Chapter 15: - Reconciliation

FLASHBACK continues

After what felt like forever but was only forty five minutes Armaan's eyes unfurled but he instantly covered them with his left hand finding the surroundings too bright.

Adjusting to the bright light his eyes roamed around and were stuck on Khwaab's pale face and swollen eyes. She was standing near his bed only , his hand still in hers.

"How are you feeling?" She asked with a warm smile and he simply stared at her. She was sitting here, for him, even after he was rude to her. He never expected anyone to be this pure and caring. She was a gem.

"I'm fine." He replied weakly returning a small smile and tried to sit. Seeing him awake and talking, she felt a heavy burden lifting off from her heart . She adjusted the pillow behind him and gave him water.

Ms. Gabriel and Mrs. Chawla along with the doctor entered the room and smiled at them. "How are you feeling dear?" Doctor asked him softly and his answer was positive.

"You had high fever and it's still there. Don't skip your meals and take your medicines on time. You'll be fine soon, don't stress." He advised and Armaan nodded obediently.

"I'll ask one of the staff to bring something healthy for you to eat." Saying so the doctor went away.

"Are you okay my child? You know how worried we all were. I knew something is wrong otherwise you are always attentive in my class." Ms. Gabriel came forward and ruffled his hair lovingly.

"I'm fine ma'am and it won’t happen again." He answered in a low voice feeling guilty for troubling everyone.

"It’s okay. We are not only your teachers but just like your parents when y'all live far away from your home. Get well soon that's all we want." Mrs. Chawla said cupping his cheeks and he smiled innocently at her.

"And we informed your parents also. They were eager to talk to you. Shall I call them?" Ms. Gabriel asked and Armaan's smile vanished. He hadn't talked to them too in the last week and hearing this news his mom would be fretting a lot. His father would have been restless and worried too.

Noticing the change in his features Khwaab suggested, “ma'am I think he should eat something first. He needs energy to talk right?"

They nodded and a staff entered with a tray having porridge along with juice. He grimaced looking at the food but had no option. "I'll make you eat." Ms. Gabriel said but he denied saying, “Talwar”, and looked at Khwaab. The English teacher made a sad pout and everyone chuckled. The teachers left so that he could be comfortable.

She fed him and he ate slowly. "Thankyou." He said in between his bite.

Khwaab- why?

Armaan- for this and also for sitting here for me even after I behaved rudely.

Khwaab- it's fine. I should have known my limits.

She said with a poker face and continued feeding him.

"No." He said and held her hand. "You weren't wrong. I was. I talked rudely to my only friend and I swear I didn't mean anything . Please don't be mad at me and lets be like before. I'll not talk like this again." He said meekly with his head bowed down and held his ears. He has never apologized before but last time he saw how she did so just copied her.

Keeping the plate aside she removed his hands from his ears and he looked up. She was smiling at him like before and that made his heart warm.

"I'll forgive you only when you trust me enough to share your worries. I'm not forcing you but don't get yourself burdened. See where it brought you." She scolded her softly and his lips stretched into a wide smile.

"I missed this." He whispered and embraced her in a tight yet comforting hug. There was a certain kind of peace on his face. She hugged him back and patted his shoulder.

"Let's finish your food." She said breaking the hug and he scowled. His tantrums started.

"You should have thought before falling sick. Who asked you to skip your meals!." She said sternly with stress lines over her forehead and he made a sad pout but it didn't affect her at all or she pretended to be unaffected.

Giving him his medicines she said , "I'll call Chawla ma'am. You need to talk to your parents and I need to go. It's late." He simply nodded with a smile and decided to tell her later. He definitely trusted her.

"Hello." He whispered meekly over the phone. "Ammy, my love." His mother's heavy voice reached his ears and he felt guiltier for putting them in such situation.

"How’s my buddy?" It was his father. He was sounding okay but he knew he must be worried more than any. Armaan was his prince.

"Mom, dad I'm fine. " His voice was hoarse and timid making them more worried.

"No dear. Your teacher told us that you had high fever and it was because of stress. Why were you skipping your meals? Is it because of our fight?" Ahaana asked cryingly. She wanted to fly down there and hug him but the weather didn't allow them. It's May and rains were unpredictable in Mumbai.

