Chapter 61: Shameless Freeloading

“…well, that’s settled then.” Aanya let out a long sigh as she stretched her body like a cat. “I didn’t expect it to be so tiring.”

“Sorry.” Aakash scratched the back of his head.

“What are you sorry for?” The girl asked as she tucked some loose strands of hair behind her ear. “I was the one who decided to intervene. There’s nothing for you to be guilty about.”

“Ah…”

“But of course, if you are really feeling apologetic, I don’t mind you treating me to something nice…” Aanya had a wicked glint in her eyes.

“Huh? A treat? Sure, I’m in too!” An excited voice rang out beside the two youths who were conversing.

“…who’s treating you?” Aakash scrunched up his face. “What a freeloader.”

“A shameless freeloader.” Aanya couldn’t resist stating her own feelings.

“What kind of friendship is this?! Even asking for some meagre scraps is enough to demonise me!” Harshil bemoaned melodramatically.

“Cabir, you aren’t going to say anything at this point?” Aakash glanced at the boy who had been uncharacteristically quiet after shouting the obvious to Aakash a short while ago.

Aakash splayed his hands in Harshil’s direction as if saying, ‘Can you believe this guy?’ as his eyes caught Cabir’s.

“I think I…will abstain.” The person in question spoke haltingly but his expression showed he was a little out of sorts with what was going on around him.

“Huh? Abstain? You aren’t gonna insult me? Wow, you’re becoming decent, Cabir! Now that’s character development!” Harshil strode over and patted him roughly on the back.

Jolted back to reality, the boy slapped off the vigorously thumping arm, snapping, “What the heck are you talking about, dude? And keep your hands off of me; that hurts!”

“Huh? What?” Harshil made a confused face before his face lit up in understanding. “Oh, I see! You were talking about abstaining from getting treated. Well, that’s fine too! Aakash can treat us to more food since there’s one party less!”

“You’re…seriously weirding me out.” Cabir looked as confounded as his friend did a moment before.

“What are you going to abstain from then?” Harshil asked back in annoyance.

“Hopefully, it’ll be from their usual idiocy.” Aanya commented softly but caught Aakash’s eyes who mouthed, “I agree” almost immediately, eliciting chuckles from both of them.

“I was talking about porn…” Cabir spoke lightly, an expression of hesitance on his face.

As Aakash and Aanya’s heads whipped around in surprise, Harshil’s jaw dropped open.

“Changing camps? Treason! Weren’t we a team?!”

“So melodramatic.” Cabir simply threw out two words at his friend’s acting. “I just realised when Aakash mentioned that I am ashamed of my parents finding out so maybe I do think it’s wrong. I don’t think anything will change if I stop watching porn. I…just don’t want to get caught and-”

“Get lectured?” Harshil suggested.

“…see their disappointed faces.” Cabir finished his sentenced. “It’s nothing wrong maybe…but my parents would think so, right? I don’t mind playing pranks or something…but my parents wouldn’t approve of this and I know it. So, I think I’ll do my best to abstain from now.”

“Well, I am not. A lone soldier I will be, if need be.” Harshil announced.

“That’s up to you.” Cabir motioned. “I already said I’m not quitting because it’s wrong or anything. I just don’t want to someday be confronted by my parents and have an argument over something so unimportant. It’s not like my life can’t function without it.”

“Deep thoughts from a musclehead.” Harshil nodded in mock understanding.

“Aren’t you a lone soldier? Go marching off, you asshole.” Cabir retorted, extremely annoyed.

“Well, I did say I’ll soldier on alone…but wars can’t be won on empty stomach.” Harshil slung an arm around Aakash’s shoulders. “So, won’t you treat this poor man in front of your eyes? I have a mission to accomplish.”

“You are going to go to any absurd lengths with the most nonsensical reasons for free food, aren’t you?” Cabir couldn’t help but scrunch up his face in distaste.

“Oh, and whose fault is that I’m hungry? Oh, yes, it’s the fault of the guy who ate my lunch, meaning, yours!” The spiky-haired boy spared no expense in arguing his case.

“…” But the response was so logical that Cabir was left speechless.

Before Harshil could plead to Aakash again, Aanya said, “I have had my lunch today already. So, I don’t want you to treat me today, Aakash. Let’s do this some other time.”

“Hey! You’re saying that on purpose so that Aakash doesn’t treat me!” The boy could only raise an accusing finger in the grinning girl’s direction.

“I never told him not to treat you. What are you saying?” Aanya adopted a wronged expression.

“You know he won’t go out of his way to treat me if he isn’t treating you!” Harshil huffed.

“Does he have a reason to accommodate your shameless freeloading?” Cabir interjected.

“I’m a dear friend who is starving!”

“Who wants to play cards?” Aakash asked at that precise moment with a straight face.

“See? What did I tell you? He’s so cold-hearted!” Harshil wailed even as the school bell rang loudly, drowning out his voice.