*06*

Does that happen to you? When you least expect something to happen but when it happens it has its impact on you.

Well it happened to me. I was never a kind of a girl who cared about someone rather than Nanu. But it happened. It eventually did happen. Shravan had emerged as a constant reminder that how lonely I was with no friends around. Friends! Yes I always had friends, I used to chat with them, used to hang out with them. But they didn't have that intensity of Shravan's.

Shravan was going to be away for the whole week. But mostly he spent his time messaging me. I was never a morning person. My morning would start around seven that too with a great effort. Then my day would go along as the time table and of course Shravan's messages. Yes, my morning would start with a good morning message. That always left me to wonder whether the boy ever slept or not.

It was the fifth day, Shravan hadn't called or messaged me since that morning message, which was unusual. I wanted to call him or at least message him if everything's good or not. But I had to stop myself, thinking he might be busy. In these four days, one thing I had noticed, he was alone with his Nani and I always wanted to ask why his parents did allow him to stay there alone. But again knowing Shravan, talking about his family was a bad idea.

Thinking about all these I went to bed after my dinner.

One past fifteen it showed on the clock when my phone vibrated under my pillow. "Hello" clearly in deep sleep I picked it up without looking at the screen.

"Suman..." a deep whisper rumbled through the phone, and instantly I knew it was him.

"Shravan...Where were you? I was waiting...Shravan...you there?" I asked when only silence greeted me.

"Nani is not well." His quiet and clear voice showed no emotions. I stayed still for a whole minute, thinking what to say at this moment, "She wants to meet you." He suddenly said.

"Meet me?" my voice croaked. "Shravan how..."

"Suman some part of Nani's lung is infected. Doctors are saying she will be okay; they are saying her age is a factor here. But still they are hoping everything will be fine." he stopped, "Nani wants to meet my best friend. Please don't say no."

"Shravan...of course I would love to meet her but how...I am here and you are..."

"That won't be a problem. Tomorrow I'll arrange a laptop here. You just tell me when is a good time to Skype you?!"

"Whenever you say, tomorrow our classes start at eleven, we can talk before that I guess."

"Hmm."

"Shravan..."

"Yes..."

"You Okay?"

There was a pregnant pause, then he answered "I am not. I don't have anybody Suman, I don't have anybody. Nani is important . . . Very important."

"Shravan..."

"I'll call you tomorrow. You sleep now. Sorry for calling you this late. Goodnight Suman." His voice came as a whisper.

"Goodnight."

I had almost cut the call when I heard a faint "I miss you."

~^~

"So you actually spoke to his Nani." Sam narrowed her eyes.

"Yes. She was sweet." I put my college bag on the table.

It was indeed a long day. After Shravan's call I couldn't sleep a wink. All my bad memories kept crawling back. I laughed at remembering how miserable I was, I might have sounded exactly like him. With these weird thoughts I got up from the bed when it was already 7:30 in the morning.

His call came on exact 9:30am.

.

.

.

"Suman...Nani." I saw him after 4 days and he looked devastated. Clearly he didn't sleep or rest. He was wearing a wrinkled shirt which was so unlikely to him. I had always seen him wearing crisp clean shirts. His disheveled hair proved his fingers had gone through it numerous times. And his eyes... well they were blank.

"Namaste Nani." I smiled. Even when surrounded by tubes and monitors I could tell she was pretty. And surprisingly she looked younger than I had thought.

"Pretty." She winked at Shravan.

Winked! Okay!

"How are you Nani?"

"I am okay beta, these doctors I tell you. They only know the language of money. See what have they done to me. Idiots."

"Nani..." I could hear Shravan's soft rebuke.

"What...I am fine. When they couldn't find anything now they are saying I have a lung infection. Nonsense." She paused suddenly looking at me. "Suman...beta...you Okay?" then only I realised one traitor tear had escaped from my right eye.

"Yes Nani...it's just...actually after seeing you I am missing my Nanu."

"Oh...Nanu...is he single?" She laughed.

"Don't mind her Suman...She can be little childish." Shravan shouted.

"Arey! I am asking for my general knowledge."

"Yes Nani he is single." I laughed at the role reversal. I wondered why Shravan was not like this light hearted.

"So tell me...this idiot of mine doesn't bore you right? If he does just tell me...I'll tell him how to behave with a pretty girl like you."

"He doesn't Nani...but he never smiles." I laughed.

"He will...I know he will." She said with a knowing smile.

We chatted for another twenty minutes. She was sweet, and her sense of humour was decidedly quirky.

.

.

.

"Hmmmm" Sam said after a long pause, "So practically you met your future grandmother-in-law."

"Sam!"

"Arey what Sam, why can't you see Suman that boy actually is head over heels for you..."

"Sam what are you saying...we are just good friends."

"Seriously Suman...seriously! You are the one to whom he talks, you are the one with whom he smiles, do you really think he considers you only as a friend...oh sorry best friend I should say, right?" and I didn't have anything to answer.

"I really don't know what you are talking about."

"You clearly do Suman. But one request...just don't play with him. If you only like him as your friend say it clearly. He is a nice boy Suman. Please think before you lead him into something." She sighed.

As they say denying the truth doesn't change the facts and Sam's words hit hard.

~^~

S

hravan called next day. He was happy that his nani was recovering well. But he could tell there was something off with me. Repeatedly he asked "Are you okay? You are not sounding good." or "Is there anything that I should know Suman, is something bothering you?" With every question I grew more silent. Hearing the restlessness in his voice the only thought kept crawling back in my mind, was Sam right about him?!

For some reasons, he didn't call me for the next two days. And yes I did miss talking to him. But as Sam said, I shouldn't be doing anything that lead him into heartbreak.

.

.

.

"What's it Suman?" it was Monday when Shravan appeared in front of me from nowhere.

"Oh hey Shravan...how's Nani?" I tried to be casual.

"She is fine." He nodded looking at me, "What happened Suman?" he asked again.

"What?"

"I don't know you tell me."

"What Shravan?!" I almost snap.

"Achcha! It's okay...Let's go...we are getting late." He took a step ahead then stopped when I didn't join him, "You aren't coming?"

"No...you carry on, I am waiting for Sam."

"Okay I'll wait here."

"No Shravan...you don't need to. I am waiting for Sam because I'll sit with her."

"Why?" he clenched his jaw, clearly irritated.

"Because I want to."

"What do you mean you want to?" he kept looking at me, "Oh.." He suddenly said, "You are avoiding me. Isn't it Suman you are...But Why? What have I done?"

"What are you saying...I am not avoiding you Shravan. I just want to sit with my friend. There's nothing more to it. Please stop assuming things."

"I have no idea why are you doing this to me. But if this is what you want. Fine. Bye."

He barreled out of my sight, without saying another word.

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