The way of life

Chapter 8

Third persons POV:  The past continued

The gang had once again decided to meet up, it was the day right before the last day of college. The four friends were enjoying their time at their meeting spot when suddenly Akash's phone rang and he went away to talk
A few minutes later, he came back looking a bit worried.

"Aki, everything good?" Muskaan asked with concern
"Yeah, Mom isn't feeling well, I'm taking her to the doctor" Akash lied
"Oh, let us come then!" Virat suggested
"No! No it's okay guys, I'll be back soon. You guys carry on!" Akash said as he left
"That was strange" Muskaan said

The three friends just sat there talking about Akash's weird behaviour, whereas Akash was going to face the worst shock of his life....

Akash remembered what his mom had said on the phone
"Beta! He came home drunk again!"
His mom was scared, his dad although they were separated used to come home drunk and torture his mom. His friends didn't know about this, he didn't want them to get involved. He had caused his parents separation, his dad couldn't take proper care of him so his mom took this step. He didn't want anyone to know. All he knew at the moment was that he had to go stop him fast!

Akash reached home to see what he had expected....his dad was drunk over the top this time! His mom was whimpering in a corner.
"STOP!" Akash roared
His dad suddenly turned and faced him, he had a slight grin on his face
"What if I don't?" He asked.
Then without any notice! Akash's dad smashed his bottle of liquor on his mom's head!
"MAA!" Akash
Akash's Mom fell on the ground with a thud
"Ha! There goes your Maa! You! You caused our separation! If you were not born, me and Avni would have been living in peace! None of this would have happened! You worthless piece of s***! Now me and Avni will go to heaven together!" Akash's Dad said as took a piece of glass and cut his wrist
Akash just stood in shock! He had just witnessed his entire life flash in front of him.
He quickly called the ambulance and told them exactly what had happened. Akash's parents were taken to the hospital, Akash was waiting for the doctor outside the OT. While waiting he had realized that he was the cause behind everything! He didn't want to maintain any relations with anyone! Since he had just realized that he was unlucky, he didn't want his friends to face troubles because of him.....he would end all ties with his friends once he went to America! He would never contact them again! This would be hard for him as his friends were worth more than his life to him! Especially Muskaan, he loved her, leaving her behind would mean living in hell for the rest of his life....but he would do it! Just so she would stay happy and safe....

He slowly fell asleep and was woken up by a calm voice...

"Excuse me!"
Excuse me!" A voice said
Akash looked up to see the doctor with sympathy in his eyes. Akash got up and asked
"How...how are they?"
"Well I am sorry to say...but your father is no more!" The doctor said
Akash stood there, just absorbing the doctors words. Once he was stable he asked about his mother
"What about my mom?"
"She is alive, but she is in coma!" The doctor said
Akash once again stood in shock. His mom who he loved so much, was in coma. This was all because of him!
"How long will it take for her to recover?" Akash asked
"Well we don't know, but we can say this for sure that she won't be recovering in less than a year" The doctor said
Akash was shocked once again, he was now sure that all he had to do was to go away from anyone he once loved....he had to.... RING RING......Akash's phone rang....it was Virat.
"Hello?" Akash answered in a strong voice
"Oye! Akash where the hell are you? College starts in like 20 mins!" Virat yelled from the other side
"Yeah, I'm on my way! Just stuck in traffic!" Akash lied
"Okay! You better get here fast! Today is going to be a very special day for you!" Virat said mischievously as he ended the call.

Akash was worried, he wasn't sure what was going to happen today. Virat said that something was special....but what? Akash quickly filled out the forms for the hospital and donated his fathers body for research....he didn't want anything to do with him.
He was soon on his was to college. He had to end everything today...he was determined on his decision....

Akash reached his college and was greeted by his three friends
"Here he comes!" Muskaan said with a large smile
"Hey guys!" Akash said with a fake smile
"Soooooo....today's a special day hun?" Shagun said with a grin
"Yes.....very special!" Virat said slyly
"Will you guys stop it! What is it already?" Akash demanded
"Well....Akash...I have something to tell you" Muskaan said shyly
"Well then....go on..." Akash ushered her to continue...he was still uncertain on what she was about to say...
"Well...the thing is that....I...um....I....I...." Muskaan stuttered
"You what?" Akash asked
Muskaan suddenly turned her back to Akash and said those three words that he had always wanted to hear......
"I LOVE YOU!" Muskaan said
Akash was flattered...he wanted to confess his feelings to her too...but then he remembered his promise he made to himself
"Oh.... Muskaan...I...I don't know what to say! As much as I would love to confess to you......I...can't....I am sorry" Akash said with a heavy heart...
"WHAT! What do you mean? You....you love me right? Why can't you say yes? Akash tell me why?" Muskaan was in tears by now
"Muskaan, please don't cry! I don't want to see you like this! If only it was that easy to explain...." Akash said
" You know what Akash, I...I...always knew that....that....you don't love me! I still confessed! Im fine if you said no, but at least tell me why you said no?" Muskaan pleaded, tears were flowing down her beautiful brown eyes....
"I...I...I can't!" Akash said as he walked away.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY I CANT?" Muskaan yelled at Akash causing him to turn around.
"Do all those moments that we shared mean noting to you? Do all those times when we walked hand in hand alone the lake side mean nothing to you? Do the times when we talked not with our mouths but our eyes mean nothing to you? You know what Akash, I really believed that you were my best friend if not my lover! Is this how you treat a best friend?" Muskaan stared into Akash's eyes, her eyes cold yet tears were flowing non stop. Her every accusation pierced his heart like an arrow. Especially her last line "is this how you treat a best friend?"
He wanted to run and hug Muskaan and tell her that her accusations were all wrong! He wanted to scream out so that the entire world heard his feelings for Muskaan. He wanted to tell her how much he loved her, but what did he do? He turned around and left! He left Muskaan....his friends he left the only things he lived for....
Suddenly Virat pulled Akash from the back and slapped him across the face and yelled
"WHAT THE HELL AKASH! You loved her didn't you! Then why did you say no?"
"I can't tell you" Akash said plainly
"What do you mean you can't tell me?" Virat asked in a low but angry tone
"You won't understand." Akash said quietly
"Just tell me! No reason is good enough for you to reject Muskaan like that!" Virat was furious at that moment
"Okay fine!" Akash said as he narrated the entire story to Virat...
Virat couldn't believe his ears when Akash told him the entire story starting from his parents divorce to the news of his mother being in coma...
"Why didn't you tell me before?" Virat asked
"I did not want you guys to be stressed because of me" Akash said
"You idiot! We would never leave your side! Now! Come back! Tell Muskaan everything! You guys can be together!" Virat suggested
"I don't want to cause havoc in her life! I can't! Don't try to stop me! I have already made up my mind! I won't let Muskaan's life be ruined because of my bad luck! All I ask is that you stay in touch! Bye for now!" Akash said as he gave Virat a hug
"Okay, as you wish! I won't tell Muskaan or Shagun anything. Good luck! See you soon" Virat said disappointedly as he walked back towards his college.
Akash left, he didn't stay for the last day as it wasn't necessary, he went home and packed to leave for America.

This is how it all ended....

After Akash left, Virat and Shagun had a hard time trying to cheer Muskaan up. It took her a good week to get back to normal. After her recovery, Virat and Shagun went for higher studies. Shagun went for software engineering, Virat was supposed to go in the same field but surprisingly he never took that course. Muskaan soon went to achieve her dreams of becoming a lawyer.
All 3 friends were reunited after some years where their lives were about to change once more.......