Dedicated to : MoronLia

Thank you for dropping such lovely comments on the book.♥️

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Nia's POV

Our final exams had started and everyone in the group was so stressed. I was trying to concentrate on my studies but it wasn't easy with the state my mind was in.

Whenever I immersed myself in books his face popped up in my mind. I tried to block all the emotions i felt towards him.

Our eyes met across the examination hall once. I caught him staring at me but i pretended to not not notice him and looked away. However i couldn't stop the emotional turmoil inside me.

He had come to visit me before exams. But i refused to meet him. I was scared if i even looked at him for more than a minute my resolve would break down like some house of cards.

I was really worried when i heard Mayank's angry voice that evening as he was about to beat the life out of Aaruj. Fortunately Veena Aunty was there and she controlled the situation very well.

I hated that i was still worried about his well being so much when he had crushed my heart and threw the pieces back at my face so ruthlessly.

I didn't want him to know that he still affected me so much. That my stupid heart still waited for him to show up everyday in the exam hall.

Love was a dangerous thing. On good days the things that made you stronger could turn against you on the bad ones.

I was done with my last paper today so I waited for my gang to show up in the cafeteria. Suddenly my phone started ringing. It was Mom.

I answered the call and was about to tell her about how my paper was but her words stopped me.

"Nia your dad is going to pick you up. You are coming home."She informed.

"What?What did i do?"I asked her and then realised how stupid this question was.

"Nia it's about Sulekha Atya."She answered. I could hear a little crack in her voice.

"Mom what happened to her?Is she okay?"I was now worried as heck.

"She is not well and she keeps asking for you."Mom informed her voice was laced with sadness now.

"Mom she will be okay right?"I asked trying to keep my voice normal.

"She will be."Mom promised.

I got call from Dad on waiting. So i ended the current one after saying bye to Mom.

"Hello Dad."I said picking up the call.

"I am waiting outside your college gate."He informed and ended the call.

I rushed towards the college gate. On my way I ran into someone i knew.

"Hi Nia."Kairav greeted.

He looked guilty and was about to speak something but i couldn't keep dad waiting.

"Sorry i can't talk right now."I said as i kept glancing at the college gate.

Dad was waiting in his car impatiently. He hadn't noticed me yet.

"You look worried. What happened?"He asked noticing my restlessness.

"It's a family emergency. I gotta go."I said and turned on my heels.

I got inside the car.

"Didn't your Mom call you ahead informing that i was going to pick you up. What took you so long?"He was in a foul mood.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. I ran into someone I know."I said after taking the seat next to him.

We left college premise and were soon on our way to Pune.

"How's Sulekha Aatya?"I asked.

He was quite for a while but then he finally spoke."Doctor said she doesn't have much time."

I knew he was worried and i wanted to give him a tight hug but we never did such things. He was always so guarded up against me.

"When was she admitted to the hospital?"I asked.

"Last week."He replied.

"Why didn't you guys tell me before?"I demanded.

"What was use of telling you when you had exams going on? You wouldn't have been able to come anyway. She is being treated by the best doctors in Pune."He said tersly eyeing the road ahead of us.

He gave all facts when all i wanted was to hear only something along the line of Don't worry Kiddo.

But they would never come from him ever.

I moved my attention to skyscrapers that passed by and soon i dosed off.

When i woke up i noticed we were on Mumbai-Pune highway.

Dad stopped the car at some restaurant.

"We will stop here. Eat something or your mom won't let me live it down."He said parking the car in the area reserved for vehicles that visited the restaurants.

We ate in silence and continued our journey.

Soon we reached Pune. But instead of going home we directly headed to the hospital.

I was lead by Dad to the room Aatya Aaji was admitted into.

I entered inside and met with mom.
She came running towards me and we hugged each other. She kissed my forhead. We were meeting each other after so many months. I wish it was some happy occasion not something so sad.

Dad excused himself as he was called outside by the doctor.

"Alis ka bhetayla mla(Have you come to meet me)?"Aatya Aaji spoke in a frail voice grabbing our attention.

I decided i was not going to cry but it was hard to keep the tears at bay in this situation.

"When did you wake up Sulekha Aatya?"Mom said rushing towards side of the bed.

"Just now. I heard her voice and instantly woke up."She said trying to point her finger but couldn't.

She looked so weak that it broke my heart.

"Don't worry Aatya Aaji you will be fine."I said closing the distance between us. I said those words to myself than to her.

"I am old, girl. I don't have much time on me."She said making my eyes moist up. Looking her like these in the web of wires on a life support made my heart bleed.

