The Guy with the Handkerchief

XVIII: The Burden

At Shreya's House

"SHREYA!!!", shouted Arindam looking at the knife.

Shreya turned around. Arindam jumped towards her to throw away the knife from her hand.

"What the hell were you trying to do?",Arindam shouted at her in fear.

Shreya looked startled and gave a tight slap to Arindam. Arindam was shocked. He calmed down. He let loose of the hand of Shreya he had been tightly holding till then. What prevailed was silence. Only the falling of the drops of rain were audible.

After a few silent moments Shreya broke down. She hugged Arindam tight and started crying. Arindam was speechless. He just hold her back and let her cry. Both drenched in rain sat there weeping for nearly an hour or so. I was waiting for the rain to stop but it didn't. I brought them towels from the other room and convinced them to get inside and get themselves dried up.

As they were busy cleaning themselves up, I went to the kitchen to brew all of us some coffee. Poor Arindam had n other option than to remain in wet clothes as he had no spares. How could he? After all we were at Shreya's place. He came up to me to offer some help.

"Arindam!", Shreya called him as we were about to discuss what the actual problem might be.

"Here, take this coffee with you. She would feel better.", I advised.

Arindam went towards her room. "Shreya?", he called out.

"One sec. Or you can come on in.", Shreya replied.

"Are you decent?", Arindam cross questioned as he entered.

Arindam saw Shreya standing in front of the balcony window combing her wet hair. For a moment he was mesmerised by her beauty. He could see the curves of her body as she was just covered with a bra and an underpants. Her dark skin gave a perfect blend to the dark brown hair. Her long legs seemed to be smooth as silk. Her waist could be easily compared to an hour glass. She was by God's grace the epitome of beauty. Arindam was still mesmerised by the water drops falling from her hair when he realised something was really wrong. Why was he at all inside the room getting mesmerised. He felt wrong and guilty.

"Damn it", he shouted as he went out and closed the door with a bang.

Shreya was confused. She came running and peeped her head outside, "What happened?"

"I asked you if you were decent. But you didn't reply. Why didn't you reply?", Arindam asked with closed eyes.

"Oh, come on Arindam, at least open your eyes. What is so embarrassing about it? I mean I know you are into men. And its not that I didn't know you are coming inside. I only told you to.", Shreya blushed and replied. Arindam was happy to see her smiling after all the crying and wailing. However her eyes had something else to say. They were still very upset.

Upon finding Arindam's utmost shyness Shreya quickly grabbed a T-Shirt and a pair of Boxers and let him in. Arindam closed the door behind him.

"Is everything all right?", Arindam asked.

"You think so?", Shreya replied back.

"Then please tell me what the matter is.", Arindam was really curious and nervous.

"Umm... okay. So how do I frame it?", Shreya was hesitant.

"Look Shreya, I know the context. Be really frank about it with me. I guarantee that you will feel a lot better once you share it with me.", Arindam consoled.

"Yaa, regarding that... I mean... The last day Manav and I fought, it was the most disheartening day for me.", Shreya took a deep breath and started speaking. "It's not very often you get to hear that the same day can be the best as well as the worst day of anyone's life."

"Shreya.", Arindam could feel her hesitance. He grabbed both her hands tightly and said, "Close your eyes."

Shreya followed. She was taking deep breaths.

"Now just calm yourself down, and just let it go out of your system. Come on Shreya, you can do it.", Arindam motivated her.

"Umm... Umm...",Shreya was still struggling with words.

"Come on Shreya, Speak out. Speak out.",Arindam continued his chanting.

Shreya was now getting irritated, "OKAY FINE!!!", Shreya shouted, "I'M PREGNANT, OKAY? BIG DEAL! CAN YOU DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT? NO... YOU CAN'T... YOU FUCKING CAN'T." Shreya broke down again, hugged him tightly and started wailing again.