"How much money do you have?" Ahmed asked Riyaz while they were walking outside; but still near the college.
Riyaz removes out his wallet to count all the money he prospers. After counting, he says, "140 rupees."
"That won't be enough," Riyaz said in disappointment.
"Enough for what?" Ahmed asked confusingly.
"For a movie, of course. Today's Friday; one of the weekends. Ticket rates would be higher. We shouldn't have spent all the hours in the canteen. We could've easily caught up an early, cheaper show."
"Yes, but today is Friday so, won't you offer Namaz?"
Ahmed reacted to this with a wry chuckle and said,
"I don't think God likes me much. And I don't think he'd be happy with me and allow me to heaven; no matter how much I pray."
Riyaz shook his head and said, "I don't think that's true, Ahmed. I believe when you try to make amends with God, He will forgive you no matter what because he loves us all. And you don't offer Namaz to just please Him, you offer it to be thankful for something, anything in your life. Aren't you thankful for anything?" Ahmed looked at Riyaz who was looking at him with questionable eyes; wondrous in them and nods. "So you should pray for that. And believe it or not, you'd find more things to be thankful for."
Neither did Ahmed said a word nor did Riyaz. They just kept walking. Riyaz realized he shouldn't have said all of that. It's his first time talking to Ahmed and he just lectured him. He knew he should've controlled his lecturer and wise side. But he just unleashed it unknowingly. He didn't like showing his inner side; the real him to him. He didn't like that his mask of being strong; the stupid guy was taken out.
Azaan was audible for Zuhar Namaz and Riyaz who was sitting on a bench with Ahmed beside him in a park shushed Ahmed from talking. Ahmed realized Riyaz reciting something but he didn't ask about it. After Azaan was over, Riyaz got up with his bag in his hand and asked,
"There's a mosque around here, right?"
Ahmed nodded with a sad smile; looking down.
"Okay, see you," Riyaz said and left.
After sitting inside the mosque, Riyaz hoped for Ahmed to come too. He looked towards the entrance within every one minute. But Ahmed failed him. each time Riyaz looked at the entrance, a piece of his soul and hope kept getting chipped away. And in the end, Ahmed had officially disappointed him.
But how could Ahmed disappoint Riyaz?
It's not like Ahmed said he would offer Namaz and then bailed. And it isn't like Riyaz was his best friend or anything so that Ahmed could disappoint him. That was the first day they talked and he lectured him on Namaz. You shouldn't insist someone on offering Namaz because Namaz should be offered from within and not on someone's insists. And if he doesn't wanna offer it, it's his choice. Riyaz knew he spooked Ahmed out because of that and that Ahmed must be long gone now. In short, he messed the little bud of their friendship.
After walking out of the mosque in despair, Riyaz realized someone walking with him. when he looked; turning his head, he realized it was Ahmed.
"Why so serious?" Ahmed asked mimicking Joker.
Riyaz who was still startled replied, "I thought you left."
"And was that the reason why you were so glum?"
Riyaz realized how smart Ahmed was and that if he doesn't reply to the question in his senses, things may go wrong.
"No. I was glum because I had no one to lecture."
Riyaz was afraid Ahmed won't take the lecture thing as a joke but he laughed and so did he; in relief.
"So… you were glum because I left?" Ahmed asked after laughing.
"I want to celebrate." Aman said to Luvraj in a low voice so that the lecturer won't hear them."
"Celebrate what?" Luvraj asked maintaining the level of voice Aman used.
"Oi! Our confessions, of course!" Aman said.
"What's to celebrate in that?"
"Raj, what's not to celebrate?"
"Look, I don't want us to be like one of those couples who celebrate everything."
This seemed to hurt Aman a little. "But isn't this worthy enough to celebrate?"
Luvraj sensed the change in Aman's tone and noticed his face too. To not further disturb him anymore, he gave a quick laugh and nodded, "Okay, I guess we can celebrate."
Aman shook his head and said,
"No babe, if you don't want it, we shouldn't."
"No Aman, I want it," Luvraj demands. Aman nods with a cheery smile. After that, they both looked ahead.
Luvraj finally realized, "Did you call me 'babe'?"
Aman chuckled lightly and said while continuing to look ahead, "Took you long enough."