"Don't speak like that. I won't talk to you ever if you do. You have lots and lots of time."I warned her wiping the tears.

"Will you fulfill my one wish?"She asked smiling at me.

"Don't tell me to get married. You know we don't get along well on that topic."I joked as i tried to wipe the tears furiously now.

She laughed weakly then held onto my hand."Not that silly. I want you to study hard and be a successful woman who would change prejudiced mind of the oldies like me."

I kissed her knuckles and promised her."I will."

"But you getting married wouldn't be a bad thing either."She suggested and I shot her a fake glare.

And we laughed and cried at same time.

"How's Bakula?"I asked.

"She is getting lazy day by day."She complained as usual earning a chuckle from me in return.

That night Bakula's owner breathed her last.

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Aaruj's POV

My last paper was geography. I sprang out of my seat as soon as the examination ended.

I rushed to the biology examination hall. It was her last paper.

I met Jay instead as he came out of the classroom.

"Hey what are you doing here?"Jay asked.

"Waiting for her. Is she still in?"I asked.

"You missed her. She left few minutes ago."He informed.

I was about to sprint when Warren joined us."Guys I am sorry i shouldn't have done what i did. I am really sorry."

"Wow. Do you think we would believe after being tricked twice. You know how you hurt so many people because of your actions. You are the reason why Nia hates him and I would never be able to apologise to Sasha and her for all those hurtful things i did to them. They wouldn't believe any of my words."Jay spoke angrily.

"I will confess what i did in front of them too If you want. Look i thought i would feel great after getting my revenge but all i feel is guilty."He said looking at his feet.

"We are not going to believe anything that comes from you mouth."Jay said crossing his arms.

We both were about to leave when he said those words.

"Nia saw you and Vishakha kissing."

"What?"I asked stopping in my tracks.

"I lead her to you guys. It was all Vishakha's plan."He revealed, his head hung low.

"Why would Vishakha do that?"Jay asked him.

"She is obsessed with Aaruj and she wanted to separate him from Nia. She also created a misunderstanding between them by showing Aaruj that picture she had clicked at the gig. It wasn't what it looked like. She made one of her minions spill drink on Nia's dress purposely and when Kairav was helping her she clicked the picture and edited it a bit."His revelations were mind boggling.

"Why don't i know anything about it?I was there too."Jay thought stressing on his memory.

"You were at the bar."Warren reminded him with a smirk and then tried keeping a serious face.

"Ohhh."was all Jay could say in return.

"Vishakha isn't a bad person though. She had been through a lot lately."I tried to justify her actions even when i shouldn't have.

She has definitely crossed the line this time.

"Like what?"Jay asked me.

"Her parents are going through divorce."I revealed.

"Don't tell me you bought that divorce story."Warren said in disbelief.

"Her parents are very much together. In fact Vishakha and her parents are going on a Europe trip to celebrate her parents' eighteenth marriage anniversary. She told me herself yesterday."he added.

"What if she doesn't want anyone to know about the divorce? And she is pretending all is well so that no one knows about the trouble in paradise. Divorce make kids act crazy."Jay put forth his theory mostly based upon his own experience.

"I am gonna confront her anyway."I said firmly.

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I was looking for Vishakha when I saw Nia's friends.

They were having a serious discussion about something. Kairav stood in the middle while the others gathered around him.

Where is Nia?

I was more worried as i noticed Pranjal calling someone frantically.

I approached them. They all looked at me when they noticed my presence.

"What do you want Rathore?"Sasha asked shooting me a glare.

"Where is Nia?"I asked her.

"It's none of your business okay. Just leave please. We are already so stressed."She said.

"Are you able to reach her?"Zeenat asked Pranjal.

"Not yet.Network issue."He informed.

"Just tell me if she is okay. Darn it."I yelled at them as i ran out of patience.

They all were surprised with the change in my demeanor.

"We don't know."Zeenat answered.

Kairav decided to speak finally."I ran into her near the college gate.

She was in a hurry. She looked so upset. I wanted to talk but she refused and told me it was some family emergency. Then i saw her getting into a car with a man."

I was panicking after hearing the story.

"Do you have Mayank's number? May be he knows something about the whole situation."I suggested while trying to be hopeful for my own sake.

"Oh yeah."Pranjal said and got on the phone immediately.

Mayank answered the call and they talked for a while.

I was growing impatient by the passing minute. Finally Pranjal hung up.

We all waited for him to speak.

"That was her Dad and Nia is on her way to Pune."He spilled the beans.

"Pune?"I spoke louder than i should have.

"Her Dad's Aunt is in a critical condition."He added.

"Oh."Zeenat said.

