Hey you guys! This chapter is dedicated to my homie Avvishi who is unargubly awesomesauce! Thanks for the amazing idea, Bob! :D Plus, a quick shoutout to Sahana Bhat (who is so talented) for the amazing new Banner for my story! Thanks a million Sahana! :*

CHAPTER 14: Let Me Go

“AVNIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!” I heard my mum scream from the front garden about 20 minutes after Vihaan left.

The date, for the lack of better words, sucked (at least for me). BIG TIME. I was a disaster in the kitchen, and I had made a complete fool of myself in front of Vihaan. All that had happened in the last 2 hours had already managed to drive me insane. I knew just how to deal with it, so that was a plus side.

“Ajji,” I said, knocking on her door. She was lying down on her bed, fanning herself.

“Baa Avnu,” She invited, “This heat is killing me! I think the Gods must have kept Bangalore over a stove or something!” She said dramatically.

“Ajji, I want to ask you something,” I whispered. When I had her attention I continued, “Can you teach me how to cook?” I blurted.

“Teach you to cook? But why?” She asked with a puzzled expression.

“I am a disgrace to cooking Ajji. I just want to learn enough to keep Vi- I mean, keep me from starving.” I stammered. PHEW! That was close.

“But why will you starve? You have three full meals a day, na?” I think she was mocking me.

“Eh, Ajji, will you teach me or not?” I asked getting her drift.

“I will putta! But not today, okay? Me, you and Asha have to go out in the evening okay?”

“Huh? But where?”

“Hasn’t Asha told you? Go ask her the details,” She said, shooing me away.

I then found out that Ajji, Ma and I were invited to Ma’s friend’s house for supper. Who this friend was, I don’t know. But I have never been the person to say no to food, so I was more than happy to tag along.

At 6 pm, I had dawned on a pink salwar kameez (according to my mother’s strict instructions) and left my hair loose.

“Avni, your hair looks like a bird’s nest! Tie it up!” Ma hissed. She had something to say about everything.

“Asha, leave the child alone! She looks fine!” Ajji said.

“Ma, today she will listen to me. Tie it up!”

Before this could lead to one of their nonsensical bickers, I tied my hair into a loose braid.

“Happy?” I asked sarcastically.

We reached Ma’s friend Veena Aunty’s house in ten minutes. As soon as she saw us, she jumped up and ran to greet us.

“Ashaaaaaaaaaaa! So nice of you to make it!” Veena Aunty squealed.

Ten minutes into this supper, I was already bored out of my mind.

“My son Prathik is late today. You see, he is very busy at his work,” Veena Aunty said looking very sad.

“Oho, is it? What is it that he does, Veena?” Ajji asked.

“He is an investment banker,”

“Wow, Investment banker,” Ajji whispered to me, “Did you hear that, Avni?”

“Oh, I heard her alright, Ajji,” I hissed back.

Another twenty minutes into this supper, I had heard enough of praises for this Prathik person, not only from Veena aunty, but from Ma and Ajji. After the overload, I excused myself and was happily walking around in the terrace, when somebody tapped my shoulder from the back.

“Squooz me, Avni?”

“Hm?” I turned. GAH! A tall man, who looked like one of those guys from tacky gym posters looked at me all dewy eyed.

“I am Prathik. Huv are yoo?” He asked with a squeaky voice.

THIS WAS THE GREAT PRATHIK?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

“Hi Prathik,” I tried my best to control myself from laughing at his face. “Nice to meet you,”

“My mudder had told that yoo ver coming today. She had also told me that yoo were, uh” He stammered, “very nice to look at.” He said, blushing like a little girl.

“Er, thanks Prathik. That is very sweet of you,” I said muffling my giggle.

“My mudder also said me-” a hysterical giggle escaped from me at his English, “That you were looking for a husband?” He asked, genuinely curious. “I was so happy to know that I was your first option”

“Oh is it?” I asked. Gosh, I was so ready to kill Ma and Ajji.

“You see, Avni,” He continued, “I will take very good care of you, okay? You will not have to work after uver marrej, becaaz I make enough for ten people in this house!” he said very proudly.

“Prathik-”

“Yes, Avni?” He looked at me with large eyes.

