Two

                NEVERMORE EVERLESS 

"......and then at the end of the series, he steals the blue French horn for her again and shows up at her window AGAIN just like he did after their first date and they end up together!" he said, passionately explaining the storyline of his favourite TV show. I listened keenly as his enthusiasm progressively increased. But one question kept popping up in my head - how does he expect me to watch it after telling me the entire storyline and everything that happens? It simply wouldn't be fun that way. But I didn't ask him that, I let it go because he was so happy and that would just be mean. "WHOA! That is a sweet ending, It's too bad his wife died but at least he got to be with his first love in the end" I replied "YEAH you should totally watch it, it has 9 seasons but you will enjoy it thoroughly, I can assure you that" he added, his enthusiasm levels reaching the sky. He told me to add it to my Watchlist and also told me where to watch it. I added it to my watchlist before him and told him I'd try to watch it. Little did he know that I watched that show 6 times before and I love it more each time. 

The evening passed listening to him talk about his favourite TV shows that I claimed I hadn't watched. I told him a little about myself too, about how I enjoy murder mysteries and thrillers a lot. I told him about my favourite trilogy. He told me that he wasn't that big of a fan of reading but said he'd try to read it anyway. As the sun began to set, I realised how late I was. OH MY GOD, I HAVE BEEN OUT SINCE MORNING, MY FATHER WILL END ME. I HAD TO DO THE FINAL PARTS OF MY PROJECT WITH HIM  I thought to myself before I got up, bid him goodbye and then left. 

The elevator doors hissed open and the bright red numbers on the screen next to the door read '14'. The knot in my stomach tightened with each step towards my house. The smell of my mother's favourite agarbatti which was usually comforting, now felt heavy and suffocating, filled the corridor. It was as if even the potted plants were disappointed in me. I was tip-toeing my way to my house when suddenly the door cracked open. My mother was standing outside in her yellow printed T-shirt that read 'Take it easy, Dude' "S, you are SO late, dad is so angry, he was waiting for you all evening. Would you care to explain yourself?" the irony of the situation was very funny to me, she was not taking it easy. I entered the house and saw my dad sitting at the dining table, wearing a t-shirt that said 'Dude' on it. The t-shirt pair that my brother and I had gotten for our parents long ago. I apologised to him and we started my project right away. 

It was a few minutes to 10pm and we finally got done with my project. I reached for my phone and saw the notifications on the lock screen. I saw a request from him, and I did a weird thumb dance while imagining what would happen if I became friends with someone oddly similar to me. I had so many questions. What if he is a weird psycho who crafted his personality exactly like mine just to be friends with me and do something horrible? What if I get too attached and he leaves me? What if he is like that guy PS was friends with, he tried to do weird things to her multiple times? and many more; but I accepted it. Damn, I really gotta stop overthinking accepting Instagram follow requests. It's not like he's going to text me or anything. I clicked on confirm. I spent the next half hour scrolling through reels. 

I went to sleep at half past ten. 

A shaft of sunlight speared through my curtain spreading across my room. With a groan, I opened my eyes, my eyelids seemed as heavy as lead, I saw a face with a bright smile before me. "Dad, 10 minutes more, please" I pleaded. "No, S. It is 06:40 already, you're going to be very late" Dad replied warmly while sipping his coffee. I jumped out of bed "DID YOU JUST SAY 06:40???" I fumbled for my phone and the harsh digital clock read 6:40am. There nearly wasn't enough time for me to get ready, panic jolted me upright. I bolted for the shower and haphazardly yanked on my uniform, shoved my novel in my backpack while I mentally ticked off the things on my checklist (phone? check, earphones? check, project? check, keys? check.)

I rushed towards the elevator through the same path that I tip-toed my way through, yesterday, my phone clutched in my hands, and a notification chimed. A text. My heart did a backflip and my stomach sank as I read the name that appeared at the top of my screen, it was him. A smile stretched across my face as I read the text "Meet me after school? Same spot" My fingers flew across the keyboard, the smile refusing to budge from my face "Absolutely." I ran towards my scooter and took off to school, the text from him with a warm secret in the innermost pocket of my bag, a promise of something good to come, or so I thought. 

xoxo