Can You Mend My Broken Heart?

20 Crass cacophony

The moment Teddy got to know that Vikram was going to pay for the dinner, he got super excited and started scanning the menu card again and started ordering dish after dish. They all started laughing at his childish behavior.

Teddy dismissed them all and said - " I am respecting Vikram's gesture by eating more ok !!!"

Vikram laughed and added three beer and one ice tea to the order. Akira knew that the ice tea was meant for her. Vikram knew that Akira had low alcohol tolerance so whenever they used to go out he would always order some mocktail for her.

"Can I have a beard today Vikram?" she asked in a coy tone.

"Are you nuts?", asked Vikram. "Have you forgotten what you did on my last birthday? You destroyed my sweater and I miss it, man. That was one of my favorites for your kind information and fyi you have already ruined my shirt just a few moments before. I am not letting you ruin anything anymore," said Vikram and shook his head.

"Please please, I promise I will behave," she said and then she looked that Vikram with her cute puppy dog eyes.

"Come on don't use it as leverage. You know I can't say no to your puppy face." Vikram sighed and requested the waiter to get 4 beers for them.

After all the order were placed, Teddy got up and started the karaoke machine. The screen was lit up and Mike started to select songs from the iPad for himself. Teddy had already picked up some heavy metal songs and started singing. He was so bad that it sounded like he was literally croaking like a frog. Everyone was having a hard time controlling their laughter as they didn't want to thrash his mood.

They all were having a good time singing with all the food and beer. After the third round of beer, Vikram asked for the iPad as he wanted to select a song for himself. He chose a song by Shawn Mendes - "Treat you better". He chose the song because that's what exactly he wanted to say to Akira. He picked up the mic and started singing. He usually would be very reserved around her to not to show his emotions, never told her how he felt about her. When Akira had told him that she has started dating her senior Anthony, he was heartbroken but he never showed his vulnerable side to her. His love for Akira was the unrequited love which was cherished by him and only him.

But today was different, he was different. He was letting himself loose today. Probably it was the effect of the beer and all the happiness in his heart that she had left Anthony, that gave him the courage to sing the song for her and pour his heart out. He didn't tell her that this song was dedicated to her but from the starting to till the end of the song he was looking at her and only her, without batting an eyelid.

"I know I can treat you better than he can

And any girl like you deserves a gentleman

Tell me why are we wasting time

On all your wasted crying

When you should be with me instead

I know I can treat you better

Better than he can..."

His gaze was still on Akira after he finished his song and that was probably because he wanted to map her reaction, he wanted to know what she felt about him.

But he could sense that she was getting a bit restless. She was looking here and there like she was gasping for air or something. He was unable to understand where did he go wrong. For a moment he was scared thinking if he had crossed the line. He didn't want her to be upset because of him and didn't want to lose what they had at any cost.

The next moment he saw her touching her stomach and she had covered her mouth with one hand. Her eyes were popping out. She was about to vomit. It was then that Vikram understood why she was reacting like that and he took her immediately to the washroom.

He held her hair while she puked and stroked her back lightly. Once she was done he took out a couple of tissue papers and wiped her face clean. She had gone pale with all the vomiting and nausea. He lightly tapped her cheeks and said, "You are going to be ok. Just hang in there for me alright?".

Vikram called up Mike and told him that he was taking Akira home. He asked them to finish the food and take a cab back home. He told them not to worry about the bill and that his assistant will take care of it.

Mike and Teddy had almost finished their food so when Teddy suggested to him that they can also leave with Vikram, Mike silenced him and said -

"Give them some space and time you buffalo."