“Er, your offer sounds good. But I am so sorry, I will have to decline,” I said, literally dying from controlling my laughter.

“But why, Avni? We vil be very verrrrrrry happy together!” He said.

“On the contrary, we are very different people, and I think our marriage won’t be a very happy one,” I said, trying to make him see sense.

“We vil go to Svizzerland, Paris, where ever you want!” He said quite desperately.

“I’m sure. But I don’t think I can make you happy!” I said, raising both my hands in frustration.

He didn’t seem to understand what I was saying.

“Look, Prathik, I don’t think I am the right match for you. I’m very sorry. I hope you find someone soon. All the best.” I said and made my way downstairs as I covered my mouth with my dupatta to hide my giggle.

Ajji and Ma looked very comfortable in their chattering, but got up once they spotted me.

“Veena, Avni’s back. We will take leave,” Ma said.

“Avni, you met my son?” Veena aunty asked.

“Oh yes, Aunty. He is very sweet,” I replied very sarcastically.

I caught Veena aunty giving my mum an assured look, to which my mum smiled back.

“Prathik is very accomplished, na Avni?” Ajji asked once we were home.

Once I briefed my dad about whatever happened, “What are you two up to?” I asked Ajji.

“Nothing! Veena wanted to meet you, so we took you along!” Ajji said very innocently.

“Prathik proposed to me! And honestly, if you two are trying to set me up with such strange men, I’m sorry, I’m not interested!” I shouted.

“Avnu, they were just trying to humor Veena, let it go,” Dad said, looking very amused.

“Why should we let it go, Avnu? We want to see you happy and settled. Is there anything wrong with that?” Ma asked.

“Avnu, we have two more nice boys we want you to meet okay?” Ajji said nonchalantly. I can’t believe everybody were playing a role in Mission Throw-Avni-Out-Of-The-House!

“No no no! I don’t want to be a part of this!” I huffed.

“And why is that Avni?” Ajji asked, urging me to spill.

“BECAUSEI’MINLOVEWITHSOMEONEELSE!” I blurted without thinking.

I swear, if anybody needed a filter for their mouth, it would be me. I was bound to spill the beans one day or another.

“Aha! Finally she tells us!” Ajji exclaimed, “Who is this person, may we know Avnu?”

“Um,” I muttered, looking at Dad. Dad gave an approving nod to me, which meant that it was time to tell them about Vihaan.

“I’m in love with Vihaan,” I said, closing my eyes.

I could hear Ajji howl with excitement along with my mother, who sounded equally excited.

“Finally you tell us! We have been dying to hear you say it!” Ma exclaimed.

“Did Avni just say that she was in love with Vihaan? Vihaan?! This is such new news!” Amrita exclaimed, her words dripping with sarcasm.

By this time, the fuss created by Ma and Ajji had made everybody come downstairs and I was turned into the subject of bullying for the rest of the night.

*********

You Have 1 New Message

Vihaan? Are you free today?

Me: Who is this?

Unknown: You forgot me so easily?

Me:  Er, sorry.

Unknown: It’s Khushi, fool.

Khushi? Why the hell is she reaching out to me now? I remember very clearly, not too long ago, us agreeing to never see each other, or contact each other ever again.

Me: What do you want Khushi?

Khushi: I want to meet you.

Me: I’m busy sorry.

Khushi: Please Vihaan. It’s important.

Me: Whatever you want to say, you can tell me over the phone.

Khushi: Vihaan, don’t be so stubborn. Please. Just for half an hour.

Khushi was and is one of the most stubborn people on this planet. Figuring that there was no way that she’d let me be, I had to agree so we could just get over with it.

Me: Fine. 6:30 at MG Road Boulevard? Don’t be late, because I will not wait for you.

Khushi: Ok hotshot. See you ;D

What the hell did she want from me now? I still remember the day she came up to me and ended our relationship. Just like that, in a heartbeat. She made it all look so easy. She gave up me for some rich guy in Dubai.

At 6 pm, without putting much effort, I got ready and made my way to MG Road Boulevard. She was already there. She hadn’t changed much since the last time I saw her. Tall, breathtakingly beautiful (like a femme fetale), with long straight hair, glowing skin and the biggest eyes I had ever seen.

