Chapter 4
(Something sweet in the middle of quarrels…)
This morning feels unusually wrapped in bright sunlight. Aishi, with her college bag slung over her shoulder, almost runs to the bus stop. Ayush is already there. Standing in a corner, he keeps looking down the road—but the moment he sees Aishi, his body stiffens slightly.
Ignoring Ayush, Aishi goes straight to the front of the bus line and stands there. After watching her for a moment, Ayush says,
"So, you've come on time today! Otherwise, running and standing behind me was becoming your habit."
Aishi narrows her eyes.
"Listen, I've told you before—I'm not lazy like you. Being on time is my nature. It's just a coincidence that I ended up in front of you a few times."
Ayush smiles faintly and steps a little closer.
"Coincidence? Maybe you don't know—every coincidence has a story behind it. Looks like the story of us meeting is starting this way."
Aishi turns her face away in annoyance.
"A story with you? That's my nightmare."
The bus arrives and stops. As usual, it's crowded. Ayush knows it's difficult for tall guys like him to stand in such a bus, but Aishi doesn't care. The moment they both spot an empty seat, they rush toward it at the same time. Again the confusion, again the pushing.
"You stay back this time. I've been standing for the past two days," Ayush says, reaching for the seat.
Aishi snaps back,
"What do you mean? Boys always think girls should stand? I'll sit today. That's final."
"Maybe use the word 'final' a bit less. My ears are still ringing from yesterday," Ayush says, widening his eyes.
Some passengers burst into laughter. An elderly man standing nearby adds,
"You two have become our daily entertainment."
This time, Aishi actually feels embarrassed—but she doesn't show it. With a serious face, she says,
"I didn't come here to be your source of amusement."
"No, your anger is what fuels the entertainment," Ayush replies with a quiet laugh.
This goes on for a week. The same quarrels every day, the same seat, the same sharp exchanges. Yet sometimes, a different language appears in their eyes. Maybe both of them are beginning to realize that behind these daily fights, an invisible bond is forming—one they haven't yet named.
One day, Aishi is standing, exhausted, as she doesn't get a seat. Ayush is sitting. Suddenly, he stands up and says,
"You sit. I'll stand today."
Aishi looks at him in surprise.
"You always claim this seat is yours. What happened today?"
"The crowd's a bit too much today. You looked really tired. And… it's okay to be polite sometimes, right?"
Aishi slowly sits down, while Ayush stands beside her. For a while, neither of them speaks. The noise of traffic, the murmur of people, the blaring horns—all continue, yet a strange silence seems to surround them.
Suddenly, the bus jolts as it hits a pothole. Ayush steadies himself and instinctively stretches his hand in front of Aishi, making sure she's safe. Aishi looks at him, startled.
"Are you always this careful, or is it just for me?"
Ayush smiles softly.
"You're my daily quarrel partner. If something happens to you, who will I argue with?"
Though Aishi keeps a serious face, a faint smile appears at the corner of her eyes. It's a strange mix of friendship, affection, and uncertainty that they're standing in—within the small space of a bus journey begins a much bigger story, whose future neither of them knows.
This phase of their relationship is like a blend of spicy, sweet, and sour. A little bit of quarrel, a little bit of hurt, a little bit of unfamiliar affection. But the equation of love is still unsolved. All that remains is to wait for time…
To be continued…