13. Aaryan

Last night, Aaryan didn't have those horrible attacks. It was odd to him because sleeping with the terror had become normal to him. This paralysis was happening to him every day now and this break was odd. The science said it could be because of some an adverse effect from a medicine or due to some disease but he was not having any of them. Aaryan was trying to figure out what was happening to him and how he could deal with it, but he had not concluded anything yet. It was strange how the attack suddenly stopped, and he slept in peace. Aaryan kept those thoughts aside and left for the classes. Today he was feeling so fresh, probably because of how relaxing last night was.

As they finished the Cell Biology class they headed to the Genetics lab. Raheel was at the door and when he saw Aaryan, he ran towards him. "Brother," he called in worry, and Aaryan knew he needed something "What?" He said, walking into the lab, "Is there any possibility of you giving me your assignment to copy?" It had to be Raheel needing something or he wouldn't lose that Bro, even for one sentence. Aaryan figured it out long ago, and the answer was "Nope." Raheel stopped for a horrified minute, and then he started to beg, "Please, Adrian. Just for this one time" Aaryan shook his head in denial because it was not just this time, Raheel had been doing it since forever "Bro, You know how Dr. Sarah is, she gonna kill me if I don't submit it tomorrow" Raheel rubbed his hands pleading and shrank his eyes enough to merge with skin "She gonna find that you copied it, Ray and I would be the one to get wasted by her" Aaryan walked to his spot and sat on a stool and Raheel jumped on the neighboring one "I will rephrase it. I will use AI or anything and I promise you won't get in trouble" no matter how much Raheel begged the answer was still "No, she gonna find out"

"For the sake of our friendship, Akhi," Raheel said, and his voice was soggy. Aaryan looked at him and he was sure he saw tears in Raheel's eyes. He was about to shake his head to the side when he cried, "You promised me to be with me in good and bad, in times of hardship and ease. I need you, my Brother. Please help me and let me borrow it for the last time" Okay, Aaryan lost. One of the reasons for this was Raheel's words. They were so cringe and just like any other time he rolled his eyes and said "You should study sometimes, you know it's fun" Then Aaryan gave his assignment to him that took two weeks and a couple of sleepless nights to finish "Shukran, My brother" Aaryan had so much to say to him, mostly about how hefty of a favor he just done to Raheel but then someone entered the lab. Aaryan adjusted his hair and sat straight on the seat. "Diamond, here," he called, raising a hand as if Mary was looking at him or something. She gazed at him for a total of two seconds, and then she walked three chairs away and sat with Luna and James. Raheel cracked out loud "Bro, what the heck was that?" Only if he was aware of it himself. Aaryan didn't reply but looked at Mary in a little surprise while she gave no response. Maybe it wasn't that hard to guess because it was quite obvious that Mary was not interested in him– he kept thinking about the reasons

The moment Dr. Sarah entered the room everyone stopped talking and sat up in their places. "Assemble in pairs of two for the experiment," She announced, and the first thing Aaryan did was to look at his partner. James and Luna were already a couple, and it left Mary alone, so he started to move and just then, "Bro," Raheel called. Aaryan raised his chin in response "Can you help me with setting up with Mary?" But Mary was supposed to be with him and only him "Huh?" Aaryan acted dumb as if he had never heard whatever he had just said. "You know I like her, Adrian. Please help me out this time," he whined. Aaryan didn't, he never wanted to do it, but how the hell was he supposed to explain it to Raheel? So he decided to let it be for one time and just moved his head up and down.

"Hey, Mary," Aaryan called her by her name– not really wanting to call. She was already standing alone and hearing it, she just walked to them, and Raheel took control. "Would you be my partner?" Raheel was the one asking this question, but Mary stared at Aaryan. "See, I am good with genes and stuff, so I would help you out". It was a huge lie because the only way Raheel could pass this class was by copying Aaryan, and it was the only reason why he chose this professor as his teacher.

Aaryan wanted to say that Raheel could definitely help her, but only if she wanted her grades to hit rock bottom, but he stayed silent, and Mary seemed to get convinced. "Okay," she said, and they arranged at a corner of the lab table. Aaryan stood in front of them at the other end, across the table. He got someone named Johnny, who he never knew was in the same class as him. Johnny just appeared a nerd to him, and he left the experiment in his care as the only thing Aaryan was interested in was his friend trying to get close to Mary- with whom apparently he had no relation.

