Posted: November 12th, 2018

♔ Aarav ♔

2.14 Climbing The Stairs

          The only entertainment available is one movie after another but even that only gets so far. Going from movies, Jhanvi and I settle on watching TV shows on Netflix - yes, this is what our life has come down to. She's even pulled Vikas into our marathons. Aarush is tougher to crack. A week goes by with such laid back life. This particular afternoon, however, is chaos because of a malfunction in the AC due to overuse and the house turning into a sauna - thanks to the Australia's summer weather in normal winter months. More than me, Jhanvi should be used to the inverted seasons but right now, she is heating up and beyond cranky.

"How long does it take for them to send a guy to fix the damn AC?"

I try to calm her down, "I called them, Shona. They'll be here soon... but a lot of people's air systems are down so..."

"I don't bloody care about them! You're a Raizada. Do something." She exclaims picking up a file from the table next to the couch in the living room and starts fanning herself.

"I can't throw my name around, Shona. Right now, I'm afraid I'm just Aarav."

"Are you serious right now?"

I shrug my shoulders at her glare, feeling helpless.

Aarush returns from the kitchen with an ice pack, "Here. Cool down. I'll attend to the AC."

She mumbles under her breath how she can't cool down even though she accepts the pack and places it over her forehead.

I question, "You know how to?"

He mutters, "I've assembled and disassembled military vessels. How hard can this be?" as he unbuttons his nice shirt to take it off. I'd do the same - not wanting to get it dirty.

I wave my hand at him giving him my go ahead, "Have at it."

I catch Jhanvi force down a gulp and avert her eyes when he starts to walk off in his wife beater to go upstairs where the machine in question is. She puts the ice pack over her nape, mumbling, "This ice pack isn't enough."

"What's that?"

She blinks focusing on me, "It's too hot. There's only one ice pack in the fridge?"

"I can get you some ice cubes?" I offer and she sighs shaking her head and letting it drop over the pillow behind her. "So... anything you want to tell me?"

"Other than it's boiling hot in here, my cast is itchy, I am super cranky and I want to murder the AC guy who can't be bothered to show up?"

I find myself grinning in amusement for this mood swings are getting so violent lately. God, help her with her frustrations. I cheekily say knowing very well it was only going to frustrate her some more, "You forgot to include Aarush somewhere in that long list of yours."

Her eyes snap open and she carefully eyes me. "What about him?"

I return her look to express I am not dumb or oblivious. I do have eyes. When she insists on pretending, however, I reply. "Don't think I haven't noticed the gooey eyes or the lingering or..."

She throws the ice pack at me and it lands at my chest before I let it fall in my hands with a laugh. She, however, snaps at me, "There are no gooey eyes! And even if, do you hear me teasing you about Annie? No. So, shut it."

Dropping of teasing, I approach with an advice, "Why don't you try to get to know him?"

She scoffs while I place the ice pack over her cast after pulling her leg over my lap. I'd googled, and it had told me placing ice pack over the cast helps with the itching so I suppose it's time I put that to test.

She says, "In case you haven't been watching, I have been trying. He's not the easiest to talk to when he does not reply."

I conclude, "In other words, he's very much like you."

Her jaw gapes in defense, "Excuse me? I do talk!"

I chuckle correcting her, "No, Shona. Remember when we first met? You were all about sticking to talking only when needed and always only about topic at hand. It took a while for you to learn to talk to people. Ask me. Only I know how tough it was to get through you."

She doesn't argue at that anymore. But, she does insist, "Okay, you've got a point. But this is different."

"How?"

"For one, he thinks we're married. That's the end of it in itself."

I offer, "No reason you can't start by being friends. This charade will end in some time."

She answers in hesitance, "I don't know... he has to be willing too."

"Want a strategy?" I raise my brow in excitement.

She rolls her eyes at the fact that I am finding my entertainment in this since I have nothing better to do. She waves her hand knowing I won't drop this topic till its concluded the way I want.

Inwardly grinning that finally, I get to be the one to give advice to her, I begin. "See, you ask a lot of questions. I mean, you keep probing till you get the answers you want. So, keep asking till he eventually says something in return."

She dismisses it with a scoff, "And what? Come off as obnoxious? No thank you."

"What's he going to do? Run away? He's stuck here as much as us. Besides, you're pregnant, disabled, and his boss. He has no choice."

