'And here... I get this point also!', Ajay was welcomed by Viraj's joyous scream. Viraj was victorioiusly punching the air while Hardik was slouching nearby with a grumpy face. Garvit wasn't really paying heed to other two as he sat scribbling something in his notebook.

'Now you'll be treating me to meal for two days straight!', Viraj said with a mischievous smirk. 'Let's play another round', Hardik said holding his grumpy face.

'Hah! Play as many as you want, you won't be able to defeat me. Afterall, I am a veteran player', Viraj boasted proudly.

Ajay silently dropped in his bed, rethinking Sarthak's words. 'Viraj', he called out. Viraj responded with a careless Hmm, eyes fixed on tablet's screen.

'Well... you see... I have this cousin... faraway cousin to be precise... well... he is stuck in a complicated situation... there is this one girl, who was his classmate and they were quite close and he had something like a crush on her, but later on the girl left the city. And he thought that he'll lose all his feelings eventually... years later, he has again crossed path with this girl... initially the girl was reluctant to confront him but he slowly got closer to her only to discover that his past feelings get alive once again. The girl also reciprocates. But he found out that he has to leave the country in near future, probably forever and the girl cannot accompany him so he rejected her... Do you think he made the right decision?', Ajay asked skeptically.

Viraj picked a card from his desk and threw it at him. 'Here, he is my dad's friend and a psychiatrist. Tell your cousin to visit him; he seriously needs one', he said nonchalantly.

'What does that mean?', Ajay asked perplexed and slightly offended.

'Easy, it means that your cousin is a big idiot. Does he think he is a part of some drama playing a chivalrous hero? Bro, it is real world. Even if girl cannot accompany him they can go for long distance or something like that, if they truly like each other. By the way how long is it until he goes abroad?', Viraj said.

'Maybe a year or two'

Viraj gave him a flabbergasted stare, pretending to muse something.

'No, don't tell him to visit the psychiatrist', he said slowly. 'I'll book a bed for him in mental asylum right away, because his disease requires some serious shock treatment. A year you said right? There are 365 days in a year; he can stay with his girlfriend for 365 days before leaving. Still he chooses to sacrifice those 365 days in worry of future, strange!', he ranted, shaking his head disbelievingly.

'He didn't choose it! I mean... he gave it a good thought... if he distances himself from the girl now then he won't hurt her by leaving one day...', Ajay said defensively.

'Did he discuss it with girl, or does the girl even know what is going on in his mind? ', Viraj said raising his eyebrow, now giving his full attention to conversation. Ajay blinked back dumbfounded.

'See, your silence gave the answer. That guy is building his actions over his assumptions, it's no wonder the girl left him. I would suggest you to stay faraway from that faraway cousin of yours, if his disease is commutable, I'm afraid he'll lead you to astray from pursuing your love. Honestly, I feel happy for girl, she can do much better without this bone headed-'

'Doesn't this story sound way too similar to yours?', Garvit cut through Viraj's train of insults.

It was a split moment before Viraj's phone hit the ground and Hardik's triumphant shrill echoed around the room; his excitement though was swiftly subdued by the intense air of room.

'Freeze right there, you aren't leaving this room before you answer Garvit's question!' The deterrent edge in Viraj's words was enough to put an end to Ajay's vague attempts at squirming out of the situation. He grabbed the bottle in front of him and gulped down generous amount of water.

'Ajay, spill the beans or the next moment you know I'll be calling Aarushi', Viraj said opening his list of contacts. 'NO!', Ajay shrieked right before his finger touched the call button.

'Don't call her... She probably won't pick it up...', he continued not meeting his friends' eyes.

'What do you mean she won't pick up? Honestly, this whole suspense IS driving me nuts! Will you speak in normal understandable language now?'

Ajay took in a long breath. 'She left, forever...To be honest... I compelled her to leave...'

'So you are telling me, that the story you recounted moments ago wasn't about your cousin but you?' Ajay gave a reluctant nod eyes glued to his fidgeting fingers. He heard a whooshing noise and seconds later a pillow smacked him in his face.

