Rudra avoided me in all other classes we shared, thus strengthening my doubt that he was gonna back out from helping me.

Today he reached the house before me and had already started cleaning the mess, I had left behind.

"You don't have to clean that, it's not your job", I told him.

He jumped in fright upon hearing my voice, looks like he was unaware of my presence till now.

"It's fine, anyways I prefer clean kitchen when I cook", he said after calming down.

"Listen about today morning....", I started to apologize but he interrupted my sentence and spoke,"I am so sorry. I didn't knew that you avoided people because you were scared of them. In my mind you were someone unreachable, I just felt that you thought lowly about the people residing in this small town.

I am extremely sorry if I triggered some bad memories. Were you...were you abused?", he apologized continuously seeming mad at himself and at last the great question.

Of course this type of behaviour is expected from a victim, no one would ever think that criminal's family can also have same fears. I don't know if others have the same conditions but it is something I am dealing with even though no one has ever harmed me.

I shook my head at him in reply to his question and he breathed out an audible sigh of relief.

I let out a low chuckle in response. You may think I am crazy but I found out it funny that he was actually worried for the person who had blatantly insulted him.

"So....", I trailed out not knowing how to confirm whether he was going to help me or not.

"So?", he asked raising his eyebrows.

"Umm, well I wanted to ask if you were still going to help me by being my fake friend?", I finally asked him what was in my mind from the morning and waited for his response.

Giving a soft, caring smile he said, "I won't help you as your fake friend". Damn it, I had prepared myself for his rejection yet it stinged.

"Oh alright, I can understand. Who would want to help me after getting insulted three times", I said sighing.

"Listen to the full conversation before coming to any conclusion", he said chuckling.

I was confused by his statement and I guess he realized that so he continued, "I was saying that I won't help you as your fake friend but as your real one".

"So friends?", he asked forwarding his hands.

I was in a great dilemma now. I still had my fears, well not too much as I have gotten to know about him in these few days but still....

Upon seeing that I was not reacting he put his forwarded hand down amd said softly, "I understand that there are few things you are hiding and I would never force you to share them with me.

You don't need to change anything, there's no rule book on how should friends behave so we can be friends yet we can be not like others.

You can have as much as space you require. So...friends?", he asked again.

I took a deep breathe and forwarded my hand towards his. "I will give this real friendship a try, but I am not entirely sure if this would succeed", I warned him while shaking his hand.

"A try is what I am asking for. Don't worry, I know you don't trust me fully and that's fine. I have been told that I have patience of mountain's size. I will wait for the day, you would be able to fully trust me", he said smiling.

"So this is a try to trust?", I asked smiling widely.

"A try to trust", he confirmed smiling as widely as me if not more.