Those enchanted four and half years

Chapter 12

Few days later, as we sat in Anatomy lecture hall waiting for the lecturer to come, I looked over at Arun. Arun was busy reading something from his notebook. I leaned to see what he was reading with no exam hovering over our heads. He was staring at a blank page.

"Arun," I called him. He did not pay attention.

"Arun," I called loudly.

He looked up, startled, angry. "What?"

"Why are you staring at a blank page?" I asked.

"Why don't you mind your own business?" he asked, irritated and continued with his stare. I was taken aback. Why was he so angry? Just then the lecturer came and I couldn't speak to him. But I felt very uncomfortable. I could not concentrate on what was being taught. I passed a chit towards him.

'Whats wrong?'

He did not reply. I again passed a chit. 'Speak to me please'.

'Nothing's wrong. Everything is perfect. Just leave me alone. PLEASE,',came his curt reply.

I was confused. What was the matter with him? I counted the minutes till the lecture ended so that I could speak to him. But the moment the lecturer left the classroom, Arun rushed out of the room and disappeared in the crowd. I felt very bad. Why was he behaving like that? What have I done?

I could not eat properly that afternoon.

"What happened? Why are you so upset?" Sneha asked, looking at my expressions.

"Arun is mad at me," I said.

"Arun? But why?" Sufee asked.

"I have no idea," I said.

"Talk to him" Sneha suggested.

"He won't speak to me." I said in a dejected voice.

"Talk to him during dissection, where can he run then?" Sufee said.

I nodded, lost. Arun did not turn up for dissection that day.

"Where's Arun?"I asked Vivek.

"He was having a headache. He's sleeping," he said.

I spent a restless evening thinking about what might be the matter with Arun. I did not eat dinner properly. Thankfully my parents thought I was not eating properly due to burden of my studies. As I lay in bed, sleep wouldn't touch my eyelids. And then all of a sudden it dawned upon me. I had not told Arun about my date with Amey. Yes, that had to be the reason. I hadn't done it purposefully. It was just that we didn't get leisure time to chat in the past few days. But Arun was hurt. I had to apologize.

Next day I caught Arun outside the lecture hall. He tried to avoid me.

"I am sorry Arun," I said. He stopped in his tracks.

"Why are you sorry?" His tone was sarcastic.

"I know the reason for your anger." I said.

"But why do you bother? What difference does it make in your life if I am angry or sad or whatever?"

"Arun don't behave like that. Look, I am sorry. I was going to tell you. It was just that we didn't get time to..."

"Of course, why will you spare any of your valuable time for me? What am I to you?"

"It's not like that, Arun, and you know it." I tried to convince him.

"No, I don't know...or rather, didn't know. But now I know what its like. Now I know my value in your life. Back then, you needed me and now you don't need me. It's that simple."

I wanted to reply but couldn't. My voice got choked. I was deeply hurt by his words. How could Arun, my best friend, misunderstand me to this extent? And unknowingly, tears began flowing down my cheeks. I wiped them immediately. Arun's angry expressions suddenly changed."Hey, are you crying?" he asked, surprised. He probably hadn't expected this reaction from me.

"No," I said, wiping some more tears. But they wouldn't stop.
"Hey, I am so sorry...I, I didn't mean to..." Arun was at loss for words. He came closer. I could not speak. We stood silently for sometime, till my tears stopped flowing. Arun couldn't speak either. What my words could not convey, my tears had. I looked up at him, wiping the last of my tears. Guilt was written all over his face.
"I am so sorry Ruta...I, I never thought you would..." he shook his head.

"Friends?" he held out his hand, smiling meekly.

I placed my palm in his. "Friends," I smiled.

"So give me the details of the date, wont you?" he asked.

"You have hurt me a lot over this. Now I will tell you on only one condition,"I said.

"And whats that?" he asked.

"I want a ride on your bike," I demanded.

"Ofcourse, anytime," he said, smiling.