Voice Of You

Sunlight escaped through the closed curtains and fell across his room. Reyan stared at the spot where it landed, his eyes refusing to open fully. For some reason, he couldn't bring himself to turn his head and look at the someone already standing in his doorway.

Bruno was running across the room, somehow full of energy. Bruno held the ball between his teeth, his nail tapped against the tiles as he walked towards reyan and jumped on mattres beside him. Bruno dropped the ball onto his chest, his tongue sticking out as he panted softly. He waited beside the bed, looking at Reyan with the patient expectation of someone who believed the game would continue. His tail wagged against the mattress occasionally brushing Reyan's leg.

Reyan looked at Bruno for a second. He wanted to grab the ball and throw it, but he just couldn’t bring himself to do it. His shoulders and neck felt stiff, as though he had been holding tension there for hours.

The door swung open. Neil's shoes tapped against the tiles in a familiar clip-clop rhythm. “You're awake.” He held a paper bag in one hand.

His eyes drifted around Reyan's bedroom surrounded by reyan. The room was huge but the unmade bed, the clothes scattered near the chair, and the curtains still drawn made him sigh. It was not his first time to see that, He had saw that many times and this time there were no any changes.

“Reyan, it’s already afternoon.”

The curtain whispered on the rod, letting the strip of afternoon light spread across the floor as the neil pushed them on side. Sunlight flooded the room, making Reyan turn his face away.

“Close them,” Reyan's voice was hoarse as if he didn't speak for quiet a time.

Neil glanced at him. “You’ve had them closed since yesterday.”

“Neil,” The warning in his voice was weak, almost swallowed by tiredness. Neil didn’t argue. He only opened the window slightly before turning toward Bruno, who was still sitting beside Reyan with the patience.

“Come here.”

Bruno immediately ran toward him. Neil took the ball and threw it across the room. Bruno chased after it, his nails tapping against the floor.

Reyan watched Neil and bruno for a moment before closing his eyes again.

A hand grabbd his amr gently pulling up,"Reyan! Get up!" Neil called out. But his voice was distant in his ears. Reyan lifted his hand, and trying te free his arm from grip. The blanket brushed against his body as Neil sat him up. Reyan dropped his shoulders, "What?" He narrowed his eyes to Neil.

"Get some fresh air."

"I'm already getting fresh air." The harsh light began to sting in his eyes. He tried leaning back towards the mattress, but Neil stopped him.

Reyan's gaze drifted toward the piano near the window as Neil sat him up.

A thin layer of dust covered its surface. Then his eyes moved to the acoustic guitar resting against the wall. Once, he could spend hours there without noticing the time. Now, both instruments seemed like things that belonged to someone else.

His gaze shifted again, toward the shelf above the television. The trophies from his college days stood there, catching the faint sunlight slipping through the curtains. He remembered winning them. The applause. The excitement. The way he had held one of them with both hands, smiling until his cheeks hurt.

The memory came and went without leaving much behind. Reyan stood up slowly and pushed open the bedroom door. He was about to step out when his eyes drifted toward the small table beside the piano. A framed photograph rested there. His attetion lingered on it more than he intended before he picked up the frame and lowered it facedown on the table.

“Reyan?” Neil called again.

“Coming.”

He moved toward the living room, each step dragging as though he had to convince himself to take the next one. he raised his hand infront of his eyes, covering them from the light coming through the glass door of balcony.

The old maid, seeta who worked at his house since he was teenager, was already in the living room, wiping the floor, "Morning Reyan sir."

"Morning aunty." He muttered, corner of his lips lift upwards but barely reached his eyes. "How did you come?"

"I met Neil sir on road then we both came here together," Seeta replied, containing that sweet warmth in her voice. She leaned the wiper on the wall and walked toward kitchen counter, wiping her hands on her apron.

"Oh."

The legs of chair scraped against the floor as reyan pulled the chair back. Later, sat down on it. He lowered his head onto the table.

"Here's your breakfast," Seeta placed the plate infront of him. The smell of freshly cooked porridge coming made him sit up straight.

Reyan picked up his fork, cut the corner of omelet, and took a bite. His eyes drifted towards kitchen counter where Neil stood there talking with Seeta, while she washed the dishes, placing them beside the sink. Water dripping under the dish stand, making the counter wet.

