Chaitanya had a busy day at his new research lab. It was his first day and he had taken his own sweet time to get acquainted with his colleagues today. He had to shift to Mussoorie in the coming week and he was pretty excited for his journey. As a child, he had always dreamt of exploring the wildlife in the woods of the Himalayas and he was glad that finally he was getting a chance to fulfil his dream.

He was looking forward to an eventful evening, after all, he was meeting his best friend, Mayank today. It had been ten years, he had not met his bestie and he missed the time he had spent with him. Ironically, he had been terribly busy four years ago when his best friend was getting married. Today, he was excited to meet Mayank and his wife.

As soon as he ignited the engine of his car, his phone rang. He sighed, looking at the caller-ID. It was his sister, Sneha calling him.

"Bhai, you will be coming home, right?", chirped Sneha from the other end.

Taking a deep breath, he replied, "I am busy, Sneha". His family stayed in Delhi, but he had never visited them since last ten years. He missed them each day but he could never forget that his own family had scarred him for lifetime. The pain he had got was indeed, unbearable.

Sneha missed her brother after all, he had not attended her wedding too. "Bhai, Ma and Pa wants to meet you", she pleaded.

"Why don't you bring them at Leela's? Let's have a dinner tomorrow." He spoke nonchalantly as he drove his car out of the parking lot. He had visited India a lot many times but he had always avoided to meet his family using the same dialogue.

"Aren't you busy for the dinner?", his sister scorned.

"As you wish". Chaitanya drove towards Mayank's apartment while he mind wandered in the lanes of nostalgia, missing the lovely moments he had spent with his family, years ago.

"Come home for once, bhai", Sneha pleaded and incredulously, he muttered, "I don't want to talk about this, Sneha".

"Everyone wants to see you, bhai". The pleading went to deaf ears.

"We have already had a discussion on this, Sneha", Chaitanya replied and continued to drive towards the Barakhambha road where Mayank resided.

"Bhai, please", he heard and got pissed off.

"Bye, Sneha", he muttered.

"Bhai, you need to stop running away". Sneha huffed in anger. She was craving to meet her brother while Chaitanya had his self-respect. She could fathom her brother's pain but at the same time, she could not see her old parents wanting to meet their younger son.

"You don't have to school me", Chaitanya yelled.

"For God's sake, it has been ten years, bhai". She cried in desperation, only to receive an incredulous and heartless, 'I don't care', from Chaitanya.

"But we do, bhai", she spat angrily.

Chaitanya was done with the conversation. Gritting his teeth, he angrily yelled at his sister. "Stop this nonsense. Both you and I know that you guys don't."

"Bhai, can you stop being selfish for a while? For God's sake, Ma and Pa are growing old and they miss you. It has been ten years, bhai." With tears in her eyes, Sneha requested her brother to shun his self-respect and let bygones be bygones. Their parents were growing old each day. Their parents missed Chaitanya and they wanted to redeem their mistakes but their son was not ready to see them yet.

"They have their favorite children and a complete family. Why do they need me?" Chaitanya spat, masking his pain with anger.

Sneha could not take it anymore. Breaking down, she wept, "Bhai, we miss you." Hiccupping, she remembered the good old days, "Pa misses his naughty kid every day who used to pull his cap in the winters every time and Ma cries to sleep every night, craving to see you once."

As tears trickled down her face, she mumbled, "We have not eaten Ma's special rasmalai since ten years, bhai."

Chaitanya's heart pained as his sister cried, "We miss you", but he could not give in, not after, what his brother had done to him. He was zoned out while his sister continued to plead him to come home, for once. "I and Anand bhai, miss our third musketeer, bhai, please come home".

Wiping his tears, Chaitanya mumbled, "Bye, Sneha".

"Bhai, Shreya bhabhi wants to apologize". Contemplating to say or not, Sneha finally said it.

"This is the last time we are talking about her, Sneha. Bye." Chaitanya gulped, disconnecting the call. The conversation had been a torture to him. Quickly, he drove towards his friend's house. On the way, he brought some flowers and chocolates.

Upon reaching the address, Chaitanya wondered why Mayank was staying in such a small apartment shunning his bungalow in Lutyen's Delhi. He was no one to judge, though!

Ringing the doorbell, Chaitanya was anticipating to meet Mayank's wife at the door however, he was greeted by his friend. Sharing a hug, Chaitanya felt home. Mayank meant a lot to him. He had always been there when Chaitanya needed him.

"You have changed, Chaitanya. These muscles and all are impressive." Mayank smiled affectionately. Chaitanya was like his own kith and kin. Other than Tapasya, Mayank knew he could trust Chaitanya with his life. He loved Rahul from the bottom of his heart yet, he had not developed the soulful bond of trust, yet!

