Hey guys! Sorry for the late update. I had my finals going on. I have kept this chapter a little short, the masala will start from chapter 7! I hope you like it!

EDITED

CHAPTER 6: Clarity

"What the hell has gotten into you, Aarav?" I shouted. The whole smoking incident had got my blood boiling.

"What are you talking about?"

"I saw you smoke, Aarav." I whispered.

"Y-you what? W-when?" he stammered.

"In Corner House on Saturday night. How long have you been doing this?" I asked, tears threatening to spill out.

"Since a few weeks. I only smoke a few per day, I promise."

"How can you expect me to believe you? After all that we have been through, you choose to let me down like this? You have failed me, Aarav. Do I mean so less to you?-"

"Avni, I can explain. You have no idea of the stress that I have been going through lately."

"WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN SO STRESSFUL THAT YOU RESORTED TO SMOKING?" I shouted.

He had nothing to say to me. I guess this was it. This had to be the breaking point in our relationship. I think even he knew it.

"It feels to me like you have another life that you have conveniently hidden from me. What else do I not know about you?"

"Avni I-"

"You know what? I don't even care anymore. You did what you had to do. Now I will do what I need to. I can't even look at you, right now. Please go. Don't ever come back to me.

He tried to say something but I held my hand to his face to silence him.

"In the past two years, you have done so many things which I have overlooked for the sake of our relationship. But I think enough is enough. I am all out on chances. And you know how I feel about smoking, Aarav, but you still haven't bothered telling me about it. I'm done. I'm done."

"Avni please give me another chance-" He said holding on to my elbow.

"No. I'm done. We're done. I want to break up. I should have done this a long time ago. I cannot be trapped in this lie anymore!" I replied.

And with that, I turned on my heel and walked away from him. I could feel it in my heart that this was the right decision. Our relationship was over long ago. I just didn't understand why I was holding on to him for so long.

The weirdest part was, I wasn't crying. Not a tear. I was numb.

With a straight face, I dialed Bhavna's number.

"Hello?"

"Bhavu, It's all over."

"What happened?"

"Aarav." I whispered, knowing she might have figured out the rest.

"I'm coming home." She said and hung up.

As soon as I reached home, I successfully managed to tune my entire family out and quietly dragged my body to my room.

Then- BLANK.

I must have gone into a hibernation mode, because when I gained my senses back, sunlight was streaming through my window, blinding my eye.

It felt like I woke up from the dead.

I slowly got up to see Bhavna and Adi perched on the edge of my bed.

"She's alive!" Adi exclaimed.

"How are you?" Bhavna asked.

"How do you expect me to be?" I asked her.

"I'll give you guys a few minutes." Adi said and walked out.

"Avnu, are you okay?"

"I broke up with him." I said.

"WHAT? Oh shit!" she exclaimed.

"Yep. My sentiments exactly."

"What're you going to do now?"

"How can I be with someone who I know nothing about? I felt like I was trapped in his lies. Like, even if he was jumping in front of me, telling the truth, I still wouldn't believe him. I don't trust him in the slightest."

"I'm proud of you, Avnu. You aren't taking shit from anyone, and that's amazing." She said, holding my face in her palms.

*

You have one new message.

Vihaan: Hey Avni! Are you free?

Me: Yes! What's up?

Vihaan: I was thinking we could have some Pani Puri?

Me: Sounds good! See you in ten. :)

The evening was uncharacteristically cool. Vihaan and I were slowly walking towards the Pani Puri guy, in complete silence.

"Uh, what have you been up to lately?" I asked, in a desperate attempt to make conversation.

"Nothing much. Just very busy with work."

"Do you have some new project or something?"

"You could say that. I'm designing a new home, just for me."

"That's great! Where are you planning to live?"

"Indranagar. Enough about me. What has kept Avni so busy, that she couldn't text me?"

"The boyfriend."

"What about him?"

"I broke up with him."

"Oh shit, I'm sorry Avni."

"Why is everyone acting like someone died? It's okay Vihaan. I am a big girl. I will get over it." I said.

"Did he hurt you?" Vihaan asked.

"No. I know a lost cause when I see one. Ee topic saaku. Let's talk about something else." I said.

"I had a lot of fun with you on Sunday, Avni. We should do that more often."

"Yeah totally! But next time, I will try to make a lesser fool of myself." I giggled.

"You were just too cute, kane." Vihaan laughed.

"Cute? Am I some stuffed toy or a puppy?" I asked.

"No no! Not like that! I mean, your whole heel incident was, uh, you know..." He said.

"Thank you for successfully making me feel like a two year old, Vihaan." I said, pouting.

"Hey come on. Sorry. I just couldn't resist." He said pulling my cheeks.

I looked up, and saw him grinning widely, his brown eyes twinkling.

Wow, this guy really knew how to lighten my mood, I thought.

The evening was lovely. Vihaan forced me to have three plates of Pani Puri and after that, I felt like a water balloon.

"Avni, if you are in trouble na, call me. I will save you." He said, sounding like a 6 year old superhero.

"Okay, Superman." I said, chuckling.

"I mean, if you ever need my help, I'm just a call away okay?" he said, this time, a little more seriously.

"What will you do, fight the Gundas?" I asked playfully.

"You don't think I'm capable of it?" he asked showing me his biceps.

"Alright, alright!" I laughed. "I shall call you Superman, if I ever find myself in trouble."

"Good. I'll see you soon then." He said, as we reached my home.

"Yes, you most definitely will. I had a great time, Vihaan. Thank you so much."

"Hey, no problem. I had as much of a good time as you did." He smiled.

"Do you want to come in? I bet Ajji is dying to see you." I asked.

"I would love to, but not today."

"Eh, why not?" I asked, punching his shoulder.

"I have some work to do, I'm so sorry. You know how I love Ajji." He said, sarcastically.

"Hey, Ajji is awesome, okay?" I said. "It's okay, bidu. Good night!" I said cheerfully.

"Come here." He said and pulled me into a hug. I rested my head on his chest and he held me there very tightly. At that instant, I felt very secure and safe in his arms.

"Good night, Avni." He said and kissed me on the cheek and walked away without looking back.

I stood there, dumbfounded. My hand involuntarily moved to my cheek and touched the place where he kissed me. I watched him walk under the massive canopy of trees, the darkness of their shadow slowly covering him.

And that's when I thought, maybe the break up with Aarav wasn't such a bad thing after all.