Pause

Chapter 15

We were editing a video together, and Akshay suddenly yawned and set his head down on the table. "Tired?" I asked. He nodded. "Then sleep for a while, I will edit the rest," I said. I began editing, but it felt like he was not going to get up. He lay his head on the table and just continued to look at me. Like really look at me, so much so that I felt conscious. I turned to look at him, but he did not look away. Now I again felt the flutter I feel these days near him.

"What?" I asked him.

"Nothing." He said.

"You are being weird these days," I said.

"Am I?" He asked.

"Yeah," I tried to focus on the editing.

"Shiyu..." He called.

"Yeah," I did not look at him again. I can't with those eyes on me.

"What do you think of me?"

I took a second to register it. "Meaning?" I asked.

"Just answer." He sat up.

"That you are a good guy, a good friend," I said.

"Means everything is good positive feelings." He said.

"Obviously. You are my friend." I said.

"Friend," he nodded. "Right. Friend." He looked disappointed. Then his phone started to ring. He turned around to pick it up and almost dropped the phone. "Why is Papa calling me?" He asked me. I looked at his phone and it was his dad calling him.

"Pick it up," I said excitedly. Maybe his father missed him and was calling to ask how he was doing.

"He probably wants to lecture me about getting a job," He said.

"Pick it up," I said again as he was just staring at his phone. He seemed scared. But I slid my hand to his hand and squeezed it. "Receive the call," I said again. So Akshay held on to my fingers for a second and then picked up the call. "Hello... Papa."

'I am fine," he said after a second. "How is everybody at home?"

And then I saw him go pale. His father was saying something and Akshay's expression was not good. "What did the doctor say?"

Doctor?

"But.... Wasn't she getting better?" He stuttered.

"Can- can I talk to her?" He asked again. Whatever the replay was not good, it seems. Then his father seemed to be going on a rant. Akshay got up from the chair and walked to the window. And then outside to the balcony so that I cannot hear the rest of the argument.

I sat and watched him. There seemed to be raised voices and a lot of arguments. Akshay seemed to be crying at the end. When the call ended, He turned around and stood looking down from the balcony to the ground. I got up and walked to him. I gently touched his shoulder. "Hey... What is wrong?" I asked.

"Grandma is very critical." He said. "She is in ICU."

"Oh..." I said. I did not know how to console him. Tears were falling from his eyes.

"You should go see her," I said.

"He won't let me." He said.

"Your dad?"

"He said, he is ashamed of me." He said. "I am a failure to him."

"But she is your Granma, you have your right to visit her."

"I know. But he said he won't let me go anywhere near her without a proper job." He said. "This is total emotional blackmail."

I patted his shoulder. "So what are you going to do?" I asked.