Chaitanya was delighted to meet his friend. Mayank's apartment though, small, was quite well-maintained. He felt cozy and he could not help but admire the beautiful interiors. "Nice house! Bhabhi has maintained really well."

Mayank gulped. 'Bhabhi' sounded too foreign. He had not told his friend about his divorce. Mayank felt guilty upon realizing that he had not told about Rahul to his best friend. He had not confided about his orientation, yet. He knew Chaitanya would support him, no matter what, yet, somewhere, he did not feel comfortable in sharing about his sexual orientation, not after the terrible reaction of his family members.

Mayank was glad that Rahul had left for Mumbai yesterday. He had an important meeting to attend. Mayank was not ready to deal with Rahul's tantrums of insecurity around Chaitanya. He loved Chaitanya with his heart and soul but that love was simply, platonic. Chaitanya meant more than family but he knew, Rahul was too immature and insecure to understand relationships.

When Mayank was zoned out, Chaitanya enquired about Mayank's wife and Mayank simply, smiled, teasing him, "Find a girl for yourself in Mussoorie".

"Relationships are not my cup of tea", Chaitanya sighed. After her, he did not try to trust anyone. Though he was infatuated with her yet, she had scarred him for lifetime.

Mayank could fathom his friend's pain. He smiled and went inside the kitchen to get some beer cans and snacks.

"Chaitanya, here's your favorite beer. I hope your taste is still the same."

"Everything is same, Mayank. You, me and this beer!" Chaitanya chuckled. 'And memories of her', he wanted to add but refrained.

"Stay at the homestay I had suggested to you", Mayank urged with a smile. He had told Chaitanya about Tapasya homestay but Chaitanya was not ready to leave the comfort of the accommodation the university would provide to him.

"No way! I am using the accommodation provided by the institution", Chaitanya immediately objected.

"There shall be no privacy." Mayank sipped some bear, munching the spicy snacks.

"But it shall be just beside my lab and I will save time", Chaitanya whined while his eyes searched for Mayank's wife suspiciously. Somewhere, the warmth of a family was missing in Mayank's house and Chaitanya could sense that.

"Grow up, man! Here, I am providing you a house with spectacular morning view and you are behaving like a school kid." Mayank pestered his friend. He wanted Chaitanya to meet Tapasya and he was sure that Chaitanya would light up the uneventful life of Tapasya.

Slapping his head, Chaitanya asked, "Why are you hell-bent to make me stay there?"

"It's just that you will be comfortable there." No wonder, Mayank could not tell the truth. He was rooting for Tapasya and Chaitanya. If it was in his hands, he would set them up on a blind date but he knew that both of his friends would never like this idea so he was trying to play cupid between them.

"Out with the truth, Mayank", Chaitanya ordered, not buying the nonsense Mayank was trying to feed him.

"Actually the owner is my friend and she runs a small business. I just want to help her." Mayank stuttered as he made up the lies. Tapasya needed anything but money. She was born with a silver spoon in her mouth and with God's grace, she had enough money.

Chaitanya sighed. He remembered how difficult it was for him, when he had moved out of his parent's home. Trying to survive in this world with a burden to manage funds is difficult and Chaitanya could fathom the pain that came up with this difficult.

"Ah! You could have told me earlier. I will stay there. The rent, though, meagre, shall be helpful for her." Chaitanya muttered with immense goodwill and Mayank smiled. Finally, Chaitanya was ready to stay at Tapasya's place.

"Thanks, man!" Mayank chuckled with a glint of hope in his eyes. Finally both of his friends could feel the joy of togetherness filling the void of love in their lives.

As Chaitanya and Mayank drank beer together, they got nostalgic about their good old college days. They laughed and felt lively. It was then, Chaitanya finally asked, "Where's your wife, buddy?"

Mayank gulped. Closing his eyes, he spoke with immense guilt, "We got divorced", remembering the irredeemable mistakes he had done in the past.

"What? How could a woman leave a man like you?" Chaitanya snapped in shocked. For him, Mayank was the epitome of a perfect man. Mayank, on the other hand, was zoned out in guilt knowing that no woman could live with a man like him.

"She was not wrong". It was all Mayank could say in his hoarse voice and thankfully, Chaitanya was mature enough to not pry in his friend's personal life. That night, no more words were exchanged. Both of the friends drank till they drifted into sleep, swallowing their sorrows.

★★★★★

Hello

So, how is the second chapter?

I got late but trust me, I wanted to give my best.

I am really anxious for this story so don't forget to share your views. This story deals with complicated relationships and not so perfect characters. Do share your views!!!!

Chaitanya is a sweetheart but why relationships are not his cup of tea? Who is 'her'?

Any comments regarding Mayank are welcome! P.S he loves Rahul 😉

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