Reyan moved his attention to eating but his attention was no longer on eating, It was on the argument he had last nigh with his producer, Ajay Malhotra.

Last night, at the studio...

"I'm not asking much!" Ajay tried to explain himself as he stood from the chair scratching against the floor as he pushed it back.

"Then what excatly do you want?" Reyan clenched the wired mic in his hand, preparing himself to be calm.

"I just want you to write the next hit song," Ajay yanked the bunch of papers on table with a sharp sound. "The fans are waiting."

"I don't want write just because someone is waiting," reyan raised his voice. "And I don't feel like writing right now."

"Again this!" Ajay threw his hand in air and turned away, facing his back toward Reyan. "I didn't feel like it." A dry, sarcastic laugh escaped his throat, "just say you don't want to write anymore and that your popularity is getting to your mind."

"Ajay, that's enough!" Reyan threw the mic across the room, hitting on wall with loud sound. Wire tangled around itself in own as it lands on the floor.

For a moment, silence settled over the room. The crew watched both of them, uncertain of what would happen next. They had seen these arguments many times before, disagreements over several topics. Nothing felt new to them. Some raised their eyebrows in concern, while others simply thought Reyan was being rude. Other just don't want to listen that.

Ajay glared at a young boy standing near the door. The boy quickly moved towards mic and set it on table with soft thud but it kept rolling off as he tried to place it again.

"You all are useless," Ajay snapped at him. "You can't even put a goddamn mic on its place."

The sound of a plate cracking snapped Reyan back to the present. The pieces of broken plate were scattered across the floor.

"Sorry, Reyan sir." Seeta glanced at him, then down at the shattered plate. She crouched down to gather the pieced, but Neil quickly joined her, carefully collecting the shards before throwing them into dustbin under counter, "It won't happen again." Seeta stood up.

"I have plenty of them," Reyan smiled at her, reassuringly and gulped down some water. "Don't worry, it's not your fault."

Seeta smiled and returned to her work.

After a moment, Neil walked over reyan who was still finishing his breakfast.

"Reyan..."

"Hmm," he replied without looking up from his plate. Then he pushed chair back and walked over to the kitchen, and placed the plates in the sink. He twisted the tap, washed his hand before turning it off.

"In the case you forgot..." Neil rubbed his hands together "We have to attend show today."

"Again?" Reyan turns towards him, smiling. He leaned back against the kitchen counter. "Didn't we attend the show few days ago?"

'Yeah. I know." Neil couldn't bring himself to look at reyan directly.

"What if I rejected it right now?" Reyan chuckled, then wrapped an arm around Neil’s shoulders. Neil paused, caught off guard by the sudden closeness.

"I'll... inform them that you are unavailable." Neil muttered, lowering his eyes on ground.

"Then do it." Reyan brushed off the fake dust from Neil's shoulder. His lips pressed into thin line forming a smile before he walked into his bedroom.

Soon, bedroom door swung open as the reyan walked through it. Neil was holding phone onto his ears talking someone on phone. Reyan heard the faint voice, "Sorry, he is not feeling well today." Reyan shifted his attention to drawer beside the door then he pulled drawer open and grabbed the keys from it.

He turned towards Neil who was already ended the call.

"Lets go." He tossed the keys at Neil while Neil caugh then effortlessly. "Wow! That's a goal!" Reyan laughed, he walked towards the main door without waiting for the his answer

"You're going outside like this?" Neil pointed at his outfit, black shorts, a white hoodie and messy hairs.

Reyan pushed his hairs back, "Yeah, it's comfortable."

"Bye aunty!" Reyan called out to seeta as he headed for the exit.

Neil followed him without askingwhere he wanted to go. He had learned that sometimes Reyan didn’t need a destination. He only needed to get out of the house. Bruno immediately followed both of them and walked beside Reyan.

Reyan jogged down the stairs, skipping the last four steps and landing on the ground with a leap. He turned back to see Neil holding Bruno's leash loosely making sure Bruno doesn't get hurt on his neck.

The moment Bruno stepped out into the sunlight, his thick golden fur glowed warmly. His floppy ears bounced as he ran toward Reyan, his feathered tail wagging behind him.

"Ready for a walk, Bruno?" Reyan took the leash from Neil and headed towards main gate.

