Chapter 5 : To lose the love of your life

Dhruv scowled down at me with his arm around my waist.

I scowled back.
"Leave me-

"As you say" he left me-

My eyes widened I fell to the ground on my hips placing my hands back I shook the hair off my face to scold Dhruv what he did was so not cool. "Dhruv why did you that-

He rolled his eyes.

His head turned heard the footsteps of someone coming towards us from the opposite way. "Get up" he grumbled.

I tried to but I noticed my purse opened with contents scattered around, I huffed crawling and collecting them.

He exhaled loudly
"Ms. Newton stop creating a scene just get up oh fuck... just leave it" he cursed bending and quickly picking the coin that I was struggling to pick with my long nail I put them on, it was a difficult task people.

He pulled me up and stuffed the things in my bag then moved away from the place nudging me to follow him.

I frowned with annoyance what was his problem?

Seriously, I am being patient but I do know how strangling works.

I tried to pull my wrist out of his grasp he didn't let go of me when we reached to a distance that was the back door of the same balcony room.

Giving us a view of what was going on there.

I rubbed my wrist gritting my teeth
" how dare you to manhandle me in such a way-

"Shh" He put a finger on my lips. I glared at him and then eyed where his finger was placed on my lips.

He followed the motion then drew it back immediately coughing "keep your mouth shut for a while" he muttered.

I opened it to argue he groaned angling my body to face in front. My mouth closed back in shock when I noticed Sahil walking into the room while Soumya stood fixing her crying face.

From the position we stood, we could actually see them but not hear them properly my eyebrows furrowed I couldn't make out when Sahil said something.

Dhruv put something in my ear. Airpod?
And then I heard Soumya's voice, "I tried... Sahil I tried every way to get the evidence from him but he isn't listening to anyone"

My eyes widened I looked at Dhruv, "you are recording them-

He answered, "my Mobile is in there"

"On-call?"I asked

"And on recording"

"But that's illegal"

he gave me a blank look Do I care?

Point

I focused back.

Sahil said, "just one work I gave you... you couldn't do that also?"

Soumya sniffed on the verge of tears again, "he is not listening to me tell me what should I do?"

"Tell me why should I love you now? Give me one reason?," Sahil spoke while pacing around the room, his eyes searching and scanning the room. Like he could feel he was being recorded or something was off or I was just imagining.

Soumya gasped clutching her heart, "you can't say that Sahil I love you so much I have loved you always-

Sahil whirled around facing her with a frustrated expression, "you don't love me Soumya if you love me enough you would have gotten that pendrive or whatever evidence he's claiming about but have you? Where's it? Do you have? Do you even love me Soumya?" He walked near her now circling where she stood

Soumya's chest rose and fell in pain... in guilt

Sahil smiled sadly "I was right you don't love me. I am just a key a medium to make you feel alright to make you feel okay and just nothing no one loves me...nor a sick girl nor a depressed girl I am just the means for both of them, for their escape"

My heart hurt for him

Wait

Who was the depressed girl?

was he talking about me??

Dhruv pointed at me to inform

I pointed back at him savagely

At that, he scoffed and I scoffed and we both faced front dismissing each other.

Soumya grasped Sahil's arm when he made a move to leave being done with her, "don't say that. I love you truly I have been there for you when no one was"

Sahil turned her deaf ear storming out.

I breath out loudly that was intense.

"Okay what just happened?" I asked Dhruv and

Where was Dhruv??

I found him modeling down the hallway.

"So you only pulled me to be your eavesdropping partner? Lonely much?" I asked Dhruv while we entered the lift together as I chased him down.

He pressed the close button even though I saw two girls rushing behind to follow us or him giggling.

Alas, the doors shut on their faces

"I wanted you to listen cause you have half knowledge and that's dangerous"

"Okay, professor" I mumbled

He narrowed his eyes at md, "I know you were out there"
he said regarding the time when I was listening to his conversation with Soumya.

I turned, red matching my dress he knew I was overhearing them.

Dhruv made a distasteful expression eyeing my dress.

I pulled the hem feeling unconscious by his judging eyes but who was he to judge when he was shirtless?

"First I thought you were at the wrong place at the wrong time but now I am sure you too are no different from us"

"What do you mean by that?" I asked standing straight then sighed like my entire body deflated, "nevermind don't say anything you just hate me so whatever I wear or I do you are just gonna keep on hating me. Honestly, sometimes I wonder what have I done to you all to be hated and insulted this much?" I spoke out forgetting I was again pouring my heart out to my enemy.

Looks like my thing now

We landed on our floor I tried to get out when the doors opened Dhruv pressed the close button again stopping me I glanced at him confused,

"I don't hate you," he said, his face losing all hard and acting tough lines, "no one hates you," he said now his eyes held warmness, "it is just the circumstances we hate to be in"

"I don't understand what's really going on?" I said honestly.

He didn't answer anything.

"I don't understand" I repeated, "why you guys are like this you were best friends right? Childhood friends? Then why why you hate each other so much"

"Things with him were always messed up..you know what his mother called him Curse. Sahil is a curse he brings nothing good. He loves playing with everyone's misery. Don't get too involved"

"Isn't it too late for that?" I looked at him accusingly.

Dhruv appeared guilty for a second then covered it saying,
"As I said in the beginning Selena is the only key to our problem. We have the court hearing soon I only want you to present yourself as the witness to whatever you saw. Because of this stupid case, we have been tied here for so long we can't move out of town. We are kinda under house arrest but having a little freedom that's just not enough.... Your mum is a lawyer she knows her way around just tell the truth, the Selena truth how Sahil tortured Aarav how he forced him to end his life I have the pendrive with the video of that day I have it saved from him.... we all will be free" Dhruv explained.

