Her Memories Calling Him...

02 | Conjecture

"Arjun, you know me better. It's long gone.."

Aditya shrugged irritated as he sipped his Black Coffee with zero Sugar. He liked his coffee Black, Strong and Dull just similar to his life. Since he parted ways with her it had become his routine. It has become a melancholic mood for the young lad to wake up to some dark coffee and start his day, wearing Black, White, Grey or rarely Dark Blue. He did pretend that everything is alright with him in front of his parents and the staff at the office but he couldn't hide the truth from his brother Arjun.

Arjun stared at his elder brother lifting his eyebrows and shook his head disagreeing while Aditya decided to look away, not meeting his eyes. It was hard for him to lie looking straight in to someone's eyes, especially his own blood.

"Bhai, whom are you telling this to? Your own brother, who knows how to read you like a book? Please just put an end to this situation and try to live your life cheered up, in a happy mood! You are still young and there's a lot ahead in this journey for you.."

It was a warning for Aditya and he understood his brother's intentions. Gritting his teeth Aditya placed away the finished mug of coffee and looked at Arjun sternly and he could identify what was coming his way.

"Arjun, I am happy but you have trust me when I say it! I've been saying that I'm happy whenever you showed your caring side for like ten times during the past week OK? Dude, I have no issues with our business, everything is going as it was supposed to be, dad is there to guide us and we are getting new offers too and you know that! That, which I want our entire team to collectively work for. No hard feelings but Arjun, stop being so concerned about me every time because I'm a normal guy. I'm not suffering from any mental illness or nor do I need any psychiatric treatment! For f**** sake man, let go!"

He stuttered in between and almost shouted and it wasn't a task that hard for Arjun to realize that his brother was trying cover up the pain in his heart and lying for the umpteenth time that he is indeed merry in the present times. No matter however Aditya tried to convince Arjun that he had gotten through his past, he was Aditya's brother only and today he had crossed his limits after he announced that he had made that one stupid call.

Arjun cleared his throat soundly and rose up from his seat, placing the tea cup aside. He pushed his hands inside his trouser pockets and relaxed his shoulders.

"Bhai, just like I said before I know you more than I know myself. I've seen what all you have gone through for these eight freaking years and even if you pretend to be joyful in front of our family, you can never lie to me. Heck, you can never look me in the eye and admit that Zoya is past bhai! I understand that you had a strong connection with her but that day it changed. You had to move on and Zoya did the same, except you didn't come out of that secured shell of yours. You were never this sensitive as a teenager and later I realized that Zoya is the one you love. She's the woman who has that right over you, to change you again in to my old bhai. Mom and dad doesn't know that you loved Zoya back then and even now. That's why they have been busy searching a girl for you bhai! I'm sorry I had to spill the news this way but you have the right to know that they want you to get married at the earliest possible.."

Arjun words shook Aditya as he widened his eyes in utter disbelief. He kept gaping at Arjun until he nodded. Aditya stood up, looking here and there in shock.

"What? Mom and dad are planning to get me married? Are you serious? Oh my god, I.. I can't... I can't cheat on some innocent girl like this Arjun! That's not me! It would be like I'm committing a sin, a big sin by marrying a girl that I'm not even interested to get married to, never ever! I don't want to do this.."

Aditya pushed his brother behind using his strong arms while nodding his head and Arjun got hold of his wrists immediately.

"Bhai, panicking is not the option. I know that it's a wicked task for you to forget Zoya and try to divert your attention to marry some random girl but bhai, enough. It's been eight years and that's a long time to build up a different future but you chose to stay behind. That's all your fault! I don't want you to be this drunk a** b******, who has nothing good in his life to appreciate. I don't want my brother to sulk around in memory of a girl whom he knows won't belong to him! She's married! You have everything a guy needs in his life bhai and loving parents, who can do anything for you. I'm also here with you but if you don't leave the past aside, forget those painful memories and look at new opportunities in life, how does the score settle?"