Till The Count Of Five ✓

Chapter 11

Chapter 11

You pushed me down the cliff thinking you were saving me from the demons that were chasing us. Now you say you're sorry.

Vee

24th April 2019, Wednesday
15:50

The only person I approved of was not here when she needed him and I was to be blamed for the wreck. Ashiamma had wanted peace but she had also wanted assurance that no one would judge her after Shay's friendly allegations. She had wanted someone to tell her that he would not believe in the rumours. She had specifically wanted a he.

"How did I not see that coming?" she had said.

I had stayed quiet as usual. I had nothing to say. Consoling, sugary words and even insults had not worked. Everytime I had glanced at her, her teary eyes tucked at my heart. So when I had seen Rishab in her house, I had lost my cool. Anyone in my position would. It was the betrayal on her part that now pricked me.

Ashiamma had known about her brother and her boyfriend. She had found that very day but she hadn't uttered a single word in all these months. My chest hurt. I had spent days wiping off her tears and telling her she was the perfect friend I could ever have. I had spent hours handling the work myself which we both were supposed to do because she had been going through that post breakup phase or whatever it was called. I had failed to decipher her behaviour then. I was failing to decipher it now.

'She's dead anyway,' my mind said. 'Does it matter?'

That was why I did not want to think about the circumstances of her death, it mattered. That was the problem, it was not supposed to matter. I needed a drink badly but I also needed to attend the idiot who was constantly ringing my phone.

A message popped up. I'm outside.

I grunted and left my room to welcome my guest. Hardik grinned at me as soon as I opened the door. I did not return it. He was supposed to be here before.

"Why did you call if you were going to show up anyway?" I asked.

"That is not a warm welcome," he replied and stepped into my house, pushing me in.

"How was your trip? Did you enjoy the east coast? If you're still hungover, we can pretend to be in that happy bubble you're drifting inside," I said and sat down.

He stared at me with a frown.

"Stop being modest and sit down. You are already here." I pulled him down.

"How much did I miss?" He asked.

I laughed. He was not ready for this. "Are you asking me that question while I'm sober?"

He did not know what I meant. Of course he didn't. I had been in shock after finding out about Ashiamma. I remembered it vividly, standing at the podium and the only words I had said were the first two letters of my name. I had broken down then, looking at Kiara's broken face, the empty space where Ashiamma was supposed to be.

"Your girlfriend is dead," I stated.

Hardik shook his head. "Man, I'm serious. You're joking."

I raised an eyebrow.

He scoffed. "I return from the railway station to my house and directly call you. You don't pick up. I visit you and you're treating me with that attitude. Keep it for the people at school. Get to the point. Did I do something wrong?"