CLICHÉ

10. THE REVEAL

'Hey guys, what's the matter?' I said.
'what you think?' Abhishek said in a deep angry tone.
'What happen?' I looked at Rahul.
'Where were you two days ago?' Rahul looked pissed about something.

'I was with you guys, the whole morning. We were in college remember.'
'yes, I remember what we saw.' Rahul said. He looks at me with an expression that was hard to comprehend.
'where were you in the afternoon?' Abhishek chimed in.

'I was with... I mean, I was in the café with some friends, taking notes and then I met Kiara and... wait. Is this about meeting them?' I sat on the chair in front of them.
'look, they are still my friends, I know it's not what we agreed on but Rahul; you and Naina have to manage to be in the same room without fighting. We still need both of you as friends.'

'you think?' Abhishek raised his voice.
'yes, I mean...'
'Topic deflect karu naka. Point'ar yo re.' Rahul stood up from the couch.

'excuse me.' I was genuinely confused. Even after 2 years in goa, I didn't pick up on Abhishek's Konkani. Neither did Rahul.

'Don't deflect the topic, Deb. He asked you where you were, this Monday afternoon. Not evening; but afternoon.' He kept staring at me.

'As I said I was with some friends in café collecting some notes.'
'that's great buddy, because after searching you for twenty minutes guess who we ran into... Charlie.'

As soon as I heard Rahul say Charlie, my heart stopped for a second. The cold air on my neck, sending a shiver down my spine. They both stood there, silently, waiting for me to respond.
'so, what did he say?' I composed myself

'Cut the crap, Deb. I can't believe you are still lying to us. We didn't met Charlie. But we saw you and that chick, Lilly making out in the garden. We thought you might tell us something. We waited for two days, Deb. Now spill out everything.' Rahul said.

Remember this morning.
The negative voice popped in my head.
when Rahul called you and said 'we need to talk meet me in the café' and you said 'no, lets meet at your place.' Well that was an excellent idea, stupid.

'He said, spill it out.' Breaking my chain of thoughts, Abhishek's voice brought me to reality.

'Ok.' I took a deep breath. 'It happened a month ago. I met her in...'
'wait; what? One month ago?' Abhishek interrupted me.
'yes.' I said
'you can't be serious.'
'I am sorry that I didn't tell you. I wasn't sure what to tell you. Lilly and I weren't dating back then.' I explained.

'sure.' Rahul said in a sarcastic tone.
'okay, And?' Abhishek said
'she asked me to come for her concert. On the day of the concert, I asked her to teach me guitar. Since than we met regularly. And about nine days ago, I asked her to be my girlfriend.'

'wait, girlfriend? in just one month.' Abhishek raised his eyebrows
'yes. Why is that strange?' I asked Abhishek.
'you never started a relationship with a girl that fast. Are you in love with her?'
'what? No' I shouted. I cannot be in love with her this early, it's only been a month.

'Then? What is the reason? Is she...' He raised his eyebrows. '... good?'
'What? boundaries dude!'
'Just asking. Its unusual that's all. You don't start relationship with a girl this fast. And hey, you said nine days ago. If I remember it correctly, isn't that the day when...'

'Yes.' I interrupted him. 'I wanted to tell you guys, but you came with a stupid idea of staying single therefore I didn't say anything. I didn't want to upset Rahul.'
'That's just great. Rahul, will you say something to him. I am the one who is doing all the talk here. Why are you quiet?' Abhishek turned Rahul.

'This is bad. I see where this is going.' Rahul finally spoke.
'What do you mean?'
'She is going to break your heart. And you shouldn't be dating her.'
'You are saying this just because of a stupid pact.'
'It's not because of the pact, it's because of Kiara, you idiot!'

The room suddenly became quiet with Rahul's statement. I could see the tension building up. Nobody wanted to speak anything on that. I finally took the initiative.

'Listen Rahul, no need to dig old graves. It been a long time now. And I think she is okay with it. We are friends that's it.'
'Then why she hasn't been in a relationship for the last 4 months?'

I kept mum on his question. I can't break my promise with Kiara.
Rahul resumed after the pause.

'Look deb. The way I see it, there are two possibilities. First, you might have fallen for Lilly but deny it because deep down you think she might not be right for you, realising, you are two different people. And maybe that's why you never introduced her to us because we might point that out for you, like we did. Or the second possibility is that you still have feeling for Kiara that's why you are afraid to introduce Lilly to us or Kiara for that matter.'

'First, I don't have feelings for Kiara. Not anymore. And even if Lilly and I are different people, the bottom line is I really like her. I don't want to call it 'love' because it's too soon. What Lilly and I have is different. she's different.' I said.

'yep, that's what I said about Naina too, remember. Look where that got me.' Rahul pointed towards the broken stereo.

'This one's actually different. And trust me, if you meet her; you guys will like her too.'
'ok, if you say so. But what about Kiara.' Rahul said.

'I will tell Kiara and Naina today itself. No more secrecy.' I said.
'I was asking only about Kiara.' He said, making sure not to mention Naina.

'Rahul, I know it's hard, but you need to stay friends with Naina. Or it will be hard for the five of us to hang out together. Even Kiara and I managed, right.' I said. He looked away.
'And what about you?' I looked at Abhishek.

'Screw you. I am still mad that you didn't tell me. I hate being the last one to know the news.' Abhishek said.

'Technically, you are not the last one to...'
'It doesn't matter.' He cut me off.

'I am sorry, okay. The timing was not right. But listen on Sunday she has her concert. It will be a great chance for you two, to meet them.'
'Them? Whose them?' Abhishek voice sparked with curiosity mixed with a dash of anger.

'Lilly and Charlie.'
'cut it out. We know it's a made-up name.' he threw up his hands.
'I wish, but Charlie is indeed a real.'
'He is real?'
'She is real.'

'what? it's a she? See that's why I hate you.' He started approaching me.
'First you broke the pact. You broke our brother, Rahul's trust. He had a terrible break up. How could you? I will never do anything like that to him. you know why because I care about him. Unlike you, I am a good friend...' he stopped, seeing Rahul going into the kitchen.

'Is she hot?' Abhishek whispered as he came close to me and was assured that Rahul can no longer hear us.

'what?' I whispered back.
'Charlie. Is she hot?' he whispered, eyes glued to the kitchen.
'I guess.' I blurted out.

'Can you set me up with her.'
'sure. I guess no harm in trying.'
'really! khare sang bhava! I am so thank...' he paused as Rahul came back in the living room with a water bottle.

'I am so pissed!' He shouted.
Him being close to me, it felt like someone put hot iron rod in my ear.

'how could you do that to Rahul, you backstabbed us. It's been just few days to his breakup and you got a girlfriend. Can't you wait a little long. Shame...' he kept on shouting for 5 more minutes.