* 05*

The story has been rewritten

First of all, thank you so much for reading, voting and commenting for this story. It means a lot.

Here comes the fifth chapter of amour. In the last chapter we saw ShraMan are becoming friends. Let's see what happens next.

***

College premise was literally covered with posters. Freshers' party, they said. Though it wasn't what I had expected, but it clearly mentioned, it would be a DJ night. As usual Sam was super excited for she could wear her funky clothes. And me...well I didn't bother.

"I can wear those...are you even listening to me?" with a full blown elbow nudge that almost make me stumble, "don't tell me Suman, you didn't even listen to me!"

"Sam...It's just..." before I could complete I had been stopped with a let it be and a shrug.

Entering the class my eyes landed on him. He was sitting at his usual place, with a book, oblivious to the excitement of the next week's coming party.

"What are you sitting with me or..." as if taking the cue Shravan looked at me with a warm smile.

"Oho! Shravan Malhotra smiling, well that's a first."

I smiled more at Sam's comment and nodded looking at her, "well he smiles...It's just you saw it for the first time."

"Of course, Of course, by the way he is still looking at you and he has emptied the other side of the desk. I guess he is expecting you there." She pointed with a teasing smile.

"Good morning." And I got a bright good morning in return.

"So excited for the party?" I started when he didn't say anything.

"Not really. All they are going to do is, get drunk and do nonsense."

"Really! But it's a college party...I mean...isn't it illegal?"

"Who cares Suman?! None from the management or the teachers will be there to check on us." He was still looking at his book, "waste of time. I am not coming."

"Please Shravan...it will be fun. Don't be a bore." I laughed.

"I am a bore Suman. And I don't really care." And I hated this Shravan, his cold attitude towards everything made him look like an aged man who had all the responsibilities of this world.

"Oh and here I thought I could use your company...as I have no idea what to do there. Sam will be busy flaunting her dress, and me... we'll never mind." it was a trick I played, knowing Shravan for past couple of days, one thing I had understood that he liked my company.

"Then don't go. We can go to that book store." his voice was soft again.

"No I want to go. Freshers Party it is Shravan. We won't be getting it back again. But it's okay...if you don't want to come then don't. I'll go there with Sam."

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"I'll go with you."

High-fiving mentally I smiled broadly "Thank you."

.

.

.

The week passed by, sooner than I had expected. Classes, labs, and yes that book store. We started going there together, every evening. Where he would read his poetry and me listening to him ardently. The most beautiful and soothing company I had in years was of Shravan's. When we were not talking we normally would sit in silence, giving each other space. Once in a while we would talk too, mostly about nanu and my parents. But he never did mention his family, to which I thought not to ask him anything.

Sometimes we would roam around the market nearby, doing window shopping mostly. But still spending time with him would do wonders to me. That boy practically knew everything about anything. Once he told me the history of chairs, how it has evolved from old Egyptian era and how it had an important role in renaissance. Now why a normal person would read about evolution of chairs, I had no idea.

After that, anything I wanted to know I would go straight to him. Why bother Google when I had a living encyclopedia.

Not only this, he had a great sense of music too. Once he actually told me what viola is and how different it is from violin though they both looked the same. That day I came to know he could play guitar and piano a little bit, from which I assumed he was definitely a pro.

So for me Shravan had become someone who knew everything, who had an answer to my every question, who had a solution to my every problem.

.

.

.

The day of freshers party arrived with full of energy amongst the students. For once I was also very excited as Sam told me what exactly normally happen in these DJ nights.

Wearing a black tee and ripped jeans, as upbeat as I could manage, I accompanied Sam. Shravan was already there wearing a leather jacket with a dark blue Shirt and black jeans.

"Leather jacket! Seriously Shravan!" I laughed looking at him to which he shrugged.

"You are looking good. But you look better without makeup."

To which Sam snorted, " Hello...That makeup has been done by me. So no comments please. And it's really light. No one can even see it is on."

"I am not talking about you. You are already looking like a cherry cake. I am talking about Suman. She doesn't need to use those." he glared " Suman looks prettier without being a clown.

"Shravan...what are you saying?" I tugged his hand.

"Let it be Suman..."

After some horrible exchange of words Sam went away glaring at me.

"You shouldn't have said all those things to Sam, Shravan...She is my friend."

"I don't like her." he mumbled.

"Why is that? She is very sweet Shravan." To which he seemed a little embarrassed.

"It's just...never mind...let's go from here. I suppose we are not here to stand at the entrance all night. Let's see what the seniors have arranged for us."

To my surprise the ground was covered with bright decorations, they had put marble tiles on the ground to give it a discotheque feel. Lights were all around making everything blurry, and there were some music playing just to set the mood.

"You know I can't dance." he whispered in my ear.

"That's good, at least there is something you can't do." laughing I held his hand and pulled him towards the crowd.

"Actually I hate dancing too you know." after trying to do some steps I laughed remembering some horrible incidents that had occurred in the past.

"Then let's go and eat something." he pointed at the food counter.

"You didn't tell me, why don't you like Sam?" I asked putting away my plate.

"Nothing..."

"Come on tell me."

"It's just that I am not good at… atsharing Suman, and she gets more time to spend with you." he said looking at his feet, for a change huge sized intimidating Shravan looked like a small boy who had been caught doing something mischievous.

I stood there perplexed, didn't know what to say, but I recovered fast and looked towards the dancing crowd. And I had to admit it felt good, which I clearly didn't like.

"Hello..." I turned to see he was walking away from the place holding his phone to his ears.

After a minute or two he returned with a very serious look, "Suman..." he held my hand, and it had gone all cold.

"What happened?" I whispered.

The loud music, thumping bass tuned out from my ears as I saw him trembling, "What happened Shravan tell me please."

"Suman...Nani...she has been...hospital Suman...asthma attack." he barely moved his lips. He looked so shaken, it wasn't surprising that he couldn't form a proper sentence.

"You should go." I said with a farm voice. "Doctors are there, nothing will happen to her. Nothing you understand."

"You think that?"

"I know that. Now don't waste your time, pack your bags and go. And yes message me as soon as you reach there. Okay? I'll be waiting." I smiled at him just encouragingly, to which corners of his lips lifted a little.

"I'll. But you stay safe okay?" he mumbled to which I nodded.

I looked at his retreating back. I had never seen him like this. He was walking away hunching his shoulders, his feet dragged in a certain way as if every step he was taking with great effort.

And I knew that feeling, it was the fear of being left alone.

Shravan kept his promise. He had messaged me as soon as he was there. His Nani was alright as it was a minor asthma attack. But still she was under observation. They would be monitoring her for the next seven days. Shravan had decided to stay there till his Nani's discharge.

It's really boring here. I laughed reading his message. It was already past twelve at night. And I was busy writing down some vital points of forced vibration.

That's a hospital you know.

So what! They should have thought about the visitors too.

They are there for the patients not for the visitors.

Hmm. What are you doing?

Jotting down notes of forced vibration.

Oh that's easy.

Easy for you. I looked at the time when he didn't reply for more than five minutes. I was about to write one asking where he had gone?

I missed you. His sudden message made me halt for a second. Did he just say well send that he missed me?! I looked at the message one more time, pondering what to reply, another message came, I missed listening to your gibberish talks, I missed that book store, I missed reading poetry to you, I missed our silence. I missed my best-friend.

My eyes lingered on the word best-friend, and a small smile peeked through my lips. This was the first time he had acknowledged me as his friend...His, best friend.

Without delaying much I typed back, I missed you too Shravan.

*******************************************************************

A