Unexpected Guest

"I don't care! You can go to hell." I yelled at the three of them who stood in front of me. I hadn't done anything to deserve this kind of treatment. There was a reason why I was me and why people admired me. These three couldn't just go around destroying me wherever they went. That was not how the world rolled. Specifically, that wasn't how I rolled.

"But, we do care." Love tried explaining, and I shun him. He was useless anyways. All he did was entered people's life and shattered them. If it wasn't for me, those people would have died long back. But then again, when has this world understood those who worked hard to do something? It has always seen those who take credit for everything.

"Listen to me. You can't go around behaving like this. You're damaging us!" Respect tried his best to make me understand what they all meant. But, only I knew what they meant. They all wanted nothing but to destruct me, to kill me, so that they could live peacefully. Who lives peacefully after killing others? Apparently, these three do. Why should I forfeit or give up? What had these three ever done for me?

"One of the main reasons why I never let him around me," Trust said, sitting on the chair and sulking. He had been broken so much these days that the scars could be seen all over his body. For a second, a brief second, I did stare at him with no emotions whatsoever. But then, when I remembered what he had done to me, I geared back and ignored him. He didn't deserve anything, no sympathy or empathy.

"Hey, guys." I heard a voice and everyone except me, turned around to see. I knew who it was. That voice was enough.

"Hey." Trust stood up and walked towards the new guy. They did their fist-shake and hugged each other. They had been best friends for as long as I had known them.

"What brings you here?" Love asked, a little annoyed. Love and he never got along with each other. There were hardly any situations where they stayed together. And why wouldn't they? Each seemed disturbed in the presence of the other. But then, they weren't really enemies as such, and neither were they best of friends. It was somewhere in between.

"Hey, man! How are you doing?" Respect asked him and shook his hand firmly with an encouraging nod. I didn't understand what that guy's problem was. He always seemed to be happy and joyful. That was one of the 1236485792379161 reasons why I disliked him. No wait, dislike would be an easy word. I'd rather say, 'hated' him.

Grimacing at their buddies, I turned away from them.

"So guys, I actually came to invite you all. Since it's my birthday today, I've kept a small celebration at my place. Please do come." I heard a smile in his voice. Now, before you ask how I 'heard' that smile, I'll tell you. That guy is always smiling! Or so, I've heard from people.

I don't really like to increase the number of people I know, I'm the best when left alone. The main reason was the fact that none of them had the power to stand in front of me. I was, is, and will always be the best among us and they're jealous of it. Well, let them be. Who cares?

"Hey Ego, you have to come." I felt a light tap on my shoulder after hearing that. Unable to resist, I turned around to give the guy a piece of my mind. Couldn't he see that I wasn't interested?

"What-" I turned and began shouting, but stopped midway.

The brightness that guy emitted and the aura he held was enough to shut me up for those few seconds. No one had ever shut me up midway, before. His smile was so effective that I felt myself being drawn towards it. No, not in a Romantic way, it was different. The kind of difference that couldn't be explained.

"So, you're coming, right?" He asked once again, at my unresponsiveness.

I didn't reply. Not because I didn't want to, but because I couldn't say no. There was something very weird in that aura which didn't let me say no. And I was sure as hell not saying yes.

Probably sensing my dilemma, he asked everyone politely to leave us alone. I wanted to protest and ask him to leave me alone, but again, I couldn't. Why was he so effective? How did he have the power to confuse me? Where did it come from?

"Hey. I know you're confused. I even know why you are confused. And, I also know how to solve it." He said, taking a seat on the sofa and gesturing me to do the same.

After I sat beside him, he continued, "You know, I've always heard you be a bad person. I was taught that you were the devil, the cause of every negative thing that happens in every relationship. To be frank, I even believed it to some extent. But then, as I heard more and more about you, I realized you weren't wrong. You just felt neglected. You behaved the way you did because you were shunned and thrown out from everywhere.

"Not really your fault. That's how it has been happening for ages. But, today, I want to change that trend. I want people to know that you don't only break relations, you also help them stay together in some way or the other. I can help you get your position with everyone if not above. But, for that, I need your help."

I stared at him for a while, baffled. Did he really mean what he said? He'd give me a position among them all? He'd stop me from feeling neglected? He'd help me live?

But, why would he?

"Your question is clearly written on your face. I'll tell you why I want to do this. I don't want anyone to feel neglected. We were all made for a reason, none of us is made to die. But, when we go beyond our limits, problems begin arising." He explained to me.

"What do I have to do?" I asked him, before letting second thoughts cloud my brain. I could decide whether or not to do what he says after listening to him. I had all those rights.

"Just sit back, relax and observe us. If you stop interrupting our work and step in only when required, people will appreciate you. I'm sure they will. There's a lot I have in mind, but let's begin with the first step. Just try to calm down and relax. Stop yourself from getting up and objecting to everything." He began.

I opened my mouth to interrupt, but he raised his hand, asking me to calm down. For the first time, I complied.

Smiling at me, he continued, "I know it is difficult, probably the most difficult thing you've ever done in life. But then, we need to begin somewhere, don't we? To achieve something in life, we need to give up something. And if the end result is worth it, why not? Just give it a try, maybe you'll succeed." He said, giving me an encouraging pat on my shoulder and his signature smile of his.

Slowly, a smile formed on my face, too. This time, it was a genuine smile. No smirk, no evil grin, no forced smile. A raw and real one.

"Hey, Friendship!" I called out as he was about to step out of the room. Turning behind, he raised his eyebrows in question.

"Happy Birthday!" I said to him, trying to let that smile come up.