I bit my lip replying honestly, "I wish I read it before"

If Krish was my heart Abhi was my world. My first friend my best friend.
10 years of friendship this bond was stronger with him than with any person in my life. He made the major part of it, were there in almost every moment, it was only the two of us before anything started.

Before Krish came.

And if he didn't maybe we would have ended up together?

No...

Being close with someone sharing secrets with them would of course make us protective of them. But can't say of love.

Abhi was a loner. I didn't know what made me pull towards him to follow him around God I had stalker streaks from childhood. But somehow I wanted him to be his friend somehow I knew he didn't want to be as alone as he showed. And when everyone wanted to be friends with Myra the all-rounder Myra came first in spell bee in Zee quiz it was only Abhi who remained in his bubble staring out of the window uncaring. Nothing bothered him he liked his solitude and something about it made me adamant to be the part of it. I was always bent on to do the thing that was difficult that had zero chances of its success.

But I did it I was friends with him even though sometimes I had doubted, it was only one-sided but he made me wrong. He cared about me as much as I do. To be the source of his little smiles those times were numbered when he gave and much rare was his laugh, I would be lying if I say I didn't like that attention to be the only one which Myra took away later and now I know he did that to create distance made me feel something like bad for Myra.

"It's not too late I won't have any hard feelings for you ever Kyra if you change your mind," Krish said in a low voice and even attempted to smile but his lips turned down he shied away his eyes from making contact fixing them at the pen in his hand.

I watched him thinking how oblivious was he about my love when I myself was the victim of that oblivious disease. I slowly folded the letter back taking my time letting the contents sink in.  After placing it between the pages of my notebook. I looked back at Krish his eyes were on me with so much vulnerability in them that it ached my heart.
"Krish-.

He got up abruptly avoiding my eyes. "I will be out .. I.

"Krish listen to me" I too stood up. He stepped back. "Kyra I can't hear that please"

He turned to rush out.

I followed him with quick steps struggling to make him hear me.

He scurried ahead making his way out of the library me tailing him calling his name I bumped into the person blindly. I immediately jostled back giving a hasty apology to them the person was Myra.

"Excuse me," I said curtly, it was like seeing her my hating meter rises.

"Always bumping into me always at the other end of apologies," she said bending down to collect her fallen books.

I shook my head in pity at her moving on not giving a second thought to whatever she said.

And How true it was.

I lost him. I looked around he left without even hearing me out. Does he not know it's only him I love?  I touched the indent of the angel inside my shirt.

Yes, I wish I read it before so that Abhi shouldn't leave with unresolved matters. I would have made him understand that of course I love him but it will always be Krish who I want who already has my heart.

••••••••

Kyra
Where are you?

At least answer my calls

I'm worried please come back

I threw my phone over my bed. Stared out the black night from the window.

It was 9 pm neither did he call nor did he reply to any of my texts what was wrong with him just one hurdle came and he ran the other way leaving me with so much to say.

That's it I gotta be out from this dismal. If he really trusted me he would come I moved away from the window decided to go downstairs don't want to cope up in the room waiting for his calls. I glanced at last time at my mobile then walked out then walked back in grabbing my phone in case he calls.

Dadi and my mom were already having some conversation in hushed tones in the living room. I stopped dead in my track when I heard my name.

"You have to tell this to Kyra, Drishti" Dadi suggested looking down from her teacup to mummy.

Mummy fidgeted weary expression crossed over the face as she aligned some papers in a file. "The lease is over and I don't think there's any valid reason for extending it. And you know the new manager she doesn't want old employees I don't see the point staying here, besides at there they offer more I should make use of whatever limited time I have"

"I know Drishti I understand where you are coming from but Kyra should know what's going on-

"What should I know?" I blurted making my presence known. Their heads turned mummy haphazardly stowed the file under the table rack.

Dadi and she shared a tentative look.
It was Dadi who spoke, "Kyra there's nothing. You go study-

I stared at them for a moment what was going on.

Choosing the opposite I sat adjacent to my grandma on the sofa.

"Something you guys are hiding from me?"

Mummy replied impassively, "Harsh wanted to stay over at Madhav's(Neighbor) will you call and know did he change his mind?"

I watched her suspiciously this wasn't what they were taking. My eyes traveled down to the table at a blue file with papers sticking out.
"What's the file for?"

"Paperwork" she answered immediately.

"Who's the new manager?" I asked the part of the conversation I remember.

Dadi slurped her tea shaking her head.

"Myra's mother," Mummy said briefly.

My eyes widened, "sh-he's not throwing you out?"

Dadi nodded putting down the cup, "that's the right way to say"

Mummy shot her disapproving glance then she answered, "well she wants new employees she's starting from scratch" mummy scorned at the last statement.

"She's throwing you out! That's unfair" I concluded what was obvious.

Mummy shrugged, "posting somewhere else"

What

"What?" I shouted. I felt sick.
"This means we are moving over we are leaving"

Mummy when didn't say something while Dadi continued sipping tea. It irked me gulping I recomposed"where will we go? And how long you guys are preparing ...no when were you going to tell me!"