"You are supposed to add the solvent in minute quantities." Mary was the instructor. "Oh, Habibti, I know it." It wasn't funny, but Aaryan laughed because that bloody fool- his friend was calling her my love. "What quantity of solvent?" Raheel asked, moving closer to her.

Aaryan knew that, in a laboratory, you are supposed to handle all equipment with care. He actually always handled the apparatus gently, but right at that moment he was putting a lot of pressure on the flask, his hands were holding. It was surely more than it needed. "Till here," Mary pointed to a reading on the test tube, and Raheel just touched the same point; her finger, and then smiled at Mary like a bloody fool with all of his teeth. Aaryan's hands lost control and the pressure excreted. When he realized it everyone was already staring at him.

Aaryan broke the flask under his hand, and the glass got stuck in his palm, causing a liquid to sprout. When he unclenched his hand and looked at the palm, it was filled with "Blood!" Johnny shouted as if it was the most terrifying thing he had ever seen in his life. Aaryan spared a dead glance to Johnny making him go silent.

His fingers were actually bleeding badly, and they might need a little treatment, but all Aaryan was doing was staring at the two of them. Mary looked worried, so worried that her breaths were audible and Aaryan knew it was just because of the loud crack

Everyone stopped working and was looking at him. "Aaryan, are you fine?" Asked Dr. Sarah and her tone was less harsh than usual "Yeah, I am okay, Ma'am" he answered while lying "Raheel, take your friend to the nurse's office" She ordered and he moved "Yes, Ma'am" Raheel said and took Aaryan out "What the hell have you done, Bro?" Raheel asked in an anxious voice, looking at the blood. "I wasn't paying attention, teri wja sy, Kamine," he said, and Raheel looked at him, not okay with the first half, confused to death for a second. "What?" Was just he asked "Nothing, Begart" Aaryan said moving faster than him

Aaryan's hand was still hurting even when it was evening. He was sitting in his garden on the grass. Aaryan did not want to go home while his hand was covered in a bandage because his parents would just ask annoying questions and he knew they wouldn't even care about him. He just hopped in the garden after coming back from the university

Aaryan was lying down, staring at the sky, when someone came in, and the voice was so sweet. "Hey, Aaryan." he was sure this was the first time Mary had ever called him by his name, and Aaryan was up in an instant. "Hey," he said slowly. "How are you doing?" She asked, sitting on the ground with him, he did not expect that. "Fine." Aaryan was barely able to control his voice because his heart was beating so fast at the moment. He probably doesn't remember what happened in the class today. "Why are you here?" Aaryan asked, and Mary seemed unable to respond as her voice was halting. "The- the project- our- assignment, yeah, the presentation is tomorrow." Obviously, this would be the only reason why she was there. Aaryan couldn't even think of Mary coming to him and asking about his injury. "Yeah, we are done with it, aren't we?" He just recalled finishing it in the morning, and Mary did know it already. "Yeah, but who is going to present?" She asked. "I will," Aaryan said abruptly. "Will you be okay?" Mary was looking at his bandaged hand. "I know you can't do it." For a fraction of a second, just a minute amount of time, Mary looked offended by his words and Aaryan realized the need to explain. "I mean- I didn't say it that way. I mean, you are not good with social interaction and things, so I would just do it." Social anxiety was what he was going to say, and Mary smiled softly, maybe she realized. Her eyes were shining like two pearls when she squeezed them and said his name again. "Thank you, Aaryan." The smile grew bigger, and he forgot to reply. Aaryan was staring at her as if there was nothing in his surroundings. She was extremely beautiful and even though they talked to each other daily he was never done with glancing at her

Aaryan was paying no attention to sides when someone else entered his territory, and that wasn't only someone but a strange and horrific person. Aaryan looked stunned as Matthew was standing at the entrance "Mary" he called and upon hearing that voice Mary's smile was all gone, her face was pale and she stood in a blink "Matthew" Her voice was similar to her face, numb "I am here to take you to the house" he said with a calm voice but Mary nodded vigorously and didn't look at Aaryan to say goodbye or anything even when he stood up as well. Mary was gone and Matthew was still standing. He walked forward to Aaryan "I would appreciate it if you stay away from my sister, Mr. Yusuf" There was something in that deep voice that made him fearful of that man "We were just working on a project, Matthew" he thought it would be okay if he talk casually to him after all Matthew was her brother and it'wasn't like he was dangerous or something

"Mr. Christopher it is. Don't call me Matthew and kindly stay away from her. I am telling it to you as a warning" He appeared dangerous. Aaryan kept his lips shut and then he was gone