Invisible String

Chapter 16: a root canal, without anesthesia.

Kabir’s pov
Before I could even utter a word, Aditya’s drunken words came through the call.
“Baby, please talk to me.” I raised my eyebrows at this, utterly amused. Even though I was concerned for him, still I wasn’t ever gonna let him forget this call.

“I miss you so much, everything about you. Your laugh, your eyes, even the way you make fun of me, calling me a dumbass. wapas aaja mere paas yaar, tu jo bolegi mai voh karunga. Puri duniya ko bataunga tu meri hai. Aliens ko bhi bataunga, kaise pata nai, par bataunga. Sabh sort kar lunga bas aaja. Kisi cheez mai dil nai lagta tere bina, na hi jeene mai. Naina, kuch bol toh sahi, taras gaya hu teri awaz sunne. 2 4 gaali hi bol de.” (Please come back to me, I’ll do everything you say. I’ll tell the entire world that you’re mine, even aliens, I don’t know how, but I will. Just come back to me, I’ll sort everything out. I dont feel like doing anything without you, not even living. Naina, please say something, I’m craving just to hear your voice, just curse me but say something)

He slurred through the phone and I just felt pity for him. I hadn’t seen him like this ever, for anyone, and that too for someone he has known for less than a month.

“Abey bewde romeo, drunk call toh barabar laga. Achha hua yeh call mujhe aaya, usko aaya hota toh gaali nai, seedha maar hi daalti. (Ay drunk romeo, atleast drunk dial properly. It’s good that I received this call, if Naina would have received this, she would’ve killed you.)”
I warned him while Samaira was trying to hold in her laughter, but failing badly at it. I playfully gestured her to shut up.

“Hein? Yeh kon kutta bhonk raha hai bey? Tere paas Naina ka phone kaise aaya? Abey saale banda hu mai uska, phone de usse. (Huh? Who the fuck are you and how do you have Naina’s phone? Asshole, I’m her fucking boyfriend, give her the phone.”
I could practically feel his anger through the phone. This dumbass.

“Abey chutiye, dekhke number dial kar, Kabir bol rha hu. (You dumbfuck, you dialled the wrong number, this is Kabir here)”

“Kabir?? Tu Naina ke saath kya kar rha hai?"
I just pinched the bridge of my nose at this. Either he was really drunk, or hes just crazy in general. I think it was both. Now, I was feeling really bad for Naina, poor girl. Dear god, what did she get stuck with?

I spoke in the calmest voice I could muster with my frustration right now.

“I am not with Naina, this is my number, okay? Now keep the fucking phone down and sleep, you have a killer hangover waiting for you tomorrow.” I could hear him yawning through the phone.

“Yeah, whatever,” he paused for a minute, “Kabir, I will get her back someday, right?” There was a sense of vulnerability in his voice. He was actually scared.

“Of course you will. Darr math, tera yeh bhai kabh kaam aayega? (Why are you worrying when your brother is there with you?)”
I said, with an assertive tone, and he left a sigh of relief.

“Love you, Kabira.” He said and hung up. I just chuckled at this and muttered a small ‘Love you too, idiot’. Suddenly, Samaira cleared her throat, reminding me of her presence.

“So? How is your best friend, Kabira?” She emphasised on the nickname that my dumbass best friend had called me.

I sighed defeatedly, running my hands through my face. “You’re never gonna let this go, are you?”

“Nope.” She said, popping the ‘p’.

“As for him, he’s gonna be fine. I know.” I said, leaving no hints of doing in my voice.

“How do you know that for sure?”
“Because he’s still got me.” I looked straight at her as I said those words and saw a glint of something in her eyes for me which I’d never seen before, admiration.