Chapter 26

~ 11 years ago ~  

"Finally, I found you" Roli sighed as she stopped near Sid, who was keeping a book back on the shelf in the library. 

"Silence, Roli" Sid whispered, indicating that they were in the library as he turned to her. Roli bit her tongue, glancing around the surroundings. 

"Where is Akash bhaiya?" Roli queried once they left the library and reached the corridor. 

"He is in the classroom" Sid answered as they walked together. "Your school timing is over I suppose. Go home safe" he reminded her as he noticed the school bag that she was carrying.

As they were in 12th standard, Sid and Akash had extra classes. So, Roli was left alone to go home in the evenings and she got used to it for the last couple of months. 

While Roli looked at Sid without turning her attention. "Do you want to say anything?" He asked for which she nodded. 

"What is it?" Sid watched her with a smile, which only she could bring on his face. Roli glanced around to see if anyone else watching them. 

Most of the students vacated the classrooms already as it had been a good few minutes since the last bell rang. Finding none around, Roli turned back to Sid and signalled him to bend down.  

Sid smiled as it was her usual to do so when she wanted to tell something secret to him, though all she would tell as the secret was nothing but mostly her childish things. She would even complain about him being so tall, making him laugh. 

Leaning forward a little, Sid bent down to reach her height, waiting for Roli to share her secret. He, however, was startled the moment she stood on her toes and pecked his lips. 

Instantly, Sid stood up straight, feeling utter shocked. He could not believe what just happened as he stared at Roli, incredulously. 

"What happened? Don't you like it?" Roli asked, innocently as she watched his pale face. "I heard that boyfriend will be happy if his girlfriend kisses him. Are you not happy?". 

"Enough, Roli" perhaps for the first time Sid yelled at Roli, making her jerk. "Who the hell taught you all such rubbish things?". 

Sid was annoyed. For him, Roli was just a kid. No matter how much he would love her, he would never want to kill the innocence of her childhood. His love for her was platonic until she was truly capable of understanding their relationship in all senses. 

"Reema didi told me. I thought you will be happy. Why are you angry now?" Roli asked with tears brimming in her eyes.

"I told you to not talk to that stupid neighbour, right?" Sid grew mad as he reminded of all the stupid stuff that neighbour, Reema was teaching Roli. 

A few days ago, Roli came to him and asked about friends with benefits, about which she heard from Reema. She even queried that if they were friends with benefits. Sid was furious to know what all her neighbours were teaching to 12 years old. He explained to Roli to not talk about such things again and also not to talk with her neighbour.  

"Why are you scolding me?" Roli pouted. Sid had never raised his voice at her and always pampered her. Seeing him being angry at her, she felt sad and scared.

"I'm not scolding you, Roli" Sid seemed to calm down a bit after seeing her sad. "What you did just now.. You should never repeat it, okay?".

"Why?" Roli asked in oblivion. 

"It's not right. Just don't ever do this again" Sid could not understand how to explain her. 

"Why it's not right? We are boyfriend and girlfriend, right?" Roli continued to shot questions.  

"No, we are not" Sid lost his calm again at her continuous questions and yelled. 

"I will not talk to you again" Roli ran away from there whilst crying. 

"Roli, wait.." Before he could calm himself and realise what he said, she was gone. 

Sid decided to talk to Roli the next day but she did not come to school. Akash said she wanted to take leave. Sid could understand that she was upset with him as she did not talk to him for the next couple of days. Whenever he tried to talk to her, she would just ignore him and run away. She even started having lunch with her classmates to avoid meeting him. 

A week later, Roli went to Akash, who was walking alone in the corridor. She looked around him as if searching for someone. 

"Looking for Sid?" Akash asked as he found her watching surroundings. He understood she was ignoring Sid for the last few days though he did not know why. Sid didn't tell him about the matter yet. 

"No" Roli immediately shook her head and turned her attention to Akash. He giggled at her answer as he knew how adamant she would be to give in when she'd get mad at people. 

"He is not feeling well. So, he's on leave" Akash informed. 

"What happened to him?" Roli asked being worried. 

"Nothing much. Just fever. Will be back in two or three days" Akash replied. 

••• Bharadwaj Mansion •••

Sid opened the cupboard in his room and fetched the diary from the back of the drawer. Settling down on his study table, he placed the diary on the desk. He watched it intently for a while as his hand gently touched its cover that was bearing the letters "A R Y A N". 

"Hello, Aryan" Sid opened the diary, which he named Aryan, and started writing. 

"It's been so long since I have shared anything with you. I got someone with whom I love to spend most of my time so not having enough time to talk to you and I'm sorry for that. Remember I told you about Roli? Yeah, she is the one! She has something special about her that makes me forget all my pain and loneliness. I feel so alive when I'm with her. She gives me the attention I have been yearning for since the time I could remember. She became so close to me that I feel like I cannot live without her. It's been just a week since I have not talked to her and I already feel like dying. You know how much I love her. She is my lifeline. I want to spend every second of my life with her. But, my parents want me to go away from her. They want me to go abroad for higher studies. That means I have to stay far away from my Roli for years. No. I cannot let that happen. Never! Even the thought of going away from Roli is killing me. But, my parents are not listening to me. I don't know what to do. I feel so helpless and so alone. 