She raises her brows in amusement, "Ever the manipulative, aren't you?"

I carelessly shrug my shoulder, "I prefer to call it 'making the best of the situation'."

She adds in sarcasm, "And using people's helplessness against them so they can pity me. How very noble of you."

"Hey, just trying to help. No reason all of us should be miserable right now."

She smirks a second later, "How about I make you a deal?"

Deals with her are always tricky. Warily, I ask the terms. "Go on."

"I'll give it a shot if you text Annie."

I squint at her, "Who's manipulative now?"

She grins back with doe eyes, pulling her best innocent face, "Only making the best of the situation, my love."

Aarush returns and dumps himself on the opposite couch, a mess of sweat and heavy breathing as if he'd just ran a marathon. For an army guy, I'd expect him to be more fit... but I can question that later. For now, both of us look in his direction, waiting for the verdict. The way he casually spreads out his legs makes me think it might be fixed.

"So?" I push when he continues to just sit there in a rhythmic inhale and exhale.

Jhanvi pleads, "Tell me it's fixed."

He sits up properly as if remembering he wasn't at his own home, "Oh, uh, no. It's not."

"What?" "Repeat that?" Jhanvi and I exclaim at the same time glaring at him for making us think he had it figured out.

"Making such tall claims earlier." Vikas returns too and throws a towel at him which he catches effortlessly before it would hit his face, "You disappoint me, Rawal."

Aarush defends while patting his face, "Hey, I did figure out what the problem was." He continues in a mumble averting his gaze from all of us, "I just don't know how to fix it."

Jhanvi mocks looking up at the ceiling, "Three smart and well-built guys in the house and none of them are useful. Why, God?"

None of us dare to mock her back or defend ourselves. We all admit. We may be smart and a force to reckon with, but in our own fields. This is beyond us. We aren't handymen, after all. I've never done that in my life. Never had to. And I doubt the other two have ever spent enough time at home with the work they do to be fixing their own plumbing and such.

She lifts her legs off my lap and sets them on the floor to stand up. "Where are you going?"

"Someone's got to fix this."

I arch a brow, "And you think you can?"

"I'm going to atleast try, unlike you."

I quickly comment backing off, "Yeah, no. I don't get my hands dirty."

She lets out a laugh, "Ofcourse you don't. Now go and cook me some food."

"Me?"

"Yes, you. Don't try to deny that you don't know how to cook. You've made me meals before."

"Damn, why?"

"You were trying to make me fall for you. It's not your fault." She is quick to tease me.

I force myself to stand up. Well, I don't really have to force myself. This banter is just our friendship that I enjoy and so I play along. If she's hungry, I would gladly cook for her.

When I pass her, she holds my elbow to stop me and lowering her voice, whispers so only I can hear. "Don't forget, we have a deal."

I point out, "I never agreed."

"What's that? I think I hear a yes."

I smile once again and turn my head slightly to peck her temple. "Fine, you win. Again."

She grins back and I am sure I know why. The very first deal she made, she managed to have her way. Again, she did the same.

Last time, I agreed because I would take anything over nothing. This time, I agreed because... let's just say I've never missed Annie more than I have this week and this gives me a reason to convince my head to do what my heart's been telling it to do since the night I kissed her.

Maybe, Jhanvi was right. It's time we start climbing the stairs to our happiness.

Jhanvi points at Aarush, "You're coming with me."

"Me?"

"Yes, you. You know what the problem is. I'm not going to waste time trying to figure that out too." She makes a point and holds out her hand, "Now, c'mon. Help me up the stairs."

I knew Jhanvi had it in her. If you can see the look on my face, I guarantee it will reflect that of pride.

She's starting to learn how to get her way and boss people around. In this way, we are similar. We both know how to turn the tide in our favor and get what we want. She still has a subtle way of it but I have no doubt she can be fierce when she needs to be.

I shake my head as I make my way towards the kitchen and instruct behind me, "She better not fall, Rawal."

There. Even though I trust that he would be careful, I've done my due diligence and ensured he'd be close to her and won't let any hesitations get in the way of this order.

Yes, Jhanvi. You owe me so much once we're out of this.

Reaching the kitchen, instead of starting to cook right away, I pull my phone out of my back pocket. I put in the number code and exhale any uncertainties away. Then, I open Annie's thread in WhatsApp.

Aarav: Hey... how are you?

