~Death leaves a heartache nobody can heal, love leaves a memory nobody can steal.~

8 months before..

'My child don't be in a rush to get to another stage of your life that you miss the purpose that what lord wants you to learn about urself. Here and Now.' The father rested his hand on the shoulder of a girl who was sitting before a tomb shedding tears.

The girl was nothing more than a hollow shell. She looked up at the tomb with weary eyes, rough, teared lips and a dull face as if she hadn't slept for a year. True. She didn't have a proper sleep for a year after the love of her life left her forever in a car accident.

She could be like any other ordinary chirpy college-going girl, but destiny chose her to be that way as fate doesn't care about ur plans. Memory is a cruel mistress with whom we all shall learn to dance, but Nandini couldn't dare to.

NANDINI.. Nandini means a daughter, one who brings joy and delight into life. But here in this Nandini's life, neither was any joy nor any delight. She's a soul counting her days till she reaches the sky to see her love again.

Nandini Murthy, a 20 year old South Indian girl studying Literature in Shimla. She's a beauty of her own kind being born in a typically lower middle class family. But she wasn't this quite and cold-hearted since beginning. She was the girl who enjoyed every smallest happiness of her life. When she was in first year of her college, she fell for a boy, Madhyam Singhania.. her Maddy, who even reciprocated her love with equal emotional strength. They had been the happiest couple of Space Academy but one unfortunate accident snatched her happiness for a lifetime, brutally. She lives with wretched and abusive parents and statistically she has nothing left in her life to be happy except for her two god-sent friends.. Aryaman and Navya who happen to be her best friends since school days.

Nandini's POV:

The moment you died, my heart was split into two halves...one half that died with you and the other half that is living with your memories. Remembering you is easy and I do it everyday but missing you is a heartache that never goes away. I thought of you yesterday..today and tomorrow surely I will. Coming here and offering you flowers like this always makes me think I'm in some bad dream. I shouldn't have fought with u that day Maddy and I hope you can forgive me. I miss you Maddy, do you miss me too?

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Dear Diary, it's been so long since I've spoken to you, yes I've missed you equally. Last time when I was....

Smack...

Getting such a blow on my shoulder, I turned to see my dear Navya Naveli and Arya standing behind. Closing my diary I gave them a questioning look.

Aryaman Khanna, a rich handsome college going guy, who believes himself as a rescuer and is alway there to have the back of his best pal, that's me.

Navya Naveli, total dramebaaz, a girl who after fighting with her parents to have an independent life of her own ran away from her hometown Patna and settled here in Mumbai getting a scholarship from the prestigious Space Academy. We three though belong from different backgrounds yet have an unique friendship.

'Nandu my jaan, see what I've got.' Arya flashed three tickets in his hand while Navya encircling her arm around my shoulder sat beside me.

'What is that?' I asked.

'Dude its Arijit Singh's concert passes!!! With so much of trouble I got to arrange all these VIP entries, isn't great?' Arya shrugged his collar measuring his pride while Navya blinked her eyes assuring a yes.

'Umm.. sorry guys but I don't think I'll be able to make it to the concert.' I said mirthlessly.

'But why Nandu, how can you say no to our favourite Arijit's concert ya.?' Navya looked at Aryaman.

'Nandu yaar, please let's go.' Arya insisted further.

'Guys, it's his birthday.' As I said the room was filled up with some awkward silence. I never wanted to hurt them, they are the only reason of my being alive. I know it hurts them to see me like this, as they have guarded me from the tiniest of dangers but I can't deny the truth I'm living with as well.

'Oh..okay no worries.. We'll go some other time.' Arya acted normal while Navya ducked.

'No you guys have to go, I know how much you people are dying to go there and already you've suffered a lot because of me, don't make me feel worse by taking this decision, please.' I mouthed.

'Nandu..not an issue, really. We both are staying here and would be celebrating Maddy's birthday together. Concert will come later even ya.' Navya uttered.

'Navya.. Please don't mind but I want to celebrate his birthday in my style. That leaves you two with the only choice of going to the concert. Guys for my happiness, please?' I kept looking at them, after few minutes Arya nodded at Navya signalling a yes and I smiled faintly.

'But promise me if you need any help, you'd give us a call, okay?' Arya said while I nodded like an obedient child.

