Chapter 14: "Somthing is in the Air"
After dropping Swati home, JK went straight to Kartik’s room. He quietly pulled out a chair and sat down, saying nothing.
Surya studied his face for a moment before speaking. “JK, why did you do this? If you had proposed to her, at least you’d have known what was in her heart. You’ve been waiting for this day for so long… and yet you let it pass. I really didn’t like what you did today.”
Kartik, who had already told Surya and Praveen everything that happened earlier in the park, remained silent as Praveen added, “Yes, she mentioned those lovers… why did you take it so personally? Forget it. Today she came wearing a saree just for you. Doesn’t that make it clear she loves you too?”
Kartik leaned forward. “Why are you sitting so silently? Say something. If it were someone else, they wouldn’t even be able to face us right now.”
“What is there to say?” JK finally replied, his voice low. “Honestly, there’s nothing wrong in what she said. The same fear that exists in every man’s heart exists in hers too. Every girl dreams of a man who is already settled in life, someone who will make sure she never has to face hardship. That’s all Swati was thinking about. I’m willing to wait for her—no matter how many years it takes. Can’t I wait just another two or three years? I certainly can.”
His words tried to sound steady, but his face betrayed his disappointment. His eyes, filled with quiet helplessness, told a story his mouth refused to speak.
Surya shook his head. “Just by looking at you, we can tell how upset you are. We’re your friends, JK. We know you well.”
Before JK could respond, his phone rang. It was his mother, Yashodha.
“Hello, Mom,” he answered softly.
“Son, where are you? It’s so late, and you’re still not home. Your father is very angry,” her voice carried both worry and irritation.
“I’m not coming home tonight, Mom. I’m at Kartik’s room. I’ll be back tomorrow morning. Please have dinner and sleep. And don’t forget to give Lucky her tablet. Tell her I’ll be home tomorrow, otherwise she’ll start worrying for no reason.”
“Are you sure you’re alright?” she asked, her tone softer now.
“Yes, Mom. I’m fine.”
“I don’t know why, but I feel uneasy… like something’s wrong. I want to see you right now. Please come home, son… Oh, wait. Your grand maa wants to talk to you.”
“Alright, Mom. Pass the phone,” he said.
Yashoda give her phone to Lucky and leave the Lucky room...
Lucky’s warm, teasing voice came through. “Hello, grandson… Did you propose to Swati?”
JK took a deep breath, forcing a casual tone. “Darling, you know what… I changed my plan.”
“What plan? Does that mean you didn’t propose? Why not?”
“I told you—I changed my plan. I’ll explain tomorrow morning, okay? Darling, did you have dinner?”
“I’ll eat somehow, without you.”
“Sorry… I’m at Kartik’s room tonight. Please eat and take your tablet before sleeping, alright?”
“I was so happy today, thinking you would give me good news. But you ruined everything. Boys’ minds… I can never understand them. Anyway, did you eat? Who’s there with you? Is Swati still there?”
“There’s just the four of us here. I dropped Swati home. We’ve already had dinner. You rest now. I’ll see you tomorrow morning. Good night, darling.”
After ending the call, Surya reassured him, “Don’t worry about my mom. I already called her and told her we’d explain everything tomorrow morning.”
“Really? Alright… you all should go to sleep. It’s late,” JK murmured.
“How can we sleep when you’re feeling so low?” Kartik asked.
Praveen shook his head. “Why are you making this so complicated? JK, if you’re afraid to talk to her, just call me and I’ll do it for you. I’d tell her, ‘Swati, JK loves you very much, but like he said, he’ll marry you only after he’s settled in life.’ That’s all.”
“You’d really say that for me?” JK asked, a faint spark of amusement in his eyes.
“Yes,” Praveen replied without hesitation.
On impulse, JK picked up his phone and began dialling Swati’s number.
“Wait, you’re serious? I was just joking!” Praveen blurted, grabbing the phone and cutting the call, his face breaking into a nervous sweat.
JK laughed softly. “See? Now you understand how hard it is to say those words.”
The sight of his smile eased the tension in Kartik and Surya’s faces.
Surya chuckled. “This Praveen might be useless for everything else, but when it comes to making JK smile, he never fails.”
“That’s true,” JK agreed. “That’s why my Pavi is my love.I love you pavi”
“Hey! I’m not that type, okay? Just because you couldn’t propose to Swati doesn’t mean you start loving me instead. Control your feelings,” Praveen protested.