'What devil has crawled into your mind that made you do all those stupid stuff!', Viraj thundered. Ajay listened Viraj's lecture silently gradually realizing the consequences. 'Ajay I can't believe you are my best friend! Four years ago, she asked you not to answer, fine; but now, why can't you just accept your own feelings and be happy? She is a nice girl, we have known her since primary school; she is happy with you, you are happy with her then what's the damn issue! I haven't seen a more complicated relationship in my twenty year long life!', Viraj fumed shaking his head in frustration.

'Precisely; that's the problem! That we are happy with EACH OTHER, that she is such a delicate girl that I am afraid of loosing her, that she has such great ambitions that I am scared of trampling them because of my wishes!', Ajay retaliated. 'I regret my actions every moment as I sit in front of you, but my own insecurities, my fears do not permit me to go and recite all these things to her!'

A heavy silence hung over the dorm room. 'Are you still thinking about what happened between you and Akriti?', Viraj finally broke the cold silence.

'I don't know. Akriti left because of her career, I am afraid... I am afraid that...'

'Aarushi would do the same or you would do the same', Viraj completed his sentence. Ajay nodded.

'Ajay, first of all, the only girl whom I think you ever truly liked was Aarushi. Akriti was kinda a replica of Aarushi, headstrong, ambitious and passionate towards life, you tried to find Aarushi in Akriti, but in process you have forgotten that they are two different people. Akriti could never be Aarushi neither could Aarushi be Akriti', Viraj tried to reason logically. Ajay let out a mocking cackle at his friend's predictions.

'That's some wild imagination. How can I mix up both? Aarushi... well she was my classmate for more than half a decade, it's obvious for me to be attached with her or to care for her, four years back maybe I did have a crush on her. But when Akriti came into my life, I never once thought about Aarushi. After we both broke up and I joined college I hardly remember thinking about Aarushi before announcement of this inter college competition', he attempted to reject Viraj's theory. Viraj let out a deep sigh giving him an intense searching look.

'I don't know whether to feel angry or pitiful towards you', he muttered more to himself than to Ajay. 'Okay, I agree that you never mixed them up and you forgot about Aarushi after she left. But then why the hell did you convince all of us to join the inter college event after realizing that it's going to be a tie up with medical college?'

'Please think of a better excuse than trying to do good for society', he said in a bored tone as Ajay opened and closed his mouth; doubtlessly Viraj had made the correct guess about his answer.

'Listen, I am no relationship advisor or therapist. But atleast don't lie to yourself; I agree that you did try to let go of your feelings years back, and maybe you did fool yourself in accomplishing the job after meeting Akriti, but then why did you once again fall for Aarushi? Aarushi vanished abruptly from all of our lives, ofcourse you were frustrated and hurt over lack of answers and her sudden disappearance, and you still seek your answers. Maybe Akriti temporarily hid away your deeper damage but she never managed to heal it. Atleast try to discover yourself once again. And please stop giving these pathetic excuses to justify your own actions', Viraj completed with a conclusive tone as he walked out of the door leaving Ajay to ponder over his words.

Garvit and Hardik quickly followed the suite cooking up the excuse of visiting library. Ajay rested his head on the wall staring mindlessly at the ceiling. No matter how much he tried to run away at the end he would have to face himself.

'Excuses... that's the word I've been refusing to accept all these years. Now that I confront it, it seems so clear. Akriti was an excuse to forget my deeper anguish, inter college competition was an excuse to challenge fate once again for meeting the girl I wanted answers from and when I finally met her, our careers become my excuse to leave her... All these years I have deluded myself with my excuses, but every illusion worns off at some point... Probably, this is the time I finally let myself free from these insecurities', he thought as a single tear escaped the corner of his eye.

His phone blinked with an incoming message, he reached for it hoping to see Aarushi's name blinking on the screen. His hopes though, were brutally crushed down as he read the id.

Sakshi: I need to pick up a gift for your mom. My mother asked me to do so for her birthday. I am not very much familiar with her likings. Mind helping?

Ajay typed back a yes without giving it much thought. Sakshi texted him the location and time and after ensuring that he won't stand her up, finally allowed him to crawl back into the coccon of self implorement and regret.

