Rohit noticed that Virat hadn't yet returned to the cottage, so he made coffee and took it outside. He saw Virat sitting on the grass, watching the view and looking at the sky. Rohit sat beside him at a little distance and placed the coffee down.
"Here," Rohit said softly, passing him the jacket to gain his attention.
Virat looked at him. "I make good coffee—try it," Rohit said again, as Virat continued staring at him. "And take this jacket; it's cold," he added.
Virat draped the jacket around himself and then realized it wasn't his—it was Rohit's. "You can return it later," Rohit said, noticing the look on Virat's face.
Virat held the cup with his left hand, as his right hand couldn't handle the heat. The cup wobbled, his grip not being strong enough, but Rohit immediately grabbed it before it could spill on him.
Rohit held the cup and gestured for him to take a sip. Virat just followed his cue. As he took the sip, he felt a warm sensation in his throat. "So, how is it?" Rohit asked excitedly.
"It's nice," Virat said with a soft smile as he noticed Rohit's excited expression, waiting for his response. Rohit's smile grew even wider when he saw Virat's smile. For the first time, it was for him—only for him. He didn't know why, but it made him incredibly happy to see that.
Rohit helped him hold the cup properly with his left hand. For the first time, Virat didn't pull his hand away when Rohit touched it. He didn't know why, but it felt comforting and gentle—and he liked it.
They sat in comfortable silence, sipping their coffees, enjoying the cool breeze and the warmth of each other's presence.
"Can I ask you something?" Rohit said, breaking the silence after 15 minutes. Virat looked at him and gestured for him to go ahead.
"How come you're so close with Rahul bhai and Zak Pa?" Rohit asked, curious about the dynamics they shared. The way Virat spoke to them was so different from how he behaved with others.
"Means, it's completely your choice if you don't want to share—I'm just curious, that's all," Rohit said, not wanting him to feel uncomfortable with his questions.
Virat looked down for a moment. "They're just different from others. They never made me feel like something was wrong with me," he said in a low voice.
"But nothing is wrong with you," Rohit said immediately, without even thinking, as it came so naturally to him. He had always thought of Virat as more silent and reserved, but he knew there were reasons for it. That certainly didn't mean he was weird or anything.
Virat looked at him, noticing that he was being honest when he said that. Still, he couldn't help but ask, "You think so too?"
"I know so. I mean, you're just like any normal person, just different in nature," Rohit said gently, noticing a shift in Virat's expression. There was something in his eyes that hinted at warmth.
"Thank you Rohit", said Virat and it generally meant for everything he has done till now, just small things but it meant a lot to Virat.
Rohit nodded in acknowledgment, offering a smile.
"Let's go inside. You've been sitting out here for hours, and it's freezing now," Rohit said, getting up and extending his hand to Virat.
Virat hesitated at first but then gave in. Rohit gently took his hand and pulled him up, but Virat's feet had gone numb, causing him to stumble. He quickly reached for Rohit's shoulder for support, while Rohit steadied him by holding him at the waist.
"Careful", Rohit said softly.
Virat immediately moved back. "It's okay, Virat. It's fine," Rohit assured him softly.
Rohit really wanted to understand why Virat was scared of being close to him, especially when it came to touch. Every time Rohit touched him, Virat would instinctively move away, as if it was a reflex. Rohit could see that it was happening unconsciously.
"Sorry", said Virat, not wanting Rohit to feel bad or upset at him.
"You don't have anything to be sorry about, Virat. Like I said, it's fine. Now, let's go prepare dinner—I'm hungry," Rohit said, trying to make him feel better.
"Why are you so nice to me?" Virat asked in a low voice. He wasn't sure why he asked, but it slipped out. Maybe it was because Rohit was the first person, apart from Zak Pa and Rahul bhai, who had been so gentle and caring toward him.
"Virat, I'm stepping closer, and I'm going to hold your hand, okay?" Rohit said softly, not wanting to startle him.
Rohit stepped forward and gently took both of Virat's hands. He felt Virat stiffen for a moment, but soon, he felt him relax into his hold.
"Virat, I'm being nice to you because you deserve it. You deserve all the love and warmth. You might not believe me, but I've always wanted to be your friend, to get to know you. I just never wanted to intrude on your space. I know you have Zak Pa and Rahul bhai, but they're like elder brothers, and sometimes it's hard to talk to elders, right?" Rohit asked softly, and Virat nodded.
"So, sometimes, you just need someone to be your friend, someone who understands you. I want to be that friend for you. Now that we're here together, I really want to get to know you and help in any way I can. I won't make fake promises, but if you give me just one chance to be your friend, I promise I'll be there for you, till the end, for a long, long time," Rohit said so sincerely that Virat felt his eyes well up.
Rohit gently wiped away Virat's tears, and to his relief, Virat didn't flinch at his touch. "I know it's hard to trust all of a sudden. Let's take it slow, okay?" he said, resting his hand on Virat's cheek.
"One thing I promise, I will never break your trust, no matter what happens," Rohit said, his voice full of sincerity, as if those words came from the very heart of him.
Before Rohit could wait for Virat to say anything, he was suddenly engulfed in a hug. It took him a moment to process, but then he realized it was Virat who was hugging him. Rohit wrapped his arms around him in return, feeling a rush of joy and warmth all at once.
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