"Reyan!" Neil called out.

Reyan turns back, "Yeah?"

"What am I supposed to do with these?" Neil held up the car keys. "I thought we are going in car."

"Oh, right!" Reyan laughed, turning towards parked black sedan.

Moment later, Neil pulled car onto the main road. Reyan sat in the front passenger seat while bruno sat on his lap, sticking his head out of the car window. His fur blew backwards, standing straight up.

Stopping at red light, Neil rested his elbow on the door frame. Reyan looked out the window, absentmindedly, stroking bruno's head.

Outside a roadside tea stall, two friends stood shoulder to shoulder, laughing over something on one of their phones. A little farther away, a mother adjusted her son’s crooked backpack while he pouted about being late for tuition. A couple sat near the window of a café, sharing a plate of fries. One of them stole the last piece, and the other immediately protested.

Reyan watched them second longer than he intended.

“What happened?” Neil leaned forward trying to see Reyan's face.

“Nothing.” Reyan looked ahead, but the corner of his mouth remained slightly lifted.

After a brief silence, reyan shifted in his seat, sending bruno on back seat. "Let's head to the studio," Reyan leaned against the seat, pushing it slightly inclined.

"Reyan, you don't have to—"

"I know," Reyan closed his eyes and remained leaned his head back. "I just want to talk to Ajay."

"You sure?" Neil raised his eyebrows as if he wants to reasure that he heard the right words.

"Do I look unsure?" Reyan opened eyes before closing.

"Okay," Neil changed the lane and pulled car on way of studio.

After a moment, car stopped infront of the studio. Reyan stepped out of the car before Neil could open the door. Neil locked the vehicle and followed him inside. As they crossed the reception area, Reyan noticed a familiar face near one of the recording rooms, "Armaan?"

The singer turned around, his face lightens up immediately, "Reyan? What are you doing here?"

"Visiting my workplace."

"You could've called!" Armaan smiled, bringing him into brief hug.

When they caught up, Neil watched them for moment before locking towards the studio room, Ajay was standing near the console, talking to someone beside him.

"I'll catch up with you," Neil glanced at him.

Reyan immediately handed him a leash and waved him off, "Go ahead, I'll join you in minutes."

Neil walked into the control room with Bruno following right behind him. Ajay looked up and waved.

"Where's Reyan?" Ajay leaned against the desk and folded his arms.

"Talking to Armaan." Neil sighed, taking the a seat on the leather sofa. His expression dropped as he remembered the sound of his raised voice. He could still hear it clearly. The frustration he had never seen before on Reyan's face the way he saw yesterday.

Bruno sat beside Neil's knee, his leash hanging loosely from his hand. Ajay crouched down to greet him, and Bruno immediately began wagging his tail.

“And who’s this?”

“Bruno.”

Bruno sniffed Ajay’s hand, then looked up at him with bright, expectant eyes as he already declared Ajay his new best friend.

“He seems friendly.”

“He thinks everyone is his friend.”

Bruno’s tail wagged harder, as though he had just confirmed it, panting softly. Footsteps echoed down the hallway another artist stopped to greet Reyan.

"How's he doing now?" Ajay’s smiled faded slighlt as he looked towards the door.

Neil's expression softened, "better than before, I think."

"You think?"

"He's talking more, joking around. Sometimes he even laughs at his own terrible jokes."

Ajay's lips twitched into faint smile, "That bad, huh?"

"Worse," neil paused before continuing. "We can consider that progress." Neil lifted his head and looked towards ajay who was alreay looking down the hallway.

"Good," Ajay nodded slowly, unfolded his arms before shoving them into pockets. "Then maybe he just needs a small push."

Neil tensed, almost about to stand up, "Ajay, you know he's not ready—"

"I'm not asking him to finish an album tomorrow," Ajay’s voice softened. "I just want him to start again."

"Ajay..."

"If he can joke, he can write too." Ajay insisted as he spotted Reyan walking down the hall toward them. "We just need to guide him back."

Neil sighed, lowering his eyes, "Fine, but don't push him too hard or microphone..."

Ajay chuckled, "I'll be careful."

Door swung open, and Reyan stepped inside. His eyes immediately landing on Ajay. He glanced at him before looking away. Reyan shoved his hand into his pockets, "Okay. But I need time."