'Damn girl! Did you sign up for some mourning drama for upcoming college fest!', Anjali cried as soon as she opened the door of her dorm room. Aarushi was sitting on her bed, hands wrapped around her knees and head against the back wall. Streams of silents tears were trickling down her cheeks leaving salty traces and red swollen eyes; she didn't realize when sun went down absorbing the city in inky night.

'Why would I? I already got too much on my plate', she said with a feeble smile quickly wiping the remains of her sorrow. Aarushi squinted slightly as Anjali switched on the light depositing her bags in nearby desk. Harshita and Anjali had decided to dedicate their weekend to shopping spree, but right in the middle of exploring vast markets of Delhi, Harshita had recalled her incomplete file which was due the next day and expectantly wrecked their fantastic day out by dragging a very reluctant and crossed Anjali back to hostel.

Aarushi absentmindedly listened to Anjali fulminate about how terrible her perfect day become and how deeply she was unforgivable towards Harshita for committing this grave 'sin'.

'But even in this whole mess one great thing did happen today! You know, Pratyush is coming day after tomorrow to meet me!', Anjali squealed excitedly. Aarushi's ear perked up at his mention, if Pratyush was accompanied by Juhi like last time there was no chance she could get away without telling her about what happened between her and Ajay.

'Is he coming alone?', she spoke for first time in past five minutes. 'I think so... Why do you ask?', Anjali replied trying to get a good look at her face, her eyes widened as she finally spotted her blood red eyes.

'Have you been crying?', she enquired quitely moving closer to her. 'No! Why would I cry? It's an irritant... you know allergy?', Aarushi quickly tried to cover up. Anjali eyed her suspiciously definitely not buying her words.

'By the way, Pratyush has been asking if you are single. To be precise, it's his friend from NTI, he claims that he has fallen for you at first sight and is very much interested to be your friend', Anjali said recalling her former conversation with her boyfriend. Mention of NTI caught Aarushi's interest almost instantly.

'He wanted to ask you out day after tomorrow, but I very cleverly refused... Told him that my friend already has her heart booked for a very awesome guy', Anjali said with a wide smile.

Aarushi blinked back, deep in thought. 'Tell him yes from my side', she said.

'What?'

'I said, tell Pratyush's friend that I am ready to meet him day after tomorrow', Aarushi repeated her words with no display of emotion. 'But... what about Ajay? Did you not propose to him?', Anjali asked taken aback and confounded. This girl had never spared a chance to other boys without meeting Ajay all these years, and now when she is just inches from realizing her longing it doesn't seem justifiable that she agrees to see some other boy.

'Let's just say, forever isn't the word for people, it's the memories that haunts us forever', Aarushi replied with a weak smile. Anjali blinked back blankly. Literature wasn't her piece of cake, lest Aarushi's philosophical sentences.

'Don't think too much, just do as I say, tell him yes from my end, besides didn't you always say to keep my eyes out for better guys', Aarushi said reading her friend's befuddlement. 'Are you sure?', Anjali asked Aarushi skepticism shining in every word of her sentence.

Aarushi nodded with a reassuring grin. Anjali didn't enquire further as she exited the dorm room to convey Aarushi's message.

'You said I should move on, see this time I didn't neglect your words. You won't be crossed now right?', Aarushi thought looking out into the moonless night with a smile that wrenched her broken tearstained eyes.

The thronging Sunday crowd surrounded Aarushi and Anjali as they waited at the foot of staircase leading to magnamious mall in front of them. Anjali checked her wrist watch every few minutes, muttering some decent curses with every passing minute. They were supposed to meet Pratyush and his friend at four in the evening. Now the clock was showing half past four and still there was no living sign of Pratyush or his mysterious friend.

Aarushi stood with her hands folded across her torso, in no real hurry of seeing either of the imminent people. She tried hard to guide her thoughts away from all the depressant stuff occurring in her life, focusing on the lively atmosphere around her.

