Of The Stars That Breathe

7. Fuck Goodbyes.

TW:- There's going to be a lot of swearing in this chapter, more than my characters have ever used.
I mean, it won't be a problem to you as ya'll are fans of CarryMinati.
But had to do it for formality's sake.

~~~

"19th June, 2021. Save the da-a-ate!", I said nonchalantly.
"Duly noted.", Ajey smirked and replied.
I was hit with a sudden realisation.

I was already excited to see him after six months, but was he?
Ugh, Ahalya, you are a complete fool.!

I looked at him sideways.
He was such a big YouTuber. All the people are always drooling and hovering around him. Why would he want to meet a completely random girl he met by chance?
Why would he ever want to meet you?
This was just a chance encounter. And the fact that you have been living under a rock and didn't knew him, didn't help it.
I quickly glanced away when I realised that I was thinking while staring at him.
Stupid me.
Always fucks-up everything.

He chuckled and said, "Don't worry. I want to meet you again, too."

My head snapped to him with my eyes ever so wide.
"How did you know what I was thinking?"
"Sixth sense, chomu.", he answered.
I rolled my eyes at him.

"It was written on your face, the doubt regarding me. Of course, I will meet you. Don't think of me as a famous YouTuber. Just think of me as Ajey, the hot stranger with a sexy voice, cause that's the one you're going to meet!", he chuckled again.

I rolled my eyes at him yet again.
So much self obsession; haaye ram!

"And you said you didn't have 'male ego' ", I air-quoted the word.
He smiled at me.

We had reached our room, with his just opposite of mine.
I stopped in my tracks, stepped in front of him and faced him.

"Fuck goodbyes.", I looked at him in the eye and said as a matter-of-fact.
"Oh, fuck 'em real good.", he shook his head slowly and answered with his god-forbidden, famous smile.

"Goodbyes ki behen ki laudi hai.", I said.

"Goodbyes ko lund pe jhulna chahiye.", he carried on the series after me and oh god, I was controlling my laughter so damn hard.

"Goodbyes ki maa ki chut."

"Goodbye, tu chutiya hai kya?", he said after me.

"Meine na goodbyes ki phaad ke 36 kar deni hai."

I was done.
We were both laughing our wits out.
"Okay, I got a better one.", he said in between his laughs.
"Imagine it as a meme. Meanwhile goodbyes...", and he made a gesture with his thumbs up and his eyes somewhat watery.
It was the 'thumbs up crying cat' meme!

I roared with laughter and he smiled at me.

"By the way, since you know who I am now, you might want to check me amd videos out, and for that, I would recommend you to see my video that is titled 'Bad Words'. It's my all time favourite.", he said with an air of superiority.

"Modern day Geet from 'Jab We Met' he is. 'Main apni favourite hoon!' ", I shook my head and muttered under my breath.

"What was that?", he inquired.

I shook my head but said nonetheless, "What makes you think that I want to check them out in the first place?"

It happened so suddenly.
His expressions that were full of ego just a second ago, turned so awkward that I couldn't look away even for a moment and I just looked at him and wondered how pure he was.

"Well...umm...okay...I mean, I thought....", he fumbled and scratched the back of his neck.

I blew a raspberry and he stared at me and finally realised what happened. He smiled shyly and said, "Yaar! You do this everytime!"

I rose on my tip-toes and pecked him on his cheek; the action taking him by surprise. He stared at me, but then looked down, as if he was embarrassed instead of me.
I wasn't embarrassed, though; not at all sorry for what I did.
This guy was a bundle of goofiness!

"See you soon.", I said sincerely with my hand on the handle of my room.
He sighed and then proceeded to hug me.
First he was a bit hesistant, but when I didn't resist, he hugged me firmly. The warmness was back again and I rested my head on his shoulder. God, am I going to miss this warmth.

"See you after six months.", he said; his breath warm on my hair.
A chill ran down my spine.
Fuck, what was happening to me? Missing his 'warmth' and all?
What in the hell was this feeling?

What he said was both a statement and a silent, unasked question. He was confirming about my well-being and, at the same time, ordering me not to do what I had planned to do.
I nodded firmly into the cleft between his neck and shoulder.
It was decided.
I wanted to live.

I mean, I wasn't even able to speak that word out loud. How was I ever going to...going to...commit....commit suicide?
I had never said that word even inside my mind.
But anyway, I was not going to do any such thing.
Finally, he let me go.
He cupped my face in his hands and gave me that smile. I returned it.

Then he left. He turned to the opposite door and then went inside it.
I sighed and went inside mine.

I was going to shut the door normally, but realised that Nupur was still asleep. So, I shut it ever so lightly. Fortunately, she was still sleeping, her legs sprawled across the whole bed. I quitely walked up to her, switched on her mobile phone and went to the bathroom to change.

Any minute now, her alarm would ring. I started brushing my teeth with my overthinker of a mind still processing the last eight hours.
What was the strange feeling I felt earlier? Of course it wasn't the 'L' word. I mean, it was too early for that. Way too early.
I guess, it was still the intoxication of my sudden realisation. I have never felt the happiness that I felt, and I had associated that to Ajey, and these foreign feelings were just the outcome.
Yes, it was that.
Definately that.

Suddenly, the alarm went off and almost immediately, she called out to me in gujarati, "Ahalya, kya che tu?"
(Translation: Ahalya, where are you?)
Thank Heavens she didn't noticed that I was gone!

I gave a disgruntled 'hmm' to let her know that I am just here.
I can't wait to go to Faridabad.

...

// sunn rahi hu sudhh-budhh khoke
koi mein kahaani,
puri kahaani hai kya
kisse hai pata //

~~~

I know that this whole episode in Dubai was a bit long, but I think it was necessary as Ahalya had to go through all that negative emotions and had to switch her decisions between living and...well, you know what.

And this story is about realising self-worth and self-healing as much as it is a fanfiction.

Anyways, thanks peeps!