Ajay nodded "Take a time. Just don't disappear on me." He pointed towards the recording booth with smirk, "and microphones are expensive."

Reyan offered a faint smile, "I know."

"Otherwise..the next one is coming out of your payment."

"I could buy you hundreds of them right now."

"No, thank you. I'd rather you stop throwing them," Ajay waved him off.

Sky appeared yellow orange as sun began to sunk. Soon, Reyan and Neil walked off the studio. Before Neil could even walked to car, Reyan suddenly stopped him, "I need some air."

Without waiting for Neil's response, Reyan turned towards the exit gate of parking lot, leaving bruno with neil, he watched Reyan's back as he disappeared behind the turn. By the time, Reyan was walking on a pavement. The streets were crowded with people making their way home, cars trapped in traffic, and umbrellas moving between them. Some shielding themselves head with a bag.

The water splashed against his shoes as he moved forward, lowering his head. He pulled his hood over his head and pulled the mask over his mouth.

Within minutes, the drizzle turned into steady rain. Raindrops hit his face as he ran towards the shelter. The most of the shops were already closed for the night. A glimpse of light caught his eye at the end of street. A tiny café breathing under the rain. The raindrops tapping against its winndows.

The bell above the door jingled softly as he slipped inside.

"Hey—Sorry, We're closing," the girl in the white apron said, setting the stack of plates on a table.

The sound of a tap on the table comes from behind the counter. Both girls exchanged a glance.

"Okay, fine." Waiter girl said.

Reyan said "Thanks." wiping the raindrops from his face.

The sound of rain faded behind him. A sweet smell lingered in air. He pulled out a chair and sat down.

"What would you like ?" Waiter girl asked.

"Black coffee and chocolate pastry" he said in one breath.

"Okay, please wait."

His eyes drifted around the café, the walls, empty wooden chairs, the displays of pastry on wall. He relaxed his posture and shifted slightly in his chair.

For the first time that evening, he wasn't in a hurry. His wet clothes clung to him. He pushed his hood back. His hair fell over his eyes.

Warmth spread through the café as the girl behind the counter turned on the heater and directed it toward him. He looked up at the counter, girls offered a faint smile. He smiled back before looking outside through the window.

His eyes settles on the only other people there. The girl behind the counter was writing something in her notebook, focused, with a gentle smile tugged on her lips. The other girl tried to peek into her notebook while making his coffee. The two of them seemed to be having a conversation without actually speaking.

The girl placed the coffee mug and pastry on tray and walked over to his table, "Here are your coffee and pastry."

Reyan nodded and reached for the coffee mug.

The warmth spread across his fingers as the aroma of coffee filled in the air. He took a sip before placing the mug back. He picked up his spoon and took a bite of pastry. A sweet taste filled his mouth, and before he could even think, the pastry was gone.

His phone buzzed in his pocket. His eyebrows pull together as the name flashed across the screen:

Neil Arora calling......

He put the phone on silent and set it on the table with small thud. He didn't want to reminded of how the today had gone for him. At least not now.

Reyan glanced towards the window. The rain hadn't stopped yet. He exhaled sharply, unlocked his phone, and dialed the neil back

Within one ring, Neil picked up. "

Sir, where are you? We are looking for you.

"

"I'm at café at the end of street near studio. Reyan held th phone onto his ear"

"

Okay, sir. I'll come pick you up

."

Reyan ended the call, rubbed his forehead, and finished his coffee in a few quick sips. The mug made a soft thud as he placed it down. Ring of coffee remained on the plate.

After a few minutes, a black sedan stopped in front of café, Neil rushed inside, catching his breath, spotting Reyan in the corner looking out the window.

Neil let out a relieved breath and stepped toward Reyan. Reyan stood, hands in pocket, he pulled the hood back on his head, "Let's go."

As Reyan walked out, Neil reached the counter, handled the bill before following the Reyan. Neil opened the back door for him. Reyan took a quick glance at café then at board

Little Oven Café

, before sliding inside.

The car pulled away and the cafè disappeared behind the road.

Reyan rested his head against the cold glass. The heater warmed the car, yet somehow his mind returned to the warmth of the café, the warmth he'd felt long after the day he wanted to escape was over.