Ricordi

Arjun gulped, trying to buy himself some time to think of something to say. He didn't even know what reaction to give, but he definitely knew that the panicked expressions that were currently on his face were not the right way to proceed.

However, it was nothing as compared to the absolute pandemonium that was raging within him. The teenage boy staying inside him started screaming out of fear, as if he had been caught red-handed while trying to steal something . He stopped for a moment and stared intently at his toes instead, trying to think of a way to fix the chaos he had created.

*Ishaan was standing, rooted to his spot and seething in anger. A voice inside his head was taunting sarcastically, that this was the only sight on earth that he had deprived of, but now he had seen this as well, so he could die peacefully now. He wanted to kill Arjun at that very moment, because this boy was growing in his audacity day-by-day.*

He stepped forward and spoke, meddling between them.

"I think Arjun wanted to express his platonic feelings to you, this is exactly the way we both have been suffering, and you are trying to escape, leaving us in this condition. Please Manya, please, try to understand; I am seriously willing to do anything in order to gain your forgiveness."

*Manya was still caught up in the words uttered by Arjun. 'Love you…' she knew the way her best had been saying these words to her all these years, and she could feel the difference when he said the same words today. But why was he not willing to accept the fact that if he loved her, he could just as easily express it in front of everyone. Or if he couldn't bother to acknowledge his feelings, then why would she as well? But more importantly, she never realised that she had hurt him to this extent; she had never thought about the consequences of her actions thoroughly, and some part of her was aware of it. But he could at least have mentioned it earlier,  now all of a sudden, he had unleashed all the blame on her. No, she would not let him go as easily.*

Thinking such, she asked again, "Tell me! Do you really love me? Like love- love!?"

Arjun could guess by her tone now, that she had moved on from actual surprise to teasing. 

So he also spoke, teasing her in return.  "Don't you know, the younger ones in the family are meant to be loved? So what am I supposed to do, after being a good and responsible adult of the family? Manage and care for the kid with love, obviously! Doesn't it come under my responsibility as well?"

*Ishaan was shocked at Arjun's reply. How dumb was this person!? He had the golden chance to confess to her, she was even promoting him herself! And still, he was dragging it along, going around in circles.  Really, he was capable of nothing good! Who cared anyway, it was a good thing for him!*

He smirked to himself before anyone can notice, happy at the wasted opportunity. But soon, his smirk changed into a frown when he noticed Manya pulling Arjun's hands into her own. She spoke with a smile, and raised an eyebrow.

"Oh really, come here Mr.Grandpa Juno the Genie, I will teach you what older kids are supposed to do…"

Arjun was also laughing along, looking at her.

*He had never noticed such jolliness in her behaviour before in the span of twelve years. But what he was just seeing was something he had always wanted to provide to her, as her face was almost glittering due to the grin that was spread from one ear to another, as well as the look of peace in her eyes. They were not in search of anything anymore, which he used to notice before, and had mentioned to her as well. He remembered approaching her on the rooftop of his apartment once, when the both of them had been slightly drunk. "Manya, you know what, the blankness of your eyes always makes me feel like you are in search of something...but what is it? What is that thing, or perhaps, who are you in search of? You can tell me!" And she had laughed and changed the topic, pr simply replied in a single word…"Ricordi. It is probably my Ricordi that my eyes are in search of...but I don't even know what I think I am supposed to find, as everything is already with me. Let's leave the topic here."*

He let out a sigh, as he knew that she was in search of something, from very beginning; but he couldn't let her find that. The state of serenity she was in right now, was supposed to be with her when she was with him, him alone. He couldn't endure this scenario anymore, so he pulled out his phone quietly and messaged Vendy to come in. He texted her the directions with the command that he would be expecting her to cone within five minutes.

When he turned again towards Arjun, thinking of a way to initiate conversation. That was when Manya noticed him and smiled, let out a heavy sigh and spoke.

"I am sorry Ish!" 

Ishaan and Arjun both turned to look directly at her face, as if they had misheard something.

Manya noticed the reaction and laughed; saying "Why, am I not allowed to say that? Why are the both of you staring at me…?"

"No, no. You are, you definitely are," Arjun spoke before Ishaan could.

While Ishaan looked at her with a host of mixed emotions; at that moment, he was on cloud nine. He had heard the word 'Ish' from her mouth after so long, which made his heart flutter. Meanwhile, the jealousy, anger and sadness were still prevalent inside his heart, and punching him one by one, making him realise their presence."

He finally managed to speak, trying hard to draw a drop of water from his eye.

He started, "No,no, Manu. I am the one who should apologise, you were totally innocent...I am the filthy person who had been hiding his real identity in front of you, just because of his own selfishness. Please forgive me Manu, I know I am not perfect but I will..try to be good for you..I will-"

"Relax Ish, you don't have to be good for my sake, because you are already perfect for me. And trust me, as far your concern is, regarding forgiveness, I have forgiven you a long time ago. So just relax, and I think you should leave now, as Vendy must be waiting for you."

"No! How can I leave when you are in this condition, I -"

He was in the middle of his sentence when Vendy entered the room and looked at Manya, asking, "How are you now? You had just scared us to death, you know?! But what was the reason behind your fainting like that?!"

"Actually, I think we need to reopen the case of the accident which has been closed for the past twelve years. I am pretty sure I have heard a voice of a person, who, according to the reportex events, should be very dead by now. But he is alive, and he tried to attack me. No, I think he was just trying to scare or freak me out- I don't know. But I am sure that there is something which is yet uncovered, and we need to pull the covers off of that." Manya dropped the bomb on everyone.

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A/N- Hello my dear readers! I realise that there have been quite a few typos in the last few chapters, and I will get to it soon! I apologise for the short chapter today, and I will be posting two chapters tomorrow, as a bonus! Love you all! (◍•ᴗ•◍)❤