Shock

He laughed frantically and then replied "hi Amayra your hopes have come true. I had not started studying and neither do I plan to."

I was delighted to hear his usual notorious voice.

"So, I suppose you called up your mom and you are going to meet her tomorrow?" I questioned gladly.

"Yes, you are correct. All thanks to you," he replied sweetly.

After five minutes of chit-chat, he hung up the phone and to my satisfaction he was sounding much calmer. I continued my studies pondering, what a boring and dull day it would be the next day, at the coaching, without Aarosh.

The next day was a usual one and after all the classes finished, I met Ruhani for lunch. After that, we proceeded for our coaching class and again it struck my mind, what a dull day it would be without him.

We reached the coaching class, as always five minutes late and the moment I entered the room, I spotted Aarosh sitting on his usual seat. I was stunned to see him and somewhere in my heart I was even delighted that I won't have to spend the day without him. Unable to control my excitement I hurriedly sat beside him and asked eagerly "hey! I thought you are not coming today."

Ruhani, who was overhearing our conversation interrupted in-between and asked "why did you think so Amayra?"

"Oh, because it was his mom's birthday yesterday and he was going over to meet her today," I said still feeling proud about the fact that I suggested him this idea. "It was my idea and Aarosh loved it too," I added looking excitedly at Aarosh.

Aarosh did not utter a word and turned his face away. He looked crestfallen.

"What has happened Aarosh? You don't look fine. Why didn't you go today?" I questioned him anxiously.

Aarosh looked at me gravely. It seemed that he wanted to say something but he could not find the right words.

Ruhani, who was sitting behind me, whispered angrily "are you mad? Do you even know Aarosh's mother died few months back due to cancer?"

I was stunned for a few minutes. I looked at Aarosh, he still appeared melancholic. I insisted him to go meet his mom when his mom was no more alive. But, how could I have possibly known this? I failed to utter a single word to him. I could not even concentrate on what Mrs. Eta was teaching. I tried to convince myself during the entire lecture, that it was not my fault for not knowing about his mother's death. But, I failed and somehow a terrible guilt engulfed my mind and I kept thinking that my words must have distressed him even more.

The lecture ended and I started forming sentences in my mind to apologize and explain myself to Aarosh. Before I could say anything to Aarosh, he himself broke the ice between us.

"Hey! Relax I didn't feel bad about what you said last night. You obviously had no idea," he assured very calmly.