The Compromise I Don't Regret

chapter 6. HAUNTING SECRETS

I looked at the clock and it reads 8:30 pm. It's been an hour since I've been staring at the speeding fan. Guess this vacation won't be quite good considering the fact that I'm getting married within 2 months. This I the second time I'm spending my day in the bed and the others can't enjoy as well. And they have to take turns and climb up to the third floor to check on me and Zara di too had to climb up today which is not ideal for her condition. The adult party is gonna kill me for getting both of sick and- my thoughts got broke by a knock on the door " how are you doing now?" Amaan's voice spoke and I sat up in the same position while Amaan sat on the edge of my bed. "Much better and you? Did you dress your wound and get the shot?" I asked him at a stretch. "Wo wo slow down yes I got my shot and dressed my wound and I'm feeling great" he answered stressing on each word. And I couldn't help but laugh at him though he was teasing me and he laughed along with me. "Did you eat something?" he asked and I slowly nodded in negative "It's already 9 and Zara said food was already sent to you so why didn't you eat?" he asked and I froze. Like Sameer bhai said we both know each other inside out and he will surely find out when I lie and so he is the hardest person to convince. He always catches me red handed. "What are you thinking about? I asked you something...!" he said in a serious tone. "Would you mind minding your own business I'll eat when I want to" I snapped and I felt bad for being rude. But he just simply laughed "you know.... you always get defensive and angry when you feel like losing or when you are lying. But I just asked you a question" he said as if he knew what I was up to. "I just um...well I was not hungry I'm... I'll eat soon" I tried to bring out an excuse. "Great because I didn't eat as well. We'll eat together" he simply stated and turned to leave "Don't hide in the bathroom or anywhere else I'll be right back" he said before vanishing behind the doors. Great now what in the world I'm I gonna do. Food is the last thing I need. Even the thought of eating makes me nauseous. Why is he so interested in my health all of a sudden? All these years he never even asked me how I was and neither did I but this is some change. Wonder if it's the fact that we are getting married or because he really changed probably because of his break up after which we never talked

"Huh why didn't you take room in down floors" amaan asked as he reentered my room huffing and puffing ."Because I wanted to be far away from you but it clearly isn't serving the purpose" I snapped. "Ow now that hurts" He said as he dramatically held his hand to his heart to which i rolled my eyes and then we started to eat. " I thought we were friends now you know considering the fact that we drove together, ate together spend a night together, slept together without killing each other so are we not cool 'cause I'm trying here. I don't want to be killed by my wife so I'm trying to maintain a friendship between us at least until we go on our separate ways." He said sincerely. "Yeah can't blame a man for trying" I teased him and he laughed "Now eat and don't expect me to feed you I ain't doing that" he said in a sing-sang way. "That would be the second last thing I want to do" I retorted.

"And the first?"

"To marry you..."

"Of course darling your wish will be fulfilled soon you'll marry me in a month"

"But it's the last thing I want to do"

"But I asked you for the first..."

" but wait i thought first last....uh ......Jerk"

"Idiot"

"Fool"

'Buffoon"

"Joker"

"Clown"

"Would you guys please stop it" Anwar shouted and we immediately did seeing the audience we had managed to gather. "And we thought these two days will be free from this couple shit" Anas said. We both looked down completely embarrassed for our childish acts. "bhayya are you going to make them shake hands like you always do" Ameen asked trying to control his laughter and everyone snickered and I could feel my cheeks heating up " no beta this time I'm gonna make them hug and apologize only then they'll grow" Sameer bhayya said with finality. "you just dug your own grave mera chota bhai" anwar told ameen."They'll have a kid of their own in a year or two and are still fighting like kids. I wonder how their kids are going to be. Dada ji phoned to inform that you two will be engaged in three days and the marriage will be a week after so that Amaan's dadi can go back to Australia soon. She's got a surgery to do." Aliya di informed after scolding us. It's such a shame that people have to scold us even after becoming adults. I just fixed my gaze upon my plate and realized that I ate most of it and didn't even know about it because I was talking to Amaan. "Now get up both of you." Sameer bhai ordered. We got up. "Now apologize, shake hands and hug" he ordered again. "Come on bhai do we have to do that now I promise I won't repeat" I whined. "Haan yaar bhai" Amaan chimed in. "this is your punishment and its final, I should have done it long before, shameless creatures fighting like babies" and everyone snickered and I glared at Ameen. "I'll get you for this" I called out to him to which he muttered a sorry. "Come on now" Sameer bhayya called. "Bhayya..." I called out to Samar bhai for help and he just shrugged. "You know I have the worst brothers and cousins in the world" I whined and I pulled out my hand and Amaan quickly pulled out his and we shook hands. "Apologize" Sameer bhai said in a strict tone.

