Chapter 13

Third person point of view

The next morning, Dev waited for Aravind to walk out of the house to go to college like always. The slap wasn't as heavy to begin with so the wound wasn't as serious by morning. He did not know how to feel about that. He checked the mirror once again and it was fine. He then looked towards Aravind's house.

He was more nervous than he has ever been his whole life. His leg wouldn't stop shaking as he sat on the bike. He checked the time and they would be late if he waited any longer, but there was still no sign of Aravind. His phone vibrated in his pocket. He quickly took it out and it was a message from Aravind.

Aravind : I will not be coming to college.

Dev's heart dropped. He wouldn't say he did not see it coming but that did not prepare him for what came at him. He just stared at the message for a few minutes not even able to type back a reply. At the end, he sighed and put his phone back in his pocket. He looked at the house and pursed his lips. He put on his helmet, started the bike and left. 

Aravind was sitting in the living room on the couch. He heard Dev's bike drive away and gulped hard. He told his parents that he had a head ache and stayed at home. His mother asked if he wanted to take a tablet, but he rejected saying it would go down eventually. He ate the breakfast and sat on the couch, not knowing what to do. 

He felt deprived of energy. It was as if he was really sick. He didn't want to move from the place he was sitting. His dad and brother left for work, so it was only his mother and him. He spent the morning switching channels and had lunch along with his mother. They cleaned up together once they were done. 

She went and sat on the couch to watch television. Aravind followed her. He put his head on his mother's lap and just lied there silently. " What happened Aru ? Is something bothering you ? " His mother asked running a hand through his hair. " Nothing. I am just not feeling that good ". He answered in a small voice. 

" You don't have a fever, do you ? " She asked and put a hand to his forehead. It was in normal temperature. " You sure there is nothing ? " She asked again. " Yeah ". He answered and she didn't ask him anymore. He just stayed like that and after a while, went to his room. His head was really starting to hurt. He decided to take a nap and fell asleep. 

Aravind woke up again when he heard a knock on his door. He sat up and answered. " Aru~ " " Woke up ". His mother spoke from the other side. " Dinner is almost ready. Wash your face or if you feel like it, take a bath ". " Okay ". He got out of bed and went to the bathroom. 

He washed his face with some cold water. He dried it off and then went out to have dinner. He finished and went back to his room again. He picked up his phone but there was still nothing from Dev. He did not know how he was feeling. He put it aside and fell on the bed. It took a lot of tossing and turning to fall asleep.

The next two days went by just like that. Aravind didn't know how to face Dev. He really just had no clue about what to do with this whole situation. And Dev was also in the same situation. He wanted to talk but did not know how to or what to say. They could only stay out of each other's space for now and suffer by themselves. 

It was the third night already. Aravind was sitting on his bed and watching a series when he finally got a call from Dev. He saw the name on the screen and hesitated. He let out a huff and picked it up but did not say anything. He waited for Dev to speak but instead heard Arjun's voice from the other side. " Hello ? Aravind ". Aravind frowned. 

" What is it ? " " Are you back at home ? " Arjun asked. " Yeah ". Aravind could hear the faint music coming from the background. He kind of guessed where they were. He knew that Dev told them that there some family emergency and so Aravind was not at home in their group chat. So he answered that he was back and it was fine now. 

" Can you come pick this guy up ? He is seriously drunk right now ". " Dev ? " Aravind asked in shock. " Yeah. I don't know what it is and he isn't saying anything no matter what and just keeps drinking. We got him to stop but I don't know if it is fine to send him home alone in this drunk state ". Aravind bit his lip. 

They all lived in different areas so it wouldn't be easy to go around so much. He ran a hand through his hair. " Fine. Wait for me. I will come get him ". " Alright ". Aravind hung up and put on some pants. He picked up his phone and wallet and walked out of his room. " Where are you going ? " His mother asked him. 

" Aunty and uncle are not home right ? So I want to stay with Dev ". His mother nodded without doubting him. Aravind walked out and went a little away from the house. He booked a taxi to their regular pub. They reached in around half an hour. He turned to the driver. " I came to pick up my friend. We can go back in 5 minutes. I will pay for both sides ". 

" Alright ". The driver agreed. " Thanks ". Aravind got out of the car and called Arjun. " I am here ". " We will come out. 5 minutes ". " Okay ". Aravind hung up and waited. Abhay and Arjun helped bring Dev out. Aravind frowned at the sight of the drunk Dev. Dev was a quiet drunk but the sight of him still annoyed Aravind. 

Dev was walking out obediently. He looked up and saw Aravind standing there. He immediately went to hug him. Aravind was surprised and leaned backwards due to Dev's weight. He quickly stabilized himself. " Will you be able to handle him ? " Arjun asked and Aravind nodded. " No problem. You guys go do your thing ". 

" Fine. Be careful ". Aravind nodded. They both went back in. Aravind pulled away from the hug. Dev looked dazed. Aravind held Dev by his shoulder and took him to the car. He opened the door and put Dev in the backseat. Once he made sure Dev sat in properly, he closed the door. He went in from the other side and got in. The driver started the car. 

They soon reached and Aravind paid the driver and thanked him once again. He walked towards Dev's house by holding him. They reached the door. Aravind held him with one hand worried he would stumble and searched Dev's pockets for the keys with the other hand. He looked up at Dev's face.

Dev's eyes were barely open. Aravind sighed and found the keys in the back pocket. He took them out and opened the door. Dev's parents went to the house warming ceremony of some relatives. So there was currently no one at home. Lucky enough. He took Dev carefully to his bedroom and threw him on the bed.

-MG