"She will come back right?"Erjot asked.

"What do you mean?"Sasha asked shooting her a confused look.

"I mean her exams are over as is. She might just stay in Pune."She replied to Sasha.

"Don't know. I just wanted to meet her before she left."Sasha wished as sadness took over her features.

Me too.

I really wanted to reach out to her. I couldn't bear the separation any longer.

I don't believe in faith anymore but if i did i would have definitely thought it was against us.

"Do you have her home address of Pune?"I asked Sasha.

"Are you crazy? You want her to get in trouble with her Dad. Don't create any more problems for her."Sasha warned me.

"She is right. Just wait. Till she comes back."Pranjal advised.

I am so tired of waiting.

"Sasha i am really sorry for what i did."Kairav apologised.

What is he apologising for?

"It's okay. I forgive you cause you were genuinely worried for Nia today. Thanks for letting us know about her."She said and soon left with others.

Now only two of us were remaining.

I was about to leave when he called my name stopping me in my tracks.

"Aaruj she really loves you."He said.

I turned around to look at him."I don't know if she still loves me after what i did."

I was having a heart to heart with Kairav of all the people in the world.

What is it?A sign of an apocalypse?

"She always did. Still does. I love her. I am not going to deny it but i have realised that her happiness only lies with you. Don't let any Vishakha Warren or Kairav make you think otherwise."He gave me a weak smile.

"Vishakha. The name keeps popping up in every conversation I am having today."I said shaking my head.

"She is obsessed with you man."He said giving me a devilish smile.

"So i have been told."I was getting tired of her crazy obsession.

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I decided to meet Vishakha at her Dad's pub.

She was already there when I entered inside.  She waved her hand gesturing me to join her at one of the tables.

She had looked so happy upon noticing my presence.

I am afraid that's going to change.

"Hi babe."She said hugging me and i returned the gesture.

"I still can't believe you are here."She said getting overexcited.

"Me too."I replied.

"What do you mean?"She looked confused.

"I mean I can't believe i had feelings for you all this while and I wasted my time with Nia. I met her today and she just refused to even talk to me. I mean c'mon man i made a mistake but i can't be punished for it this long. Then i realised how fool i was to fall for her. I wasted my time on her when i had someone like you waiting for me."I said giving her a sweet smile.

"Oh Aaruj i have waited for you so long."She said batting her eyelashes.

"Sorry it took me so long."I apologised and pretended to smile.

"It's okay. Don't they say better late than never. I am happy that you have finally realised your worth."She said placing her hand on mine.

"Hey is that your dad?"I said pointing at the guy who was speaking to a staff in the pub but i already know who he was.

She nodded in response.

"Oh! I am going to talk to him to not divorce your mom. I can't see you in distress anymore. I have to convince him for your sake."I said firmly.

She panicked and it was so evident. She immediately shook her head."Don't go. He wouldn't like his family business being discussed like this by an outsider."

"I don't care if he doesn't like it. But because of him you are going through so much. I don't like to see you getting those anxiety attacks. You got one on the night of Prom too right."I said feigning concern.

I had started getting some snippets from the prom night where Vishakha was talking about having an anxiety attack on the middle of the dance floor.

She looked like a deer caught in headlights when i mentioned her anxiety attack.

She is definitely hiding something.

I knew half of it and i was going to unravel the rest too.

I got up from my chair and started approching her father.

"I lied about the divorce okay."She accepted finally holding me by my elbow.

I tuned around to face her.

"I knew. I just wanted to make sure. Now will you tell me what exactly happened at the party?"I demanded crossing my arms.

She started narrating the whole night. How she and Warren planned to subotage Jay's introduction video. How Warren spiked Jay's drink and locked him inside the bathroom. She then told me how she faked that anxiety attack while we were dancing and got us alone in the lounge area upstairs. She had spiked the juice the waiter had brought us upstairs. She had insisted that I drink it too. I did and then i started losing consciousness. She kissed me to make Nia believe we were having an affair.

"Why did you do it?"I asked feeling disgusted.

"I love you Aaruj."She claimed.

"If you loved me you wouldn't have hurt me the way you did. You knew how i loved her and what she meant to me still you played your little games to separate us. I really wish one day you would finally realise what real love is and i wish you could share it with someone who reciprocates your feelings.

Because i am not that person Vishakha. I never was."I said and left her to own devices.

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A/N:Vote and comment.

Sulekha Aatya was a cool character to write about. I became so emotional when i wrote those last lines in Nia's POV. The moments from her first appearance in the book came all rushing back to me.

Life is unpredictable people so live and love while you can.♥️

-daydreamero9