A heart is a tender dream of love.

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I remember the day when I was in California and the sea was calling me. I went to feel it, I left everything in the process so that I could get a glimpse of it and make my shrinking heart a captivating one.

Those tall trees and sandy air was waving my mind and before I knew I fall asleep at the nearby bench.

The next day I got up I found myself in  Alisha's room. She was looking at me as I was an alien.

"How could you fall asleep on the bench all alone, Julia?" She looked tense,

But who brought me here?

"Who???"

I asked in a low voice.

"It was Neel,"

"Julia, look at you, you are going to marry in three days, darling," Alisha finally came to witness the most important event of my life.

She looked at Arnav for a second," you sure love him, right?"

And I looked at him. Arnav was still there, all the relatives were applying haldi to him.

He was happy, though he was a little engrossed with his cell phone all the time. And why not he?? He is a famous businessman after all! Man of words.

"Yes, I think so!" I whispered.

"You think so???" She hasn't changed, she knows me very well.

Should I tell her that I saw Sarah here??? Or I met her? Of course, I will not go into detail.

"Alisha, you remember Sarah?"

"How can I forget that bitch!!" Her face became red, she was very angry even saying her name. Does she do something to her too after I left???

She didn't say anything! We never talked about what had happened in California or our lives there. The past was so dreadful for me to remember but I should have asked her what happened after I left.

"After I left, did she do something?" I raised my eyebrows.

"Listen, Julia, you don't have to think about her, she is a bitch and she got what she deserved, let us discuss about you," but before I could force to ask. The music started playing.

Everyone was already in the mood to celebrate the ceremony, Arnav came to me asked my hand for a round of and I couldn't say no to him.

Slow music started playing in the background. Everyone started shouting again in the manner of enthusiasm. Dance! Dance! Dance!

He took hold of my waist, intertwined his fingers with mine and pulled me closer to him until our chest collided again. The strong fragrance hits my nostrils.

He then closely came closer to me and whispered into my ears making a shiver down through my spine, as he was about kiss my earlobe.

For heaven's sake, what is he doing ahead of everyone?

"In the next two days, I will make you mine, Julia," something flashed in his eyes, his eyes became more in dark colour.

Was it lust?

What is love?

What was it?

I don't know but I didn't feel right about it.

His thumb started stroking my lower lip and maybe in the next moment, he was about to kiss me, on the lips, which will not be alright in any condition!

"Brother, some people are asking about you," I heard a familiar voice which made my nerves calm down.

And then Arnav left excusing himself.
But I was too late to realise. Neel was right there, extending his hand, of course, I will decline his offer.

"Dearest Julia, will you please give me the honour,"

"Huh?"

He took my hand and placed his other hand on my waist.

Maybe I should ask him what had happened after I left California. He will tell me and it would not be hard to spill the truth from him!

"Neel?" I looked up at him, I hesitated for a moment remembering about last night, but I have to know about it then this is the only way! Amish will never tell me anything, she doesn't want to talk about Sarah!

And if I directly ask Neel about her then he might feel I am still into him! Which I am not in any case especially after last night outburst!

"Yes, ask me whatever you want?" His eyes showed a change of shade for a second, as his eyes were twinkling from affection.

"What happened after I left California? "

The air around us stopped, and the crowd was gone, we were alone there looking into the eyes of each other.

I wanted him to tell me what I was asking, but he remains silent, his eyes were more of a storm now, a challenging one.

How can he do this?

Change the thought process of people every time.

"Why did you ask?" His jaw was clenched. His forehead had lines. He looks mad.

Does something mournful happen there while I was in India??

"Tell me, Neel, I need to know! " I whispered again, this time it was barely audible.

What could have happened there?

"Why are you asking? There is no need to do so, you have already decided your mind," and with that, he was gone.

Why no one is telling me the truth!

What is wrong with everyone!

and where is Neel going I cannot let him go without telling me everything.

"Julia, where are you going?"

"Coming ma! It's urgent, " I need to find him now!

I went inside, looked for him, asked everyone about him but no one was able to give me an answer.

I went upstairs, to check all the rooms if I could find even a glimpse of him, but I was wrong! There was no sign of him!

Where is he???

Did he leave???

I came downstairs and searched for him again, but didn't even find a clue but then an old lady told me she saw a guy wearing sunglasses leaving the home with a bag in his hands.

Oh my God!

He cannot possibly go without telling me the truth!

I cannot ask Alisha!

What should I do now?

"Are you looking for Neel?" I saw Jessica walking towards me, she was as beautiful as she was before.

"Yes! Have you seen him?"

"He left!!"

"Left?? Where did he go??" I asked him, my pulse was going up and down, my heartbeat was too fast, I could faint at any moment.

What they are hiding from me?

Did he leave to go with Sarah!

She must be having her delivery today, after all, he is the father of her child.

But why it is pinching me?
Why I cannot simply accept that he is not a man what I assumed he would be!
Sarah is a vulture as always, but something very tragic has happened five years ago which no one is telling me.

Does Jessica knows about it???

Should I ask her??

Maybe she could resolve all my questions and give me a light on my problems.

"Jessica? Does something happen when I left California?" I asked her in a shruggy voice, I was hyperventilating now.

"What do you mean??"
She raised her eyebrows while crossing her hands over her chest.

"When I slapped Neel, does something happen after that????? "
I was hesitant to say this, she is his sister! How would she feel when I say that I slapped her brother ahead of everyone five years back.

"I have no idea what are you talking about? But you seriously slapped him???"

She was astonished by my sudden confession and I nodded my bead in the matter of confirmation.

"Oh boy! Well five years back, he was a jerk, so he deserves that!"

"So you mean to say he is not a jerk
now!"

I uttered, what I was talking about making no sense to me!

She looked at my eyes, calculated something and then she didn't say which was not usual at all, instead, she started walking away, and when she was about to get out from my view she looked back at me.

"You know all the answers, Julia, you have Neel's heart just go through it!"

With that, she walked away.

What does she mean by I know everything?

What does she mean by I have his heart??

Why her words are not clear!

He is a great writer, and a writer's heart lives into his writing!

Oh shit!!!

That letter!

I need to find it now!

I clutched my lehnga from one hand and catches railing from the other, I was running to the upstairs.

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What happened five years back which Julia doesn't know about?

What will she find in that letter?

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