Friends & Foes

Warm day, cold night

The dispute seemed to last longer than I suspected. It grew like wildfire, resulting into division between us. Neither Tejal nor Kamal would overcome their ego and step up to talk to each other. It was quite a time, they showed each other faces.

Their quarrel's resulting product caused me trouble as well, I had to choose sides. I backed up Kamal most of the time but whenever I got a chance I would sneak to meet Tejal.

Irritated by this act, I called Tejal to meet me on our regular rendezvous where we would hangout outside college. I planned to resolve the very issue, regardless of the fact that I had no idea about it.

She agreed to meet me, when I persuaded her saying Kamal won't be present. On the other hand, I called Kamal to meet Tejal, thinking there is no need to lie to him, but he refused to meet her. He had plans.

I was about to leave, when I received his message, he was ready to tag along. I felt relief as all plan was restored. We reached early and were waiting for her.

It was a park where couples would normally find isolation, joggers would find fresh air and people like me would find inspiration. We sat on the bench near the old lake placed in the centre as usual.

Tejal saw us and walked in reverse, as she found our little secret. I chased after her. For tiny legs, she made me run into chasing her. I caught her as I held her hand. "Why did you?" She pushed me in the process of getting away.

"What is wrong? I came to meet you and you're running away." I said.

"Why did you bring him?" She shouted. "You know right! We don't get along anymore"

"But you don't have to meet him, I am here, I came to meet you. Does it mean anything to you?"

She nodded with a grin but kept her eyes were low. "Come on! Let go" I pulled her holding her hands. There was a cold silence between us, which was constant even after regrouping with Kamal.

"Where were you? What took you so long?" Kamal asked. "I don't like waiting for anyone." He added. I understood the taunt was fired for Tejal. I smirked "For important things and important people, you have to wait."

"And I am important to you, right?" I said giggling.

Tejal stood in a distance quietly. "Why are you so quite? It's weird of you to be quite so long. I am worried." I said.

With her awkward silence joined us, as I sat between them while their cold war continued which later turned into indirect comments and taunts. After fighting for a while, Tejal was fed up; she walked away again.

"What was the point if you were going to just belittle her again?" I sighed.

He just smiled and said "You won't get it brother. Desperate time needs desperate measure. And she would have talked sweetly but instead she backfired."

The next day, I spent the day with Tejal trying to make up for yesterday in Kamal's absence. But she was least interested in the matter.

"Why waste our time talking about someone else, when we can talk about us." She winked. "Yeah I-I agree" I stammered. "What are your plans for the weekend?"

"Why? Are you asking me out?" She giggled. "No, I was just asking, making small talks" anxiety hit me hard. We talked for couple hours. There was giggling and I couldn't stop to blush in the whole process. The things I never knew about her, her personal secrets and gig, all were shared with me.

With my undying smile, I was numb, listening to her while I glared into her eyes, leaning in; to which she questioned and suggested to talk more. But with my silent cover, all I wanted to say her is –how much I cared for her, what she means to me.

The way she talked and looked at me, my feelings were aroused. I knuckled some sense within, I was afraid. I was in love I realised, but speaking with my heart would take a lot more courage than I ever had, even when I knocked that punch on Akarsh, who bullied me.

I walked her to home; it was more magical than I thought. We held hands and she kissed me goodbye. Although it was a peck on the cheek, but it was the first kiss I ever had.

The past few days, time after dinner was a peak time, I used to call Tejal. I called her according to schedule, but there was no answer. After a while, I tried again, but this time it was busy on another call.

I tried multiple times, but the result was the same. Frustration started building in me slowly. After few tries, I gave up and went to meet Kamal. We would usually meet at night for a while, before we sleep.

When I met him, he was on a call. I asked her who he was talking to, deep down I already knew but hearing it was more heart breaking. "Tejal", he whispered covering the phone.

I gulped and waited for him to finish talking. He was smiling and it reminded me of today –the way my lips curled. I stepped aside and thought to myself, I am not liking this, it was better when these were apart.

Kamal finished talking on phone and then he explained me that things between them are good. They are back together. I couldn't think of anything but fake a smile but it was poison to my heart.

The day was warm but the night grew colder.