Dinner with family was supposed to be a relaxing event. Aditi's parents had also joined their table and conversation was in full swing, with mostly Karan's mother bringing up various topics. Aditi was surprised when she actually asked Karan about Rahul and Preeti. The only two friends of Karan that Aditi didn't much like. She didn't miss the hesitation that came up on Karan's face, even though momentarily at the mention of Preeti's name. He threw a careful glance her way, before giving a short answer to his mother.

Shortly after, Karan left the table for a refilling. While his mother went on to tell her mother about Karan's friends. The conversation was soon steered to career. 

Aditi's mood had turned sour again. Karan's mother was very adept at taunting her with a remark pointed at no one in particular and a smile. What had Aditi more peeved was the fact that his mother had revealed — Karan had been offered a job role in his company in the US. Aditi didn't even know about it. Her mother had warily glanced at Aditi. She had probably read Aditi's puzzlement that was followed by hurt.

She excused herself politely, picked up her empty plate and walked off. Washing her hands Aditi stepped out into the garden, for some much needed fresh air.

"My Karan is no less. He chose to let go the job offer and his dream of  moving to the States. Ever since he was a kid the only thing he always said was he would move to America. Kids nowadays have their own ways and fancies. One day they want something, on the next something else. In that matter our Aditi is very smart. She always has her focus on her career."

Her mother-in-law's words echoed in hear ears. Aditi wasn't dumb to not make out what the former was trying to say without actually saying it clearly. Why didn't Karan tell her anything about the offer? Aditi felt hurt.

"Adu," 

She heard a soft voice call out to her. She closed her eyes, hearing his footsteps approach.

"Why are you here, all alone?" He asked.

Aditi turned to look at him. Glancing around to make sure no one was around to hear their conversation she asked him the question that had been bothering her. "Why didn't you tell me you were offered a job role in the States?"

The expression of surprise crossed his face quickly and he looked grim. "Not a biggie, Aditi. It was a ... uh, while ago."

"Not a biggie? Seriously, Karan. You wanted to move to the States. It had been your dream. You got a chance to materialize it. You don't think all of this is a biggie? Why?"

"Aditi, look, I don't know why are you getting so bothered by this. This was weeks back and I made the choice I wanted to make. Why are you bringing this up now, here?"

Aditi looked at him with glistening eyes. "I don't believe this. You hide something like this from me. Your mom brings it up... making it sound like I asked you to give up on that opportunity so that I could focus on my career growth."

"Aditi, you're assuming things. I am sure mom didn't mean to..."

Aditi scoffed. "Oh...No, she didn't. But this isn't about your mom, Karan. This is about you. About us. You didn't think it was necessary to tell me about it? Why did you hide about it?"

"Enough of it, Aditi." Karan spoke irritated. "Fine. I didn't deem it necessary to tell you about it. It's not like you tell me everything!"

Aditi stared at him, hurt and angry. "Wow. So this is all you got? I am trying Karan. I at least try to tell you all the important stuff...

"— of course you do." He mocked. "You didn't tell me that the man you dated for two years is now your colleague. Not even when we ran into him at the restaurant. Pushkar... right? Please, don't be a hypocrite!" He looked sideways not wanting see her face.

Aditi stared at him. "I had my reasons," she mumbled.

Karan looked at her hurt. "Please, don't justify any of it. Honestly, I trust you enough to know that you... will always be loyal no matter what. But since we're talking off it..."

Tears rolled down Aditi's cheeks. "How did you know, no one.. "

"It slipped out of Ruchi's mouth when we were talking,"

"Of course, it did." Aditi muttered bitterly. Suddenly her sister seems to be becoming the vamp of her life. "Why didn't you ask me about it back then?"

"Because I wanted you to confide in me..." Karan spoke, sadly.

"How can you expect that when you don't even tell me about something as common as your career?"

"God!" Karan muttered, he grabbed her hand and led her under the shade of a tree not wanting anyone to overhear their conversation which was growing heated by the minute. 

"I didn't tell you because you're sensitive. You'd take it like, I am trying to choose you over my career. Aditi, we're very different individuals. You are career oriented, I am not. Yes, it was a dream ... I wanted to relocate to the States. Wanted a life there. It was a stupid teenage boy fantasy dream. Then reality comes knocking in. Being around people who care for me, who make me happy, matters to me, Aditi. My family and friends are here. That's why I rejected the offer. But the little that I know you, I knew you'd pin it to yourself. And so what...  so what if I chose your career above mine? Big deal yaa. There... you know everything what I feel. Happy?"

Aditi looked at him with tear filled eyes. "I would have understood if you tried to explain this to me earlier."