Whatever it is, however beautiful she might be, I realized that breaking things off with her was the best decision I had made in my life. Why? Because it led me to find the love of my life. Nobody in this world could ever match to the love I have for Avni Kashyap.

Once I got to her, she turned around to face me while her hair flew around crazily.

“Vihaan! So good to see you!” She exclaimed and before I knew it, she draped her thin arms around me and gave me a tight hug. My arms were awkwardly by my side, since I had no intention of hugging her back.

“Aren’t you happy to see me?” She asked.

“Er, hi.” I mumbled, “What did you want to meet me for, Khushi?”

“It’s been a while, hasn’t it? I missed you, Vihaan,”

“I know very well that you wouldn’t have called me here if you didn’t need something from me. So, out with it,” I said chuckling at her.

She looked straight into my eyes and muttered the one word I didn’t want to here, “You.”

“What?!” I shouted. “What happened to Mr. Dubai?”

“It didn’t work out. I love you, Vihaan.”

“What the hell? Khushi are you crazy?” I said, not able to think straight.

“Why not? Don’t you love me?” She asked, getting teary eyed.

“Oh please. Wipe those tears away! I’m not a toy. And what did you think? That I’d sit in my house and wish upon stars for you to come back to me? I moved the hell on!” I bellowed.

“I don’t believe you,” she whispered.

“I’m sorry that you don’t.” I said and removed my phone to show her a photo of Avni and I. It was my wallpaper.

“I guarantee that it won’t last. Come back to me, Vihaan. We can have a future.”

“She is my future, Khushi.”

“She doesn’t love you as much as I do!”

“You’re right. She doesn’t. She loves me more than you could ever imagine. And you know what the best part is? I love her ten times more than that. She is my life. I’m going to go now. Please don’t try contacting me ever again.”

With that, I turned my back on her and walked away from her hopefully forever.

“Hello Avni?” I called Avni to explain to her all that had happened.

Strangely, all I could hear from the other end was heavy breathing. After about 10 seconds, the line cut.

*********

“AVNI!” I heard my dad shout in the evening. He sounded angry.

I ran downstairs to see what he was on about.

“Come with me now. Asha, you too,”

We went to the terrace in a hurry. Dad looked like he was ready to kill someone.

“I was driving back from work today and was passing MG Road. There was a signal at the Boulevard and you won’t believe what I saw.”

“Anand, is everything okay?” Ma asked, getting tensed.

“I saw Vihaan with some girl. Now, don’t think I am some 18th century man who has a problem with guys being with girls. I am telling you this Avni, because this girl was hugging him and was all over him.”

“No...” I whispered.

“Anand, what are you saying?” Ma whispered.

“I was shocked, Avnu. I don’t know what to make of it but to me, it didn’t look good.”

“Appa, he is not like that.” I said.

“Avni, I don’t want you to see this boy anymore!” Ma shouted.

“Asha, calm down. We can talk to the boy and see what his side of the story is.” Dad said.

“Amma, please!” I shouted as tears automatically flowed down my cheeks.

“Whatever happens, Ajji cannot know. She will get a heart attack.” Dad said.

“Avni, if you value my words, you are not to see this boy any more. Do you understand me?” Ma said. Her eyes were wide and red.

“Okay, Ma,”

“Avni, come with me. I need to talk just to you,” Dad said and took me to my room.

He sat me down and took my hand in his.

“Dad, Vihaan is not like this,” I said, not able to control my tears.

“I don’t know, putta. They didn’t look like ‘just friends’ to me. She was all over him!”

“He is not like Aarav.” I could barely hear my own voice.

“More than anything, I was so disappointed when I saw him. I really thought he was a nice man.”

I was not ready to believe him. But what can I do? My parents want the best for me. When they tell me that something isn’t right, more often than not, they are always right.

What was I supposed to do? I loved Vihaan than my own life and things had finally started looking good. Am I a jinx? Can I not have even a single shot at happiness?

Was Vihaan just like Aarav after all?

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

CLIFFHANGER! Woooot! I hope you guys liked this chapter! If you did, you know what to do! Vote and Comment, of course! :D

I hope I kept up to your expectations!

Much love! Until next time, A!