"Kyra.." mummy said in reproving voice, "I'm working on it

I got up my body stiff with anger, "you're not! You have already planned it over!

"Kyra enough.. you'll be moving out for your college you don't have to worry-

My heart thumbed I felt cold all over, "what college? I didn't say anything about it."

Mummy looked away saying, "you aren't thinking to drop one year? I have decided already"

I needed to get out of here I can't take this anymore this was too much before I do something, "you can't decide it!! I will drop one year if I want-

"Kyra! The conversation is over go upstairs!"

I looked at her in disbelief," I won't go upstairs! I want to know how can you decide and what have you decided about my life and you know without me having any say in it. Can I even know that?"

She appeared furious and tired now, "Kyra don't test my patience we'll talk on it later"

"No, I want it to know now!"

"Kyra-

"All my life you have been controlling me. Will I have any say in it. Why do you do this?  That's why your husband left you-

"Kyra!"

My head snapped I clasped my cheek. I slowly turned with shock.

"Drishti," Dadi said in disapproving voice.

Holding my cheek I stared at her she stepped back hand still raised. Guilt mixed with horror flashed in her face.

I looked down my eyes welled up, lips trembled I stalked over climbing the stairs with shaking legs.

I opened my room and got in hastily. Leaning against I shut it with my body. I slumped down my eyes burned I wrapped my arms around my knees with my head propped on them. I sniffed, tears rolling down my cheeks.

"Kyra.." I was muted by the havoc inside so I didn't hear his voice.

"Kyra" I felt someone lifting my head.
With tears in my eyes, I saw his blur figure watching me with eminent concern.

"Abhi" I gasped

My arms went flying to him he was taken back but he held me before we went falling down.

He wrapped his arms around me as I cried on his shoulder. Loud ugly sobs. He caressed my head with his gentle hand whispering" you're fine you're fine"
I don't know what's with it when I thought I have got my feet settled something was there to push me again to test my balance if I could withhold in the winds.

Wiping my eyes I pulled back asking in a hoarse voice, "you're here?"

Abhi left shifting back he said, "I came to surprise you but it's you who gave me one"
he still watched me cautiously as if I'll again burst into tears and I did and he was again back holding me. I fist his shirt crying on my hands I don't cry easily but when once I start I can't stop.

When I had soaked the quite a portion of his shirt I settled up sniffing.

"You sneak into my bedroom?"

And he was still having that concern expression.

"Abhi..."

"Surprise," he said in a concerned voice.

I smiled, "I'm shocked"

"Tell me about it"

I crossed my legs on the floor wiped my eyes with the sleeve of my shirt. Then tugged my hair and said, "I'm okay"

He nodded getting up holding his hand for me. I shook my head. "I want to sit here like this"

He raised his brow walking across the room he dragged a chair and sat there while I sat down we observe each other.

"Did you miss me?" He asked always straightforward.

My face creased slowly I nodded my head.

"Not really" he answered for me smiling.

I blushed embarrassedly.

"Okay well is the wait over?"

I blushed more this time. We never talked about our love life properly.

A tap on the window saved me from the answer.

Now, who could be? Abhi moved over frowning.He opened the window I reached beside him.

We looked down.

Krish

His hand frozen in mid of throwing another pebble we stared at each other.

Abhi looked at me, "you want to go down?"

I nodded Krish was still statued.

"But not from the gateway"

"Then from the pipe way?"

Something about today made me feel reckless. "I will jump" I announced gazing down.

"What!" Abhi nearly yelled.

"Krish catch me!" I shouted putting my one leg out than another.

Krish jerked awake, "no Kyra" both Abhi and he protested. I left the window sill leaping down.

What was I expecting long flying whisking of my hair in slow motion like in movies well it didn't happen. The landing was very very short as the duration from the second floor.

Krish's eyes widened he extended his arms out. He ran ahead catching me the impulse made us stumbled back losing his balance he tripped back with me on him.

He groaned painfully.
"Am I alive?" I wondered looking at him.

"I can't say the same about me" he mumbled pursing his lips wincing.

••••••

I sat there at the bench under the street lights observing them.
Krish beside me squeezing my hand wincing ,Abhi was knelt down inspecting Krish's foot.

"It's not broken?" Krish asked looking worriedly at me. I shook my head assuring him.

"It is" Abhi answered against.

Krish growled glaring at me. I glared at Abhi. And Abhi twisted Krish's ankle.

Krish yelped in agony making me also yell because he literally took the life out of my hand.

Abhi got up, "now let's see if your hand is okay Kyra" he was finding it amusing.

"I can check that!" Krish declared pulling my hand tightening his hold on it.
I gave him an irritated look then glanced back at Abhi who stared at us for a moment then his lips curled up." so the wait is over"

My head turned to Krish who was blowing over my hand.

He looked up finding our eyes on him after intertwining my hand with his he answered, "yes"

🙄😶😑😐😐🤨🤐😲☹️🙃😜😒🙄😏

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