Chapter 14

Third person point of view

Aravind sat down on the chair and took deep breaths. Dev walked fine on the floor but it was difficult on the stairs. Aravind almost carried him upstairs. His mouth itched to curse the hell out of Dev, for everything. But Dev was like a dead fish, not doing or saying anything. Aravind rolled his eyes. His breath slowed down to normal. 

Aravind looked at Dev who was on the bed. Dev was mumbling something. Aravind didn't know what was up with this guy. He rubbed his face in frustration. He was not fine to begin with and now seeing Dev sparked his bad mood even more. And he even ended up having to take care of him in this kind of state. 

Aravind grit his teeth. He got up and sat on the bed beside Dev and looked at him. " Oye, wake up ". He called out in a loud enough voice. Aravind shook Dev by his shoulder. Dev groaned and turned to the other side with his back to Aravind and continued to sleep. Aravind persisted. He was set on waking Dev up.

" No, you are not sleeping right now. Wake up ". He continued to pester Dev by shaking him. Dev couldn't sleep and finally turned to him but did not wake up. He just pushed Aravind's hand away. Aravind was not going to let him be. " I know you are very much drunk and sleepy but you are not sleeping. We need to talk ". 

Aravind declared, determined to have a talk. He knew very well that a sober Dev was honest but a drunk was more than honest. The filter between his mouth and brain just magically disappears. He was not going to let this opportunity go. Dev continued to struggle. He was getting dizzy from all the shaking. 

Aravind gave a huff and stopped. He clenched his fists and suddenly got an idea. " You are sitting up and talking to me or I am slapping you again ". He warned and Dev stopped struggling. He rubbed his eyes and sat up lousily. Aravind knew it would work. He picked up the water bottle and gave it to Dev. 

Dev took it and gulped the water. He drank half of it in one go. Aravind took it back and put it away. He sighed and decided to start with a comparatively easy question. " Why did you drink so much ? " He asked and Dev rubbed his forehead. " I was devastated ". He replied and looked up at Aravind. 

Aravind noticed how Dev's eyes were starting to tear up. He knew how pitiful Dev looked in that state. More than anything, it was Dev. So he couldn't ignore his state like he couldn't see it. But he couldn't let it sway him. Aravind gulped, trying his best to not waver. " Why ? " He asked and Dev took a deep breath. 

" Because of... a lot of things ". He said looking gloomy and sad like he lost all reason to live. Aravind wanted to scoff at the expression but held it back. And he was even curious now. " Like ? " Dev ran a hand through his hair. " It is a long story ". He said looking at Aravind. Aravind raised an eyebrow. 

" Tell me. I am all ears and we have the whole night to ourselves anyway ". Aravind said, pulling up his legs and sat cross legged, facing Dev. Dev looked at him with half lidded eyes. " It is not the question of time though. It is about how willing you are to know it. If you are sure you want to, then I will tell you. Everything ". 

Aravind didn't know if he really was ready for it. But now that it has come to this, he didn't want to back out. There was no way he would leave things like this between them. " I am ". Dev nodded and made eye contact with Aravind before speaking. " I like you ". Aravind took a second to digest and he was flabbergasted. He stared at Dev, totally thrown off by those three words. 

Dev continued speaking. " I just realized it not too long ago. You know Preethi right ? I met her that day when we went shopping together. She asked me if I already told you that I like you. Even Rashi who we met not too long ago asked me if we are a couple. I told the both of them that it is not the case and that you are just a very important person to me. And just my best friend. Only I knew how much a lie it is ". 

Dev gave a chuckle finding it ridiculous. " Their questions actually made me wonder if I was oblivious or they are just observant. But it also made me realize that no friend gets jealous when their friend is talking with others and not paying him attention. No friend would observe when girls try to come and chat him up and get mad. No friend would feel angry when his friends get too close in proximity. More than anything, they wouldn't want to kiss you or find you adorable for the smallest of things. They wouldn't think of you all the time when you are not together ". 

Dev stared right back at Aravind. " If all these things say that I am just still thinking of you as a friend then it is me deceiving myself. And if all these things mean I like you or love you or have a crush on you, then yes I do; whatever that is ". Aravind looked away not knowing what to say. He opened his mouth but nothing came out. Dev did not stop though.

" I am also sorry for the kiss. I really don't know what possessed me that day but after seeing you half naked like that, I really couldn't stop myself ". Aravind's eyes went wide. He felt himself blush. It was good that the lighting was dim and Dev was drunk. Aravind would die of embarrassment if he were to face Dev in full day light in this situation. Dev let out a breath. 

" I initially didn't know what to do about all of these feelings. Get rid of them ? Just let time give me an answer ? I still don't think I know what to do. And while I was going through so much dilemma and my sleep was chaos, you came out to me. That just pushed me even more to an edge. I didn't know if I was attracted to guys or if I was not straight. There is like a huge spectrum of genders and all, but all those just confused me more since I never even thought about liking a guy my whole life. I still don't know what I am or anything except that I like you. I- " 

Aravind moved forward covering Dev's mouth. Dev stopped speaking. The fact that Dev actually liked him as in 'like' like was shocking enough to alter his brain wiring but listening to it more and more made Aravind too flustered. He has never been in a relationship and he wasn't really that interested in it either. 

Dev kept talking about him so bluntly like he was the apple of his eye. It was almost greasily sweet love words. Hearing those kinds of words was more than what Aravind could handle. He might not have been in a relationship, but he definitely knew what someone in love looks like. And the way Dev was looking at him while speaking was showing exactly that expression. 

Aravind started to feel a little overwhelmed from all of it being thrown at him at once. He was indeed not fully prepared but he did not expect it to have such impact on him. With that kind of handsome face, Dev was telling him over and over that he liked him; Aravind's heart almost skipped a beat. He took a deep breath.

-MG