Somewhere Only We Go (Editing)

Chapter 37

Kabir

I hated blindsiding Avi but this might be our best shot. When Rishabh messaged me and told me that he had successfully managed to get in touch with Aman, who was the last person to see Ishan alive before he left the party. Technically he isn't the last person, there was a survivor in the accident but Rishabh told me he wasn't that close to Ishan, he was just taking a ride back to the city and his memory from the accident is foggy. Also, Aman was his best friend, so there is a chance he knew more about Ishan's relationship with his mother. From what I have sensed it can't be healthy. I know none of this is going to bring his brother back but if understanding some of this gets him any sort of closure then it's worth a shot.

10 minutes later Rishabh walks in with a man who is probably the same height as Avi, with brown eyes and black hair with few brown highlights. Dressed in casual clothes he first looks at me and then at Avi but as soon as Avi's eyes meet his he quickly looks away. He is trying to avoid looking at Avi, which is interesting.

Avi is quiet for a few seconds but then nods at him.

"Aman."

"Hii, Avinash, long time." Rishabh looks at both of them and then at me raising his eyebrows. I underestimated how awkward this could be.

"Um, please have a seat. I am Kabir, by the way."

"Hii, Aman. But I guess you already know that." Aman mutters the last part under his breath.

Aman sits down and is still more interested in the rug beneath the table rather than the people around him. Rishabh sneaks a glance at Avi then sighs.

"Does anyone need anything to drink?" he asks.

"Water please," Aman replies.

Rishabh gets up and then nudges Avi. "Help me in the kitchen, will you?" Avi looks at him like he wants to say no but then shakes his head and gets up.

As they head towards the kitchen I realize it's just the two of us. Me and my boyfriend's dead brother's best friend from 10 years ago. I have so much in common with him to chat about.

But then I might be the best person to cut down on whatever weird tension there is in the room. I am the only person in the four of us who can be detached from the situation. I can deal with this as a third person because I am.

"Hey, thanks for agreeing to see us."

Aman nods. He looks like he is ready to flee.

"Look um, I know we are sort of forcing your hands here and I am sorry for that but it's just that Avi's life has been the same since his brother's death and I just want to help him. There is so much that has happened in the past 10 years and even if it's all for nothing, maybe just talking about his brother would help him. I can listen to him but it's hard for me to understand what it's like, and Rishabh, well, Avi looks more like he wants to punch his face than talk to him about something emotional so..." I saw a hint of a smile on his face. He is not a stranger to the Mehrotra cousins' dynamics. Maybe we can reach a point someday where he will tell me more about how they were as kids.

There is a silence of a few seconds and then Aman asks, "What do you know about Ishan?"

I bite my lips thinking about every time Avi has talked about his brother and it's not much. "Not a lot. Avi has rarely talked about him."

Aman nods. He opens his mouth to speak but then Avi and Rishabh come back with drinks in their hands.

"I think we can all agree we need liquor courage to get through the night," Rishabh says. He is right which is why I take the glass Avi extends to me and Rishabh gives one to Aman.