~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Ben~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The pain of letting her go was killing me from inside. I couldn't move as I saw her slipping away from me and move out of my room. I wanted to stop her, tell her how much I love her. I could even beg her to stay but all of it would no meaning until she doesnt realise that she loves me too. I know she does. Hell! I know she loves me too.

"Benny! Baby are you alright?", Grandma said entering my room. She placed the tray on a side and came near me.

"Yes, granny I am fine. I am sorry, she ...er... Some urgent work came up, so she had to leave", I said rubbing the back of my head.

Grandma held my hands and said, "come sit", and I stood in front of her as she sat on the bed. "Benny, you don't need to lie to me. I am sorry, but I heard your conversation."

To know that she knows opened up my heart and I cried like a baby with my head buried in her lap. She didn't say anything but kept stroking my hair.

"Grandma I have to go", I said standing up, ready to leave.

She clearly didn't want me to leave so soon, but being the caring grandma she is, she said, " Ok Benny. But please take care of yourself. Don't do anything stupid."

"I won't grandma", I said and kissed her goodbye.

                  ***************

I checked my phone once again, no call or message from her. Forget about her Ben, she doesn't care about you.
I was so heartbroken that I could feel my heart burning. This pain was new to me. I didn't even realised how and when I started loving her so much. I hardly know her. You are stupid Ben. Stupid!

Beep beep.. beep beep..

My phone's sound brought me out of my thoughts. It was Sam.

"Hello"

"Hi Ben, where are you? I need to meet you."

"I wanted to see you too. Where have you been Sam? Your room has been locked from past three days."

"I know. I am sorry I couldn't tell you when I left. Anyway let's meet. I'll tell you everything."

"Will your obnoxious boyfriend will be with you?"

"My what?"

"Sam, I know you are seeing your boss. And I really don't have any problem with that. But I don't want to meet you in his presence."

"Er... How do you?... I .. mean who told you?"

"That's not important. Anyway, tell me where and when are you meeting me?"

"Er.. I am coming home in one hour. So, we can meet then."

"Alright. I am waiting", I said and cut the call. I knew that I was being a bit rude to Sam. It was not her fault. I was heartbroken because of me. But her boyfriend reminded me of the first time I saw Julianne. She was with him and I could see that he was not nice with her. I can't see my girl upset and he made her very upset that day.

............

"Ben, I told you I am sorry. But please tell me how you got to know about us?" Sam was still thinking that I was upset because she didn't tell me about her and Oliver.

"You are my best friend Sam. Atleast that is what I thought. You think if you won't tell me something so important about you, I won't come to know!"

"No, but...", Ok let it be. "But there is more to the story. Actually, er... I have moved in with Oliver."

"What? Are you crazy? Don't you think you are being a little rushed?"

"I know. But he took me to his mom and his mom doesn't like me and she is going to test me in one month, so I have to be ready by then, and there is so less time so I thought it was better if I stayed with him."

"Ok stop. Are you kidding me? What test? Bloody hell. What does his mom thinks you are? Her employee, or a candidate amongst others who she is going to choose to be his son's slave forever? I can't believe you agreed to this bullshit! I mean what were you thinking? And your boyfriend, he agreed too. So, that means if you fail her test then he'll leave you."

Sam didn't say anything and just stood in front of me with her gaze focussed on the carpet below.

"Sam, answer me. What kind of love is this?", I asked again holding her shoulders.

She didn't say anything yet. I placed my thumb under her chin and lifted her face up and saw silent tears pouring down her cheeks, which were now bright red with all the tension building.

I wiped her tears and wrapped in my arms. "Hey, Sam don't cry. I am sorry I was being too harsh."

"No, you are right. What you said is correct. I shouldn't have agreed to this test thing. But I love him. I really really love him and I wanted to do this for him. I know I am being stupid, but I love him stupidly." Her words struck me hard. She was right. We do stupid things when we are in love. I myself was being stupid in Julianne's love.

"I understand Sam. But why didn't Oliver say anything to his mom?"

"He did. But he loves his mom too and he thinks she'll start liking me eventually when she'll realise that Oliver is serious about me. He thinks I can pass her test."

"But still if things didn't work out as planned then?"

"Still I know that he loves me too and he won't let me go."

"How are you so sure?"

"I just am. I know he loves me a lot. Now I know." Her words again let me think. She could feel his love in the same way I could feel that Julianne had feelings for me too. I didn't ask anymore questions.

"Alright. I am with you. But still I hate him. He is too arrogant."

"No, he won't be anymore."

"How do you know? Did he tell you? Does he know that you have come here today?"

"I told him that I am going home to pick some of my things. And he was rude to you because he was insecure. Now he knows that I love him too so he won't be jealous of you."

"Jealous of me. You mean he thought that we...?"

"Yes. But please don't mention all this when you meet him again."

"I have no interest in meeting him again."

"Ben"

"Sammy"

"Anyway, you tell me. Where were you busy all these days. You didn't call or text me, so clearly you didn't miss me?"

"Er... I was busy at work"

"Busy. At work. Really? Don't lie Ben it was weekend. You are definitely hiding something."

"I am not hiding anything."

She gave me that Sherlock Holmes' gaze she gives, whenever she smells something fishy. "Don't tell me you went to see Julianne."

Hearing her name made me restless and I turned around avoiding Sam's eyes and poured some coffee in my cup.

"Ok so you did meet her. Tell me what happened?"

"Are you mad. Why would I go and see her", I said taking a sip from my cup.

"Ben, was she rude to you? Actually she might be upset because of what happened."

"What happened?", I had no idea what Sam was talking about, but I sensed it was something big.

"Well actually, Oliver's mom wanted her and Oliver to get married. Infact she came to New York to meet him. They were supposed to get engaged, but then Oliver confessed his love to me that day when we went for dinner and she saw us. Although it was nobody's fault but she was hurt."

"Nobody's fault. Stop taking your boyfriend's side for once Sammy. If he didn't love why did he agree for engagement?"

"That's a long story and it involves some personal reasons which Oliver had. He just couldn't say no to his parents."

"Really? Does he really care for anyone else's feelings other than his own?"

"Why are you getting so hyper? Nothing was ever there between them. It was an arranged thing. He didn't love her. His only fault is that he was not courageous enough to reject Julianne."

"Reject Julianne! Who does he think he is, Alexander the great?"

"You love her. Oh my god, you love Julianne."

"Yes, I love her. I love her very much and I can't tolerate anyone upsetting her."

"I can understand buddy. But you should be thankful to Oliver. Imagine if he had agreed for the marriage", she said flickering her eyebrows with a smile.

"True. Tell him I forgive him."

"Forgive him, really! Benny you are dead now", she said picking up the pillow from her bed and I picked up the other one ready to fight back.

She banged the pillow over my head and ran across the room and I charged at her holding the pillow up. She climbed up the bed screaming and I followed her. I did not give her a chance to defend and hit her hard with the pillow and her feet got entangled in the blanket below and she lost her balance. I tried to save her but being on the edge of the bed myself I  lost my balance too and fell on her with my face landing directly on hers and her front door swinged open the next moment. We both moved our heads towards the door and there stood Oliver giving us a death glare.

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Hi guys! Happy Halloween ☠👻

So, how was this chapter? Sorry for updating so late.

Keep smiling!