Last night, I felt little “at home”, when Aman hugged me during sleep. It made me feel similar to the hug of my roommate, to which I was habitual now. Although, it was very different from touch and style of my roommate. His style used to be very cozy, and passionately loving, while Aman was, till now, maintaining a little distance. But it helped me sleep comfortably that night. I kept dreaming of my roommate whole night.

Next morning, Ronit was the first one to arrive at our home. He did not want to miss the opportunity to spend some time with me when others would still be asleep and wouldn’t be available to disturb.

He banged into my bedroom shouting in an energetic and a bit melodious tone, “Goooo…d  Morning !”. His wishes for a “Good Morning” started with a high tone, heavily energetic and loud but the word “Morning” ended in very low note, as if all the energy had already dissipated before the “Good” came out completely clear off his mouth and the word “Morning” was struggling to remain intact and get completed.

“Did you sleep here?”, after a minute of silence I heard this direct question. I was still asleep so had not responded back to his Good Morning wishes yet, but this was a confusing question which caught my attention. Why would anyone ask me this question if I am sleeping at my home in my bedroom? And then I felt a movement and stretching of someone sleeping behind me. It reminded me that Aman was sleeping with me in my bedroom. The question was for him, not for me. It then made sense the dissipation of all his energy and excitement before he could finish his “Good Morning” Wishes.

I turned back to see what was happening because now Aman was hugging me tight, without a gap between my back and his body and with his stretching, he came more closer and was pulling me to him. As I turned my face (I could not turn back to him as he was holding me tight in his arms and hugging me from my back) he kissed on my cheek and whispered “Good Morning” to me. He completely ignored Ronit, as if he did not exist in the room. I felt embarrassed and looked at Ronit’s face for his reaction. He was clearly un-happy, and was turning red with anger. His facial expression, body language were all showing a clear sign of “War-ahead” situation.  To cool him down, I replied to him with a smile, “Good Morning”, but he ignored. His all attention was grabbed by Aman’s hand on my body and the tight hugging pose we were lying in. I was also embarrassed because this was something that had not happened earlier. None of my friends had kissed me earlier and now we were not kids anymore to take such kisses as an innocent child’s play.

After a few moments of watching this, Ronit moved forward, sat on my bed and with a smile on his face he said “Yes, Good morning!  once again”, only to me this time, and exerted a great force to release me from the tight grip of Aman’s arms. More he tried to take me out of Aman’s grip, strongly Aman pulled me back to him. It was me who was being crushed between their fights. I stopped them and pulled off Aman’s hand holding me, and got up. Aman and Ronit, both were now looking furiously at each other without saying a word. “I need to pee”, I said and got out of my bed quickly. I did not want to stay any longer in that position which could start a fight between either of the two.

When I was in busy in relieving myself from the nature’s call, I heard my Mom calling all of us downstairs for breakfast and tea. I asked Ronit and Aman to reach there and start as it will allow me some time if my Mom gets busy in serving others. Later, when I moved out, I found 3 others from my Gang of buddies had already joined us and all the five, including Aman and Ronit were having a big debate. In fact, the word “fight” would be more appropriate than “debate”. It was unusual. These clashes are extremely rare in our gang, in fact, non-existent so far. That’s too it was almost failing all logical reasons to have such a bitter fight at this early morning hour, when there could not be a justifiable reason to start this fight instead of wishing each other a “Good Morning”.

I could not tolerate my friends fighting with each other. I went close to mediate and sort out the matter. They mostly pay heed to my suggestions and agree to it. The point of concern today was “whose turn is it today?”.  They were fighting to prove their eligibility and claim their individual “right” to hold a position or something. I concluded from their ongoing discussion that it would be the usual chit-chat turned into a heated argument, over who would be the opening batsman in a cricket match that they might have planned after my arrival. I pitched in and suggested “Why don’t you let it be the way it is, let it be Aman !”.

There was a complete silence. All the them started staring me with not so happy expressions on their face. It was clear that there was disagreement with my opinion for  all except Aman. Aman was a good batsman, but a reluctant fielder. He plays as an attacker and does not play defensive most of the time. His performance had always been satisfactory as an opening batsman. I had my reasons justified to select him over others. After their staring, they left me and Aman alone. Ronit, patted on my shoulder and said, “I did not expect it from you. You should be unbiased and fair to all”. Mom was calling our names, so everyone moved downstairs to have breakfast. She is a fabulous cook and her love reflects its sweetness in her everything.

We all were sitting together at the table doing breakfast together but there was not even a single talk. I tried to initiate a normal chit chat but except Aman, no one participated in any discussion with me. It was clear, they did not agree with my opinion and were angry with me. Later everyone except Aman left without saying a “good bye”. I asked Aman, “What was my fault and why everyone was so annoyed with me?”

He smiled and said, “Nothing ! They were angry because you favored me among them.”. Then I asked, “But what was wrong in my suggestion? You had always been a good opening batsman.”

Hearing this, Aman started laughing hysterically and said, “Yeah I am, but they were not talking about cricket. They were fighting over who would be sleeping here with you tonight. And you selected me over all of them.”

It was now clear to me and a big disappointment too how wrong I was. It was also a great learning to know how disastrous could it be to make assumptions, and knowing that “I know everything”.

Aman left with a wide smile on his face and promised to see me later in the evening. After he left, there was another big question looming my mind. In fact, there were too questions. Why the hell they were fighting to sleep with me? And more importantly, how they got an idea that they would be allowed to sleep with me in my bedroom? How this new practice of sleeping in my home, with me, is becoming a routine for them?

I needed to solve these puzzles… ! But I was getting late too… I had to rush to my college to complete my joining (admission) formalities for this session.