The lecture was over and the lecturer had left. The class was waiting for the next lecturer.
"What's the deal with those two?" Luvraj asked both Aman and Amar.
"Who?" Aman asked.
"Rokesh and Romit! They were so close last semester. Did something happen between them?" Luvraj said.
"I don't know. Something must've happened over the holidays because they're not sitting beside each other. Hell, they aren't even looking at one another."
"It's the first year and the first day of the second semester and their friendship ended. Not everyone's bond is as great as ours, is it?" Luvraj said looking at Aman and Amar who were unusually focused on something else and not on Luvraj.
Luvraj frowned upon this and said,
"Hey, Amar. What's with you?"
"Nothing. Um…. Accounts subject is hard." Amar said in a dry tone; avoiding seeing Luvraj's face.
"Well, that's why we are here," Aman said; trying to cheer Amar up for some reason.
"Thanks, but I am taking tuitions for this. And let's be honest here. Whenever we study together, we don't." Amar tried to crackle a joke but he regretted talking about the three of them because he knew things will never be the same, ever.
"That's true, but will you be able to afford taking tuitions?" Aman asked with a slight concern.
"Of course, Aman," Amar said with a slight annoyance. Aman nodded.
Amar got up taking his bag after packing everything. It felt as if he was going somewhere.
"You going somewhere?" Luvraj asked.
"Yeah, I am not feeling like being here," Amar replied.
Luvraj was about to ask why when Aman interrupted,
"Okay, take care."
Amar nodded and without looking at Luvraj said, "Okay, bye." Amar left without turning his head back.
Luvraj nudged Aman and said,
"Why did you say take care? Didn't you see his face? Something bothered him."
"I know what was bothering him."
"You do?"
"Yeah, we talked about it while you were talking with Harsh."
"So? What bothered him?"
"His parents are splitting up," Aman said.
"Seriously?" Luvraj asked with wide eyes.
"Yes. And you know how fond he was of them. Poor guy."
"Yeah. But we are here for him."
"Yes, we are. Anyways, where are we going to celebrate our confessions?"
"That's for you to decide." Luvraj teased Aman. Aman smiled. For some reason, Luvraj didn't completely buy the divorce thing. He didn't think he was lying about it. It's just that in the morning, he didn't seem upset, did he?
You just know when something bad is about to happen. Indians believe that if the right eye flickers, then something bad is about to happen. Strange, right? Or when you sneeze while stepping out of your house, or if a black cat crosses your path. India is full of these ridiculous superstitions. But Romit wasn't being superstitious. He was having that gut feeling. That plain, dark, and guiled feeling and he had been feeling that feeling for a few days. This reduced his performance in sex and restricted him from being free. Always cautious. This nerved Rokesh but didn't say anything.
Once in the old chemistry lab, Rokesh was sucking off Romit. But unlike other days, something was off. Romit wasn't hard.
"Dude, what's with your dick?" Rokesh asked standing up.
"Don't know. Here, let me suck you." Romit said trying to avoid everything.
Romit was no longer in the mood for it for a reason he didn't quite understand. For some reason, he wanted to know what was going on with Romit.
"No. Forget it."
Romit realized that he just did something to make Rokesh….. not horny; something he wasn't used to be.
"I am sorry. It's just that I am not feeling like doing it right now."
Rokesh took a chair and sat while Romit stood taking the support of the table; facing Rokesh. "Yeah well, I'd like to know why."
Romit looked at Rokesh in a questionable look,
"You do?"
"Don't give me that look. I mean we are something enough to make sure we are good. So to answer your question, yes I do."
"Well, I don't know why but lately I have been feeling that something bad is about to happen."
"Oh, so you're paranoid," Rokesh said with a relieving smile.
"Not just paranoid. It's that feeling you get and I am feeling it strong. Like a gut."
"Believe me, man, I too get these feelings many times. But nothing happens."
"Nothing?" Rokesh shook his head. "Every time?"
Rokesh was about to shake her head and say no but he couldn't lie to him. He just had to shake his head and say no. But for some reason, he didn't want to lie to him.
Romit saw how Rokesh was just thinking and not answering his question so he said,
"See! Bad things do happen right?" Romit whined.
