Us Being Us (A Darshan Raval Fanfic)

III. I've Given Up (Or DID I??)

Aisha's POV: 

These past 15 days have been hell. Darshan was being extra mean. He shouted at me for no purpose at all. Why? Don't ask me. What had I done? Merlin knows. He just barked at me for nothing and I just smiled through all of it. My friends started hating him. The only good thing that happened was I was designated head of the Dance Society. Again. 

I walked to school alone today. Tara, Niu and Alisha left early. "Hi!" I turned around without any interest. Pratham. Darshan's soccer teammate. That flirt. I have already turned him down politely thrice and powerfully once. "Kya chahiye?" I asked dully. "Tu."

"Agli baar, tu mere paas aayega toh main tera muh tod dungi. And, I don't joke about this kinda stuff!" I asserted as I stalked off. "Ek date se kuch nahi hoga." I gave him a resting bitch face. "Okay..." He ran off, smirking. Something's up.

Later... Much Later...

I sat down with the girls for the one hour break. "Aisha. Tu kyun Darshan ko kuch nahi bolti? Itne gaali deta hai woh tujhe and you still smile at him and walk off," Niu asked, worriedly. "Are you okay?" Alisha asked. "Guys, okay. 15 days ago, my mom emailed me a huge folder of photos of Darshan and me. I even made a book and stuck all those pictures in it. It brought back millions of memories. Photos of me and Darshan on our first rollercoaster, on the beach, our first Christmas, our 8 shared birthdays together... I can't fight him anymore. For the sake of my 8-year-old self.  These past 7 years, I have hurt my past self a lot. Nahi hoga aur mujhse. We were besties. I loved my best friend back then. It hurts me. I give up. Sorry." I had tears gliding down my cheeks. I never cried in front of others. But, I could not hold myself back now. Tara hugged me and asked, "Main bhai ko bulaaun??" I nodded. 

Tara's POV: 

I walked up to Jyugal and his gang. Hardil tapped Jyugal's shoulder and pointed at me. "Kya hua? Koi mar gaya kya?" Siddharth laughed looking at my remorseful face. "Chup kar, Sid. Tara? Kya hua?" Jyugal asked. "Tu chal mere saath," I stuttered. "Nahi, nahi chalega. Tu bol. Phir jaayega tere saath," Darshan remarked. "Bhai... Aisha. She's lost faith in herself. She has given up. Past 15 days, she's changed. She... I don't know. I am worried. She is crying. And it's not like she's in pain. Like, she's done something evil and can't ever make it right," I informed. "Tu chal, Tara. We'll bring her back," Jyugal returned, hugging me close because I was on the brink of tears. "Tu Aisha ke liya bada darta hai..." Darshan mocked. "Haan. Haan, main darta hoon. Because it is unlike her to lose faith. Something has gone terribly wrong. She's very strong. I worry for all 7 of you. Please. I know you hate her, Darsh. But, I don't. You don't care. I care. Forget it. Who am I even talking to about it? I am a fool," Jyugal cried. We ran back all the way to the classroom and did not find Aisha there. "Aisha kidhar hai?" I gasped. "Principal ke office mein. She punched Pratham's face. I think that broke his nose," Niharka answered. "Why did she punch him??" Jyugal inquired. "He was flirting with her. For a long time. She declined politely thrice and firmly once. He did not listen. It seems she threatened to punch him today on the way to school. He still came up to her and asked her out. She broke his nose out of absolute rage," Alisha explained. Jyugal laughed, "He had it coming..." Darshan barged in, yelling his head off, "Aisha kidhar hai? She hit Pratham and broke his nose! And she's not suspended. He is. For a week! She gets away with everything. Hadd hai."

"I got away with it because he teased many girls. The principal received 15 complaints. I am proud that I broke his nose. Well, I can sleep peacefully today. Yass!!" Aisha walked in with pride, smiling like never before. "Sister has risen from her grave!!" Niu cheered. "Oh yeah. She has. With style," Aisha giggled as she brushed her shoulders off. 

My girl was back, stronger than ever. Guess she did not give up after all...