"what about you? Won't you be punished too are you really ready for that?"

Something flashed over his expression that he didn't let on rather said stiffly getting away, "that would be taken care of. We want you to present yourself and the mobile you know your old one with Aarav's last message-

"How do you know about it?" I turned paled.

He looked away saying
"Before Sahil destroyed his phone I went through the messages it was your, the last one"

I stepped back in shock, staring at him.

Dhruv went on quickly, "I didn't read all! I just saw the last one it was your number he wrote you pretty long-ass paragraphs I didn't have that much time. I just know you have it saved. I saw a private folder on your mobile that day"

"Dhruv- I- I-I don't know what you are speaking I came here for Soumya's birthday party.. just put me out of it," I said looking around to be anywhere else than with any of them.

Each and everyone has a different story and they want different things from me.

They are just seeing out for themselves.

I should do the same if Selena thing is out my life will be ruined. I wasn't ready to come out this way.

Maybe, I was no different from them

Dhruv's hands fisted he turned and left the doors open I immediately rushed out.

...

I reached on time and didn't miss the cake cutting the grand ritual where the birthday girl with a perfect carefree smile in the middle of her big group of insta friends and oblivious family surrounding her like the ultimate support. She looked beautiful, that dress probably made by some big designe. Over all it was a happy sight, it felt too believable.

I forgot how deceiving appearance can be at times.

I stayed put there eradicating my desperate need to leave that place at once.

I looked at Soumya with envy with pity with all sorts of varied expressions. I wanted to help her I wanted to hurt her I wanted to be her best friend I wanted to never meet that girl I wanted to never meet any of them again.

At that moment I felt immense hatred for each one of them. Living their life celebrating their birthdays.. for them, Aarav was a figment of a bad moment a mistake that they want to erase and never talk about when for me...

for me he was the cause of every happy moments. He was part of most of my life.

They took my life

Because, I swear I never lived in peace after that day.

Looking at her I made a call on my phone for an ambulance.

I let out a breath and walked to her. People parted when I sauntered to the birthday girl.

Soumya smiled at me, it didn't reach her eyes.

I extended my gift the small box in equally red cover she accepted it politely, "this wasn't really required, Serra"

"That's my supplementary gift"

Soumya frowned not getting it.

I smiled back then looked around for him in the crowd.

And found him like my eyes on their own got pulled towards him.

Looks like he had just come downstairs. Hands inside his pockets he stood aloof but gave a small smile when saw everyone's heads turn to him as I walked toward him purposely. This time people parted they gave me the way, curious whispers grew.

Saw in my peripheral vision.

Faisal eyeing me suspiciously.

I shot him a wink

His eyes went wide.

Did he know what I was going to do?

He was the type of person who knew more than he let on

I reached Sahil he studied me with a cautious and admiring look taking me from up to down unabashedly.

I stopped right in front of him

He raised his brow, never once left my eyes once they made contact

I tried to keep the smile which was getting difficult. Because suddenly I felt out of breath counting backward

5, 4, 3, 2, 1

I pulled him down to me by his tie and then kissed him

My heart was beating so badly I was literally shaking and expected him to push me away so it was shocking when his arm snaked around my waist and he returned the kiss.

I sighed in his arms sighed in relief once again finding support in my enemy's arms.

Told you it's my type now

He kissed me softly coaxing me to relax. A bit to relax when I carried on the kiss for longer than I planned. I broke the embrace stepping away stifling my urge to hide my face. Yet I managed to hold my chin high and looked directly into Soumya's eyes innocent tearful eyes stood across the hall in the centre

She didn't deserve this

Neither did Aarav nor did I

"Happy Birthday Soumya" I said

She let out a sob.

People were looking at me with ccusations, condemn, and hate written over their faces.

Been there

Sahil stepped forward taking my cold hand in his colder one,
"I love her" he announced taking all the blame he looked at Soumya with face impassive and dark no ounce of love or care there

Ouch

He turned to me now with the opposite expression, "I love you" it sounded like he really did.

I don't know this guy at all. His unpredictability not only attracts me but also captivates me with no will to be free

I gazed up at him speechless.

He can't be serious

He brushed my bottom lip tenderly I grasped his hand stopping him because if I didn't I don't know what will happen next

The rushing movement from the side broke our stare.

Faisal ran to Soumya who was gasping for air, her hand was clutching her chest. She struggled to breath as she was bent over coughing.

Her entire body shook, coughing fit filled the alarmed silence, she heaved looking up at me with pain I have been accustomed to seeing every morning in the mirror. She wiped her mouth that was covered with blood now

It shone like red rubies on her pale skin.

Faisal was shouting, "call ambulance where's your medicine Soumya? Breath Soumya breath Soumya!" he was helplessly looking around holding Soumya in his arms who couldn't stop coughing blood out.

I watched Faisal on the verge of his life's biggest fear. Afraid of losing someone so dear to him. Right in front of his eyes, he couldn't do anything but just hold her hand and begged around people to do something.

Losing the love of your life is the greatest fear in life.

I have been living that greatest fear every day every moment remembering the time how I couldn't do anything just stand by and watch him go away helplessly

I turned around to leave when the help came; the Doctor arrived ambulance was there on time as I made the call before.
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Someone held me from behind pulling me back against their chest by now I was familiar with his touch and the way it made me feel alive imbibing me with the sweet pain of guilt and pleasure.

His mouth near my ear he was breathing down my very neck "you be leaving me alone here Serra in this mess? you weren't that cruel,"

I shivered by the jolt of spark I gulped, slowly unwillingly I freed his arm off me and glanced back with a bittersweet smile, "actually I realised I am like you all"

He was rendered surprised

I took the moment to walk out, alone

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