Chapter 69: Done and Dusted

Reyansh froze for a minute hearing the question. Then, in response he simply let out a bitter smile.

“So, staying best friends Aakash did light up a few brain cells within you? Or maybe it was Aanya’s influence on the both of you?”

“Don’t try to change the subject by making fun of me. Oh, plus, none of those two figured it out; I am the one who asked, so the question didn’t even strike them!”

“Right, of course.” Reyansh had a pitying gaze as he patted Cabir on the shoulder.

“Get off. And answer the question!” Cabir elbowed him again, much harder this time.

“Huuu….” Reyansh gave a long sigh as he shrugged. “Nothing much, things just didn’t work out and all. So, we decided to end things. Been longer than half-a-year now. Stale news.”

“Yeah, sure.” Cabir replied sarcastically. “You were the one who was pursuing her since our school days. As if broken hearts healed that easily.”

“Logically, aren’t you supposed to comfort broken-hearted people? Sarcasm is a hurtful tool.”

Cabir almost stumbled hearing the words and the honestly curious gaze in Reyansh’s eyes. “Well, you said you aren’t broken-hearted!”

“I never said that. And in case that is true then your sarcastic words are illogical.”

“…can you shut up?”

“But you’re the one who asked me.” Reyansh beamed.

“Is it so much to want to have a normal conversation between responsible and sensible adults?!” Cabir flipped out, bashing the guy in his mind.

“That’s possible…but only when both sides are responsible and sensible adults, after all.” Reyansh took it in stride.

One eyebrow twitching, Cabir tried to regulate his breathing before he smacked his friend in reality as well.

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“Just tell me the truth.” He finally requested. “What happened, really? I remember everything was going well a while back.”

“How far back, heh?” Reyansh laughed lightly, though there was a trace of sadness mixed within. “I think the last time we even talked was around a year ago. It was over the phone, I think? And we hardly ever mentioned our love lives apart from the general questions of health etc.”

Just as Cabir was going to respond, the man exclaimed, as if the thought had just struck him, “Ah! Not that you have a love life to mention, of course.”

“H-”

“Oh! Except for your one-sided crush, naturally.” Reyansh proceeded to cut him off with another sudden exclamation of realisation.

“Agh…this is hopeless! All I do is try to help but end up getting insulted!” Cabir muttered.

“But I was just speaking the truth. Though your words are logical. Blame your luck, I guess.” Reyansh responded while giving Cabir’s words due consideration.

“Don’t you think I should just blame you?! All of you, in fact?!”

“Uh…maybe, yes?”

“Tch. Whatever.” Cabir glowered at him.

“That glare says everything but nonchalance.” Reyansh advised him.

“Can we get back to the topic?” The man in question however, kept his glowering eyes just as they were.

Shrugging slightly, Reyansh looked outside of the big glass window they were near taking in the view of the mall, “As I already said, there’s nothing much to say. Yes, I’ve liked her for the longest time. Yes, we were doing well over these years. But, things change. I don’t know what happened but we had arguments about the littlest of things. We would go for days without speaking when before we talked every day, even if it was for just five minutes…”

Taking in the slight change that appeared in Cabir’s eyes, Reyansh warned, “Don’t you dare crack a honeymoon phase joke. Read the room!”

“I didn’t even say anything!” The original glare was back.

“I’ve known you for years; you don’t actually have to speak the words.” Then he scoffed, “Well, not like knowing someone for years was enough to keep a relationship going or know what changed.”

Witnessing the sudden change in tone, Cabir reached out a hand and patted his friend’s shoulder in consolation.

Surprisingly, the other man mimicked the gesture.

“Funny how it didn’t hurt that much though. I thought I would bawl my eyes out if something like that happened but…I didn’t really feel anything. Maybe a little empty…and I think, perhaps relief.”

He bit his lip a little but then the smile reappeared, “Well, it’s all done and dusted now anyway. No use pondering about those things again now.”

Gazing at his friend’s fluctuating expressions, Cabir couldn’t help but say, “It doesn’t seem like it. Those things, they aren’t all finished. You-”

“No, they are.” Slightly turning his head, Reyansh winked, “Yes, perhaps not everything is cleared up and something remains…but, you can’t expect to find answers to every question, can you? Besides, I’m happy with what I have now.”