I watch as the double tick mark comes on. Her last seen was two days ago. I wait a few more seconds before I lock my phone and put it aside. All the while I stand there waiting for the pasta to boil and cutting vegetables, I can hear my heart pounding in my chest.

It's unnerving waiting for a reply.

After having cut the vegetables, I wipe off my hands and reach for my phone. Unlocking it, my heart skips a beat as I see the blue ticks, but no reply.

That feeling of no response is the absolute worst.

My thumb moves aimlessly over the screen as I debate. I lock the screen, ready to put my phone away but then remember Jhanvi's advice. Eva's advice.

No, I had told myself I won't give up on her without even a fight. Even if now isn't the ideal time, it's a starting point.

I go back to the thread and type another response.

Aarav: Are you mad at me?

Aarav: That's not even a question. I'm sure you are... but talk to me.

I realize it might have sounded like a demand, so I add.

Aarav: Please?

Again, I wait. I hate this waiting game.

When did Khushi's impatience brush off on me? Maybe around the time I realized I love Annie. Love makes you do crazy things. Turns you into a person you normally are not. Turns a sane person insane.

She is online again and the messages are read. She doesn't reply again and just when I decide to type again, I receive her phone call.

Okay, dear heart, stop pounding so harshly.

I answer it and place it over my ear. Before I can get a word in, I hear her voice. "You have 5 minutes. Give me one reason."

Oh, I can give her plenty of reasons and I only need one minute. One sentence only. Maybe two.

"Because we didn't cheat on Jhanvi."

"What are...?"

"No, Angel. You gave me five minutes and you're not going to interrupt and take them away. Just listen." I don't hear a protest at that so I continue, "Because, Jhanvi and I are not married and because, I love you."

It was not my wish to say those words in this manner over the phone and so simply because they do no justice to my feelings what-so-ever but I had to say them. I had to get her to give me a chance so I can say them to her face to face.

At the last three words, I hear a sharp intake of breath and then silence. Seconds tick by as I wait for her to say something, anything. Even if it is to express her anger, I would take it. "Annie?" I end up calling her name when she continues to stay silent.

As if hearing her name snaps her out of her trance, she accuses in a quiet voice. "You broke your promise."

I try to make her understand. "Because things changed. Annie. You once said you had to tell me. So when I realized, didn't I have the right to tell you too? I'm sorry I hurt you with the way I went about it but know this Annie, I'm not sorry about breaking my promise to you."

Her voice is steel cold - angry, "You have some nerve."

I sigh and explain to her why I won't apologize for the later, "It took a lot to convince myself to break this promise, Angel. You know I am not that person so you can't imagine how much it hurt to do that... but that night, I did come to you just to talk to you. To tell you how things were changing so we could talk. You were just avoiding me and you've never avoided me like that. It had just pushed me in a dark place and before I knew what I was doing..."

When I trail off, she asks. "What did you mean you're not married?"

"Uh, it's a long story to tell over the phone. Can you come to the summer house? I'll explain everything. Just one chance. We have something too precious for us to leave it like this without properly talking. Please, Annie?"

Whatever protests there were, I imagine they fade when I add please. I may be taking advantage of the fact that she finds it hard to say no to me, but I know this... if she really wants to keep her distance, she'll find a way to say no.

The fact itself that she called me and gave me a chance to explain tells me she isn't ready to cut off all contact. She may have been ready to do that initially, but as the thought itself is unfathomable to me, I imagine it must have proven impossible for her as well.

She'll come even if just for old times' sake. I'm sure she wants some answers and once she gets them, I can only hope she'll understand.

The words she says are music, "I'm working tonight. Tomorrow morning, around 10?"

A wave of relief passes over. A burden somewhere lifting from my chest. "I'll be waiting."

"Hmm, bye."

I bid her with a smile. Agreeing to come, she's made me win half the battle.

Tomorrow can't come fast enough.

. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .

∞ author note ∞

Okay, I apologize for stretching it another chapter. As I started writing, I had to find a stopping point for this chapter because I realize it was already hitting 3K and if I added the scene after, it would have been TOO long a chapter. And it makes sense to dedicate a chapter entirely to Aarav-Annie, right?

QOTC: Not conventional... or even anywhere romantic to say it over the phone, but do still think it was right of him to say it - to say it is better (no matter the way) than not saying it at all? He knows Annie and knows nothing but the honest truth would have gotten her to agree to come see him so they could talk.