"Doesn't Akash look like Ian Somerhalder?"
I was suddenly astonished by the rhetoric my brother threw at my end. Lying in the hospital bed with his head and arms wounded, he was glancing at the blood bag shooting the crimson ray of life toward his cannulated wrist as he spoke.
"Why ask such a question out of the blue?" I rolled my eyes "I think you have lost your senses as much as you have lost the blood."
"No- I mean his gait and standing posture resembles that of Ian's. Haven't you ever noticed?"
"Karan, you are simply overwhelmed. If a person donates you blood, it doesn't make him Ian Somerhalder. Besides, I like him the way he is. Don't compare him with some celebrity, please." I winked.
"Yeah. That's true. He is a nice guy. Too good to be your boyfriend." Sipping the chicken soup, he continued, smiling "He has done so much for us. Remember, last year on your birthday when I failed to find the 'Game of thrones' themed cake, he appeared at the last moment carrying that enormous cake with 'House Stark' sigil engraved on top of it. It was so cool. Maybe he loves you."
"Yeah. I remember." I smiled remembering that day. "And he is not my boyfriend, yet."
Akash was a colleague of mine and one of the best persons I ever met. I didn't remember getting in any trouble ever since he entered my life. He cared for me more than my mother and in need, gave better advice than my dad could ever give. Even my whiny brother, Karan who never approved of any other guy before took an instant liking of him the day he first met him. He was the supreme specimen of a gentleman and I was falling for him, every single day. I didn't know if he loved me or not but from time to time, he had given me little inklings that consolidated the presence of feelings he might me holding for me. Whenever I had invited him over for family dinner, he had shown up, he was always interested in knowing the kind of childhood my brother and I had and would often listen to our anecdotes with utmost curiosity. Also, last year on my birthday, he managed to surprise me with my favorite TV show themed birthday cake when Karan couldn't get one. In such short time, he had gotten really close with my family and I loved that most about him. Despite being so close, he never confessed his feelings to me. Maybe he was too shy. But I was sure, he liked me.
Yesterday, Karan got into an accident and lost a lot of blood owing to the head injury. Akash showed up the moment I called him and even donated his blood having got their blood samples matched. His shoulder was by my side, the entire time. Thank fully Karan was out of danger because of the angel god had sent to us. Recalling everything he did for us, I couldn't help but smile.
I gasped hearing somebody knock and then open the door. It was Akash, obviously. He was carrying some juice and crisps and held them out to me. I looked toward Karan. He was already fast asleep in his bed, snoring.
"He has fallen asleep." I whispered, taking the packets from his hands and putting them on side table.
"Hmm." He glanced at the empty chicken soup container before sitting next to me. "I guess he ate well. Have you had something?"
"Yeah. I had some rice I got from home." I continued "Are you eating well? You gave your blood-"
"Yeah. I am fine. I just hope Karan gets well soon." He said without letting me finish my sentence.
"Akash, you know what you did yesterday, I can't thank you enough for that. You saved us." I spurted out.
"You don't have to, Karuna. It was the least I could do, Besides, I am glad that I could be of some help to your brother." He smiled faintly.
I turned spellbound, hearing his altruistic words. Emotions started hovering over my introverted mind and before I knew, I was leaning my head against his. He froze and suddenly shifted back, shunning me away.
"W-what are you doing?" He asked ghastly.
I couldn't figure out what went wrong at that instant. I was just leaning my head against his and that offended him!
"Did I do anything wrong, Akash? Tell me."
"No- just don't get too close." He closed his eyes.
"Why?" I couldn't hold it any longer. My heart started beating faster, pumping more blood than usual but I said it. "I love you Akash."
His face suddenly turned pale, eyes wide open. It seemed like he stopped breathing. After what it seemed like a lifetime, he finally spoke.
"You can't fall in love with me Karuna. You can't." He said with eyes still stoned.
I felt shameful and shameless at the same time. After all this time, making me fall for him, he rejected me.
"But why?" My voice screeched, too high to wake somebody up. I looked toward Karan. He was still fast asleep, unaffected. Drugs!
He clenched his fists before speaking the words that burned holes in my ears.
"Because I am in love with your brother!"