Dr. Olivia Smith a senior  Psychiatrist watched as his young man took his seat. He looked well read and fed. Someone who had all the luxury yet he was here. She waited for him to settle and greet her. His body language screamed nervousness, it seemed he knew what he wanted but was something he was scared to ask for.

''Varun!'' She greeted him. Varun gave a nod. ''No family name.''

''That's the only name I need.'' Olivia smiled , the boy must have had a tough time with family. She kept all aside giving him her full attention. ''Tell me Varun, you are here for help. And what's that I can help you with.''

''I broke a heart, years back. I regret it. I am looking for forgiveness , don't know how to get that.''

''Did you try accepting your mistake or speaking to this person.''

Varun rubbed his face letting out a pained breath.  Olivia noticed the slight tremble of his limbs. Varun suffered from sever anxiety. This had to be with someone important. He closed his eyes once. ''She refuses to acknowledge or stay anywhere in my presence.'' 

Olivia thought, that was normal but she also understood that Varun was as broken as the girl he mentioned. She watched he young boy for a moment, he reminded her of her now assistant and colleague Riya. She shook her head,  focusing back on Varun. The shake of his legs, the nervous glint in his eyes and the way he looked at door every now and then. She really wanted to help.

''Varun, before we get into the depth you need to promise that you will be completely honest with me. I need everything, then I will be able to help.'' He nodded. ''Can I see your medication.''

He extended the file and Oliva knew that Varun needed to vent. He was on anti depressant for too long. She closed the file and asked. ''Start from where ever you want to. I want to hear all.''

''I come from a family of very successful people. All are very successful in their fields, I took a detour and became a black-sheep. He huffed, ''I am a musician.'' She smiled giving a nod.

''My dad got me admitted to a prestigious school  and I decided to stretch my wings. My music gained some admirers and friends.''He smiled recalling his other three friends. Olivia scribbled on her pad. ''And then I met her. I took a small job as a guitarist at a local restaurant, and among my audience was she. She never missed a single day I played . She sat in a corner watching me with a smile. After a couple of weeks, I started expecting her and we exchanged smiles. Her presence made me feel like a winner. It was the time I enjoyed lot of female attention but her smile and presence started mattering more.'' Varun recalled those innocent  exchanges , a smile stretched on his lips.  ''She would come in first and leave last, and would cheer for me without fail. I was a star in her eyes and that made me believe  in me''

''we started meeting a places hidden from other eyes. Our hands interlinked and hearts beating in sync. Then it was our first kiss, on a Sunday in the library.  I vowed never to hurt her yet I did.''

There was silence and Varun suddenly broke down shocking Olivia. ''Varun, have some water.'' She gave him the time to compose himself. ''She came from a patriarchal house, her freedom had cost. She needed me that day and I couldn't stand fro her.''

''How old were you?''

''17, old enough to accept the truth but I became selfish. I thought all will pass if I save my neck but it crushed her, destroyed her dreams and changed her into someone who has no hope.''

''What happened Varun?'' Varun shut his eyes as the past and the noise came back in full force.

Varun had borrowed Lakshay's bike , he had plans to spend whole Saturday with Riya somewhere away from prying and judging eyes. They had agreed to meet near at the restaurant he performed to avoid being caught. 

Varun spotted her outside the restaurant, dressed in a flowery calf length, her long thick hair half pinned on the back. Her nervous eyes focused on the floor, her simplicity made him wan to protect her from all. He wanted to hold her in his arms and take her away from the world. He walked to her. ''Hi!''

Riya smiled, ''Hi!'' Varun extended his hand and she placed hers into his nervously. He walked her to his bike and handed her a helmet. ''Where are we going?''

''Trust me.'' She nodded and sat behind him. He drove her around soaking in each others company. In the evening, he took her to the sunset point. The sun was about to set and mist had started filling he sky. ''This is beautiful.'' Riya said staring at the setting sun , her hands on the railing. Varun stepped closer , he placed his arms around her next to hers on the railing. ''You are the most beautiful one Riya. '' she blushed lowering her eyes and he placed a deep kiss on her cheek. Riya could feel her hear burst , using all the energy his her body she turned around and stood facing him. They watched each other for moments before his head dipped and their lips met mid way, their hands still on the railing. Varun felt her unconditional emotions seeping into his body. They broke the kiss and she caressed his cheek. ''I love you and I trust you.''

Varun hugged her tight, now one ever trusted or believed in him and she did. He kissed her again but this ones wasn't soft or innocent, it was desperate and demanding. he wanted to believe that he as well had one person who was just his. They stayed there for few more mins before driving back to the campus. He was happy, he was in love . They continued meeting each other in hiding , unaware that their lives were about to take a wrong turn.

The final term exams were around the corner and all students had been busy. Riya made sure she did her best but also gave the full attention to Varun. He had some bad days when his family would disregard his achievements and he would just sink into depression. But she somehow would pull him up. She would reaffirm her belief in him and he would push himself harder to be better for her. But all was about to change.

