Your lie that night

Chapter 3

The lockdown became more effective the next day. People were restricted to run shops, vehicles, and institutions.

'I don't think you should be thinking of returning home in this condition', my mom was saying when we were having our breakfast.

'Yeah, I guess I should enjoy this stay rather than worrying. Krish, you always used to talk about bald mountain here, why don't we hike to it today?', asked him turning around to Krish

'I would have but my legs are paining I don't think I can take you there. Katerina is good at hike she will escort you there'

'huh', I gasp in sudden awkwardness looking at Shreyan. 'How could I?', I stammered

'Yeah, kat you should escort our Shreyan to there any way you are free today', mom added I again looked at him he looked okay with the idea. I was just worried about controlling my feelings but spending alone time with him was making me happy inside. I had no choice but to agree with them.

'I will', I said looking at them. I wore my hike paint and crop t-shirt with sports shoes. Combing my hair to a fine ponytail I decorated my eyes and lips to look beautiful even walking up the hill.  Nervousness, anxiety, butterflies all were there but what if I took some stupid step making myself look like a psycho? the question rendered around me the whole time.

Mom had made a garlic sandwich for us to have when we get tired, and a whole bottle of lemon juice. It was surprising I never got a box full of lunch while going somewhere before my mom really liked Shreyan. Maybe I got her heredity. Shreyan came out of his room looking sexiest than before a tight t-shirt, sports jeans, and sports shoes with a cap on his head. His hard n*****s were trying to penetrate through the t-shirt but it was in vain. 'Why does he have to look so damn hot?', I whispered to myself feeling miserable about controlling my feeling.

Our journey began with a bag containing lunch and bottles. I was the one carrying it and he was empty-handed no worries he was looking so hot. The bald mountain was 2 and a half hours of walk from the home and it was never so exciting before.

'So you like to hike huh?', I asked tearing the silence when we started climbing the hill

'Yeah, back in my home town there is no single hill that I haven't climbed'

'Really, then I have to say I am the same here'

'You have changed a lot'

'Change? how?'

He looked at me with his intense eyes, and smiled making me fall in love again, 'Nothing, it's just you aren't the crybaby anymore'

'Don't call me that please'

'Okay I won't', he laughed again.  

Again the silence ruled us. It was awkward was it the same for Shreyan too? I looked at him he was smiling his preetiest even when climbing the hill. Our pace was fast at that rate we were going to reach our destination in less than 2 hours. No one spoke a word until there was a big puddle in the ground. Shreyan jumped through it with his long legs but my legs were too small to do that. He extended his hand to me. I looked at him he was signing me to hold that. My hand trembled while doing that but as I touched his hand I wasn't myself. It was tickling me and passing that tickle to my whole body. I jumped in desperation and landed on him. He pushed me from his chest, 'Are you alright?', he asked

'Yes', I stammered again. My right hand which was held by his were still in the verse of being numb. I wasn't even moving it afraid that his essence will fade away if I do so.

'Boyfriend?', he asked out of nowhere. Was he interested in me? So he needs me single? What should I answer will no seems desperate I was in the maze again.

'Have I asked the too personal question?', he again asked

'No no no, it's okay. The thing is I don't, so little embarrassed to say that', I lied

'Why embarrassed, you are so beautiful I doubt why you don't have one'

'I haven't found my perfect one, till now'

'what is the definition of perfect for you?'

'I don't know. I guess I will know when I see him', I lied again because for me the definition of perfect was next to me.

'What do you think about me?', he laughed expanding his arms pointing toward his body

I stood there in shock with my eyes wide open, and my heart fluttering fast.

'You,yoo yo', I stammered again when he laughed out loud

'I was joking, of course, I am perfect maybe not for you still I am perfect', he wrapped his hand around my shoulder and kept on walking while I was suffocating with satisfaction and desire with him so near me.

After almost 1 and a half hours of walk, we reached there. The bald mountain was more beautiful with him by my side. The whole city was visible like a concrete jungle and the mountain was covered with flowers that bloom on the ground. It was a perfect destination for a couple but there I was with my crush.

Shreyan walked around the mountain in excitement. 'it is amazing', he was overwhelmed with the beauty. Opposite from our hill a whole range of Ganesh Himal was seen, smiling at us showing it's white teeth, 'I can come here every day', he exclaimed.