- Sid. 

Sid closed the diary and felt a little relieved after venting out his frustration through words on the paper. But, for him, it's just not a piece of paper. His diary, which he fondly named Aryan, was his best friend since his childhood. 

Sid's parents were always running after their work and would not spare a minute to spend with him. It had been the same since he was a little kid. He was grown under caretakers appointed by his parents for him. Those caretakers had taken good care of him but they could not give the love and affection as the parents would do. He used to crave the love and attention of his parents, who miserably failed to give him the same. 

After all those years of growing up without the attention of his parents, he grew distant from them. He had none to tell him stories when he was a kid, to listen to his experiences and emotions as he grew up. He used to feel so lonely and started sharing everything through words in his diary.

Sid got up and went near the window to have some fresh air. When he happened to notice the person at the entrance gate, he was surprised. Immediately, he rushed out. 

"Roli" he called as he reached the gate and looked at the person in amusement. 

"Sid" with a smile, Roli went near him and hugged, surprising him. He placed his palm on the top of her head that reached till his abdomen. 

"What are you doing here?" Sid queried as she broke the hug and looked up at him. 

"Akki bhaiya said you're not well. So I just came to see you" Roli replied, making him melt at her concern for him. 

"But, this watchman uncle is not allowing me to come inside" Roli pouted, looking at the watchman, who felt shivering to gain Sid's glare. 

"He will allow you from now onwards," Sid said most like ordering to the watchman, who nodded his head anxiously. 

"Let's go inside" Sid held Roli's hand as he directed her into his house. 

"You came alone?" Sid stopped in the middle and looked at Roli, who nodded her head in response. 

"Didn't we tell you not to go anywhere alone?" His stern voice concealed his concern.

"I just wanted to see you" Roli pouted at his strict expression. "Will you scold me again?". 

Her innocent question made him smile and at the same time, he felt bad as he reminded of the day he yelled at her. He never wanted to do that. 

Sid kneeled before her as he patiently explained to her "I'm sorry for shouting at you, Roli. But what you did on that day was not right. It's not because we are not boyfriend and girlfriend but because you are a kid. There are certain things that you will understand only after you grow up. Until then don't repeat what you did on that day, okay?". 

"If you say so, then okay" Roli agreed though she could not understand what he said properly. It's like no matter what he would say, she would just agree to him. 

"Then you are not upset with me anymore, right?" Sid raised his eyebrow at her. 

"Only if you give me chocolate" Roli grinned, making him shake his head.

"Okay, come" he got up and walked with her towards his room. 

"Your house is very big. It's the same as my Vrindavan house" Roli spoke as she entered Sid's room. But, soon as if she remembered something, she said "No, Vrindavan house is not my house". 

Sid understood what she meant and felt bad to see her pale face as she reminded of her father. He made her sit on the couch and settled next to her. 

"You will have an even bigger house than the Vrindavan house" Sid said to cheer her up. 

"How?" Roli asked, curiously. 

"I will give you" he replied, casually. 

"But, it will need lots of money" Roli said like a serious adult. 

"I will earn enough money to give you everything you want" Sid said, earnestly. 

"Really?" Roli looked at him, excitedly. Sid nodded assuring her and promising himself the same. 

"Uff! I forgot to ask. How is your health? Are you feeling weak? Did you go to doctor and had medicine?" Roli shot an array of questions. 

"Roli, I'm perfectly fine" Sid replied, feeling touched at her concern, which even his parents failed to show. 

"When will you come to school again? I'm missing you" Roli said, melting his already fluttering heart. 

"I will come from tomorrow" he answered in a gentle tone. He then brought chocolate from his fridge and gave it to her. She was elated as she said, "Now I forgave you for shouting".  

Sid chuckled at her adult-like response. He felt so touched to see her coming to his house all alone to check on his health. At that moment, he realized why he loved her more than anything. She deserved all of his love.

~×~ Present ~×~

Holding the washbasin, Sid closed his eyes tightly as if he was struggling to recall something. No matter how much he tried and forced himself, he could not remember anything. It was as though his memory was blank. 

It was midnight. He was standing in the washroom but he didn't know how he reached there. It meant only one thing. He was not himself till the moment he reached there. He was Aryan. 

Sid tried to recall what he did when he turned into Aryan. But, he could not. It's the same every time Aryan broke out. He could not remember anything he did as Aryan. But, he knew of one thing for sure that whatever Aryan had done, it would be a devastation.

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A/N: I'm extremely sorry for the super late update. Kinda lost the touch of writing and even now I'm not sure of what I've written in this update. I was even nervous about whether to post it or not. But, posted it anyway. Kindly excuse the crap I'm forcing upon you guys and do read and comment your views so that I get the motivation to write the next update