I was sleeping cozily on bed, the alarm buzzed and I woke up. I ordered a cup of coffee for myself, about after 10 minutes the coffee came. I started sipping the coffee and was thinking about the happenings in past two days. My thoughts were disturbed by a phone call, I looked at the caller ID it was a new number. I picked up the call "hello"

The voice I heard surprised me and I said "Rits kyun phone kiya? Maine kaha na hum nahi milenge"

He said from other side "Manvi I know lekin wo kal main jaa raha hun, please ek aakhiri baar milna chahta hun tumse. " he said pleadingly.

I thought for few seconds, will it be right to meet him? He again said "please Manvi I promise iske baad tumse milna toh door tumhe phone tak nhi karunga. " he said.

I took a deep breath and then agreed to meet him for one last time "okay Ritvik hum shaam ko milte hai" and then I ended the call.

I moved into the washroom and took a bath. I got ready to leave for the conference and meetings, my phone rang again. I picked it up and it was Aarav calling "haan Aarav"

"Manvi aaj shaam dinner saath kare?" he asked me.

I was left thoughtful as Ritvik also wanted to meet me this evening, how I will deny to him. "Aarav wo aaj meri tabiyat kuch thik nahi hai, kal chale?" I made up an excuse.

"kya hua? Thik toh ho tum? Doctor ko leke aaun?" he asked in concern.

I was feeling so guilty for lying to him but I was not in my own control, whatever my heart said I just followed it.

"haan Aarav main thik hun bas thoda sar dard hai jaldi so jaungi toh thik ho jayega" I replied briefly.

"okay! Take care bye" he said and ended the call. I kept my phone inside my bag and sighed.

I picked up my files and left to attend the meetings and conference. The day passed in blur, it was evening 5 pm. I booked a cab back to hotel, I called up my mother.

"Mannu subah se ab fursat mili baat karne ko?" she complained.

I smiled lightly and said "haan mumma wo back to back meetings thi na, aap kaise ho?"

"main thik hun jaldi se kaam khatam karke aao wapas. Bahut kaam hai yahan" she said.

"bas aa rahi hun 3-4 din mein mumma" I replied.

"sab thik hai? Tum kuch pareshan si lag rahi ho?" she asked. I was surprised how she found out but, after all, she is a mother, and nothing can be kept hidden from a. Mother.

I assured her "haan mumma sab thik hai bas thodi tired hun"

She said "Toh aaram karo hotel jaake"

We had another light conversation and then I ended the call. I reached the hotel and went into my room. After freshening up and changing my clothes I moved down to the cafeteria where I will be meeting Ritvik for the last time.

I settled down on the table, within 10 minutes he was there. He sat opposite me and smiled lightly saying "Thank you for meeting Manvi"

I passed him a light smile, he asked "kal tum jiske saath aayi thi wahi hai tumhara fiancee?"

I was surprised how he knew about this, was he following me yesterday? That means my instinct was true, someone was seeing me and Aarav and it was Ritvik himself. I asked "tum mera peecha kar rahe they?"

He nodded in no "nahi wo tumse aakhiri baar milne aaya tha kal par tum thi nahi. Intezar kar raha tha yahi lekin jab tumhe khush dekha toh saamne nhi aaya. " he said with pain reflecting in his voice and on his face too.

I looked at him and kept my hand on his and squeezed it lightly "Rits please meri pareshani mat badhao.parso ek galti kar chuki hun, tum agar aise hi mere saamne rahoge toh main Aarav ke saath kaise aage badh paungi?" I asked him.

"janta hun Manvi lekin kya karun? Tumse pyar jo karta hun aur pehla pyar bhulana itna aasan bhi nhi hota hai na. tum bhi toh mujhe nahi bhula paayi ho" he said while looking at me keenly.

I removed my hand and then looked down as I could not meet his gaze. I said "tumhe bhula deti toh parso raat wo nhi hota.. lekin ab main Aarav ko dhokha nhi dena chahti hun, ek baar shaadi ho jaye toh usey sab bata dungi"

"kya usse pyar kar paogi?" he asked me.

I looked up at him, he was again messing up everything in my life. His questions were just leaving me in dilemma but i had already taken a decision. I replied "Rits tum nhi jante, Aarav ek bahut acha ladka hai kisiko bhi usse pyar ho jayega he cares for me"

He smiled and said "thik hai Manvi toh kya ek last dinner karogi mere saath please?"

I shook my head in yes, he ordered the food "ek dal makhni naan lime juice and for me paneer"

I looked at him surprised as he still remembered my favourite menu of the restaurant "Tumhe yaad tha?" I asked.

"of course tha Manvi" he said.

The food arrived and we ate the dinner. He was cracking his silly jokes which also made me laugh. I found him staring at me, I asked "kya dekh rahe ho?"

"saalo baad tumhari hansi dekh raha hun" he said with a smile.

I shook my head and said "Acha ab kafi time ho gaya hai main chalti hun" I got up and turned to go but he held my wrist.

He stood up and asked "Ek baar gale lagalo please"

I turned back and hugged him tightly, tears slipped down my eyes as I could not resist. I could feel his tears falling on my back. We remained in hug for about 5 minutes and then separated. We passed a fake smile to each other and moved to opposite direction hiding our tears.

I rushed into my room and closed the door, why he came back to me after years only to dig my wound deeper which he gave years back. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath and decided not to think about Ritvik, I have to now tear his chapter from my life and begin a new chapter of life with Aarav happily. My parents did not forced me for this relation, it was my own decision to move on and I will not let them down at any cost.

I received a message on my phone, I looked at it and it was from Aarav. I read it "meet me at my farmhouse tomorrow have a surprise planned for you"

I smiled reading it, I sighed "yeh bhi na"

The next evening, I reached his farmhouse. He had sent his car to pick me up, I moved in and he was sitting on the couch. He got up and approached me with a smile on his face.

He asked me "kaisi hai tumhari tabiyat ab?"

I replied "I am fine Aarav"

He looked at me from head to toe, then he suddenly held me my waist and pulled me closer to him. I was shocked with his move of this. "Aarav tum.." I said but he cuts me by keeping his finger on my lips.

"shh!! fiancee hun tumhara itna haq hai mujhe" he said.

Yes, he was my fiance but why was I feeling so weird when he touched me. I just stepped back and turned "Aarav I think I should leave" I said.

"abhi toh aayi ho itni bhi kya jaldi hai jaane ki?" he asked me in different tone.

He kept his head on my shoulder and entangled his hands around me. I was not feeling really comfortable, so I tried to free myself but could not. I jerked him "kya kar rahe ho tum? Abhi shaadi nahi hui hai hamari please mujhse aise chipko mat" I said almost shouting at him.

He looked at me for sometime and then I noticed a changed on his face he asked me "shaadi? Aur jo uss raat tum kar rahi thi wo kya tha?"

I was shocked at his words, I asked fearfully "uss raat? Matlab?"

A weird smile was on his face which I had never seen before. I was looking at him bewildered, he then took out his phone and showed me something. I looked down at the phone and my eyes almost popped out seeing it. I looked at him shockingly "yeh.." tears started to brim down my eyes while he was giving me a mischievous smile. 

To be continued.