A short story-2

The Dawning of Truth

He felt ashamed. Not in the worst of his dreams did Dev imagine that he could drink. He was the kind of guy who got people that drink pissed off so easily by giving them all sorts of advice and ridiculing them when they failed to listen. He was arrogant, they thought. But he believed he was doing the right thing and strongly believed that
drinking should be totally banned. After all, it had no positives, he reckoned.

Prakash was cleaning up Dev's vomit. They were roommates for 2 years now. Prakash remembered the day when Dev vehemently refused to let him store one beer bottle for one night in their refrigerator.
"Bring that bottle in and i am out of this apartment. I dont give a damn as to what kind of lease i break", Dev had said.
Prakash knew he had no choice there. The bottle was out and Dev had won the bout, which was never really there.

Dev was beginning to get back to his senses. His head still ached a little. He had drunk 8 bottles of beer and a couple of vodkas, all in his first ever attempt at drinking. It was the seventh time he vomitted that night which was being cleaned then...
Dev was crying now. Prakash walked up to him and put an arm around Dev's shoulder.
"I am sorry for what i did Prakash", he mumbled.
"It's ok. I understand why you did what you did. You never really had a choice", Prakash was feeling sorry that Dev broke up with Shweta.

Dev had dumped Shweta earlier that day. They had been seeing each other for over a year now.
"I dont have the courage to tell my parents, Shweta", Dev had said with tears in his eyes.
"I can talk to them Dev. Don't worry. Am sure they'll like me", she had tried her best to be convincing.
"No Shweta. It's not worth it. I cant put them through all this just to make our love successful".
The words had hit Shweta like a spear. There was tears in her eyes then.
"So our love means nothing to you? Why did you have to tell me your love in the first place then?", she had asked.
"It does mean a lot to me. I can never forget you. But my parents are more important to me, Shweta. I am sorry", he had left without saying another word, tears flowing down his cheeks.
She had not stopped him.

Prakash's arm was still around Dev's shoulder.
"I am not sorry that i broke up with her, but i am sorry that i did not let you store that beer bottle for one night. I never gave you a choice. I love Shweta a lot, but my parents wont give me a choice. Now i know what it is like to be left without a choice, Prakash. I am sorry", Dev was crying like a child.
Prakash patted his friend.
"Do you realize that you never gave Shweta a choice today when you broke up with her? If you are really sorry about not giving people a choice, you should go back to her and give her the choice she deserves", Prakash said.

The first rays of dawn came rushing in through the windows...truth had dawned.