Karan sighed, looking away. "I am trying to figure you out too. Aditi, let me be brutally honest... I am not really a guy with big career goals. But you... you have goals and bigger dreams. There's nothing wrong with you or me. We are just different. And I wouldn't want to, in any way, mess with that. That's why I didn't tell you."

Aditi bit her lower lip looking at him. 

He fell into a deep silence, turning around. 

"I didn't want you to feel insecure. Pushkar was a closed chapter, long ago, Karan. I didn't want complications between us... not when we were already into a long distance relationship... that's why I didn't tell you." Aditi stared at his back, letting the tears roll down her cheeks. "I just didn't want you to feel hurt... because that feeling of insecurity — it's like a slow poison."

Karan sharply turned around to look at her. He looked distressed. "I am going back in!" Saying that he walked away. 

Didn't she trust him or his love enough? He hated how he felt. He now understood what Arjun had once told him— love is messy, it messes with your mind big time and leaves behind your heart to take all the pain and blame.

* * *

Pretending to be okay when you're not, was hard. But pretending to be happy when you feel broken inside was harder. Aditi knew she had hurt Karan by not trusting him enough to tell him that the man she dated was none other than Pushkar, her colleague currently. She felt like a betrayer now. Although, she didn't feel anything for Pushkar anymore. 

Pushkar had left her heart broken. He didn't have the guts to talk to his parents about the girl he loved. Frankly, Aditi didn't have the courage to open up about Pushkar to her parents as well. Her sister, Ruchi had been her only confidant. Things fell apart pretty quickly for them. Investing oneself in a relationship always came with pain, hurt and heartache. That's exactly how things with Pushkar ended. He moved to Bangalore soon after their graduation to pursue her career. Aditi knew she had been foolish to compromise her career for a man. She swore to never to commit that stupid mistake again.

However, here she was. Being foolish in love again.

Karan was nothing like Pushkar. He was always open about what he felt for her or otherwise. He didn't back off from expressing how much he admired her. He didn't back off from putting her before himself. He was like her backbone, throughout. He was everything she wanted in a partner.

Aditi was saturated with everything that was happening in her life. She sat in the silence of the room. For the first time, she was feeling his absence despite being in the same room. He refused to even look at her in the eye. 

She pulled up the duvet, while he laid back down, on the other side of the bed. Not a word spoken after their heated conversation. 

"Karan," she said softly.

"Good night!" That's all he said, switching off the lamp that filled the room with golden light. Aditi slipped lower and turned to the other side, unshed tears in her eyes. 

* * *

Karan had tried his best to make everything seem normal between Aditi and him. Bidding farewell to the wedding party and her parents, they had begun their journey towards home in the car that his father had sent. 

He stole a glance at her while she looked outside the window. He was in a dilemma. At one end, he wanted her to apologize this time around. At the other end, he felt guilty for still hiding about Preeti's confession after all that happened the previous night. 

He fished out her unique ID card that had slipped out from her hands while she was handing over the room keys at the reception of the resort. "You dropped it at the reception," He spoke, extending his arm out towards her, not bothering to look at her. 

"Thanks!" She sighed, taking it from him between his fingers.

Throughout the remnant of the car ride nothing was spoken. 

A smile drew up on Karan's face as his home came in sight. Arjun, Nisha and their little one along with his parents were at the entrance to welcome them. 

"So good to see you Bhai!" He hugged Arjun. 

"Nisha!" He squealed taking Nisha and the kiddo in her arms into a bear hug. 

"Hi!" Aditi greeted Arjun with a smile who gave her a quick side hug. 

"I hope this idiot hasn't been troubling you!" Arjun remarked, giving Aditi a wide smile.

"Well, you know him." Aditi chuckled. Karan turned to glance at the duo, his arm around Nisha.

"Nisha, why is your husband so annoying?"

Nisha managed to nudge Karan at the ribs. 

"Ouch!" Karan exclaimed looking at Nisha who swiftly moved to her husband's side. 

He smiled, "well, I have mom!" Karan stuck his tongue out, wrapped his arm around his mother's shoulder and led her inside.

"Mumma's boy!" Arjun remarked.

The three year old boy in Nisha's arm giggled. 

Arjun and Aditi smiled. "You too!" Arjun exclaimed, pulling his son's nose.

"How was the wedding?" Nisha asked Aditi. 

"Tiring!" Aditi chuckled.

"Come on champ, let us let the ladies catch up!" Saying that Arjun effortlessly took Laksh from his wife's arms and walked in after asking the driver to shift the luggage into the room.

"How had your marriage been so far?" Nisha asked.

"Better than I expected, I guess."

"Relatable!" Nisha remarked as they walked in.

Hope you liked it! 

-Anami!♡