. We're here." Ruhi says with a look which looked determined. Sumedh looks at the crying girl and then at the couple and nods walking towards her. He slides down next to her, in the dusk, flickers of light shimmering. Mallika looked startled but feels familiar arms engulfing her and wipes her tears.

"It's okay." He says

"Then why doesn't it feels okay?" she questions

"Sometimes it's not okay to be okay." He says and she leans keeping her head on his shoulder

"How do you find me everytime?" she questions again

"God sent me on this planet to become your guardian angel." he says

"really?" he couldn't help but chuckled

"are you making fun of me?" she says annoyed moving away from him looking at his face which looked sad, tired, exhausted.

"are you okay?" she asks concerned

"a shitty day at college." he shrugs

"I am so sorry, let's go to your apartment?" she quickly gets up but stops hearing two more voices laughing

"Ruhi and Vivaan." Sumedh says walking towards them and Mallika follows behind and Vivaan hugs her sideways.

"Little one, are you really okay?" she nods weakly

"Guys let's go back downstairs it's dark now." Ruhi says, and everyone walks into her apartment Vivaan and Ruhi sitting on one side, Sumedh and Mallika on the opposite side. 

"Satisfied now?" Ruhi asks giving a glass of water to everyone. 

"Much better. I just want her to leave." Mallika mumbles

"I beleive she will go now, what she has to do anyways? Now you're not even getting married." Vivaan jokes

"Marriage reminds me when are you getting married?" for a second there was silence

"excuse me?" Sumedh asks in disbelief

"Vedika called me. " Mallika says in a low voice

"Asked about me and everyone. She was missing all of us and wants to meet us, she was usually telling me when she told me if I know some good lady in college or in apartment who would want to marry you." she says and Vivaan cracks up hard. Ruhi glares at him but he laughs.

"Why are families so concerned with marriages these days?" Vivaan asks finding it a joke.

"They're serious in life unlike you." Ruhi says

"I'm serious, I'm done with my masters college for Phd is finalized, I got a part time job in gym and a happy girlfriend whom I will marry in next 3 years." Ruhi froze at the comment and a smile forms on Mallika's gloomy face.

"oh my God you guys are getting married? WHEN?" she asks excited

"no we're not. I didn't approve, he didn't propose." Ruhi says dissapointed

"oh don't worry babes, I will. Itni bhi Kya jaldi hai?" he winks causing the duo to break into laughs and small smiles

"Okay focus!" Ruhi says turning to Mallika who had a fond smile on her face. "You love us right?" she asks

"Of course you guys are couple goals." Mallika says

"You'll find your soulmate too"

'maybe your soulmate is around you?' 

'I hope you find your soulmate soon bhai?'

This word had been troubling them from past few months. Why, they don't know. 

Relationships had always been complicated for both Sumedh and Mallika, be it parents, relatives or something else. Mallika had been blessed by some amazing neighbors and Sumedh had got similar people. Both were grateful but a step after friendship seemed scary. 

Both had been abandoned by the people they had once loved, they had fair share of issues, complications and insecurities. They wanted to have a relationships, heart yeared for love but when it takes courage. 

And they were cowards

A chance they deserved, but who someone has to take the first step right?

They believe in others, not themselves

They have issues they don't talk about

Plus, it felt forbidden

So they do what they're the best at.

Shut down feelings, pretend or ignore. 

That's their way of dealing things.

But until how long? 

_____________________

Feelings are complicated they say?