'Well, your clock chimed four pretty soon I guess?', Anjali's voice was dangerously laced with ample amount of sarcasm and carefully controlled anger as she welcomed Pratyush. Aarushi looked around at the couple, with a reasonable smug. 'Sorry baby', Pratyush cooed holding his ears. Aarushi nearly gagged at the overly heartwarming PDA and Anjali shot her a warning glare before turning back to Pratyush and almost instantly breaking into a smile.

'Man, that was cheesier than a double decker cheese sandwich', a sapped voice floated in. Aarushi struggled to recall the oddly familiar voice, though before she can wonder aloud, another boy joined Pratyush, grinning widely.

'Hi, Aarushi... It's lovely to meet you again!', Kartik greeted her in his silky voice and fluttering smile. Aarushi smiled a tight lipped smile as memory of party night at NTI struck her.

'It's great to see you again Kartik! Never thought you would be Pratyush's friend', Anjali said shaking hands with him. 'Surprises are always great you see!', Kartik said with a hearty laugh.

'You see, he mentioned something about meeting a really cute girl from NUMS during evening party, I thought why not do some good work and help him ask her out', Pratyush said smiling at Aarushi.

'I don't think you promised your evening to someone else today, so may I have this chance?', Kartik asked. Aarushi gave a brief nod and returned his excited smile with a forced one. Although she had agreed to meet him, that feeling of absolute elation she had experienced with Ajay, was still far from her heart.

She lagged behind the other three as they explored the giant mall, careful not to tear up and destroy the day for others as well. She lost the track of time as they went in and out of stores, checking out stuff but never buying anything.

After what felt like half an hour, Anjali declared her hankering of visiting game arena. Being nowhere near a game enthusiast, Aarushi squirmed out of the group choosing to rove through the stores instead of embarrassing herself with her non existent gaming skills. Kartik decided to accompany her and looked considerably cheerful as he waved to other two making their way to the other end of complex.

Aarushi's mind kept wandering back to her dreary tale as she aimlessly toured the elaborate stores. On her side, she could hear Kartik incessantly recounting multiple events of his life and responded with an occasional 'hmm' or 'yes' hardly paying attention to what he was talking about. Instinctively, she walked over to a small counter displaying all sorts of artificial jewelery.

Although, she was no real fan of dressing up, but she could not overlook the irresistible elegancy of jewels, especially rings, for which she had always nurtured an inexplainable attractive spot. The lady on the other side of the counter greeted her before presenting the latest designs in rings. Aarushi's lips curled in reflexive smile as she examined all the bewitching pieces. She picked out a sophisticated one with intricate leaves and veins carved on either side of the fake diamond at center and turned it between her fingers as though trying to distinguish it from a real diamond ring.

'Can you show me the necklace displayed there?', a shrill female voice caught Aarushi's attention.

'So what do you think about it?', the girl continued, probably talking to her companion. Aarushi didn't look up as she tried to recall the familiarity of sound.

'I don't know'

The unmistakable withdrawn tone froze her limbs. It was the same dreaded voice she had once found her peace in, it was the same sound she had resolved to never encounter again in life. She slowly glanced up, involuntary tears glistening in the corner of her eyes.

Ajay had probably become aware of her palpable presence as she found him gazing intently at her. His set back eyes spelling words of regret and an indistinguishable longing. Aarushi didn't acknowledge his presence as she turned to his girl companion.

'Oh, hi there, Ms...', Sakshi greeted her with a highly pretentious and equally arrogant remark. 'Aarushi', Aarushi completed her sentence impassively, wondering if she imagined the underlying sneer of superiority in her voice.

'Right! I didn't know you fancied anything except pretty boys and coffee dates', she continued in her irksome pompous manner.

'In case you have forgotten your watch back home, let me do you a favor. The time says that it is appropriate for you to shut up and keep your pretty nose out of other's business!', Aarushi retaliated pleasantly, barely controlling the urge to smack her pretty face. Sakshi snorted loudly before turning back to chat with the assistant. Aarushi hastily placed the ring back; her fascination replaced by an unmistakable disgust.

