Those Silly Days

Chapter 32

***Jiya's POV ***

"You really don't want to eat? " he questioned, his burger on the side, unopened.

" No, Yash, I said. I don't want to. I just want to get the hell out of here. " I said, my eyes onto the bottled water.

" Okay, let's go then. " he said.

" Finish your burger first. " I shoot back.

" I'm not hungry too then. "

" Yash, this isn't about you. It's the - " I'm interrupted.

" Looks, I know! But, ignore. You have something to eat and we leave. " he finishes.

" How do you - - " And, I'm interrupted again.

" Ahmmm... " I hear someone clear their throat. My eyes meet those black ones and the whole world silences.

" We need to talk. " He speaks, his body stiff and his hands in his pockets. I know this stance too well.

For a moment, my throat is dry, words are dead and so is my brain. But them, there is a light kick to my leg underneath the table. My eyes go onto Yash who gives me that look 'You better talk'.

"I don't want to. " I answer the shadow standing above our table and I get another kick under the table.

" This can't go on forever. We need to talk and that to now. But, not here. " He says, gritting his teeth.

" You should go, Jiya. " Yash puts forward. His eyes speak a message and I know he wants me to go, solve this shit and probably give him some peace. I sigh when I get another under the table.

" Okay. 5 minutes. " I mutter before grabbing my things and leaving the cafeteria.

××××

" What do you want talk about, Manav? "

" Not here. " he says. We are out of cafeteria.

" C'mon. " He takes my hand and it seems so normal but it isn't anymore. His touch weakens me, brings those emotions back which were buried deep enough in these days.

" Here. " He says as he pushes open the door of an empty classroom.

He closes the door as he steps in. I wrap my arms around myself, not as a stance for protection but I feel like I need to. His eyes meets mine and for a moment I'm tranced like I'm always. Until everything is back.

"What is it, Manav? You have few minutes, remember. "

He scratches his brow before shifting on his feet.

" Are you going to speak? Or shall I leave? "

" I trust you, J. " He says.

" Oh! So now you do. What changed suddenly? "

" I'm sorry, okay? I was just... " he trailed off.

" You were just... What, Manav? Jealous? Went crazy? What? "

He sighs.

" I thought you knew that I couldn't ever cheat but... " I can't speak anymore.

" I'm sorry, J. I really am. I trust you and I'm sorry for accusations. I'm really sorry. " He speaks, his voice compassionate.

" I know, I doubted you. It's not a small thing. But, I'm sorry. Give me a chance to change this. Give our friendship a chance. Please. I'm sorry I did screw up but I just want us to be together. I just didn't want to lose you. You chose Sam over anyone. I couldn't help it. I couldn't help myself. All that things got over me. That moment, all those rumors, all got me. All got me, Jiya. All got me. I'm sorry! "

I wrapped my arms more tightly. His words still kept ringing. All those events kept ringing.

" J, please. Speak something. Jiya..."

"I... I need a time. " I managed to say. Clutching onto my bag tightly, I left.

And, there was only one person in my mind who knew what to make of this shit.

××××

" Gorgeous, do you want to talk about it? " he said, his tone soft. His musky woody scent filled my nose as a gust of wind blew.

" Hey! "he said shrugging my head off his shoulder.

" Talk to me. " he said, his eyes knowing what I needed. As always.

And, then I spilled it all. He listened.
" What did you say? " he asked when I told about Manav's speech.

" What do you expect? " I crossed.

" You accepted it? "he seemed unsure.

" I needed some time. " I answered.

" Oh! " Was all he could say.

" That's all you have to say? " I speak, surprised. I expected a different answer. He rolls his lip inside, looking away. I sigh as I look around the garden, sitting under the old banyan tree.

I lean back against the trunk, closing my eyes, taking all the shit of my life.

" You should have accepted. Forgive him because we both what he means to you. " Yash said.

" Should I? "

" Yes " The confidence in his voice shook me. I looked at him. His eyes did convey the same.

" He means to me. You should forgive and forget. Get on with it, Jiya. I don't want you to regret anything in future. He deserves a chance and you deserve to be happy. " Yash spoke.

" Why are you so sure that I would be happy? With him! " The words rushed out of nowhere. He looked away, then looked back, with all the conviction, he said," I know. "

" You can be wrong too! Maybe, it's not true. Then? " I shoot back any shit. My tongue seems to have her own brain.

" I can't be. I have seen you. You... You're happy when you are with him. He makes you happy, Jiya. He does. And, we both know, he's important to you. "

" He is. " I second his last statement. He nods, rolling his bottom lip.

I nod back. He stands up, all a sudden.

" Where are you going? "

I get no answer.

××××
I look at the door as the door to the terrace garden opens.

" J... " he breathes out.

" We need to talk. " I voice his words.

" Yes? " I know he was expecting something. It can be read in his eyes.

" You know what hurt me the most -  your lack of trust. I thought you would hear me out before you believe anyone but you didn't even. That hurt me, Manav. You were my best friend before being anything more. I thought you would hear me out. Atleast once. But you didn't. "

" I'm sorry. " He spoke at once.

" I really am sorry. " He said again.

" We both know, he's important to you. He makes you happy. " His words echoed through. Yash believed that I should give him a chance.

" Accepted. " I said. He sighed, real hard.

" Still, I need time before we go back to what we were. " I said.

" I respect that. " he said.

I nodded. So did he. And, I walked away.