By Your Side..Forever & A Day!

18. A walk to remember

Super thank yous for making the count reach 2500+ reads :D .. & as promised, it's my second update in this week.. I am a woman (girl, to be precise) of my words.. :P

Dedicated to @vjvijay95.. I loved when you said "Obsession is an understatement" :)

Happy Reading.. :))

------------------------------------------------------------

Tamanna's PoV :

Ten minutes had passed since we walked away from my residence and apparently, Aryamann was still trying to grab the courage to talk about it. My patience died and I walked ahead of him, blocking his path and adopted the 'Aryamann technique'.

"Just give me a reason, just a little bit's enough", I pleaded with the help of Pink's song, which was appropriate for the hour.

He first flimsily smiled at my not-so-melodious effort and then declared, "You are very fortunate to have a father like Dr Sen, Tommy, who respects, or leastways, has learned to support your decisions."

"I couldn't agree less", I proudly asserted. "But don't all dads do the same?"

"No", was his immediate reply. "At least not mine." I spoke nothing and waited for him to continue; he understood.

"I screwed up while presenting a very important business deal around three years ago and that's the reason my dad thinks I am good for nothing. All the business propositions I put forth are never accepted, unless they have only one motive - profit; whereas that's not my business policy. I agree I am actually not very much into this construction thing, but I am trying to develop interest, I am learning everyday not just to be a better entrepreneur, but also a better son! But he just doesn't try to...", saying this, he trailed away his speech.

"Doesn't try to what? Be a better father?", I found myself asking.

"And a better husband", he blurted almost at the spur of the moment.

"A better husband?", I enquired not quite understanding what he was pointing towards. "What do you mean?"

"I shouldn't have said that. Just erase what you heard. I am sorry!", he replied while running a hand through his hair harshly like he wished to pull all of them out and then began to walk ahead of me.

"If you didn't make him talk it out today, Tammy, he'll probably never in future. Can't you see it in his eyes that whatever it is, it's killing him from inside. Go, stop him; try to ease his pain!", instructed my mind and I did as directed.

I ran behind him and blocking his way once again, I took both his hands in mine and looked straight into those intense eyes of his. "You can trust me with it, Aryamann, and you know it too. I won't be judgemental about anything. Please let me help you deal with whatever it is and I promise I'll try more than what I can do best", I honestly assured.

"No, Tommy. I don't think it's right to...", he tried to resist, but I cut him off stating, "I've the right to know, Aryamann. I am your best friend! Don't push me away. Please?"

He let out a sigh and looking down at our enclosed hands, he narrated, "My parents have never had a happy couple life. They've always had differences at each and every thing. It all began when I was five. My father wasn't Mr Rathore then, he was just Anurag Rathore, a middle class employee. He was away for a business trip with his employer that was supposedly for just three days, but he didn't come back home on the fourth alongside the other employees. Nobody knew where he was and he had cut off all telephonic contacts. My mother tried to search him till the only option left with her was to pray he was alive. When he returned six days later on a freezing winter night and barged into the house, I pretended to be asleep and overheard their conversation. My father had purposefully left his family behind to survive without a man, just not caring what his family would do without him. He made her beg for him to stay back and she promised to follow all his commands in future. Since then, my mother has been rescuing ailing women, but she couldn't rescue herself from him because she feared about my future without a father's name following my own. That's the irony of her life! And you know what's the irony of my life? My father doesn't love me as his son and I haven't yet been able to pay back my mother for her extravagant love. In both ways, I am not a son!"

"Don't blame yourself, Aryamann. It's not your fau...", I tried a hand at consoling him, but he interrupted.

"Three weeks ago, it was their twenty-sixth wedding anniversary and all my father could gift his wife was come home drunk. My mother wept till her tears dried and out of regret and helplessness, I stormed out of the house in the middle of the night. And...", he paused to look at me and then resumed with a half-smile, "...that's when I met you!"

"And I am so glad you met me!", I overwhelmingly pronounced.

"Your face radiated a signal to me for help and I thought I should help at least one female that night, if not my mother", he added and I watched his eyes turn from dry to wet. Who knew this congenial boy had such a vulnerable side to himself too! I simply grabbed him for a long hug expecting him to cry, but he was strong enough to hold them in, unlike me.

My parents had a perfect life together, beginning from a love marriage. Even if they had any argument, they didn't let it affect their children's mental balance. My childhood, as far as I could recall, was absolute bliss. Never had I felt unwanted.

"I won't say I know how you feel about it because I personally haven't experienced any of it. But I can assure you that you won't have to go through it alone henceforth. I am with you, forever and a day", I promised after releasing him from the cuddle.

"Thank you for making my heart feel lighter. Thank you, my Bestestie!", he expressed his gratitude.

"Bestestie?", was all I uttered in exchange of a ' you're welcome'.

"The best of all my besties", he explained with twinkling eyes. Maybe it was a result of the tears forming in his eyes a minute ago.

"But technically I am your only bestie", I said matter-of-factly.

"That's the whole point. You'd lose if there was any competition", he teased and I playfully slapped his arm in disappointment.

"Huh, meanie", I said impetuously which only made him laugh out loud. If a joke on me could turn his frown upside down, I'd always be ready to perform as the clown. (Hey, that rhymes!)

"I bet there's some mistake in considering you good for nothing. See, you are an entrepreneur, a need for speed kind of driver, a sportsman, a rockstar, a drama queen and a lately discovered chef! Is there something you are not?", I questioned waiting eagerly for an answer.

"A boyfriend", was his cool reply which made the temperature of my cheeks turn not so cool.

"Don't forget there's someone on the desperation list - Cindy!", I stated and both of us laughed till our lungs gasped for air.

"Trisha is alone at home. I think it's time to return", reminded Aryamann.

"Yeah. Don't worry Sha, Ironman returns!", I joked posing his patent superhero pose and both of us started jogging towards my residence, laughter not stopping to erupt from our mouths.

In the middle of our small journey, I heard some animal cry. "Did you hear that?", I asked Aryamann and we concentrated listening in the direction of the sound.

After a two minute long quest, we spotted a cute little puppy being wooed by four bigger dogs. When Aryamann tried to shoo them away, they turned even more aggressive and barked at us, making two more dogs join the herd. Now it was six versus two, or three, if you consider the tiny pup on our side.

Aryamann cautiously picked the pup in his arms, maintaining his sight on the progressive actions of the other dogs and shouted at me, "Run!"

...And the three of us ran for our lives!

--------------------------------------------------------------

PS - Press that VOTE button for me, please :P .. or even better, leave your COMMENTS!