A GIRL LIKE YOU

22

"Why didn't you call all day?!" Aaliyah's high pitched voice came from the other side of the line.
After dinner I came to my room and finally called Aaliyah as I promised.
"We were out."
"We as in, you and Ansh?"
"Yes who else."
"He seems like a great company, since he made you forget about me."
"He is great." I grinned from ear to ear.
"I am releived that you're okay. I really didn't want you to be depressed and alone out there."
"Aw. Don't worry. Ansh helped. He is awesome Aaliyah."
"I know Kiara. Can I give you some friendly advise?"
"Always baby."
"I know you really like Ansh and he may also have feelings for you. But Aarav is his best friend. So there's a good chance he may never act on his feelings since he seems like a loyal guy. And I just don't want you to get attached to him, only for him to tell you that you're just a friend."
"I get that you're concerned for me. But don't worry. I don't want Ansh to act on his feelings for me. I wouldn't want to be the reason to break a friendship."
Even though I reasoned with Aaliyah, a small part of me felt like shit after listening to Aaliyah. She just confirmed that Ansh may never act on his feelings. Because I was the abandoned wife-to-be of his best friend.
Its not like I'm living in a fantasy worls of unicorns and rainbows and fairy tales and prince charmings. Its just that a tiny part of me wants Ansh to want me.
Even though the practical side of me tells me that its not going to happen.
And not just that. I couldn't shake the feeling I got when Aaliyah said the obvious. Ansh wouldn't want to be with a girl like me.
Damn my insecurities.
We chatted for a little while and I told Aaliyah about my tattoo and the shower incident. She asked for the picture of the tattoo. She told me about how mom and dad didn't believe Aaliyah that I have left. They think I am hiding out at Aaliyah's place and making excuses because I did something. And Aaliyah reassured me that its a good thing that they think that, because this way they're giving me space. Otherwise they would be on a wild search for me. Which can't be a good thing, at all. Aaliyah told me about other reactions of other people and then we finally hung up. I sighed deeply.
I didn't want to hear about all the chaos back at home. It just makes me feel more like shit.
I was just on the verge of sinking into my depression when the sound of a guitar pulled me out of it. I walked out to find Ansh, holding an old guitar and playing random tunes on it. He looks handsome.
"I didn't know you played." I said.
He looked up at me and gave me a shy smile. "I used to. Back in college. Just found this under the bed. Thought I could try."
I went and sat across from him.
"Play a song." I said.
"Only if you'll sing with me."
"Okay. I can try."

Ansh was good. Like really good. He could play. And he could sing. A little bit. He said he liked my voice. I have never recieved that compliment for sure. I mean yes I could sing but I'm not that good.
A little later Ansh got lost in the tunes and I captured him in my phone. I needed to remember this. Always.

***

"What did you do?!" Mom's voice came from the right side. I turned towards it in the dark room but I couldn't see her.
"You're a disappointment, Kiara." Dad's voice came from the left.
"I wish you were never born."
"Thats what girls like you do."
"Ansh may never act on those feelings." Aaliyah's voice.
"What did you do?" Another boyish voice said.
"I can't look at you right now." Dad.
"I don't want you to get hurt." Aaliyah.
"What did you do?" Mom.
"No!" I shouted to shut the voices and put my hands on my ears to muffle them.
"Shut up! Shut up!" I shouted as my eyes flew open and I gasped. I quickly sat against the headboard and looked around me to find my dark room.
It was a dream. Just a dream. Thank god.
I ran my hands through my sweaty strands of hair. I need water.
I got up and went to the kitchen quietly. Its late. I don't know what time is it.
"Kiara?"
I was about to drink water, when my trembling hands betrayed me, and the sudden voice made me jump and the glass slipped from my hands and the glass shattered on the floor.
"Shit! I'm sorry I didn't mean to startle you." Ansh said as I turned around and relaxed at his sight. He almost gave me a heart attack. I put my hand on my chest as I breathed heavily.
"What are you doing up so late?" My voice sound weird to me in the quiet and dark.
"I was working. What are you doing?"
"I just had a nightmare." I said as I let my hand fall from my chest.
The cool air coming from the window made me tense. I am not wearing a bra.
"Are you okay?" He asked concerned as he took a step towards me. His eyes faltered a little to my chest and I quickly covered it with my hands.
"Yeah I am okay." I managed to say.
"Do you have them often?"
"No. Not really. I don't know." I don't want to tell him about my stupid nightmare.
"You can tell me anything, you know that right?" He said gently touching my elbow. The goosbumps made me shiver a little.
Before I could say anything, Ansh took another step towards me and suddenly he stumbled back cursing and clutching the kitchen counter hard.
What the hell just happened?
"Fuck my feet!" He said and I suddenly realised he stepped on the broken glass.
"Shit. Ansh." I said and turned the lights on quickly. I looked at his feet with a big glass on the side of it.
"Wait. I'll be right back." I said and dashed to bring the bandage from the bathroom cabinet.
He was at the couch when I came back. I took his leg in my lap despite his protest. I cleaned the wound and covered it.
"I'm so stupid." He finally said as I put his leg carefully on the coffee table.
"You are just a really good person Ansh." My answer made him look directly in my eyes. "Its like you're filled with this goodness." I confessed.
What he's done for me in the last two days. How he's been there for me, I would never ever forget that.
"What are you talking about?" He asked.
I smiled and stood up. I ran my hands through his curly hair affectionately. The action made him look at me more intensely. But I just smiled and went back to kitchen to clean up and drink that water.
All the thoughts of the nightmare took the back seat, when all I could think about is the feel of his hair between my fingers. It felt so good. Just as soft as I thought they would be.

...