|ONE SHOT| AJNABI AND QURBAT

~I Didn't Fight~

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Promises are nothing but words. Words spoken in the spur of the moment. They say words are powerful. They give you hope when you have nothing to grasp on. They provide strength when you find yourself in the middle of nowhere, promising you won't suffer alone. They hold the power of holding you. Words are not words when they are spoken in need. They become your reason to live, and sometimes the reason to die. 

When Kabir promised Manthan to never abandon him, the young boy believed him with his heart. But when the day of separation arrived, an unknown fear gripped his chest. He didn't just want Kabir to come and stay like a guest with them. He wanted Kabir to stay with him. Forever. When Kabir moved out, Manthan didn't cry. He was smiling at the older boy, showing him that his little boy was grown up. 

The smile that was holding a million unconfessed fears, finally broke when Kabir left the orphanage. The tears that were forbidden to make themselves known overpowered the young boy's determination. Hot, painful tears pooled up his eyes, burning him from within. He bit his lips to keep the tears in check but tears know no compassion. They freely rolled down, and despite all the measures he took, the tears betrayed him. 

Lata, the caretaker witnessed it for the first time. Manthan was crying. And it pained her heart. Manthan troubled her the most. He made sure everyone in the orphanage was on alert around him. He was the kind of child who would end up in a washing machine or kitchen sink if not supervised. Manthan was full of life. 

Manthan couldn't sleep that night. He was badly used to someone tucking him to sleep. Even when it looked simple and not so important, Manthan was slowly realizing how his body was used to Kabir's soothing embrace. His body immediately relaxed whenever Kabir pulled him on his lap, pressed his head against his chest, hummed a tune, and ran his fingers gently through his hair. Sleep, which seemed to be the most difficult thing to grasp at that moment, easily engulfed him when Kabir held him. 

It was like even the sleep used to used to Kabir's presence. When it didn't find the teenager anywhere near the kid, it immediately evaporated.

Manthan grew up overnight. 

For the first time in his life, the kid realized what family was. When Kabir was near him, everything happened in a flow. Nothing felt out of place. His appetite, sleep, happiness, giggles, jokes, tantrums, everything welcome him with open arms. When Kabir left the orphanage, everything walked out with him. 

Manthan kicked a pebble, chewing his lips, walking out of the school. He was not looking at the road. Something was missing, but the boy couldn't point out what. When he kept thinking, he realized he was missing everything. But the list began with Kabir, and everything that followed it was a part of him. 

He kicked another pebble, cursing God. Just when he was about to kick the third pebble, a pair of arms pulled him away roughly. Manthan's heart turned erratic when a speeding truck passed him. Several more cars and bikes were running on the road. His fingers trembled when he was pulled to a solid chest, a strong pair of arms holding him close. When his body trembled badly, he realized it wasn't him. He wasn't trembling. The person holding him to his chest, enveloping him in a warm embrace was shaking. 

The familiar cologne of mist filled his nostrils and tears filled up his eyes. 

"Tu— tu theek hai?" Kabir asked, his voice trembling as he pulled himself away from the boy. He turned the kid around several times to check for injuries. His eyes desperately scanned his body for any kind of wounds or bruises, or anything.