Hope of it all

15. Melancholy

Author's note

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Aarav's POV

I wasn't having a good day. I woke up to find a "happy birthday" sticky note on the fridge. My dad knows not to make a big fuss about today. It's a dreadful day for him too so we never talk about it. I make my way to the washroom to get ready for the day.

It's almost 1 pm when the bus comes to a hault. Everyone is sitting with their project partners and so am I. Aastha's resting her head on the window, sunlight falling all over her features. Her lips are slightly parted. Her forehead is slightly glistening with sweat. So, I flicked open the AC over her head.

I keep thinking about the chaos in the principal's office this morning.

It hurt when she cried. I hate that guy, Rishabh. I hate that he dared to touch her and thought that there would be no consequences.

Ajay sir, our English professor gets up from the front seat and stands in the middle of the aisle.

"We have reached Silvassa. We won't be going to our hotel right now. We are gonna have lunch at this restaurant. And then we will head to the rural side of the city. Now students, this is no joke. Y'all are gonna interview the people living there. I hope you all have decided the questions you're gonna ask. We will go there tomorrow as well. Everyone has to be respectful and humble or you will be debarred and sent back to Mumbai. Now let's have lunch. Also don't eat too much we don't want anyone puking in the bus, it's expensive" he says. Everyone starts exiting with laughs but Aastha is still asleep.

This girl sleeps like a rock. I am so jealous.

"Aastha...we are here... Wake up." I say but she doesn't move.

I sigh and poke my finger in her forearm. Nothing. So I intrusively poke my finger in her belly.

Her eyes snap open and she pushes my hand away. "What the fuck are you doing?" She says, her face betraying a smile.

"You're that ticklish? Sorry, you weren't waking up." I say with a wide smile. I am definitely enjoying watching her cheeks turn red.

Her expression sobers as she tied her hair into a bun. She's oddly quiet today. Her eyes are cold and distant and she's not talking to me as much as she always does. Is she mad at me? Why is she mad at me?

We have lunch and immediately head to the rural areas. I made Aastha sit on the aisle seat because the sunlight bothered her. So now, this girl, my bestfriend was sleeping with her mouth parted comically and head resting on my shoulder.

My phone pinged with a notification. It was a text from an unknown number. I saw their profile pic and it immediately caught my attention.

It was Aastha's mom. Why is she texting me?

Poonam: Hi Aarav. This is Aastha's mom.

Aarav: Hello aunty

Poonam: Kaashvi was telling me that you helped her with that cartoon costume. She looked very cute. Today, she came home with third prize.

Aarav: Oh. Really?

Poonam: She was very happy so I wanted to say thank you. Did you reach?

Aarav: We are almost there.

Poonam: I know this is too much but just take care of Aastha. She's very introverted so she doesn't talk to a lot of people. Just make sure that she won't feel left out

Aarav: Don't worry, aunty. I will make sure she enjoys this trip.

I look back at her still sleeping on my shoulder. She looks mesmerizing everytime I look at her. I swear, she wasn't this pretty when I first met her. But somehow, the more I get to know her, the more beautiful she gets.

*Later that evening*

We interviewed a woman in her 50's. She showed us her house and we noticed how they didn't even have electricity or water. I wonder how they lived in these houses without fans in the burning heat. We are gonna come back tomorrow for more work.

I am currently in my pyjamas lying lazily on the soft hotel bed. I'm sharing the room with my classmates, Harsh and Tanmay. They are at the dessert counter, leaving me alone in the room. The bell rings and I stumble to my feet and open the door, expecting my roommates, but the person standing at the door was none other than Aastha.

"Happy birthday!" She says cheerfully.

I stare at her in disbelief. She enters the room with a pastry in her hand.

"How did you know that it was my birthday?" I manage to ask

"I noticed it on your ID card. I bought you a cake, and a little gift-" I interrupt her clenching my fists at the side.

"Get out." I say and instantly regret it when I see her taking a step back, like she was hit by a physical blow.

"Get out. Now." I repeat, despite every particle of my body begging me to stop.

My own mind screams at me, looking at how hurt she looks.

I fucked up.

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I know Aarav sounds like a red flag here but please be patient.
I know this chapter is short. So I will update the next chapter soon. Thank you for reading!