"Sorry"

"sorry" , we apologized simultaneously without even looking at each other. "And.......?" Sameer bhai asked expectantly. "Fine" I muttered and as I stood on my toes to reach for Amaan since he was quite taller than me, one his best traits for which girls fell for him. Seeing that I couldn't reach him he bend down a little and lifted me up by the waist and a little yelp escaped my mouth as it took me by surprise and hearing that a chuckle escaped his lips as well. He then hugged me and I hugged him back and then put me down. My cheeks were on fire by now; I would never in my life fight with him while Sameer bhai is around. I turned around expecting satisfied and smirking faces but my eyes were met by the closed door. Did we take that long nad hy did they freaking close the door? I turned towards amaan saw that his eyes had a satisfied look as he watched something, I followed his gaze to meet my half eaten porridge." Let's finish it?" he asked and I nodded. As we continued to eat and neither of us spoke and it was awkward since both of us knew the reason. "So... you and Noora are quite close?" he asked thankfully breaking the awkward silence. "Yeah she's my best friend but more like a sister to me and I love her. Why interested in her? You seemed to get along with her quite well" I asked out of curiosity. "Are you kidding? No... no ways. Yeah we spoke a lot while you were asleep. But our topic was you since you are the only thing common between us. Moreover I'm a committed man you know so I have to stay with you whether I like it or not." He said. "What did you two talk about me?" I asked him ignoring his last comment. "Well she told me how you go behind hot boys proposing them and how you sleep over your rejections, how you bunk classes and how you always get caught" he said "ha ha very funny" I snapped but he continued "I told her how you used to cry for every single thing and how you use to loose every single race and how you would lock yourself up after doing some- "He stopped midsentence and I could make out from his face that regretted saying it. And then back to silence. "So.... Karan eh?" he asked out of blue, something more than curiosity in his eyes. "How did you.... Of course Noora...." I said more to myself. "So...you like him?" he asked I watched as his eyes sparkled expectation in his eyes. I never thought I would have such conversation with him all thanks to Noora. "Of course not, the thing is that he does not understand when I say that I'm not interested, he thinks I'm shy or some shit like that. According to the people nowadays a girl cannot be single she's either taken or she loves someone so when I tell him I'm single and not interested he does not seem to get it." I said with frustration just by thinking about Karan. "So you didn't tell about this to anyone?" he asked more out of concern than curiosity. Wow I never knew he could be so comfortable to talk to. "No I didn't. if I tell abu, ami, bhayya or anyone for what matters they'll definitely give him a warning or do something stupid but that's not necessary because he a nice guy, decent I guess but the only thing is that he wants me to love him back which I never can" I explained. "You've got his number?" he asked. "Yeah we are going to meet tomorrow here in Delhi we've got a project together. Why did you ask?" I informed. "I'll take you there" he offered "no I'm driving myself, what are you going to do meeting him "I declined. "No it's not an offer I'm driving you and I'll deal with him" he declared. "What? No you can't do this. I told you already he is-"; "Just..... I'll deal with this without causing any problems, no warnings, no harsh talks nothing promise" I got cut off by Amaan. "Okay?" he asked "okay" I reluctantly agreed. "Can I ask you something......... well don't keep any hard feelings for Noora, I'm glad she told me" he said. "Sure go ahead" I said hoping that it won't be some other bomb planted by Noora. "Um... you have issues with a guy in college?" he asked and I froze not this... why in the world would Noora tell him about this...when did they talk this much after all. I looked towards the door to make sure that none of my brothers heard it. It is as if he could read my mind he stood up and reached to the door and locked it them he came back took both our empty plates and kept it aside on the table and then handed me a tissue, my tablets and some water and took one for him. After we had our medications, he sat in front of me on the bed facing me while I was still seated on my bed. He took my hand in his. I looked at him taken aback by his move. "I want you to tell me about this, I promise you I won't tell anyone not to your brothers, not to your sisters, not the elders. Just tell me what this is about. Consider me as your friend and not as ......um.... your enemy .Noora just mentioned an issue with some guy because of which you missed some important function or something. That's all that slipped from her mouth and she refused to tell me about it until you do it yourself. But now seeing your face I can make out its something serious." He told me really patiently and cautiously. It is something thats been haunting me for the past year. Its something that ive never told anyone but something inside me tells me to trust him.