CHAPTER 13

Arjun was woken up by a knock on his room door. He slid out of his bed enthusiastically, embracing the bird chirpings and morning sun rays, he opened the door knowing what was waiting behind it.

“Good morning babe.” Arjun said to Ira, who was holding his morning easy shake.

“Babe? God! Aju, I need to set you up with a girl. I can’t deal with your flirting anymore, they are too cheesy and I HATE CHEESE.” Ira said, rolling her eyes playfully.

“Alas, you’ve got my point. Being my mate, it's your solemn responsibility to find me a girl.

It had been nearly a month since Ira moved in with Arjun. And the best response to that news was from Kavya.

“Awe, you guys. I knew it.” Kavya squealed into her phone.

“Knew what?” Arjun asked.

“That you guys are in love.”

“We do love each other, but not in the way you expect it to be. Ira and I are best mates, it is as simple as that.” Arjun replied, throwing his hand around Ira who was sitting next to him listening to the conversation and pulled her into him. She tucked her head into his shoulder as he kissed her hair.

Kavya’s thought about them was legitimate. They had everything two people in love ought to have- the mutual sparks, beyond explainable understanding, love and care, and contentment. But even after all of that, they had their fine line drawn. They knew exactly where their bonding must lay, that is, as friends.

The State Tournament was two months away. Arjun was taking part under Tamil Nadu state level. It would be much harder to win in the upcoming tournaments as he would be competing with the winners of several districts of the state. The practice was going on fine. As both Ira and Arjun were unemployed, they were free all day, so they could schedule the practice according to their comfort.

“Aju… I’m done. I can’t play anymore.”

“What is happening with you? You’re getting bone-tired too soon nowadays. Is your health fine?” Arjun asked, concerned.

“Yes Arjun, I’m fine. For today can we get home? Please?”

“Yeah sure, okay.”

Arjun drove Ira to their home. He didn’t have his bike, he didn’t want to step foot in his house unless his dad wanted him to, which was a definite far shot as his father’s wrath didn’t seem to soothe over the days. The drive home was dead silent. Arjun was utterly worried about Ira. She could not stand playing for long as she usually would. He knew Ira was straining herself a lot when she was advised not to play for hours together by her doctor. Her cancer had reduced her lung capacity drastically but Ira’s determination to get Arjun till state level was her driving force. Once Arjun made it to the Nationals, Ira’s coach, Mr. Selvan would take up Arjun’s coaching.

The evening went by, the night arrived but still Arjun didn’t say a word to Ira. Neither did Ira try talking to him. Both of them were dwelling on the fear of the same thought, ‘What if Ira was not completely cured?’

The night seemed longer than a hundred years. Arjun kept changing his position every now and then hoping to fall asleep. When he finally did manage falling asleep, his phone buzzed. He groaned as he picked up his phone from the side stand.

“Come to the terrace.” read Ira’s text.

Arjun shot out of the bed and flew out of the door as he climbed the stairs to the terrace skipping two steps at a time. There he saw Ira who was sitting next to her telescope adjusting some knobs in it.

“What are you doing up here this late?” Arjun asked.

Ira said nothing but gestured to him to sit in her place as she moved to give him space.

“Place your eye here.” she said, pointing to a hole.

Arjun did as he was told to and saw something beyond imagination. The Milky Way, then the Andromeda, twinkling happily as if nothing could ever worry them.

“Try having a count of the stars, in case I leave you someday, you can always find me as one among them.” Ira said, chuckling.

“No one will take you away from me until my last breath.” Arjun said, grabbing Ira’s arm harshly and pulling her towards him. Ira shuddered as Arjun’s action sent a shiver down her spine. But then she saw the pain, the fear of losing her in his dark eyes.

“I’m sorry.” Arjun said, releasing his grip.

Ira’s fear of losing him exploded as she threw herself on him, holding him tight as though she would vanish from this world if she let go of him. They spent the rest of night just sitting under the vast sky as the cold air prickled their skin.

