Dharm

The movie was… meh I would say. Or could be because I wasn’t concentrating on it that much. I was either looking at Neel and would act like I am concentrating on the movie when he looks at me. We had popcorns, burgers and cold drinks which we ate while the movie was playing. Our hands will touch time to time when we would go for popcorn. Yeah, we had only one bucket. It was intentional or not I don’t know but I was glad that we had only one bucket.

We are getting out of theatre it was Neel who spoke first,

“Shall we have some coffee?”

“Do you want to go café now?”

“Nah, let’s have from here. If we go for café then it will take time.” He smiled while saying that.

“Sure”
“Hey, if you don’t mind, can I come to your apartment again? I really don’t want to go to my house. If you don’t have any problem.”

“Not a problem at all, we can have coffee here and then we can have something in my apartment too.”

“Stay here I will get us some coffee.” He turned around and went to coffee counter outside the theatre.

When I turned around the exit, I saw three people coming out and I knew they all were together because I know two of them from school and out of those two, one is my ex-girlfriend. She spotted me too and started coming my way.

“Hey Dharm” she said in a calm voice. And that was not a soothing calm.

“Hey Aisha” I said in the same tone.

“It’s been a while”

“Around six months if I am correct”

“Hi Dharm” The guy right to Aisha said.

“Hey there Josh, long time no see” I responded to him. And well he is the guy with whom I fought in my school because of which I got popular by the way.

The second guy was kinda silent.

“He’s Adi, the guy I am seeing right now”

Well, I used to stand there where he is standing.

“Hi, Dharm here.” I put my hand forward for a handshake which he didn’t took.

And with that there was a silence getting stretched and god I wanted it to end so much. And then my angle came with two coffees in hand for my rescue.

“I got coffee, there were about to close but I got in time and…” He paused mid-sentence.

And he wasn’t looking at me now. He was looking at Josh. And the reaction was mutual. Because his eyes were locked on him as well and I wasn’t liking it at all.

“Neel?” Josh spoke first to break the silence which was there again.

“Josh” and he called his name in driest way possible. And when Josh was about to speak, Aisha interrupted by coming mid conversation,

“You are with Dharm?” she asked.

“Yeah, I came with him. Is that a problem?” he turned to me asking that question. And without even letting me answer, she interrupted again,

“I knew it.” She said like in a confident voice.

“Sorry you know what?” and I can already sense the change in tone of Neel and this is the first time I am hearing him on the verge of getting pissed off. And even before she could say something, this time he cut her off,

“Whatever it is, keep it to yourself.”

Now he turned to me and said,

“Can we leave? I am having an amazing night and I really don’t want to get it spoiled by anything plus this coffee is getting cold.” He was in full intention of leaving this place in the moment and I nodded.

“Can we get in touch Neel?” Josh asked when we turned around to leave.

“Why?” he turned his head, with pissed and disgusted expression in his face. “To call me names again? Nope.”

And this time he turned and started walking even without waiting for me. I turned around for the last time, saw them three standing and then I started walking to catch-up Neel.