Here goes the next story of #ZindagiKaSafar. The story is published with consent of sender and the names are changed as per sender's concern.

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Let's get started...

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Trishala felt gush of fresh air flowing through her veins. She was happiest today. The last year was a mess. For the first time since...she breathed freely. The campus was new, the people were new, she had a newly attained confidence. The confidence with which she was going to reach new heights. Had only she not met him, her life would have been spent in that red light area where she stumbled upon accidently. 

An year ago..

Trishala was a shy, young, vibrant girl of 21. She was in the final year of her BA.Everyday was same for her. But not this one. Today was Valentine's day. The day was different for her not because she loved anyone and would celebrate with him but today she didn't know...that her life is going to changed. Her father dropped her to the college. She hugged him and he kissed on her forehead. 'I will come in the afternoon. Take care my dear', he said and left. Trishala was an ambitious girl. She was intelligent too. Being ' Papa ki Pari' she never felt the need of any other man in her life to care of her. She knew that her parents are her world. She never wanted to fall in love. Three of her friends, Kalyani, Nupur and Jeeya were busy with their boyfriends, she didn't disturb them. She walked through the known campus building. Through the known corridors. But she felt something different today. She didn't know why. Being alone she felt little uncomfortable. But she walked. She went to the canteen as the first lecture was cancelled. She ordered a plate of Vada-Pav and sat on a chair alone. As she took her first bite she felt a strong gaze staring her. She looked in the direction and found Vaibhav, a senior from her college staring at her. As soon as she looked at him, he turned his gaze. She ignored him. She knew he liked her. Her friends had told her so. She knew Vaibhav from past three years. He had helped her many times. Many times she saw her father's habits in him. She liked it. But, she didn't have the place of love in her heart. And she was not from the bold ones who would confront him and speak her heart out, so she waited for his move so that she can clear him what her perspective for him is.. 

And it was the Day. Vaibhav's friends forced him to propose her. He sat in front of her. She composed herself. 

'Hi, Vaibhav', he said. 

'Hmm', she responded. 

He laughed. She looked at him questioningly. 

'This is what I love the most about you', he answered.  

She wanted to respond but her heart beated so fast...that she couldn't speak. She didn't know how to answer such sentences. 

He continued, 'I know you have no interest in love. No place for other man in your life. But I really....love you. It's not that I couldn't live without you, but life would be much happier, pleasant and lovely with you. I will not force you to fall in love with me or to think about me all the time, I just wanted to let you know about my heart. It's good to speak up. If you want I will talk with your parents too.' 

Vaibhav waited for her response. She kept looking at him. She completed her Vada-Pav and left the place. He felt heartbroken, but he already knew the result. He joined back his friends. 

Vaibhav was a 2nd year MBA student. He was prince charming, dream boy of many girls in his college. But he fell for Trishala from the day he saw her. Her shyness attracted him. On the other hand, she never believed the feeling of love. Even during her teenage years, she was always away from boys. She preferred solitude than being with boys. She was the most unnoticed person in her school and college. But here, someone noticed her. She reached home. Ate the food her mother prepared and went in her room to study. 

But today, she couldn't concentrate on studying. Her mind was wandering in the college canteen. She knew she didn't love Vaibhav, but as much as she tried to forget him, he was stuck in her mind like tar. She knew it was enough. Her mother used to speak about her marriage. She went to her mother and asked her about love. 

Her mother was perplexed at her question, but she answered in just one sentence, "When you care, respect, trust, understand the other person more than yourself it's love". Trishala was lost in thought. She went to her room. 

Next Day..

She asked Vaibhav if he will speak with her parents if she agreed. He said yes. But he wanted her to know him before going forward. She knew what qualities she wanted in her husband. She gave him the time till their farewell. He agreed. It was two months' time period and he knew that was enough. His actions showed he loved her. In those two months she knew she had found the right person to marry. 

