The Skywalk - Part 3

She turned back to see what the sound was. It turned out to be another one of the loud teenager gangs, enjoying on their new found freedom, right after the final school bell had rung. She sighed to herself and walked on. She had had such days as well. As a young carefree teenager. Those days spent walking on the skywalk. Walking with Mithun. Laughing. Joking. And here she was now, on the crowded skywalk. Isolated. Alone.
~
She thought about how she was going to approach him about it. He was already hurt and she had no intention to hurt him more. She couldn't nag him. A wrong approach and their entire friendship would be on hold. She couldn't ask anyone else either. That was the thing with gossip. Everybody said around 5% of the truth mixed with 40% of their imagination, 25% of what had heard from thin air, 20% of their opinion and 10% what they would have done if it happened to them.
It was finally on a sunny afternoon,  when they were silently walking back that Tanya finally decided to break the ice.
"Mithun. Umh... eda... see I wanted to ask you something. I had just.. you know.. like heard... that... see... not that I believe all of this... but you know...I was wondering... that...."
"About Anushka and me right? "
He looked straight at Tanya, his eyes dead with no feeling, his voice lacking any emotion. She hesitated for a moment wondering whether she should have begun this conversation but he simply smiled at her.
"To be honest, you are a bit late. The entire class has asked me this already. Some more than once. What a tube light! ". He gave her one of his stupid grins. They walked silently for another five minutes,  and Tanya was wondering whether she should bring a new topic when-
"You know. All girls are bitches.  Okay maybe not all, but they are.  You talk of love and loyalty and every other bullshit in this world and then you yourself goes against it." His face was red as he rapidly vented his feelings out.
"You do every possible kind of drama, involve us guys in it, you pretend that every guy you are with is your final found love. And you know that ain't the case and yet you pretend as if it is. You act all lovely and say that you love the guy. Love him like nothing else. And God only knows how many people they say it to. That is if he still hasn't lost count.  Honestly, is that the meaning of loyalty in your dictionaries?  Piece of shit. If we talk to a girl in our class, that is another reason for you to get mad at us, and yet if you start flirting, yeah flirting with some random guy somewhere in the world,  we are supposed to shut up and understand.  And then you accuse us of being possessive.  Seriously?!".
Tanya walked silently,  listening to Mithun accuse every girl in this world of things which was everyone's fault but theirs. She thought of screaming back at him, telling him how he was very wrong and that all girls weren't like that. Some genuinely cared. She cared. Why didn't he get that?
But in the end, Tanya realised that, the best she could do for him, was to do something that no one else had done for him. She decided to listen to him without passing any judgements, simply letting him free of all the hatred and disappointment he carried around with him. To free him from the harshness of the betrayal that had just stabbed him.
As they reached the end of the skywalk, Mithun looked at her and with a perplexed look asked her
" Don't you have anything to say? Anything at all? I have just insulted your entire lot and you keep mum? I expected better Tan. I expected more."
The train was slowly approaching the platform and Tanya knew that she couldn't let her silence get an advantage over her opinions. She got in the train, stood near the door and looked back at Mithun.
" I am disappointed Mithun, that you actually let one girl, one lousy girl get the better of your views on girls. And I completely hate you for categorising us like that. But if my silence can bring atleast a small bit of relief to you, then Mithun, maybe after all the walks and talks between you and me, I think I would really prefer that over an intense debate on our ever differing opinions. I really hope you see a true girl one day."
As the train started and picked up speed, Tanya saw Mithun stand there- surprised.
On her way back Tanya was worried whether he was mad at her for reacting so openly. She hadn't recieved any messages from him, and when she went to bed that night, she was sure of the conflict which would arise the next day. She went to sleep wondering if things were ever going to be the same again.
But when she woke up the next day, she saw that she had received a message. The message was sent at 11:56 pm and it was from Mithun.
" Rmbr hw u said u wish I wld c a true girl? I did. I saw her @ d statn yest. Getting in a train. :) nd I jst wanna say.. thank you! 4 evrythng. :)"
When she read the message, Tanya knew that things were never going to be the same again. They were going to be better. Much better.

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