*Aslesha*

"No no no no no".

"Please please please please please".

"No".

"Please".

"Arre kya jabardasti hai!"

"Please Neel. Tumhe Maya ki kasam!" I say pleadingly.

His mouth falls open.

He had told me about Maya a few days back. I felt really bad for him and that girl. I had almost started crying hearing her story. I wish she was still here with us.

Now I'm sitting with Neel in my bedroom. Today at college I told him to come to my house in the evening without telling anybody.

"Tumhe mai Maya ki baat isliye nahi bataya ke tum usse baad me mere hi against use karo. And she's already dead" he says standing up and pacing around my room.

"Please Chaddha" I whine.

"Shut up Aslesha! Mai ja ke bata raha hu Veer ko. You can't do something like that to him".

"Ye mai uski bhalaai ke liye kar rahi hu" I explain.

"Isme kisi ki bhi bhalaai nahi hai Aslesha. Tumhe brain tumor hai! Brain tumor! He's your boyfriend. You love him. He loves you. He deserves to know!" He says as his voice raises again.

"Don't you want to see him play for the world cup? Don't you want to see him lead the Indian cricket team?" I ask.

"Not at your stake. And I'm sure vo bhi yahi karega. Tum uske liye jyada important ho" he says.

"I know. Yahi toh problem hai. Mai nahi chahti ke vo mere saath yaha ruke. I want him to play".

"That's not your decision to make. Vo jo chaahe vo karega" he says pacing around with more speed now.

"Think it as my last wish" I say which makes him stop in his tracks. He turns to look at me and sighs.

"You are not going to die" he states firmly.

"Ha toh fir problem kya hai? Mera jab operation ho jaayega aur uska world cup bhi, tab usse bata dungi na. Tab vo samajh jaayega aur mujhe maaf kar dega" I say hopefully so that he understands.

He puts his head in his hands and groans.

"Tum ye sahi nahi kar rahi ho Aslesha. Viraj mujhe kabhi maaf nahi Karega. I- I can't. Sorry I just can't" he says and stands up.

"Meri last wish samajh ke kar lo please" I say again.

"Aslesha!" He scolds.

"Please".

"Tum marne nahi wali ho. It's all gonna be okay" he says.

"Please" I say again.

"Fine!" He says raising his hands in surrender and I smile weakly.

"Thank you Neel" I say sincerely and hug him. He hugs me back awkwardly.

"Toh sab plan ke hisaab se ho jaayega na?" I ask.

"Ha. I hope I don't die in tomorrow's party. Viraj is going to kill me" he says shaking his head.

I hope I don't die too.

Not tomorrow. Not ever.

"Mai tumhe bachaa lungi" I tell him.

"Mai chalta hu. Kal ke party ki tayyari bhi karni hai" he says and gets up to leave.

I walk with him outside and close the door. My head has started paining again. Ugh.

After having food, I take the medicines and lie down on my bed.

Today my reports were out. My tumor is located in the Broca's area, which is the speech part of the brain. After the operation, I might have difficulty in speaking and speech therapy might be required but lets see. It all depends on the surgery.

I sigh and close my eyes. Sleeping feels good nowadays. An escape from reality. Because right now, the reality is dreadful.

~•~•~•~•~•~•

*Viraj*

I enter the class and instantly my eyes fall on her. She's sitting on our regular bench with her her chin rested on her fist as she copies some notes.

She's so freaking beautiful. I love her face when she's concentrating hard on something. Actually I love her face anyhow.

I love her. All of her. Simple.

"Hey paglu" I say as I slide on the seat beside her and kiss her cheek.

"Hey" she says lightly touching her cheek where I kissed her.

The fact that she doesn't love me keeps bugging me. I mean, I know that I'm not really a person with whom you can fall easily in love with but I'm ready to give her the world, do anything for her. I can keep her so happy.

But I won't force myself upon her obviously. Pyaar ke baare me jyada nahi pata but itna pata hai ke you can't force someone to love you. It just happens. Like it happened to me.

She can take her time. I'll wait for her. Vo meri girlfriend hai yahi badi baat hai filhaal.

"Tum kya likh rahi ho?" I ask her.

"Literature ke chapter 19 ke notes" she answers, her eyes still fixed on her book and her hand scribbling down the points.

"Ek minute ek minute, vo chapter sikhaa bhi diya?" I ask her. I mean I don't concentrate much in class but itna toh mujhe bhi pata hai ke konsa portion khatam hua hai aur konsa nahi.