It was the day of farewell. She was going to stay at Jeeya's house that night. And next Day, she and Vaibhav were going to talk with their parents. But Trishala didn't know...this was going to be a life changing night. Trishala drank the juice she ordered. Sometime later she and Jeeya left for Jeeya's home. In the basement, they met Meet a classmate. Meet used to like Trishala. Her friends knew that and many times teased her. Jeeya excused herself for a minute as Kiran, her boyfriend called her. Meet and Trishala were talking of here and there. None of her friends knew that Trishala loved Vaibhav. Trishala suddendly felt dizzy. Unable to see Jeeya, Meet took her with him. Trishala and Meet's friends had mixed alcohol in Trishu-Meet's mocktail. Unknown to both of them. They felt that sparks of love will fly in both's lives. But they didn't know the danger ahead. Meet took Trishala to a nearby security room. It was an old room, where no one came. He came to the door to ask for help, but found that someone have locked the door from outside. Jeeya, Kalyani, Nupur and their respective boyfriends locked the door from outside. Kiran had taken Meet's and Jeeya had taken Trishala's phone. Both Trishu-Meet were locked in that room. The intoxication was heavy for Meet. Unknown to him, he kissed her passionately. She retreated, but couldn't hold back this hunk for long time. Meet was definitely stronger than her. The intoxication was heavy for both of them. And at a peak hour, unknown to both of them, they got intimate. 

Next day, at an early hour...Jeeya, Nupur, Kalyani came back to the security room to check on the two. Vaibhav was with them. Angry on their foolishness. He had scolded the 3 for their deeds, but he was tensed for Trishala. The 4 were shocked to see the scene in front of them. Meet and Trishala were naked in each other's arms. 

Vaibhav broke seeing the scene. He knew it was her friend's fault, but still he couldn't control himself from breaking down. He started to cry silently. The other 6 woke up the two. The two were shocked seeing their positions and wrapped their clothes nearby. Trishala looked at Vaibhav's broken eyes, who still wanted her to stay strong. She felt guilty and was angry on her friends. She quickly wore her clothes. And stealing eyes from Vaibhav she left the college. Meet was angry on himself. Jeeya, Nupur and Kalyani started crying. Meet also wore his clothes and left the place. Vaibhav scolded the three girls again and left. The three girls knew they had done a big mistake. Trishala didn't talk with anyone from that day. She couldn't study, all she remembered was Vaibhav's eyes. His broken eyes. She gave exams. She passed, but with deliberately low marks. She broke more. She didn't talk with Vaibhav from that day. He tried to speak with her, but no success. Someone had the video from the CCTV of that old security room. He leaked it.  Trishala's parents were upset with her. She ran away from the house to kill herself. She left a note that she won't come back as she has hurt her parents and her love as well. She was going to do suicide under the railway track, where she was saved by a lady. The lady took her to her house, a red light area in the city. The famous pub where drunkun hook-ups were famous. The lady knew this broken girl won't go back to her house and so she used her. She made her work there. Many men used her. She braced the pain as her punishment for hurting her loved ones. 8 months went by. The pain in her heart grew and the physical pain was already much. One night, her destiny changed. A customer, who was again going to change her life. And she instantly recognized him...his eyes...those broken ones. Vaibhav...

He recognized her and went to her room. 

He hugged her and cried his heart out. He missed her. And he had lost the hope to find her again. Ever. He started drinking few months ago and today she found him. She cried too. She felt guilty as she thought it was her mistake. Vaibhav explained her it was not. It was her friends' mistake that they intoxicated both Trishu and Meet. Being a regular alcohol consumer, they didn't think that things will escalate like this. They talk with each other. Their experiences in the 8 months. How much they missed each other and suffered the pain of loss. They talk and talk and talk until the next day. Vaibhav promises her to take her out of there and she asks him not to tell her parents about her condition. Vaibhav's an orphan, so he doesn't need to worry about answering his parents. He, in few days, took her out of that hell. Vaibhav worked in a company after his MBA. He took transfer from the company to another branch. They moved to another city and started their own life. Vaibhav, after making Trishala comfortable with him, called her parents. He hadn't told them about her past life, but also didn't want this girl he loved to deprive of parents' love. Her parents met her and forgave her. She forgave her friends. But she didn't contact them even once. Nor did they. 

Vaibhav insisted Trishu to start her career. She agreed. The trauma of these months frightened her, but Vaibhav being by her side always, she felt secure. He made her realise, that however worst the situation is, one can always stand for their own. She had a good education. The education is a good asset for her to stand on her legs. 

She decided to teach teeangers. To teach 11th and 12th class students. 

She applied for the exam through which she can pursue her career. She started going to the college and today was her first day....

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Trust....it's hard to trust someone. So it's the responsibility of the other side to keep the trust intact. As once broken, it has the greatest effect on the person who trusted you. 

Also, the second lesson I learnt from my life is...no matter how unstable the life is, it gets better and better if you make right choices in the worst storm. 

- Trishala. 

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