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I know the first place where I want to be right now. Rainbow Cafe. Yes, that's the place where we met for the first time and I remember how on ur every birthday you just loved to have the cake baked from here. Stepping inside the small yet cozy cafe I realised nothing actually changed in here. That same book shelf.. that same tingling wind charm... that same corner table where today even I made myself comfortable.

'Nandini' I turned back hearing my name being called.

'Oh Anne' I greeted her with a small smile. She's the owner of this roadside cafe and a very familiar person. She knows me personally because she happened to be Maddy's family friend as well.

'How are you?' Pulling a chair beside me, she sat.

'How am I? I don't..know.' I sighed.

'It's been 1 year no?' She said dolefully while I nodded lowering my head.

'This cafe had seen a lot of love blooming and at the same time dooming..but ur story had always been special.' She rested her hand on mine.

'I guess being ordinary was way better then.' I murmured.

We sat there quite a while silently while Anne and me remembered our good times with Maddy.

'So what would you like to have now?' She asked.

'The usual..his favourite coffee.' I gave her a small dull smile while she ducked a yes.

End of POV

Anne ordered one of her waitresses to get Nandini one extra sweetened hazelnut coffee while her eyes fell on a couple entering the cafe pushing the sliding door that brought a broad smile across her wrinkled face.

'Oh my dear! Look the love birds are here.' Anne side hugged a girl aged about 20 years who was holding hand of a guy. The guy was tall, masculine, having a chiselled and perfectly defined jawline and had chocolate hued almond-shaped eyes. He had broad shoulders like that of titan and looked no less than a heart stealer in a dark blue V-neck lined t-shirt and light blue denim with a perfectly gelled hair. He threw himself on the sofa and spreaded his hands on its sides care-freely while the girl kept conversing with Anne.

'Soha it's nice to see you back.' Said Anne.

'I'm here only for 2 months Anne, but guess what this time I'm taking Manik with me as well.' The girl exclaimed.

'That's awesome, girl.' Anne replied.

She's Soha. Soha Khurana, a fashion designing student staying in U.S, her father being one of the big shots of the country in the field of Textiles. She's been dating the handsomest man of this city since past 4 years, Manik Malhotra who is of the most eligible bachelors in town but to every girls' envy, he's one devoted boyfriend to his girl.

After Soha finished her conversation with Anne, she seated herself beside her boyfriend encircling her arm around his.

'Hey baby' she rested her head on his shoulder.

'Hmm' Manik kept gazing at the menu.

'What my baby is gonna have?' Soha pulled his cheeks while Manik distanced himself a little.

'Anything.' He sighed.

'Is everything alright baby?' Soha stared quizzically at him.

'Soha..' He bit his lower lip 'I don't think you've taken the right decision by convincing my dad to join our company in U.S. I mean.. I'd be leaving my entire life and friends and everything over here and get settled there, its..its quite.. Ugh! I don't know.' He looked away softly.

'Baby I thought we would be able to spend more time together..that's what I...' Her phone buzzed in the middle and she excused herself.

Manik's POV:

As time passed by I thought I lost my feelings for her. But I just can't tell her that I want to break up with her because I promised never to hurt her.

Soha finished her call and kept talking to me about her life in U.S but I'm not attentive to her because my mind is already preoccupied with questions...

'Do I still love her?' I asked myself still looking at her face.

Time changes everything including our feelings towards someone. Maybe my feelings somehow took the backseat when she chose her U.S career over me in spite of my so many begging and pleadings.

While I'm thinking about all these, my eyes suddenly caught another face sitting idly at the cornered table which is not far from mine. She's so different. She's really pretty in her long black hair falling loosely over her face, prohibiting me to have a proper view of her entire face, whatever it is she looks somewhat sad. I'm trying every possible way to have a look at her face, I don't know why but I badly need to see her. Each moment is like increasing my quench.

I thanked my stars when I saw her face tilting a little and our eyes met. I had no idea for what possible reason my heart started beating that fast and my eyes were stuck at her and it was so damn strange. I don't know for how long I had been staying like this, staring at her, maybe for eternity. It felt as if my day turned brighter, I was attracted to her in ways I couldn't explain.
Who is she? And why is her single glance affecting me this much?

~There's a reason why we cross someone's path in our lives~

Story is made PRIVATE after this chapter. Please do follow me to know how this story unflods.