"My fever has gone and I just had lunch. Talwar made me have porridge and juice." He answered in detail to make them feel relieved.

"Who's Talwar? Any staff?" His father asked concerned as he was always the reserved one and his tantrums increases ten times when he falls sick but they happily bear every tantrum of their only son.

"My friend." He answered and they exchanged looks but didn't pry. Their priority was his health.

"Okay, you just take care of yourself my love and we will do just the way you want. Don't pressurize yourself for anything." Ahaana comforted him because she couldn't bear her son's indifferent behaviour towards her from past one week and this news was a shock for her.

"No mom. I'm working hard and will definitely do well in exams and take care of myself too. You won't hear anything like this again. Take care both of you , bye." He said and hanged up the call.

He didn't want his family to feel that he is blackmailing them emotionally rather they should understand his dreams and support them. Keeping his teacher's mobile aside he stood up to freshen up. He still felt weak but was a lot better than before both physically and mentally.

Khwaab lied on her bed after freshening up and having her lunch with Naina. Though the latter didn't ask anything but her suspicious eyes didn't go unnoticed by her.

Khwaab wasn't making any eye contact with her because she herself was confused. Her many friends fell ill before and she was always concerned about them but what she felt today perplexed her. Concern was there but laced with fear. She couldn't bear seeing him weak and frail. She just wished him to be happy and healthy. Maybe because they fought.

The harsh words he said a week ago still hurt her. She asked out of curiosity and because she considered him her very good friend. She never bothered him when they weren't friends then why he snapped like that, her innocent heart questioned.

But whatever happened today saddened her. Maybe he was stressed about something therefore he talked like that and his apology was genuine so she should also start on a fresh page.

Her roommate came back so borrowing the classwork for the time she was absent, she made sure to complete her work and for him too.

Two days passed while Armaan was on sick leave and was recovering well. She asked about his health from his roommate Mayank who was from different section and also made sure to keep her work updated to help him later knowing he wouldn't ask from anyone.

Getting ready quickly she packed extra breakfast for him and reached the class on time. She entered the class with excitement of seeing him after two days but it changed into a frown when she saw him talking sweetly to Sakshi and Tanya.

When did he became this sweet?

After the assembly they took out their books and waited for their class teacher to come.

"Hey!" He greeted her softly with a smile which she returned with a small one.

He assumed she was still hurt with his behaviour so thought to give her space. He started studying chemistry but was disturbed when she kept a pile of five notebooks on his side of desk with a thud.

"Classwork which you missed in these two days. Rest notebooks I'll give you tomorrow. And if you have already taken help from Sakshi or Tanya then tell me."

Looking at his confused face she explained the reason casually, her arms crossed. She looked sideways while saying the last line and it amused him.

"And why will I ask Sakshi or Tanya for help?" He asked raising his eyebrows. "Because they are your friends as you were talking very nicely with them. Oh, I forgot, you don't ask for help from anyone." Pursing her lips she answered instantly.

Hearing the last line the slight smile that had adorned his face disappeared . "Yeah you are right, I don't." He said and slided the books back to her desk.

"But thanks for everything Khwaab. And no they aren't my friends because I'm not a good friend to be with." He said with a small smile and Khwaab realised her fault. She never wanted to taunt him but ended up doing that because she saw him talking to others. Maybe they approached him and were just asking about his health. Why did she overreact? He can talk to anyone he wants to.

Mrs. Chawla entered and they got busy with studies. The first four periods were extremely busy for them and tougher for Armaan to cope up with the backlog he had.

It was recess and Armaan sighed in relief. Though the teachers didn't ask him to complete the work soon but he had to. He can't afford more backlog when he already had lots to study. Feeling tired he rested his head on the desk for a while. He still wasn't completely fine but didn't want to sit in his room and waste his time.

"Let's have our breakfast." Khwaab's voice disturbed him and he saw her waiting for him with her tiffin. He thought she would have gone with her friend like everytime.

"Yeah but you can go with your friend." He said with hesitation thinking she was here for him.

