Page 80 of Storm
Aariz stared at me with a helpless expression as I wiped my tears with the back of my hands.
“You always misunderstand me.” I whispered hugging myself.
“No. Of course not.” Aariz whispered back in the gentlest possible tone.
I gaped at him exploding at his audacity,
“What do you mean by, no! Am I lying?! Every time you misunderstand me! The other day when I had to do the group project and I had refused your offer for lunch and for dropping me home, what had you texted? ‘Yes I saw how busy you are Sani and with whom!’ Just because you saw me laughing with the group, means I was lying?! Can't we even laugh?” I purposely skipped the part of Sahil touching my face and trying to get closer, because it did not make sense, that it would have affected Aariz in anyway.
“You yourself made that group and put me in it, right? Then how could you think I'm doing nothing in the group and lying about the project?!”
Aariz sighed heavily while rubbing the back of his neck,
“No, I hadn’t meant you as liar. It was just that, seeing Sahil with you, I...”
He stopped midsentence and gave me a vulnerable look. My heart turned over just thinking what he meant.
Am I right? Did it affect him to see me with someone else?
No, he couldn’t really...
Oh God...!
Hanging my head low, I decided to end the confusion. A little timidly, in a fearful tone I started,
“Do you know, since we have returned from the trip, I have been so tensed. I'm so confused and stressed thinking about, why you yelled at Elli though I hadn’t asked you to. You had gotten angry like never before on Sahil during the trip for an honest mistake. You treated my wounds and cared about me, though you did not have to. You fed me the drink, with your own hands. You skipped lunch, though ointment was on my palms. And then in the bus, you passed me the chocolate because you felt I was hungry...” Shaking my head at myself, I went on trembling, “I know I'm stupid to think all of this, but no one does these things for anyone just like that. Therefore, I thought maybe you want to be my friend. Because maybe you are lonely...”
A chuckle escaped his mouth and my head snapped up. But he quickly straightened his expression and nodded in understanding.
Tentatively I continued,
“But then, I already knew that you have friends and I thought even if you didn’t, then too why would you want to be friends with your student...”
This now was the most difficult part, so I closed my eyes tightly.
Suddenly there came a loud thunder, the sound startling me.
Shivering, I gulped hard, and lay it all out, “Hence, because of your behaviour, I felt...I mean before we became student and teacher, we had met in the party, so I got this doubt...I mean, I got this feeling that you don't want to be my friend. In fact you actually...I mean, maybe yo...yyyou also f...fe...fffeeel like I do...I mean, maybe you like mmmmee...” I could not bear this, “I mean...nothing.” I exhaled a huge breath and opened my eyes, not daring to look at him.
Embarrassed I went on, keeping my focus on the floor,
“I know I'm stupid to even think so. But please don't get angry now. I'm sorry. After saying all this, I can't even face you. But it’s my last year, so I can't leave the college. I...I will just go from here now. I had come to say that it wasn’t my fault today during the lecture. And I'm sorry for the stupid thing I said. I just had this doubt, that you too...I mean, that you feel...” Unable to breathe properly, I mumbled, “I will just leave now. Sorry.” Stammering and blushing, I turned to leave.
“Wait, Sani.” Aariz said in a clear deep voice from behind me, just as my hand reached the door handle.
22-LIKE YOU...TOO
Aariz
Her steps came to a halt just near the door.
No way was I letting her leave now...
I walked close to Sani, thus pressing my chest to her back. I loved the feeling. It felt like breathing normally after a long time, though my heart was racing. I placed both my hands on her shoulders and she visibly shivered.
Turning her around to face me, I requested very gently, “Please sit.” The smile still glued on my lips.
Sani did not meet my eyes, just stepped away gingerly, and took a chair. I sat on my knees in front of her. Keeping both my hands on her trembling once, I held them tight,
