Blood Ties

Rohit and Ansha were the perfect couple in college. Both were in the final year. Both were studious yet active in extracurricular activities, they both shared the same passion for drama and were part of the theatrical group in the college. Both were quite popular in college, as active students and for being the toppers of their respective branches.  They both were kind at heart and a genuine and decent person. Their relationship started when they took part in a play together. In a particular scene, Rohit who was playing the role of a goon, was supposed to slap Ansha and drag her by her hairs. During the rehearsals, Rohit accidentally pulled at her hair quite forcefully and Ansha screamed out loud. Rohit was very apologetic and said sorry. After the rehearsal, in order to make up for the mistake Rohit requested Ansha to go out with him for a cold drink in the college canteen. Sipping cold drink, while walking from the canteen towards Ansha's hostel, amidst a cool breeze in that summer evening, they both felt an instant connect between them. Ansha was attracted towards the simple yet decent personality of Rohit, while Rohit fell for her exuberance, her mature way of thinking and her infectious smile. The rehearsals continued, with the rehearsals their attraction towards each other also increased.

The play was a huge hit when it was screened in the Indian Habitat Center. Whole of the crew was jubilant. They went for a party to celebrate the success of the play. Throughout the party. Rohit proposed to Ansha after the party, she consented. 

As it happens in college, first their best friends got to know about it, and then gradually it spread. Pretty soon everybody in the college was aware of it. Whoever met Rohit congratulated him; similar was the case with Ansha. Everyone believed they both were perfect for each other. So when the news of their break up started spreading in the college, no one could believe it at first. But then they started noticing that, Rohit and Ansha were no longer seen together sitting on the stairs of the open area theatre, or taking long walks in the college campus during evening, or gorging on chole bhature sitting in the canteen. Rohit left his room in hostel and took a rented room outside the college campus, he said every minute he spends in the campus he is reminded of Ansha and he doesn't like it. Rohit became very ir-regular in terms of studies also. He was throughout absent in the mid semester exams as well. He didn't even sit for placement drives. While Ansha too got quite irregular with her studies, she fared poorly in the mid semester exams, earlier she used to be the heart of her group, nowadays she seldom smiled. Her friends tried to talk her out of this, but with no use. The breakup had affected both of them. Pretty bad. 

Rohit used to come to college after gap of many days, and didn't even used to sit for the whole class. His professors were surprised at this sudden change in one of their finest students. Few of the faculties even tried talking to Rohit about this uncharacteristic ir-regularity in his studies, but it was of no use. 

It was one of those rare days when Rohit had come to college. in earlier times, at this point of the day one could see Rohit sitting with this group in the canteen, joking and laughing loudly or doing some work related to the technical society of their branch. But today, Rohit was sitting alone in a corner of the canteen. He didn't even look like his former self. He had become skinnier than before, which was an indication that he was neglecting his meals. He looked clearly sleep deprived. He was absent mindedly fiddling with the spoon dipped in the bowl of the chow mien. just then a group of girls sit on the nearby table. they were talking with each other in an excited tone. just then one girl spoke for the first time,

"Guys i am not feeling well. i am going to the hostel"

This voice was very close to Rohit's heart. It was Ansha's voice. Instinctively Rohit turned back and saw Ansha getting up from the table, picking her bag up. Their eyes met for a brief second. They both were a bit taken aback on running into each other like this. Rohit tried to ignore her and concentrated in his bowl of chow-mien. Ansha thought for a moment then dropped her bag on the table and went up to Rohit's table. She took a chair without asking for Rohit's permission. Rohit looked up from the bowl of the chow-mien. 

Ansha, " hi"

Rohit was silent.

Ansha," see, it's fine if you don't want to continue with the relationship, but what you are doing to yourself and your career is nothing good"

Rohit was still silent and was looking down in his bowl of chow-mein. 

Ansha hesitated for a moment then continued, “many time relationships do not work. But that doesn't mean we should completely renounce everything we have and mourn all our life. Just because we were in a relationship, why should it stop us from being friends?"

Rohit was still silent but his breathing was getting heavier and quicker. 

Ansha," and forget about friendship, you must at least care for yourself. i heard you didn't gave mid semesters, you're not sitting for placements even. it's okay if you broke up with me without even a phone call, but please stop destroying your life. you don't even..............////////"

Rohit hit the bowl of the chow mien with a fierce blow. It went flying out of the table, hit a guy sitting on the side table fell down to the floor and rolled some distance before coming to a halt. he pushed the table away from his and stood up. Then he shouted. 

Rohit shouted, "GET AWAY FROM ME .............BITCH"

Ansha was shocked, she or for that matter  no one has ever heard Rohit using any slang word. To use slang word at Ansha that too at top of his voice in a crowded canteen, it was the most unthinkable action from Rohit. 

Rohit grabbed his bag and stormed out of the canteen. Ansha was on the verge of breaking down to crying. The girls from Ansha's group came around her and took her to hostel.

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Abhimanyu or Abhi was the best friend of Rohit. They were close to each other right from their first year. Them being roommates in the first year was by chance, but in  later years they took rooms adjacent to each other by choice. Those who didn't know better could have easily mistaken them to be brothers. Abhi  was the one with whom Rohit first shared his liking towards Ansha. In fact it was Abhi who gave him the idea of proposing Ansha after the celebration party. When Rohit and Ansha got committed, it was Abhi who was the happiest. After the break up when Rohit decided to leave the hostel room and get a room outside Abhi tried to talk him out of it. But when Rohit didn’t budged he helped him to move his stuff to the room outside. When Rohit missed out the mid semester exams and few placements drives it was Abhi who at first tried to contact him on the phone, when he couldn't reach him on the phone, he went to his room to meet him, but the landlord said Rohit had gone to his place. Rohit had shut himself off from everyone. But that evening when Abhi heard about the incident at canteen, he could no longer stop himself. he went to Rohit's room.

it was around 7 pm in the month of December. It was quite dark. Rohit's new accommodation was a small one room flat with attached bathroom and kitchen. Abhi had tried to dissuade Rohit from taking this flat, but Rohit didn't listen to him. 