"Nahi vo aage ka portion hai. Mai tumhe batana bhul gayi ek baat" she says keeping the pen between the book and closing it.

"Mai kal shaam ko mere ek cousin ke shadi me ja rahi hu Surat. Do hafto ke liye. So kal se mai college nahi aaungi" she says.

"Kya? Kal hi. Agle hafte mujhe bhi Mumbai jaana hai aur fir humara tour shuru hoga. You won't be there to say goodbye to me on the airport?" I whine sounding like a little child but right now I don't care.

Kyu ja rahi hai? I wanted to spend the next few days with her because fir mai yaha hu hi nahi do mahino ke liye.

"Jaana padega Viraj" she says softly.

I sigh. "Fine. Waise Neel aaj party throw kar raha hai uske ghar pe. Tumhe jaana hai?" I ask.

Her face lights up. "Neel? Ha ha jaate hai na" she says.

"Tumhe ghar pe rukna hai toh vo bhi thik hai. We can stay home and cuddle" I say leaning towards her and softly brushing her hair with my fingers.

"Nahi party me jaate hai" she says excitedly. A little too excitedly.

That is unexpected. Anyway, as long as she's with me mai kahi bhi time spend kar lunga.

"Cool then. I'll pick you up around 8?" I ask her. She nods and then our friends enter the class and so does the teacher.

~•~•~•~•~•~•

I put on my blue shirt and spray some cologne and look at myself in the mirror. Aslesha loves this shirt. Kehti hai isme meri aankhe uth ke dikhti hai. She has complimented my eyes a lot of times. I don't like them much. They make me look like my dad. And I don't want anything in me that relates to him. My daadi had blue eyes. She was from new Zealand and married my daadu who was an Indian.

Anyway.

I wear my white shoes and don't bother to comb my hair because it's getting late.

I call Aslesha.

"Hello Aashi I'm coming to pick you up in 10 minutes, tum ready ho na?" I ask as soon as she picks up.

"Nahi" she says.

"Arre jaldi ready ho jaao hum late ho jaayenge. Chalo chhodo mai aake tumhe taiyyar karta hu" I say with a smirk.

"Mai already Neel ke ghar aa gayi hu" she says and my smile fades away.

"But we were supposed to go together" I say.

Kya yaar.

"Mai Neel ki help karne aa gayi" she says.

"Mujhe kyu nahi bola vo kameena. Mai bhi aa jaata na" I say a little angrily.

"Nahi it was just us ghar pe" she says and I frown as I start feeling jealousy rise up inside me.

It's just Neel. Bhai hai vo mera. And Aslesha. Mai bhi kya faaltu me gussa kar raha hu.

I sigh. "Okay okay mai bass aa raha hu 15 minutes me" I say.

"Neel! Chhodo na" she giggles on the other line.

I clutch my phone tightly to my ear. What the fuck.

"Aslesha?"

"Ha ha tum aa jaao Viraj" she giggles again and I hear Neel say something in the background but I don't grasp it.

"Asle-"

"Ok bye" she says and hangs up.

I look at the phone for a few moments. What the fuck was that?

I shake my head to clear my thoughts. Kuch jyada hi sochte rehta hu mai. I sigh and take my bike keys and leave.

People have just started arriving at Neel's house when I reach his place. I enter and start looking for Aslesha. Kaha gayi ye? Neel bhi kahi dikh nahi raha.

Vo dono...

"Hey Veer!" Tej comes towards me and slaps my back offering me a drink. "Nahi bhai thanks. Tune Aslesha ko dekha kya?" I ask him.

"Shee shee shee. Lattu ho gaya hai tu pura. Aate hi Aslesha Aslesha" he says mocking me.

"Dekha hai kya?" I ask him again a little sternly and he frowns.

"Chaddha ke saath dekha tha yahi par. Ab kaha gaye pata nahi" he says and walks away.

Faaltu me ispe gussa kiya. Control yourself Viraj. Itna kyu irritate ho raha hu mai.

Fucking hell! I'm just getting a feeling that something's not right. Intuitions.

I see Saumya eating chips and switching on the music player. I'll ask her.

"Saumya" I say going next to her. "Aslesha ko kahi dekha kya?" I ask her.

"Upar gayi thi terrace pe Neel ke saath" she says and I frown and nod.

