Short Stories On DARSHAN RAVAL 💙

17. Ms. Neighbour - END

It's hard being a human. We are such a complex, beautifully diverse group of beings. We feel things. A lot. We experience thoughts and emotions. Outside opinions and inner conflicts. We are humans, living a human life is challenging, messy but worth it.

It had been three weeks since Darshan left. We only talked for two times after he shifted to Kolkata. I never opened the door of that apartment again. I was still living with Maanav. Nothing seemed the same. Everything sucked.

It was a Sunday. And I was helping Maanav in cleaning. After long three hours we finished cleaning the whole house, tired, exhausted. So we quickly took a bath and just fell on the floor of the living room.

"I am ordering pizza.", I heard Maanav. I looked at him once in surprise also with a grin on my face. Maanav was ordering pizza for lunch. Mummy Maanav Tiwari wouldn't do that mostly.

After ordering he fell beside me on the floor, "Finally we're done. This apartment was looking so messy."

"You should see my life.", I said.

"We hadn't had a nice talk for a long time.", he said, joining his legs and pulling them closer to his chest. Okay he was in a mood to give advice, I knew.

"Yah."

"How are you doing?", he asked.

"Good. Totally.", I looked outside of the window then at the wall clock, it was 3 pm. I moved a little to the right side just to avoid the direct sunlight on my face.

"I saw that day Rishabh came to drop you."

"Yah. He asked me out."

"And you went with him?", he was sounding surprise.

"What else do you want me to do Maanav?", I asked.

"I just want you to accept the fact which you are currently not."

"And which is what?"

"That you miss him and you are in love with him."

"Oh my god.", I turned my head around.

"Jiya", he sat straight, "talk okay. You think I can't see you. Look at you. No talking, no smiling, nothing. Even Buzo is sad because you don't play with him anymore. So just talk to me."

My eyes were fixed on the ceiling and lips whispered, "I messed it up Maanav. There is no way to go back now."

"I know. But I want to know about you. Not how much you messed up with him, how much you are messing with yourself now.", he stated.

"Listen Jiya I told you this before and telling you now too - Go easy on yourself. Go out. Aunty is also trying to reach you from a long time now. Do the things you should do. Not going out with some random guy."

"He is not a random guy."

"Yah he is your best friend's friend, what?", he threw his arms in the air.

"You only have problems with him because he is Vidya's friend. Don't behave like a jealous best friend Maanav, you are my best friend too.", I sat up on the floor now.

"Doesn't matter. You are changing the topic okay."

I fell quite, him too. We both looked out from the window.

"Stop pretending like it is not bothering you.", he chipped.

"You are right. I am pretending. It is hurting like hell. He didn't even call me for once. I called him twice, that's it. He doesn't even want to talk to me. Now what do you want me to do?", I said in a rush.