When Best Friends Love

CHAPTER SIX: SICK AT HEART.

That red chamber has changed over the weeks.....not the same any more.....not at all.....it has locked its doors.....( no more ventilation ).....the air has turned stagnant.... the cobwebs have dwelled in every corner of that heart, billowed down like curtains.....the walls are leaking some of that crimson liquid though not enough to wake it up ......the pipe is coated with corrosion ........dripping small drops to the centre of it, where the remnants lie .........poor heart! There has to be a strong wind to come .......to change.....to open the doors and windows ..... a rain to wash clear that heart .......it has to be someone to fix it! And that someone is gone, forever. He has lost her. His biggest nightmare has come true.

He laid down under his sheets avoiding every calls and text messages from her. It was tough to believe that she was gone. Umma has told him before. "Confess your love for her before it's too late." He smiled bitterly to that. His Maryam; The only girl he speaks with apart from his sisters and colleagues. The only girl that makes him smile and makes him feel special. The only girl that makes life better. The only girl he loves. She's gone, far away from him.

He would describe his sadness like death by a thousand paper cuts, for every time he remembered his beloved best friend it was another cut to his already damaged heart. None were enough to kill him, but overtime their accumulation bled him of the humanity he had once had. He once was gregarious and generous natured, now he was just gaunt and melancholy. When the tears weren't even half way done, Mahmud was empty. He couldn't have cried even if he wanted to. He hadn't experienced this feeling in years. The sadness was still there, but not raw anymore - now it was an empty unhappiness - the kind he didn't think would easily lift. He felt like maryam could surprise him with the most delicious cookies on earth and he wouldn't feel a thing. He looked around his room as if he was in a pit. His surroundings were exactly the same, but they gave him no emotion. How could that be? He needed emotion to feel alive, to feel love.

The door bell rang, getting his attention. It rang again thrice. He heaved a long sigh and stood up, feeling dizzy. He couldn't remember when last he had a proper meal. He went down the stairs and opened the door. "Good day to you," he said and walked into the house like he owned it. He entered the living room hands in his pockets. "Mujahid what do you want?" Mahmud asked tiredly. He has had enough of his brother's trouble.

"Oh nothing. I just came to make things clear between you and my girlfriend." He walked around the living room while talking. Mahmud chuckled dryly, listening to what he has to say. "So I've noticed that you have a little crush on Maryam which is so cute but heartbreaking because she's in love with another man, me." He smirked. Mahmud sighed, running his hand in his rough hair. He was running out of patience already but he didn't have any strength to make a scene.

"Listen to me very carefully now! Maryam is mine, she loves me alone so you stay out of this. I never want to see you close to my girl or their house!" He warned sternly. "You can't separate two best friends, Mujahid. She looks at me as a brother, so if you try to separate us she might end up hating you."

Mujahid laughed heartily. "What you don't know my brother is that Maryam has been crushing on me her whole life so it would be difficult for her to stop loving me or believe every crap you tell her. To avoid ruin your silly friendship it's better you stay away from her. Understood?" He raised his brows. "Have a wonderful day," he said tapping mahmud on the shoulder before leaving.

His heartache had rung him out until he was dry inside, no more tears would come. His insides still felt as raw as if a winter wind was blowing right through his skin. The last statement haunted him, taunted me, replaying like an echo. His appetite had dwindled to nothing. He kept the curtains closed so that I wouldn't have to witness life going on as usual. How could it when his world had crumbled?