I walk up the stairs as my heart starts pounding in my chest. What the hell is wrong with me. Itna over react kyu kar raha hu mai?

"Aslesha please ab tum bata do Viraj ko" I hear Neel's voice when I reach up and stop.

Kya batana hai mujhe?

"I know but I'm his girlfriend. Ye sahi nahi hai".

That's Aslesha. I can recognise her voice anytime.

Why am I being sneaky like this and overhearing their conversation. But I can't help it. Baat mere baare me chal rahi hai. Aisi kya baat hai jo terrace pe aake akele kar rahe hai.

"But you're obviously not happy with him" he says.

"Yes. Jab se ye world cup ki baat nikli hai tab se mujhe time hi nahi de paata vo. Bass cricket cricket" she says and my eyes go wide as she says those words.

How can she say something like that. I always try my best to give her as much time as possible.

"Upar se now he confessed his love for me. Ab toh aur mushkil hai" she says.

Kya mushkil hai?

"But you love me Aslesha. And I love you. Usse ye baat samajhni padegi" Neel says and it's like my heart stops beating.

Did he just.. did he..?

"Of course I love you" I hear Aslesha say it back to him and I feel like somebody pierced a thousand needles in my heart. I feel a pricky feeling in my eye.

Ye sab kya ho raha hai? If this is a dream, or should I say a nightmare, I should really wake up right away. This can't be real. Please let this be a dream.

"But abhi uska world cup hai. Vo jab aa jaayega tab I'll break up with him. Jab itne din vo nahi tha tab tum the mere liye and mujhe pata hi nahi chala kab tumse itna pyaar ho gaya. Viraj ki toh mai aisi hi girlfriend thi. Pyaar vagera sochi bhi nahi thi mai" she says and I lean to look at them.

I see her move forward and hug him.

Aslesha fucking Mathur cheated on me!

I fist my hands. Neel saala dhokebaaz. Bada bhai samajhta tha usse. Dono ne apni aukaat dikha di.

I see him lean forward towards her to kiss her and that's when I loose control.

In quick strides I reach towards them and pull that bastard away by grabbing his collar and directly throw a punch on his face.

He straight away falls to the ground and I sit on top of him and keep throwing punches until his face becomes bloody.

"Saale haramkhor. Dikha di tune apni aukaat!" I shout in his face as I punch him again as he tries to resist me.

"Chhodo usse Viraj! Chhodo usse!" I hear Aslesha behind me.

She grabs my hands and pulls me forcefully. I suddenly stand up and grab her face with one hand.

"You fucking bitch! How could you? How could you Aslesha!" I say as my eyes fill with tears.

Please tell me ke ye sab joke tha. Please bolo ke tum dono mere saath mazak kar rahe the. Please please please..

But she says nothing and just looks down at her feet shamefully.

"I can't believe you did this to me" I say and push her as she stumbles back.

I step back to look at both of them and start clapping.

"Wow. Kya game khele tum log mere saath. Two of the most important and valuable persons in my life fucking stabbed me in the back".

I turn to look at Aslesha and glare at her. "Mai waha Mumbai me ja ke mera career banaa raha tha Aslesha. Koi faaltugiri nahi kar raha tha. Utna bhi nahi samajh saki tum. Thode din dur kya raha seedha naya boyfriend. Wah" I say and laugh.

She goes towards Neel and helps him sit up. My anger rises up.

"Abhi bhi sharam nahi hai ha tumhe. Aur tu Neel. Bahot badi badi baate kiya tu. Maya ke alawa kisi se pyaar nahi kar paaunga vagera vagera. Itna hi pyaar tha tujhe Maya se? Aur tujhe mili bhi toh Aslesha. Meri girlfriend. Tu toh jaanta tha vo mere liye kitni important hai. Mujhse meri jaan maang leta yaar khushi khushi de deta. Ye tune galat chiz maang li. Maangi bhi nahi. Seedha cheen li" I say as tears flow down my cheeks but I dash them away.

"Viraj-" Aslesha starts but I interrupt her.

"Shut the fuck up Aslesha. Tum dono ne mere peeth peeche mujhe hi chutiya banaa diya" I say and pull my hair in frustration.

Aslesha walks towards me with tears streaming down her face. So now she's crying? Crocodile tears!

"I really like you Viraj but mai pyaar-"

"Chup raho. Please chup raho tum. Tum aaj ke baad mujhe agar apni shakal dikhayi na toh mai bhul jaaunga ke tum ladki ho. Fucking cheater. Neel ka jo haal hai usse bhi bura haal tumhara hoga" I shout in her face and she flinches.

