Chapter 05

Aira

It was all good. I often used to hang out with Asher's mother. She loved my company and she called me her saviour in the foreign, rushed lifestyle of Sydney but it was all until one day Asher told her about us.

She had come to Australia during Christmas. I remember we had a fantastic weekend that year but it soon died when Asher revealed about us.

She stopped talking to me since that day. The only limited, precise conversations we had after that were about how she wanted me to maintain distance with Asher or how both of our lives would ruin if we continue to go along.

Series of conflicts and arguments continued for a year or two and eventually we were left with nothing but to give upon each other.

A sudden contagious laughter broke my trance.

I looked up to the right and found Virat laughing with his friends.

His eyes crinkled every time he burst out, his hands automatically travelling up to cover his face.

I realised he didn't look bad.

His laughter was loud and frank unlike Asher's who had a habit to laugh shyly, spasmodically.

He wore black, all black from his t-shirt to his pants. Asher rather preferred black and white and moreover he liked shirts rolled up to his elbows. He liked it sophisticated and formal and on the other side I had hardly seen Virat in shirts.

I noticed he had a thick, dense beard and Asher on the other side had a light stubble in perfect proportion to his fair skin.

Virat's arm was full of tattoos. They intrigued me to some extent though I was not very interested. Asher didn't have a great appreciation for them.

"Aira." Veronica exclaimed, making Virat turn towards me.

I automatically smiled and he beamed much more fondly than me.

I walked upto them, greeting his friends with hellos and hi. I stood beside him and unintentionally it was close.

" We were talking about you only." Rohan admitted and I smiled in protocol.

" We were just telling Virat that as you are so pretty it's the best time for us to look for your sister and friends to find us a match."

I giggled.

" They might not be as beautiful as you but ofcourse something better than nothing." Everybody laughed.

"Actually, they have been pestering me for the same. They haven't even met Virat yet." I felt awkward speaking his name.

Maybe because it was for the first time that I took his name in front of him.

I knew he certainly stole a glance at me.

"What are you waiting for? Bring them on." One of his over excited friend intruded.

" Woah, woah. Relax. Control. They are family to me now." Virat chuckled and I liked the way he added it.

I excused myself politely, and went to find them all. I really wanted to get rid of the burden of introducing them to Virat.

I spotted them quite quickly. They were sitting under a huge tree in the garden, scattered on the grass and the benches.

They were randomly playing with stones, their face like those of the mourners. They were all dull with dormant spirits.

They were bored as well. They couldn't help but feel discontented and disconnected with every ritual that took around me.

Their eyes screamed how badly needy and desperate they were to run away with me for the sake of Asher and me, for the sake of true love.

"Um." I tried to seek their attention, my eyes not leaving Asher's. He had a few twigs in his hand with pale, tired features.

I felt like kissing him. I found him extremely adorable whenever he looked fatigued. It made me want to pamper him. And I enjoyed the little tantrums he threw when exasperated.

" What?" Misha called off my daze.

"Virat." A sharp guilt walked down my spine. I didn't dare match Asher's eyes again.

" You wanted to meet him?" I continued to speak somehow. " He is there, waiting."

" I don't feel like." Muskaan announced with a straight face.

And one by one all of them denied.

I felt utterly miserable. I didn't know what I was supposed to do.

" But you said you wanted to see?" I literally stuttered.

" We were just feigning excitement, that's all." Arjun replied.

My face immediately dropped. I didn't know what karma I was going through. I couldn't figure out the sins I committed that lead me to what I was being bestowed with.

" Let's meet him guys." Varun stepped in, showing me a ray of hope. " For Aira, we can."

They all exchanged looks before muttering a feeble okay.

" Only for her." Misha sighed, getting ready.

" Asher?" My heart throbbed.

" I have seen him." His voice came out so tender that it could even break. I knew he fought a lot with himself before answering for my sake. " There's no point in further interaction."

I fidgeted with my fingers, all confused and bewildered. I didn't know if I was to convince him or let him be.

" Asher come." Arjun called upon him. "Who cares actually? Let's just do the business."

Muskaan held his hand, leading him and I quietly watched.

"Aira?" Esha shouted from behind, waving at me. " You called?"

" Yeah." I feared the crack in my words. " Come meet Virat."

We walked past a few gardens before reaching them. My head was hung low all the while. I couldn't even look at Asher that's how culpable I was.

I anticipated his reaction though. Ofcourse it would hurt him, enrage him and what more was needed to the already worst time we were in?

But what I feared was how he'd let all the poison out. Asher wasn't someone who's easily instigated or who spills out emotions in front of people. He was strictly reserved. He preferred keeping things on a personal, private level.

He always said that he whenever he felt out of control, or whenever he had a plethora of sentiments running through him, he sought solace with me and only me.

But I doubted if I could comfort him for the sorrow, for the heartache I was an unremitting source of?

Gradually I was shedding every string and wall of strength I had.

I didn't care about myself, my balance, my feelings or how I'd cope up but I only cared about Asher and how broken he was. And maybe that was what I was. It was all about Asher. My heart was Asher's. My life revolved around him and he was in very being.

I wondered what could provide him the peace he deserved and the thought of it being another girl, violently ripped my heart.

Yet, I was making him meet my husband to be.

" Hey, where you lost?"

"Huh." I shook a little startled. I haphazardly searched for Asher who was talking to one of Virat's friends.

I shifted my gaze and realised it was Virat who whispered. He had a baffled smile on his lips.

I observed everybody around. They were talking to each other, mingling but I could read their faces and know how fake it was. I knew they were in a different world all together, planning and plotting their hopes to change the irrevocable.

In fact, even Esha didn't look pleased with the meeting.

" Where Aira?" This time his voice was genuinely laced with concern. I felt embarrassed.

I knew I was dangerously red, I could feel the tears twirl in my eyes, I could feel my stomach build a throw up.

" Ah, nowhere." I breathed and he frowned with a small smile. I felt sorry for him as well.

Sins.

And sins.

" Ugh." I covered my mouth in a jiffy, running as fast as I could to prevent retching in the corrider and everything else for a while blurred.