Chapter 105 - Changing Equations

|Innaya|

"See this. They can start anywhere."

Arjun's remark instantly had me straightening up. I found ground interesting at that point. Breathing deeply, I tried to minimize my presence as much as I could. Eshan's hand still holding mine did not let me relax completely. 

"You have the worst timing ever," Eshan drily taunted. 

After making sure that my face would not give away my shyness, I lifted my head. They both had returned with holding glasses in their hands. 

"Here." Arjun forwarded his hand. In his both hands, there were two glasses with green color liquid. 

My nose scrunched up. Was he trying to make me drink the bitter guard juice? "What? Do you want me to drink this? I hate bitter things," I replied distastefully.

Arjun's eyes flickered towards Eshan before he focused his blue eyes on me."So what? You're unwell." He shrugged his shoulders. 

"This is good for your health. Here, take this." He thrust the glass in my hand. 

I looked at Eshan for his help. I did not want to drink it. I was starving but not to the point of drinking this bitter juice. I could hold my hunger some more.

I had not noticed that Ayush had given a glass of that green color liquid to Eshan as well. Eshan's glass was already half empty. Eshan sipped the juice, and his face showed no signs of being uncomfortable. 

I turned to Arjun, making the best puppy face I could manage, hoping to get out of this predicament. 

Arjun shook his head in denial. "We're giving you company as well. So, be good and finish it quickly." He stood firmly on his point, and I realized I had no other option but to drink it. If I knew they both were taking so long to bring this vile drink, then I would have taken a cab and left with Eshan.

Attempting for the last time, I looked at three faces one by one, but they were looking at me amusedly. The glasses in their hands were empty. How could they finish it without a twitch in facial muscle?

"Don't smell it," Arjun warned, holding back laughter. I glared resentfully at Eshan. He could have stopped this, but now he decided to shit his mouth. 

I grimaced looking at the glass in my hand. Arjun's warning was a good thing. Resigning to my fate, I brought the glass to my lips and held my breath. The good-morning was going to turn into a bitter one. 

Begrudgingly, I gulped the content. My eyes widened when instead of bitterness, sweetness filled my mouth.

Sound of chuckles reverberated around me. I choked on the drink and started coughing badly.

"It's- It's sweet," I stammered as I tried to stop the coughs.

"Of course. Who told you that sugarcane juice was bitter?" Ayush smiled.

Arjun stepped forward as he rubbed my back. After regaining control, I finished the juice without speaking a word. I already made a fool of myself, and I had no desire to have a repeat of it. I handed my empty glass to Ayush as I stood with my head down. I smiled at my own foolishness.

"We accidentally found the stall of fresh juice around the corner so we thought it would be good," Ayush replied as he left to return those glasses. Arjun followed behind him.

Soon both of them returned with the SUV. 

After settling inside of the SUV, Arjun turned his head towards us from the driver's seat. "Let's go. I'm hungry," Arjun butted in, and I could not agree more.

*

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Once getting back to our home, I straightaway went to take the bath. Eshan said he did not need my help in freshening up. It was inconvenient to take his wheelchair upstairs. Thus, I temporarily decided to use the guestroom on the ground floor as our bedroom. After settling his things there, I left for our bedroom upstairs. Before shifting our other essential belongings, I spent almost an hour into bathing. 

Soaking my body in hot water helped in easing my taut nerves. Sitting for ten hours tied on the chair was surely not a good feeling. The marks left by those ropes stung when water touched them as the skin was scraped at some part. Washing away the tiredness, I finally got out of the tub feeling little refreshed.

Getting ready in the bedroom, I left for the downstairs. I still had to prepare food for us. I knew Eshan must have not eaten, and that extended to Arjun as well. Regarding Ayush, I had no special opining. He was Eshan's friend for me like the rest of other friends. 

I also wondered where the rest of them was.

Eshan was injured that he had to be in the wheelchair. The news must have reached their ears, so why weren't they with him? I also had no recollection of what happened in-between. I only knew my side of the story. Eshan's side of the story was still unclear to me. Maybe, after eating he could shed some light on that.

As I reached down, the spicy scent of freshly cooked meals wafted in the air. Automatically my feet turned in the direction of the kitchen. When I reached the dining room, I was amazed at finding the sight before my eyes.

The dining table was filled with neatly arranged dishes, and Ayush and Arjun were bringing more containers from the kitchen. Eshan sat at the head chair, freshly showered, and changed into a clean set of clothes. As if he was supervising the whole process. 

"What's going on here?" I asked. Eshan's eyes snapped in my direction.

His eyes trailed from my head to toe. I felt strange emotions erupting in my chest with that intense gaze of his. I adjusted my hair on my right shoulder. They were slightly wet, so I had not tied them. I had chosen the pink full sleeves top paired with breathable charcoal grey colored solid parallel trousers. The bottom of the trousers flared at the bottom, and they covered those marks on my legs from ropes. The full sleeves covered marks on my wrist, and it was the reason behind choosing this outfit. 

"Come here." Eshan's low voice sent shivers down my spines. 

What was going on? After that kiss, something seemed to change between us. Technically, it was not that big deal. It was just a kiss not that we had consummated our relationship. Why were these strange emotions erupting in my body? To even the smallest thing as gazing in his eyes was causing me to feel the flutter in the pit of my stomach leave aside his innocent touches.

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