From the next day, Ira tried not to play for long hours on Arjun’s order. Yet Arjun had to keep going with his practice, so he requested the other people who practiced badminton at the same court as him to let him join them. Some refused, some accepted. Anyways Arjun finally had a couple of people he could play against. Ira instructed Arjun as usual.

“Aju, do not spread your legs that wide, it will ruin your footwork.”

“Yeah okay.” he breathed as he swung his racket to send the shuttle flying towards his opponent’s face.

…….

“Aju, that was an underarm backhand stroke.”

“I know, just tried to check if the forehand stroke would work.”

…….

“Arjun, receiver’s foul.”

“Sorry.”

Arjun’s ease at various shots and strokes had increased massively. He was comfortable with his play. His diet was doing wonders, Arjun’s power rose up to another level. He could now get the shuttle to move faster than the player.

The pair of them ended up home around dinner time. Ira headed straight to the kitchen after freshening up. Arjun was crazy for Ira’s cooking. Her cooking never followed a fixed recipe, she would just put any ingredient she felt would deliver a good flavour.

Ira loved cooking for Arjun, because he never let her cook alone. He was always in the kitchen helping her.

“Oi, what’s up?” Arjun asked, walking into the kitchen.

“Ceiling. “ Ira replied, laughing.

“God! You and your sense of humour. I promise I’ll laugh tomorrow for this joke. Now what are you cooking? I’m starving.”

“Naan and butter chicken.”

“Awesome. I’ll take over from here, just tell me what to do next.”

“Okay.” Ira said, as she grabbed an apple from the fruit basket and sat on the kitchen slab to eat it.

After dinner, both of them decided to watch chick flicks on a roll. The night became midnight, to dawn then to the hot summer morning. Ira and Arjun were fast asleep. Her head rested on his lap while he was leaning forward supporting his head on her shoulder. They looked peaceful next to each other, in fact much more cute than peaceful.

Ira and Arjun had agreed on practising outside their home instead of going to the court. It was a breezeless day, so it was ideal for playing outdoor badminton.

After five hours of practice, Ira walked into her room and Arjun sat on the couch browsing his phone.

“IRA!” Arjun screamed, barging into her room.

“From where can I buy you the basic decency of knocking before entering when there is a girl in the room?” Ira said, closing a notebook she had on her lap.

“I always doubted you to be of that kind. Where is your pretty lady?” Arjun said, looking around.

Ira threw a pillow at him which was resting beside her. He caught it before it could smack his face and started laughing. Then he sat across her as he passed his phone to her.

“You are on tinder? I thought you were much cooler than that.” Ira said, laughing.

“Duffer, just stick to the point. That pretty chick swiped right on me.”

“When are you meeting up?”

“Tomorrow evening.”

“Please don’t bring her home, your room is not sound-proofed.” she said, smirking.

“Heyyy, what do you think of me? I'm not that type of a guy.” Arjun said, genuinely offended by Ira’s comment.

Ira smiled apologetically for her comment and strolled away to cook lunch.

The day went by quickly. Arjun practiced for another five hours. He was tired by the end of the day yet he was profoundly excited for his date. Arjun always craved for a real long term relationship but he had been unlucky. He had dated a few girls, but none of them had what he wanted. In actuality, he didn’t know what he was looking for in girls. With these thoughts drifting through his mind, he nodded off. In the other room, Ira was busy recording her feelings into her notebook. She had the habit of keeping a diary since her childhood. Currently it was her eleventh diary. She had started writing it after her recovery from cancer.

Date: 12 July 2019

Day: Friday

Time: 10 pm

Dear Diary,

I am in love with my life. I am happy after so many years. Arjun and I are having the time of our lives together. I am excited for his date tomorrow as much as he is. He is missing his family a lot, and I wish I could help. Everything is perfect, just perfect.