I sat on a pile of grass on the ground from where the scene was beautiful the most. Shreyan also came to me after filling his heart with that place. We sat there talked about our life till noon and finishing the sandwich and drink we returned our home despite the urge of being with him there for the whole life. That trip created a bond eliminating the awkwardness and distance between us. After dinner, we all were watching tv. Shreyan was sitting on the sofa and Krish was sitting on the floor below him. I was just opposite Shreyan sitting on the chair watching the news which was showing how destructive the people's movement against the king was being.

'I don't think this movement is going to end anytime soon', said my dad keeping his hand on Shreyan trying to console him.

'I am okay uncle if this curfew keeps on increasing my dad will send a private helicopter to fetch me. I denied him when he gave me the advice earlier maybe the reason is curfew but I am liking the life here.'

'how cool, dad learns something from his dad', Krish mocked dad making all of us laugh.

Krish and dad's eyes were pasted to TV when my eyes reached toward Shreyan. He was looking at me signing me something in the air.

'What?', I whispered

He was putting an act of sleep and sometimes used to show me up, I wasn't understanding anything was he talking about dying?

I again signed that I didn't understand anything. He pointed his index finger toward Krish and put up an act like sleeping then showing up he pointed to me and him. It didn't take me much time to understand that he was calling me to the roof after everyone sleeps. I was overwhelmed by his sudden call. I shook my head desperately saying yes when he laughed again at my stupidity. Why? questions began to rise again.

'Why? does he want to say something to me? Does he want to spend some time with me? Why Why? he called me. there was no limitation of my imagination and happiness I was just waiting for all of my family to sleep but Shreyan and me.

To my misfortune, they stayed awake watching TV till late at night. 'Aren't you going to sleep?', Krish had asked Shreyan before going to the room when I was pretending to go on mine

'no, I will come after some time, you go first', Shreyan had said. When I was sure everyone was asleep, I sneaked out from my room, Shreyan wasn't there. I went to the roof he was sitting on the bar looking at the sky. My heart began to flutter again but controlling my excitement I went toward him.

'What are you doing here?', I asked

'looking at the stars'

'You like them'

'They are so beautiful, how can't I', I just sat next to him still confused why was I there?

'Today is my birthday', he said surprising me

'But it was on May 30'

He chuckled, 'you remembered', 'May 30 is the date when my dad claimed my birthday officially as my real birth date was considered evil astrologically'

'Are you telling the truth, today is your birthday for real?'

'Yes, January 22 is my birthday. No one remembers it or celebrates that was the day when my mom died while giving me birth'

'I I.. I am sooory', I stammered

'It's okay, I usually look at the stars trying to find my mom there and thanking her to giving me her life'

'It's sad'

'Yeah', there was a pain in his voice. I wanted to do something special for him feeling grateful that he was sharing me his secrets.

'Excuse me for a minute', I said and went downstairs. I returned with a plate, muffin above it with a burning candle stuck in the middle.

'happy birthday to you', I said moving toward him, 'Happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Shreyan happy birthday to you'

'What have you done?', he exclaimed

'I wanted to celebrate your birthday'

'I can't believe you did this'

'Now make a wish and blow it'

'You know this is my first time blowing the candle on this date'

I smiled, 'every good thing start from the first time'

He closed his eyes and blew the candle then we shared the muffin. It was a very special moment I felt a step closure to Shreyan and it was making me happy.

'Thank you', I murmured when we were both sitting on the bar looking at the sky

'Why?'

'for sharing me your secret'

'You should be, only a few people know about it excluding Krish'

'Wow, I beat Krish on that'

'he was a big mouth of our class, how could I tell him'

'You trust me'

'I don't know, but as I have shared you without thinking twice my subconscious must have trusted'

 'I feel special'

'You should', he again screamed making me laugh. Our hands which were on the bar were touching each other and it was awkward but neither he nor I made any effort to pull it apart. We just sat there hand in hand till late night in silence until his birthday was over and we returned back to our respective room.

The various feeling was rising in my mind, the overlapped part which was in touch with him was still burning in satisfaction, the urge to hug him goodnight and kiss him the sweet dream was still on my mind but all were untold and unexpressed again. I was happy with the thing happening who knew I would get a chance to celebrate his special day by myself.