But before she can walk away from counter or its customers, Kartik sauntered over expressing his vivid delight upon meeting two of his classmates. Aarushi bit her lip impatiently as Kartik chatted animatedly with Sakshi. Ajay had remained exceptionally silent all through the conversation.

'How about you join us for dinner, we are done here anyways', Sakshi invited him, conveniently forgetting Aarushi.

'On any other day, it would be a shame to refuse an offer from such a gorgeous lady. But this day seems to be a bit special; I have reserved a lovely date for this equally mesmerizing evening', Kartik smoothly refused passing an admiring smile at Aarushi, which, Aarushi didn't care returning. She was too busy holding back her tears; that seemed to brim her eyes at tiniest mention of Ajay for past few days.

'Ohh.... So do we get to meet this very special date of yours?', Aarushi felt Sakshi's shrewd gaze momentarily wander over to her.

'You don't need to ask when she is right in front of you! My very charming date, Miss doctor-to-be'

The next second saw variety of emotions flash through faces of four people standing at the jewelery counter. Sakshi had a spiteful grin as her eyes flashed between Aarushi and Kartik. Kartik on the other hand was beaming ecstatically; perfectly unaware of murderous glare he had won from Ajay.

Aarushi's face was the shade of beetroot. No, it wasn't the effect of some crazy butterflies erupting inside her, instead, she felt herself being dragged rather unwillingly to the center stage with spotlights shining upon her as aundience awaited a performance she so wanted to avoid.

With enormous difficulty, Ajay tore his blazing glower from Kartik, desperately trying to catch Aarushi's eyes. Aarushi felt his imploring gaze linger over her, waiting, in vain though, for some sort of refusal. One part of her screamed to look up and satisfy his beseeching eyes, the other part roared the inclemency of his words, jeering satisfactorily at the helpless sight of him. At the end, she allowed the rawness of her wounds to win.

Aarushi's silence gave the testimony for Kartik's words. Ajay felt a creature erupt inside him bellowing an excruciating and vengeful cry as he carefully fought back the urge throttle Kartik for daring to call Aarushi his "date" along with all those "filthy" adjectives.

'I promised Sarthak and Harshita to meet at library, let's leave now', Aarushi spoke up forbearingly. She didn't wish to extend this any longer; Ajay's presence was a constant reminder for her tormenting experience. She felt his gaze follow her as she scampered away without a second glance.

'Strange... I thought Ajay didn't have any interest in Sakshi, wonder what they are doing together?', Kartik mused as he walked upto Aarushi.

'He is always full of surprises... Surprises which are more agonizing than anything else', Aarushi shrugged trying best to sound nonchalant. Kartik gave her a puzzled look, obviously not getting the meaning of her words.

'It's good, atleast one of us has finally moved on... Atleast one of us has the courage to live his words', Aarushi thought as unshed moisture once again clouded her vision.

'I am amazed at your temper... Your girlfriend was out on a date with another guy still you can stay calm as a block of ice... Appreciable', Sakshi said with a smirk.

'I have already helped you to pick a gift, our appointment ends here and as for my relationship, well I am not a big fan of free advices or remarks, thank you', he retorted curtly leaving no scope for argument. Sakshi rolled her eyes irritatedly and stormed away.

'I should be happy to see you move on, but seeing someone else call you theirs shatters me... I wish to see you contented but I hate not being the part of that happiness... I pushed you away because of my insecurities; I didn't wish to be the hurdle making you choose between me and your aspirations, I didn't wish to be left alone yet another time... Now I reckon that I made a wrong decision. I hate myself for not realizing it sooner, but maybe my teenage infatuation did turn into something deeper...', Ajay thought with a resigned sigh.

His eyes fell on the fake diamond ring with vines and leaves engraved on it.

'Aarushi Sharma, as much as I hate to admit it, but I am tired of running in circles now... I know I don't deserve forgiveness for what I did, but I won't back out before you forgive me, not this time, not ever', he thought with a soft but resolved smile.

A/N:

Hello everyone!! How have you all been? 

So What do you think is Ajay planning to do next? And do you think Aarushi would be able to forgive him and turn a new leaf?

Do share your views and thoughts about this story! Till next update, Happy Reading!!