"Viraj jyada ho raha hai ab tera" Neel says standing up.

"Ohh bura laga? Did my back hurt your knife?" I snap at him.

"So what if I love him? Ho gaya bass pyaar" Aslesha says and my mind goes blank for a few seconds.

"Tumhari jaisi ladki ko kuch bol ke faayda nahi. Ho gaya na pyaar. Good for you. You have literally used me. Mann kiya toh date kiya, bore ho gayi toh fekh diya. Khilone jaisa" I say and blink back my tears.

I'm not gonna cry now.

These people are not the ones on whom I should waste my tears. Or energy. Or time.

"Tum dono aaj ke baad mere muh mat lagna. Fucking backstabbers!" I say and turn to leave.

Aur mai toh itna pathetic hu ke jaate hue bhi I wish ke Aslesha mujhe rukaye. Ruka ke kya kahe vo pata nahi. But at least rukaye.

But vo nahi rukati.

I leave the house pushing everybody that comes in my way. I hear Rudra and Joel's voice while they follow me but I pay no heed and sit on the bike and leave.

When I reach home I dash in my mom's bedroom. She looks up at me and frowns.

"We're leaving. We're going to Mumbai. Permanently" I state and she stands up.

"Kya? Kyu kya hua?" She asks.

"Mujhe yaha nahi rehna. Goa, ye ghar, ye college. Mujhe nahi chahiye" I say.

"Dekho Viraj I don't know kya hua hai but itna impulsively mat socho. Sit down, talk to me. Bolo kya hua hai?" she asks gently.

"Aslesha cheated on me with Neel. Bass? Ab jaa sakte hai?" I say.

Mera patience ab out of control hote ja raha hai. I feel like smashing anything and everything in sight.

Her mouth falls open and she just stares at me for a few moments.

"Aslesha? Vo Aisa nahi.. vo aise nahi-"

"VO AISA KI HAI MAA" I shout.

"We anyway wanted a new start right. This is the right opportunity. Mujhe waise bhi Mumbai me ek bahot achha ghar mil raha tha but I denied it for.. whatever. But now we are going" I state sternly.

"Viraj you can't just order me like that. Pehle tumhare dad aur ab tum" she shouts and once again I feel like someone has punched me in the gut.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean that" she says as I slide down the wall and put my head in my hands.

"I want you to come maa. Please. At least aap toh aisa mat karo" I say as tears threaten to fall.

"Viraj I don't like Mumbai at all. But for you I'm ready to come. Bolo kab jaana hai" she says walking towards me and sitting on the floor beside me.

What am I doing? Why am I ruining her life in my misery. I can't do that to her.

"Maa, I'm sorry. Aapko agar yaha rehna hai toh vo bhi sahi hai. Aapko jo sahi lage waise hi karo".

"Nahi Viraj I will come with-"

"Nahi nahi maa. I know Mumbai's not the place for you. You hate it there. But I can't stay here. Aap samajh sakti ho na. Please. I have to go" I plead.

Her eyes fill with tears.

"Aap nahi bologe toh nahi jaaunga mai" I say. I don't want her to be sad.

"Sach me?" She asks.

I nod. Of course I'd do that for her. Vo ladki se jitni mai nafrat karta hu usse kahi jyada pyaar mai maa se karta hu.

"I think you should go. And I think even I should go. But not to Mumbai. Mai tumhare nana nani ke ghar rehna chahti hu. They're getting old and there's nobody to take care of them there. Yaha tum waise bhi nahi rahoge. Mai akele kya karungi. I'll go there. Mai waha jaana chahti hu" she says and I sigh.

"Fine then. Tomorrow we'll leave. Is it okay?" I ask her.

She nods.

"Ek baar Aslesha se baat kar lo beta. Does she know?" She asks.

"She doesn't care maa. She never cared" I say. "Packing start kar do. Kal hi jaayenge".

It's time to change everything. Place, life, people. This time I'm never coming back.

Goodbye Goa.

~•~•~•~•~•~•

It's 3.13 am while I'm writing this with one eye closed, half in sleep. Update ke liye time laga because I was researching on brain tumor. I don't wanna write anything shitty and feed you guys. Magic ke saath saath logic bhi zaruri hai story me. I'm really sleepy now. Toh aaj ke liye itna hi. Ily :)