***

Riya made her way towards her class, her eyes on the books in her hand. She felt eyes on her and looked around. The students around were staring at her whispering among themselves. She suddenly felt nervous, her feet picked up the pace but eyes and whispers kept following her. Riya ran back to her room scared about worse when Nirali rushed in, ''I told you not to trust that guy.''

''What happened?''

''You don't know?'' Nirali asked. She huffed. ''Riya, there is a picture of you two on he main bulletin board ki.....with a rumour that you are pregnant.'' Riya started trembling like a leaf . ''But its not true''

''Riya, they will call your family , his has already arrive.'' And Riya fainted. She couldn't recall anything after that but when she was back in her senses. She was standing in Dean's office. Her eyes on a the picture of them sharing a passionate kiss. His face wasn't visible but hers was clear. 

''what's the proof that this is my son?'' Vijay Devan asked. The Dean huffed, everyone knows hey are together. 

The shrewd businessman laughed. ''Rumors!'' He gave one disapproving look to Riya. ''My son has a taste. He wouldn't spit on her.'' Riya felt humiliated but more than that she felt burning gaze of her father . If looks could kill, she would have burned to ashes. 

''You are talking about my daughter as if I am invisible.'' Her father retaliated and Riya stumbled all scared. The Dean started a Varun's father disgusted with his unemotional approach towards a girl. ''Riya, the rumours true.''

''Her face is clear in the picture. She must have plotted with her boyfriend to trap my son for his money.'' 

''Mr Dewan, I would suggest to stay quite.'' He scoffed

''Riya, child...pls speak.''

She was too scared to speak but shook her head in negative.

''So the child in her is not my son's she just confirmed. We should be out.''

''Sit Mr Dewan!'' Just then Varun walked in, he looked at his dad and then Riya, she looked so scared that he wanted to just wrap his arms around her.

''Varun, is this you in picture.''

''No, he not.'' His father answered. The Dean looked miffed. The arrogant man was hell bent in destroying an innocent girl. ''I asked Varun.''

''Varun''

''And I have the right to answer for my son. If you guys need money from me, I can pay for this girl's abortion.'' All the while Riya waited for Varun to accept the relationship, to speak in her favour but he stood their mum.

''I am sure this girl would have put that picture up for two minute fame.'' 

''Shut up,'' Her father roared and the room echoed with angry screams. 

''Both of you, shut up.'' Dean turned towards Varun. ''Is that you?''

Varun's eyes went to his father and those held a warning. He swallowed the dryness. ''NO!'' In that moment, amid all screaming , accusations , curses Riya's young heart broke into million pieces. She knew she lost, ''Mam, I made a mistake. Please give me chance , I will make you and this school proud.''

But her acceptance bought a tight slap on her face. ''You will do nothing but come home with me. You have 10 mins to pack and step out.''  Varun knew she was looking at him, but he couldn't bring himself to look at her. 

''You should be ashamed to bring such trash girls in this institute.'' Varun father added. Varun wanted to strangle him. That day, he made his mind up to never go back at Dewan house. He was done.

***

Varun came back to present. ''Varun, you were 17, you couldn't do a thing if you wanted to.''

''I could, I should have accepted it was me. I should have fought for her , stood up for her. but I was selfish, I wanted to secure my education and she shared the burnt. he rumors didn't die, they escalated more. People concluded she was at fault and this is why she was pulled out. I heard all that, the stories of her abortion and what not. I still stayed quite. ''

''who took that picture.''

''I did, without her knowing. But I never leaked it.'' Olivia knew he was speaking about Riya. They both never uttered the name of their partners. 

Olivia kept her note pad aside. ''You are here because Riya works with me. Varun, I am not going to convince her.''

He smiled. ''I had planned to book session with her , but she wouldn't accept me as a patient.''

''Varun, she was in immense pain when she came to me. Don't hide, face her even she rejects her, again and again.''

''I will.''

''And come back when you wan to talk.'' Varun smiled at the older lady. He shook her hand, ''Thanks for helping her.''

''Thank me when you are out of your guilt.''

***

Lakshay smiled hearing a very excited Varun over the phone. ''We will miss you in our shows, but once you are done in London, come back with her.''

''I will''

''Varun is in London!'' Nirali asked, her eyes spitting fire. ''I will let Riya know.''

Lakshay snatched the phone breaking it into two. ''No, you won' do any such thing. You haven't , but we have seem that guy suffering for years. He is alive just for her forgiveness, and now when he is this close, no one will spoil it.''

''You just care for his pain, what about her. he...''

''He was a 17 year old boy , a child himself. He made a mistake, he had been regretting that. What difference would have made in Riya's father's decision if he would have accepted the relationship. He would still have dragged her back and Varun's life would have been is shreds because of his father. He was a child, a boy'' Lakshay stared at his stubborn wife, his words still had no effect on him.

''Nirali, you as well broke me for years. If you try and break them , this..'' he pointed between them and added. ''This ends as well. You love your friend, and I love mine.'' Nirali stood dumb found watching the retreating back of her husband.

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