“Oh, is it,” JK teased.
“Wait… don’t hit me this time! I made JK smile, remember? At least spare me now,” Praveen pleaded.
“Alright, we’ll spare you this time,” Kartik said with a grin. “But next time…”
Praveen sighed in relief.
“There’s still a lot of time, JK,” Surya said gently. “Don’t stress. Whether you tell her now or later, it’ll be the same.”
“Exactly,” Kartik added.
“Yes… my girl will always be mine, no matter what,” JK said quietly.
Kartik tilted his head. “So… what will you do now?”
Kartik’s question hung in the air for a moment before JK answered with a small, wistful smile. “I don’t know… I just keep thinking about her. I don’t know why, but I’m missing her so much right now.”
Before anyone could respond, Surya’s phone began to ring.
“Who is it? Ammu?” JK asked with a raised brow. “Doesn’t she even know the time?”
“No, it’s my Sweety,” Surya replied casually.
“What? Sweety?” JK’s expression sharpened. “If someone cheats my sister, I won’t just sit quietly.”
Kartik looked at Surya in mock shock. “So, you didn’t tell us about this,? We thought you were a decent guy.”
Praveen added with exaggerated disbelief, “And here No one girl wouldn’t even look at me, and you’re out here maintaining two!”
Surya rolled his eyes. “Will you all stop? This is my little sister Jaanu calling. I’ve always called her Sweety. I can barely manage one, how could I handle another? If you want, I’ll put it on speaker so you can hear.”
JK’s lips curved into a teasing smirk. “Oh… Jaanavi? Alright, talk to her.”
Surya answered the call. “Hello, Sweety.”
On the other end, Jaanu’s voice carried a hint of complaint. “Took you long enough to answer! Are you that busy?”
“It’s nothing like that, little one. Didn’t I tell you this morning it was our annual day? I’m at Kartik’s room now. Anyway, isn’t it your college time right now?”
“Yes,” she replied, “but I don’t know… it just feels like someone is missing me a lot now.” Her voice wavered, and soon soft hiccups followed. “And when I feel this way, it’s only ever my family—Mom, Dad, or my big brother. I called them first, and now you.”
“Hey, jaanu, first go and drink some water,” Surya said gently.
“I am… but I can’t stop hiccup,” she sniffled.
“I miss you every single day,” surya told her. “I’m always waiting for when you’ll come back.”
“I know… Anyway, I should go. I’m getting late for college. I’ll call you after it’s over.” She hung up.
Kartik leaned back with a nostalgic smile. “You remember Jaanavi when she was small, right, JK?”
“Yes, of course,” JK nodded.
Surya added, “It doesn’t even feel like it’s been that long since I last saw her.”
Kartik chuckled. “Back then, we all played together. She was so mischievous. Once she started talking, there was no stopping her.”
But while they spoke, Praveen seemed lost in thought. Surya noticed immediately. “Hey, what are you thinking about?”
“Nothing… It just feels like something is in sync,” Praveen murmured.
“What do you mean? Explain,” Kartik said.
“Think about it,” Praveen continued. “Just now, JK said he was missing his girl a lot. And at the same time, Jaanu get hiccups because she felt someone was missing her. Doesn’t that sound like a connection between both JK and jaanu?”
Kartik threw up his hands. “Oh, come on… Is there any real meaning to what you’re saying, or are you just making things up?”
Surya frowned. “So Jaanu’s get's hiccups, JK’s missing his girl there… You think there’s some relation between the two? What nonsense are you—”
JK cut him off, exasperated. “If I keep listening to you, even a sane man will go completely mental. Not hitting you earlier was my biggest mistake. Come here!”
They all lunged at Praveen playfully, hitting him as he tried to shield himself. “Stop, stop! I just said what came to mind. I won’t say anything else,” he pleaded.
“Just sleep, man,” Surya laughed, still shaking his head.
The three of them kept teasing Praveen for a while before finally settling down. Their laughter faded, and one by one, they drifted off to sleep.
To be continued…
🌸Author’s Note🌸:
Her hiccups were not from laughter, but from a storm she couldn’t name. And JK… he felt it — that strange, sinking pull in his chest, as if the girl he loved was fading into the unseen. Keep your eyes open, reader… the air is about to change.
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