Chapter 63: Hmm

“Weren’t you worn out?” Aakash sighed. “Where did all this energy suddenly come from?”

“Temporary replenishment from entertaining memories.” Aanya propped herself on her elbows, flashing him a playful grin. But even in the midst of that, her eyelids were drooping ever lower before snapping up.

“A load of bullcrap.” Reaching over, the man tapped her on the head, as if disciplining a little child, “Quit messing around and get some rest. You need it.”

“What are you going to do if I don’t listen to you?” Contrary to her words, Aanya flopped down and flipped her body, resting on her back.

“What are you, a kid?” Giving her a light tap on the forehead, Aakash slipped his legs over the edge of the bed to put on his slippers.

“Would love to be. Living carefreely. Relaxation.” The reply was delivered lazily as the speaker spread-eagled herself on the bed and closed her eyes.

“Nice hope. Sadly, you’re on the road to being an old hag.” Aakash rebutted as he made his way to the foot of the bed.

“Screw you.” The retort hurtled along without the slightest intermission, almost as if Aanya had expected his earlier statement.

“Before or after Cabir?” The words were out before he even realised what he was saying. As the meaning behind his thoughtlessly-delivered reply sank in, he drew in a sharp breath.

Raising his head, he began, “S-”

Smack.

A pillow hit his face with all the force a fluffy object could. But the sudden shock made him stagger while his hands flew to tightly cover his eyes. The hit made his eyes burn as the pillow’s momentum pushed his specs right into his eyes which instinctively closed.

As he slowly opened his eyes after a gentle massage, a furious glare met Aakash’s apologetic gaze.

“It’s barely tolerable enough when Cabir makes such jokes. But you? That was in very bad taste.”

Aanya’s voice carried a biting chill. She was sitting with her back against the bedrest but her countenance was anything but sluggish.

“S-sorry.” Aakash mumbled.

“This wasn’t funny in the least.” Though her tone was level, the creased brow was a perfect indication of Aanya’s mood,“Even among friends, there are certain limits. You know I don’t appreciate such kind of wisecracks.”

“I’m really sorry.” Running a hand through his hair, Aakash murmured. He wanted to beat himself up for the blunder. He knew Aanya very well. Years of living together had made him perfectly aware of how certain actions belied her mood.

A frown here, a seemingly sweet smile there…it spoke more than a million words could to him. But today, preoccupied with the sudden reminiscences, arrival of guests and conversations, he barely paid attention to much of her actions.

It was only when she spoke now that he recalled some of those minute gestures that he almost never missed. It also came to mind, too late and now seemingly obvious, that no matter how annoyed, Aanya wasn’t the type to slam the door in anyone’s face.

Doing so to Cabir meant that she was beyond irritated.

After all, no matter how lightly delivered, the words technically meant that his wife would be sleeping with his best friend.

“Oh, shit…I don’t know about anyone else, but this kind of joke…if I can even call it that…Aanya of all people would never like to make light of such stuff.”

Even as the thoughts flew across his mind, he quickly made his way over to take a seat beside Aanya, whose expression was anything but eased.

“I’m sorry.” Aakash apologised again as he squeezed in next to her. “The joke’s been flying around…so I just spoke without thinking.”

Aanya deflated.

“You…even though you are so old, your habits are still the same. You still speak without thinking sometimes.”

“And you can’t stay angry for long even now, right? Neither of us has changed, then.” Aakash grinned.

The tense atmosphere was gone as quickly as it had appeared.

“How about I throw you off the bed?” Aanya asked with a snort.

“You won’t.” He drew her into a side-hug as he spoke seriously again, “Sorry. That was careless of me.”

“It’s probably a very light matter for most people, I know. It’s just a harmless joke and nobody means anything by it. But it just doesn’t feel right to me, Aakash.”

Aanya laid her head slightly against his shoulder, “I know it’s just a harmless joke. People may even think I’m being idiotic angered by such words at my age. But everyone’s different. Even in jokes, I just don’t think it’s okay to cross some lines. And there certainly is no necessity to do so.”

Aakash listened patiently, as he stretched his legs out to match Aanya’s posture.

“I can’t say this to Cabir. We’ve been friends for ages and all, yes. I can beat him up too if I want, yes. But some conversations just can’t be had with even the closest of friends. Friends are friends and family is family. It’s just my belief, but it is what it is. There are some things I can tell or snap about only to you. Do you understand, hmm?”

“Hmm.”

That was all Aakash said in reply as he leaned his head onto her leaning one, sinking the room into a comfortable silence.