Invisible Strings * Ongoing*

9.Disrupting My Orbit

She's got her hands folded across her front and she's literally tapping her foot in front of me impatiently which is another usual gesture in between of us when we want to coax the other into honest conversation. She says now rolling her eyes at me – "are you really not going to tell me the details of the talk that made you freaking cry that way? cmon, babe, I haven't freaking seen you cry like that in a long time.Ever since...then...,"she pauses, for we both know the reference to the time of – Then – in context here. It was the time – he walked away..seven years ago..

And I finally get up from my chair and sigh looking straight at her,and she catches my gesture of sitting down to talk and we both take our seats facing each other on the sofa – "Yeah,well, I haven't cried the way I was crying, ever since then, indeed, Manizeh..."

She nods and reaches out to hold onto my hand in comfort and she says softly – " it freaked me out, you know to find you locked in the washroom of the boat – crying your eyes out that way...,"and she asks now – " what happened? why were you crying that way?? what did the two of you talk about??c'mon , you better get out with it all, before Samarth and Amaar arrive to pick us up,"and she adds in a surprised shrug next anyway – " plus, I can't really believe that this is happening. That we are all about to meet, ASR.."

I admit now recalling the memory, feeling it send chills down my spine again – " he asked me to never call him that you know..Manizeh, ASR..he said, I am Arnav to you, always was...always will be.."

That catches her curiosity even more now as her eyes widen – " wait, wait, what?????? did he really??cmon, start from the top..please?"

I nod.And I tell her everything...word to word...

Minutes later, once I am finally done and she is the one gaping at me in confusion this time around as she says – " whoa...if that's what was spoken and said in between the two of you...its only added fresh confusion to my head..."

I say snapping my fingers – " exactly,right?? in my head too,"and I ask as my neurons finally open up to the brainstorming of it all – " I mean, you tell me, Manizeh. What am I supposed to presume of all of this???"

She says deep in thought – " hmmm, and I also wonder what did that – bit off – there is more than what meets the eye? On the chat mean? Khushi, are you missing a piece in the puzzle??"

I shake my head groaning – " I'v been thinking the very same, ever since, but no. In my head, the sequence of events that had happened, are like so clear. Its all engraved in my being.Manizeh. So now like why is he reminding me – that he's spent longer years of his life knowing me – instead????or saying things like I'v been aching to listen to your voice etc etc, so much of me is still the same, why don't you give me more of your time so that you can discover?? Etc etc..."

Manizeh sighs – " hmm, is the former bit irritated you though?? in the first place???????,"and I nod and admit – " yup, it freaking riled me up insane.."

She admits with a shrug – " probably because it just hit base within you, I mean it is a factual point babe, the two of you have spent longer years as the closest to one another, literally almost double....or were you just more irritated with the bit that he sensed you got your guards up, and the bit that he still can get under your skin..."

I sigh brushing my hand through my hair – " yeah, kinda like all of the above..."

And she clutches on my hand instead – " first tell me , why were you crying that way? was it just about venting out that peak irritation/frustration??"