Rokesh chuckled and came closer to Romit and said, "Okay, we can do this. (Romit looked at him in hope) Whenever something bad happens, you call me." Rokesh saw Romit with a smile after sometime noticing Romit's in awe face.
"What? I mean we are still best friends though we do what we do. We can be there for each other, right?"
Romit nodded with utmost happiness and a cute smile. But Romit couldn't ignore the fact that Rokesh working on hiding his nerve when he mentioned them as best friends and while mentioning their doings. But why would he feel nervous? Is there something growing inside of Rokesh? If something is growing, then it isn't good for Rokesh because that something he doesn't want. Even if he wants it, he would hope nothing happens though.
And it all went just like that. All the awkwardness between Harsh and Deep had fled. Deep liked talking with Harsh in between work and Harsh also liked a friend who was less of a jerk and more of a close-to-earth kind of guy. Deep was a very practical yet humorous guy and Harsh was the total opposite. He was kind of a guy who believed in fun and living in the moment; making mistakes. But at the same time, if Harsh had to be serious, he would be the most serious dude in his group. And this contradiction in their personalities got them as friends.
On a Sunday, the Mehra family was having their breakfast. A long dining table like from one in Beauty and the Beast. Though it was magnificent and added to the rich heritage of their bungalow, it still was useless to be served upon for a family of just three people. Sometimes they would be too busy in their lives to notice it, but most of the time Harsh and his mom would feel the loneliness spread on the table. And both of them knew that they both sense it. But something happened to Harsh after he started talking with Deep. As if he couldn't tolerate these things. But he couldn't do anything, could he?
"Hey Deep?" Harsh called out to Deep who just stood there behind Harshad Mehra (dad) and got his attention.
"Why don't you join us?" Harsh said this which surprised him. He was even perplexed. Deprived of knowing what to do next.
Shweta Mehra (mom) smiled at Harsh for this and continued,
"Yes, Deep beta (son), please do join."
It was then Deep smiled too; about to say yes when Harshad Mehra scoffed,
"Are you serious?" his dad asked quite not believing what the two of them just said.
Harsh realized by the tone of his dad, he better take back what he said.
"Sorry, dad."
His dad said nodding in an agreeing manner,
"That's more like it."
But Shweta Mehra didn't take it. She said,
"What, he just offered him a seat. Can't be that big of a deal."
"It is Shweta. We cannot just invite him to the table."
"It's okay Sir. I wasn't gonna accept the offer anyways."
Deep tried to lie but Harsh caught it.
Shweta also knew he lied because she saw through that smile Deep had for just a second.
"Why not?" She asked.
Harshad Mehra replied in an annoyed tone,
"Look Shweta, it's my Sunday, and I don't want to waste it on you arguing."
Shweta gasped and said in an offended tone,
"Who argued?"
Harshad Mehra stormed up and shouted,
"Such an annoying bitch!" he left after saying this.
This was normal. But what wasn't normal was for someone outside of their family to witness that. Harshad and Shweta Mehra kept in the control of their daily arguments and fights in front of Deep but that day it all just poured out. Harsh saw that. He saw what the family was. He witnessed a little disagreement here and there between the couple but he never did witness that. And Harsh feared this. If only he wouldn't have invited Deep to the table.
It was a party and both Jacob and Jayden loved the party. They loved it from always but their love for it enhanced after Jayden confessed his love to Jacob at a party. But this party was no club party. This was a college party at the college. And it was just no party. It was a Christmas party. Everyone seemed chill since their first unit was over.
Yes! A unit more and their junior college (12th standard) would be over. Some were happy about it but some were pretty dull. But that was time to enjoy, wasn't it? To enjoy the remaining days with your friends. But Jayden and Jacob had nothing to be sad about. They knew they will continue commerce in degree college (13th-15th standard) and that they will be together.
The college was fairly decorated and everything but they were shocked to see Ahmed there. After the feud he and Riyaz had, Ahmed, have been MIA. He did come to give a unit test but he was nowhere to be found after giving the tests. Ahmed was a pretty great friend to both Jayden and Jacob. And they felt so bad when Riyaz just insulted and humiliated Ahmed in front of everyone but they couldn't do anything as Ahmed just stormed off after that and this is the first time they have seen his face properly after that. Ahmed didn't even answer their calls. So this was their chance to talk to him and so they went to greet him.