Page 55 of Born in Ruin

“I wasn’t sure you’d want me to use it right now,” Ishaan called out to his retreating back.

“You’re a dick, Ish,” Virat yelled back. “Don’t be a moron as well.”

Ishaan heard the code being inputted into the front door and turned in time to see Amay walk in.

“Thank you for coming,” he said formally. “I wasn’t sure if you’d be home when I sent you the message.”

“Talk fast.” Amay buttoned his cuffs as he stood near the entrance. “I have to get to the hospital.”

Virat walked out of his bedroom in tracks and a t-shirt that looked like it needed to be used to mop floors or better still line the floor of a landfill. But Ishaan knew better than to say that. In his current mood, Virat would bury him in a landfill.

“I see you’ve been shopping,” he announced, a second later, his tongue as always not in his control when his nerves got the better of him. “I like the shirt man.”

Virat sent him an incinerating glare even as Amay shook his head in resignation.

“I need help,” he announced, deciding it was better to get to the point.

“You might want to start with therapy,” Amay said dryly, putting his hands on his hips and watching him with his ‘old, tired, wise man’ eyes.

“Ha ha,” Ishaan retorted, then paused. “Maybe we could get a group discount.”

Virat sighed, his head hanging, as he braced his hands on his kitchen counter. It was spotlessly clean, as always. His OCDwas another thing to address in those group therapy sessions, Ishaan thought.

“What do you need help with Ish?” he asked, fatigue seeming to settle like a cloak around him.

He looked like he hadn’t slept in days. Probably since Ishaan had taken an electric prod to his deepest, most painful wound. Guilt sliced through him at the thought. He’d had the best of intentions but intentions meant shit when they caused pain.

“I’m sorry,” he told Virat, letting his friend see just how much he meant it.

Virat smiled, the smallest quirk of his lips. “Did you choke on those words when you were forcing them out?”

“Fuck you.” Ishaan rubbed a hand through his hair. “I didn’t mean to push you into this abyss of darkness. I just thought it was the right thing to do.”

“You were right.”

Virat’s quiet statement had Ishaan gaping at him. He turned to Amay and demanded, “You heard him too, didn’t you? He said I was right!”

Amay grinned. “Sometimes, even the impossible happens, Ish. On that note, thank you for returning my aftershave.”

“Shut up!” Ishaan turned back to Virat. “Say that again!”

“You were right and I was wrong.” Virat met his eyes steadily, aged pain darkening his gaze. “But I’m not ready.”

They fell silent. After a moment, Amay said cautiously, “That’s understandable.”

Virat glanced down at his clenched fists and nodded. “Understandable but not ideal. Ishaan is right. She deserves to know. She would want to know.”

Unspoken were the words that Virat would always give her what she wants, even if he had to split the earth open to do so.

“So about the therapy Ishaan needs,” Virat said, in a valiant bid to change the topic. “Should we warn the counselling fraternity about what’s coming their way?”

Ishaan rolled his eyes at them. “Can we talk about my problem now?”

The guys laughed but waited for him to continue. Ishaan pulled out his phone and showed them the copy of the message Ashish had sent Mayukhi.

Bring lover boy to the party tomorrow at Naveen’s place. We’re looking forward to initiate him into the group.

Amay’s brows rose. “That seems a little too easy.”

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