UNLOVE

The Day We Met

Ben's P.O.V

It hurt her so much but one day or the other she had to know the truth, I didn't want to hurt her on the final day... she slept on my lap, I wish I could freeze the time here.

When we met during our course I used to throw tantrums but something in Ayanna calmed me down. I was really fat and was subject to a lot of bullying, during the course surprisingly people from all the countries present there treated me well, that made me angrier. During one such group activity I was grouped with Ayanna she was a student of General English, I was from medicine, the group activity is basically to enhance the team spirit as always I was being an introvert. Ayanna did the activity for me, she sensed my discomfort and did the work on behalf of me.

That was the first time someone has ever stood for me and supported me and understood me. After the competition we were placed second, she only smiled at me and retired to her room.

I wanted to talk with her but I didn't know-how. We were given 2 hours of break in the evening, I was at the garden going through my notes of Medicine, that's when Ayanna came and stood near me, he held her hand forward – "Hi! I am Ayanna, and you are Ben right?"

I looked at her, for the first time I wasn't getting angry at her, instead, I was blushing. I was of 19 but Ayanna was only 15 and for me, it didn't feel right but still, I looked at her and extended my hand too. "Benson George!"

"Can I sit here?" she asked, I moved a bit to make her someplace.

"Doing medicine, right?" she asked, I nodded.

"I am at General English, Higher intermediate!" I smiled

"I am from India, and you?" she asked.

"The very same place." I said, she smiled and said: "Wow, this place is awesome you must be lucky." I rolled my eyes, only if she knew.

"I am sorry if I am annoying you." She looked at the ground apologetically.

"No that's okay. The place is good but not for me!" I said

"Why did you go anywhere? You cant be seriously studying at our only free time." She claimed.

"No I am not interested to go anywhere and by the way, I love studying I wouldn't complain. But I can ask the same question. Why didn't you go out?" I asked her.

"I didn't because I thought of introducing myself to you and then take you along." She said

"That's sweet of you but I am not coming anywhere, sorry," I said coldly.

"Please we don't have to go to a crowded place like malls or shops we can just walk !" she pleaded.

"Listen, Ayanna, I understand your efforts on being friends with me but I am not that type. Thank You !" I said and focused back on my notes.

"Fine, I'll stay here too," she said looking through her phone. I closed my notes and told her "Where do you want to go?" I asked not frustrated but just curious.

"Just for a walk." She said as she stood up.

We walked in the footpath in silence and then asked her "Why did you choose to talk with me? Out of pity? " I asked.

"Nope out of all the people here, I think being a friend of yours is very important," she said. I was shocked "But why?" I asked in a confused tone.

"Because you are short-tempered !" she shrugged.

"I don't understand!"

"I have only one reason, Ben. I want to be your friend, I don't know why- it could be because of your attitude or your chubbiness but I have no more reasons. " she said.

"So friends?" I nodded.

"You too are the only person who I haven't shown my anger on," I spoke to myself. "Heard that!" she smiled.

"See we have a reason now let's talk about ourselves- As you know I am Ayanna, I am fifteen – still at school in my 11th grade. I can speak 3 languages fluently – Tamil, English and Hindi, I have an elder sister who is a year older than me. Nothing more I guess. Your turn now"

" I am Benson George from London. My mom is a riding instructor and my dad... I don't know." She sensed my nervousness and held my hand. I looked at her shocked by her activities "It's okay you don't have to tell anything more. I am sorry for asking." Is she even real? We reached a park ." Let's sit here for a while and leave !"

We spoke nothing at all. "So can we come here? Tomorrow?" she asked.

"I don't think you should, I mean I don't think I can be a good friend, I hope you understand," I said I didn't want this to end but she doesn't deserve me, she is a sweet girl but I am not. She cant be my friend and ruin her stay here.

"So you didn't like me?" she asked apologetically.

"No I mean not like that, I am just not a friend material, I hardly have any friends and don't ruin your stay here, enjoy yourself that's all," I said as I stood up.

"Okay if that's what makes you happy!" she was disappointed.

We walked in total silence.

We parted our ways to our respective rooms. At dinner I saw a seat next to Ayanna empty, she was talking with a group of people who she just made friends. I went far from her and sat at the farthest corner, I looked at her, she was laughing out loud with them, a wipe of jealousy took over me. After dinner, we were asked to assemble in the ground for games. I chose to play tennis knowing that no one was going to join me.

Ayanna came with two of her friends whose name I don't remember. One was a boy who was shot while another was a girl who is supposedly Ayanna's age. We started the game – I paired with the boy and Ayanna with the girl.

We started playing and laughing out loud and enjoying the game, I was really happy that day. I gave a shot which straightly went to Ayanna, she ran and came towards the ball to hit it when her legs sprinted and she fell, that was too funny. She rolled on the floor and started to laugh while all of us joined her. We couldn't stop laughing even after we went to the indoor games room to have our hot chocolate. It was way too fun.

The next morning I couldn't find Ayanna in the dining, I went to my corner and sat. Ayanna arrived late after 10 minutes or so she found no seat empty and the only seat empty was near me cause no one was going to sit near such a fat person. Her hair was wet, she took the tray and sat near me, I have never noticed it but she looked too beautiful, I didn't realise that I had been staring at her but she too was looking at me, her brows raised, I quickly turned away, she laughed and started eating. I finished my food and left the dining for my classes.

That evening we were supposed to go on sightseeing to the city. We assembled to board the coach but Ayanna looked upset, I saw her signalling her friend that she had a headache and didn't wish to sit with anyone. She took a seat in the last and corner of the bus, while I couldn't find anywhere to sit because no one wanted to share with me, again the only place available was near Ayanna. Her head was leant by the window and her eyes closed, she opened her eyes to look at me when I sat near her. She smiled at me and sat straight "I have a bad throbbing headache." She spoke.

"Oh! Did you take any tablet?" I asked

"No when I told it to the principal he asked me to stay at the hostel but I can't miss the tour, I have no other tablets except the one for menstruation." She said catching her head.

I opened my bag and gave her a tablet and a water bottle. She looked at it, embarrassed "Is something wrong?" I asked not sure what was wrong.

"No ! I just...um... don't know to swallow a tablet," she said innocently. "What? Have you never had any tablets?" I asked as I was stunned to hear that.

"I usually crush it and add honey to it and eat it," she said embarrassed.

"Do as I do" she nodded, she followed my instructions and swallowed the tablet.

"Take rest till we reach the destination," I said, she nodded still not yet relieved from her embarrassment. She scooped a bit low and leant on my shoulders and closed her eyes. This felt awesome, I felt like the happiest man in the world right now...