"But I want to eat with you not with anyone else." She said stubbornly and forwarded a bite of their favourite ‘uddam/ uttapam'. He wobbled his head in denial and said , " I have my lunch."

He started having his food which made Khwaab sad. He was always aloof with everyone but nice to her.

"I'm sorry for saying like that. I didn't like seeing you talking with them. I thought now you got more friends so you will also talk to me only when you'll need something and will eventually forget me ." She whispered softly and stared down at her hands that was still holding the bite.

His head snapped listening her apology. He never wanted to make her feel guilty but was surely surprised too on knowing the reason behind her behaviour.

"Khwaab, it isn't like that. You are my only friend and even if I would make other friends which is really difficult for me, but then too why will I forget you?" He asked gently with confusion lining his features.

Khwaab's eyes were still down and he didn't like that. "Look up to me and answer me." He ordered and she looked up, her eyes gloomy.

"Because that what always happen. Everyone talks to me when they need my help. Initially we become friends and then when the work is over their friendship is over too. I eat lunch with Naina because she is my roommate as I don't like eating alone but you know she has a big friend circle where I don't fit in. Nobody wants to talk to me other than studies because I'm a nerd. I know I am, always into books and I'm fine with this. I know my company, my talks, they're boring. I never force anyone but if someone become friends with me then I start building hopes. When you said like that I thought now your work is over so you're buzzing me off with your rude answers just like others. It broke my heart because I thought you were different. When you don't want to keep the friendship then don't befriend me either. I don’t force anyone, do I? I'm happy with my books, atleast they don't call me boring."

Khwaab said her heart out which was all piled up from years. She was always the helping one but no one stood for her. Nobody was her constant companion from these past three years in boarding school , whom she can rely on. She thought she never gave anyone a reason to be her friend and concluded herself to be boring. When Armaan became her friend he only talked to her and it made her feel special. Her innocent heart again started building hopes that maybe she can find her friend in him.

Khwaab hiccupped and her round cheeks were stained with tears while few still streamed down. He was always bad in consoling someone when they cry and here looking at her tears and knowing that he is the reason behind them didn't sit well with him.

"Look up and listen to me. Stop crying." Rubbing the tears gently he offered his water bottle. She looked at him with her red teary eyes and sniffed.

"Khwaab listen, you are not boring. Infact I've never found someone so caring, so helpful, so honest and with so much intelligence. Trust me, your talks are never boring. They make me see the world from a different and a beautiful view. I know I'm not expressive and nor a nice friend but all i can say is I love being with you and I love your company. Even if I won't be needing your help, you will still be my special friend. And why are you letting others to rule your mind like this. If someone finds you boring then it's their bad luck to lose a gem of a person like you and I'm not that fool."

He explained her softly as if she is a kid and she was, as innocent as a small child. Even he doesn't know how he is saying all this.

"Then why you didn't have this? I always feed you naah." She said in a complaining tone showing the bite in her hand. Her nose was red and with those soft round cheeks she looked like a rabbit. He chuckled inwardly looking at her.

"Because I thought to give you space. I never wanted to force you for being my friend again just because I was ill." He reasoned with a shrug.

"Let's start afresh. I want to be your friend." She said with a hopeful eyes and felt to have a right on him to say this.

"I don't want to." He simply answered and her smile faltered.

"Because I want to learn from my old mistakes and the friendship we shared in this month is very precious to me. Why to start afresh? We will start from where we left, fine?" He continued and her eyes shone bright in happiness.

He chuckled looking at her baby smile and opened his mouth asking her to feed him.

"I don't like this porridge at all." He said making a cute face as she still didn't make him eat that bite.

"So what, you were eating naah so continue." She said with a shrug and started eating ‘uttapam’, to tease him.

"Khwaab." He said pulling her sleeve and she looked at him from her peripheral vision.

"TALWAR it is." She said shoving the bite in his mouth.

"Yes Talwar." He saluted her, making fun of her strict behaviour while her nostrils flared. Soon he burst out laughing looking at her red balloon face which was joined by her laughter. This classroom was the witness of the pure friendship of these two innocent souls.