Abhi knocked on the door. A disoriented voice came from the inside. ," what is it...?”

Abhi, "open up, i am Abhi."

This was followed by a silence for around 2-3 minutes.

Abhi knocked again. 

Rohit, “i am coming. Wait up"

He opened the door after another 3 minutes.

Rohit, "how come you are here?? What happened??"

Abhi,” may i come in??"

Rohit, (moving to a side) , "yeah, sure. Come in"

Abhi, “you tell me, what has happened to you?? Why you are doing this to yourself. ? Why your number always comes out of service?? Why don't you come to college?? "

Rohit, (smiled wryly)," i am taking a break"

Abhi, “bull- shit. don't tell me you are taking a break in your 7th semester of engineering. and what happened with Ansha today at the canteen?? since when did you start misbehaving with girls and calling them a bitch??"

Rohit, "you want some tea??  wait i will make for you"

Abhi, "i do not want tea. you tell me why are you ding this?? "

Rohit," you must have tea, it's sort of cold outside"

Abhi (snapping at last) , " to hell with your tea. Answer my questions...??? why are you throwing your perfect life away??? where is that ever smiling , batch topping Rohit whom we all loved so much..?? why are you doing this..??? "

Rohit too got angry, for the second time in one day, “GET OUT FROM THIS ROOM. GET OUT...RIGHT NOW..."

He actually came up to Abhi and held him by his arms and tried shoving him out of his room. Abhi was too strong for him, he freed himself from Rohit's clutch, and shoved him back. Rohit went few steps backwards. Abhi expected Rohit to be stronger than this. Rohit took some time to get his balance back. Then he came towards Abhi and hit him with a punch on his face. Though the punch was weak but still Abhi was taken aback. He never expected Rohit to hit him. 

Rohit," get out from here. Before i end up hurting you." 

Abhi just stared at Rohit for few seconds, then he left the room. Rohit closed the door in a hurry. He was suppressing this for quite some time. He ran straight to the wash basin in the bathroom and started coughing. 

Like every time, the initial few coughs were normal, but the intensity grew with each coughs. Rohit felt as if his rib cage will break down. Each and every muscle from his abdomen to his throat were strained. After few more coughs, it blood started sputtering out from his mouth...like every time. 3 months earlier, Rohit went to a hospital to give blood to one of his friends who met with an accident. The doctors tested Rohit's blood and found he had blood cancer. Rohit requested the doc to keep it confidential. He did not wanted everybody around him to be overtly sympathetic towards him. From the day he was diagnosed with cancer, he stopped taking Ansha's calls. He did not have the courage to break up with her face to face. He thought if he ignore her long enough, she will ultimately get over him. With his attitude he got everyone to hate himself, except Abhi, and today, Abhi too was gone.

As he continued coughing, the blood kept on coming out. The white wash basin was covered in red spots of blood. It continued for around 7-8 minutes. Rohit was completely exhausted by the end of it. He sat down on the floor of the bathroom, taking back support against the wall. He folded his knees over his chest, wrapped his arms around his knees. He was grimacing with pain. He leaned his head backwards... and he wept..... All night.

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Few days later Rohit again went to college. He was sitting at the same corner seat in the canteen. since the incident with Ansha at the canteen, no one ever tried talking with him. He was again fiddling with the spoon in his bowl of chow mien.

Suddenly he felt a soft and warm touch on his left hand. he looked to his side. It was Ansha. She sit down by his side, again without asking for his permission. Rohit was a bit surprised. He thought the way he behaved with her last time she will definitely not try talking with him again, actually that was his plan. But here she was, sitting by his side, holding his left hand in her warm and reassuring hands and looking at him with those lovely eyes whic meant the world to Rohit. Rohit wanted to say something, but this time he felt a hand on his right shoulder. He looked to his right, it was Abhi. 

Rohit , " what are you guys doing here??"

There was something about the way Abhi was looking at him, that Rohit couldn't continue further. 

Abhi," i know bhai. I told Ansha also. "

Rohit, waving off Abhi's hands off his shoulder, " know what??"

Abhi, "that day when you hit me and threw me out of your room, I knew something was wrong. Remember when we went trekking in our second year, you gave me your parent's numbers. I still have that number with me. I wanted to call aunty ji earlier, but i thought i shouldn't bother her. But seeing you that day, i couldn't  stop myself. I called her up and told her about your state. Initially she too didn't wanted to tell me anything but then she couldn't do it any further. She told me everything about your cancer" 

Rohit was listening quietly. He looked at Ansha, her eyes were moist and a streak of tear was running down her cheeks. 

Abhi, "you know what the sad part is??? if you had let us know, you won't have had to spend the last few months like this. You deserved better than this. WE deserved better than this." 

Rohit wiped the tears off Ansha's cheeks and said, " I am sorry, i didn't mean to hurt you." 

He then looked at Abhi. Abhi was struggling to put up a smiling face. He just patted Rohit on the back and said, " I must leave before it becomes too mushy". 

Both Rohit and Ansha smiled.