Drugged Love (On Hold)

Chapter Four

Ishan couldn't sleep that night. He had always been the of the kind that slept seconds after closing their eyes, but that night sleep eluded him. And why wouldn't it, he thought of Elena.

In a world where people's happiness were based on others' opinions of them, and when most of the people he knew were trying so hard to fit in, Elena was different. She was above all this.It had been forever since he had seen a real smile, Elena's smile. It had been a rare sight, and thinking that for once he was the reason for it was enough to give him a hard time sleeping.

Ishan stopped trying, it was no use. He checked his phone. Contemplating if he should or should not, he gathered courage and decided he should.

He wrote a text, Hi, are you sleeping?

He changed it, Hi, are you there?

He finally settled with, Hey.

It was not as if girls had never been interested in him, being tall, having a good physique and a taught face with wavy messy hair worked to his advantage and many girls found him cute. He just didn't find anyone interesting enough and every conversation would eventually become boring.

He had never had a girlfriend and it didn't bother him one bit. When most people were getting into relationships just for the heck of it, the concept seemed alien to him. Yes like everyone he had some sexual tendencies, but a relationship just to feed those tendencies was a big NO!

Elena replied just seconds after, Haha, hi Ishan. I was expecting this.

Ishan was both relieved and annoyed when he read that. He texted back, Don't flatter yourself. I was just bored.

Yeah right, come on Whatsapp.

Just like that they talked till three am. Words flowed effortlessly and they never ran out of topics. Sometimes Elena replied to his texts, a minute or two late although she was online, but that didn't bother Ishan and he never asked.

They discussed everything, from books to sports to music. Ishan was not surprised by Elena's vast knowledge about almost everything under the sun.

It was already three am when they decided to sleep. Ishan mentioned, "You know Elena, I always thought that you would be a little conceited and with a lot of attitude. I'm glad to know that you're not even remotely like that. "

" Ishan, thank you so much. A lot of people mistake me for what I'm not. I'm glad we talked. Bye goodnight "

Ishan was once again left alone with his thoughts. He had seldom thought of girls so profoundly. Elena? He thought maybe she's not entirely out of his league. A part of him tried to convince him to not get his hopes too high. If something is meant to be, it will be.

The weekend went pretty much in vain. Ishan spent most of his time in front of the television, computer or engrossed in a book. Reuben had invited him to his cousin's place on Saturday evening, and although Ishan didn't want to do the things that he knew they'd definitely do he decided to tag along with Reuben. Even for someone like him, every Saturday spent at home was too much.

Zakir's apartment was only a few blocks away. Ishan found the apartment to be pretty spacious considering that only three people lived there. The living room was well furnished with family portraits and abstract paintings dominating the walls. Reuben had told him that Zakir's parents were away for the weekend and they had the whole house to themselves. Ishan knew well what he meant by that.

Ishan and Reuben were greeted by a bearded skinny guy, who looked too young to have stubble. Ishan introduced them. Zakir was two years older than them and already attending college. Ishan was sure that without his thick beard which covered most of his face, he'd have looked like a 15 year old adolescent.