"Yes."

Oh, I can never forget his voice. His voice was soft and yet so manly at the same time. I used to love this voice.

My heart raced faster than a Cheetah chasing its prey on hearing him. To my utter astonishment (not), I could not say anything.

"Its been a while, Nea. I gave up thinking that you will contact me some day."

Okay, stop and rewind. He wanted me to contact him?

"But, I missed you, you should know." He continued.

"I missed you too." I found myself saying. No shut up, Nea!

"Then we agreed to stay friends. Nea, friends talk. Once in a while. Don't they ?"

Oh yes I know. But you don't know how crappy I thought this idea of yours was. How could I bear to be friends with the guy I was in love with? Just because you got over me in a day....

BUT I wasn't going to say this. I couldn't fight with him about this after five years!

"It was difficult Raven. I had a rough phase back then."

"You should have told me." He said. His voice full of concern.

How could I tell you? You were the one who caused it.

Evil bitter Nea, shut up! I have to be mature about this.

"Right. We can be friends now, Raven." I could be. I could talk to him. It was a long time back. Besides its not like I have to face him everyday. He is miles away.

"You chose a good time. I am back home."

Oh what the hell. My life is clearly right from a movie. Don't tell me you want to meet me or you will lose the ability to have children.

"We should meet. Catchup and all. What do you think?" He continued.

What I think is that you should bid Raven junior goodbye.

"Sounds good. I will see when I can, I am going to be really busy with my magazine,blogs...."

"Oh right your blogs. Pretty good stuff." He cut me off.

"You have read my blogs?"

"Since the last five years."

"Why?" I could not control. I had to ask.

"That was the only way to know what you are upto. How you are doing."

Aww. That is so nice. Maybe we can be friends. Maybe with the help of Dr. Amit, I could move on from all this past and someday, Raven and I could actually make good friends...

But somehow, no sign of Raven junior also sounds like a good idea.

I am a violent, violent person.

"Thanks. I have to go now Raven."

"At this time? Where?"

I was looking for an answer but it seemed he realised he could not ask that from me anymore.

"Alright. Will see you soon. Good night Nea."

"Good night Raven."

_____________________________________

I found myself wide awake. It was 4am. But my mind was racing with thoughts and questions since the last few days and Raven's call only accelerated the speed.

This past month has been eventful. I got cheated by my boyfriend with my best friend who were apparently in love.

So why was Aryan with me? Why would my best friend betray me like that?

And wasn't I grieving the loss of my job and betrayal of two most important people in my life?

But somehow all those thoughts got replaced by Raven. After five years. I had shut him off completely. I hardly thought of him. And now he was all I could think of.

And funny enough, now is exactly when he contacted me.

Mark did not fire me because of what happened at the party. And he was happy with the success I brought to the magazine. So why did he fire me?

I could not sleep. I knew I had to find out at least one of these answers. I decided to check my email and update my blog. Its time to clear all mess. And it was a good way to distract me.

Nea,

I am your huge fan! Always have been! But now I am officially in love with you!
How you tackled your fiance? Challenged your society? You are brave!
I wish I would have beaten up my ex like that.
You are truly amazing.
I wish we heard from you soon. Please update your blog.

Love and hugs and kisses
Meesha
..

And this is not the only one. There are hundreds of mails of women saying just this! They love what I did at the party!

Especially my website where I have been posting blogs since past five years. There are thousands of messages!

How crazy is that?

I checked the time. Its 5am. This excitement is not going to help me sleep. I feel like I am full of energy. I could race a horse and win!

I looked at my left hand. I was still wearing the ring Aryan gave me. This gorgeous pink diamond. I could not bring myself to take it off.

Its just so gorgeous.

I had a great idea.

I began a new series of blogs. The PINK DIAMOND series. So many women loved what I did at the party. So clearly a lot of women can relate to me. Not just women though, men too. Afterall everyone has been heartbroken. Pain has been everyone's friend.

I have so many emotions locked up inside of me. I always thought the best way to deal with it, is to never think about it. But I only ended up suffocating my brain.

So its time I let it out. Everyone already knows about me and Aryan.

Come on Nea, start typing.

And I got it all out. The complete day of the party. How I felt. All my questions. EVERYTHING.

I posted it. Tomorrow, I will know the response.

_______________________________________

He sat before me looking as handsome as ever. His hair was messy as usual. But also, he had his annoying smile as usual.

I felt a bit conscious. I did not sleep at all last night. I wondered if my face looks like I am one of the soldiers from world war 2.

I braced myself. I have to continue. I have to start talking about Raven again.

But he took me by surprise.

"You told me you felt relieved when you found out about Aryan and Manvi. Tell me why."

"Umm..I really dont know."

"Yes you do."

I thought about it. I was humiliated yes. I felt betrayed, yes. I felt cheated, yes. I felt like a complete fool, yes.

But I also felt relief.

Why?

"I don't know." I said.

He raised an eyebrow.

"Really, Nea? You don't know?"

"Yes, I don't know! Because before that day I had no idea he was cheating on me with my best friend! I loved him. He loved me. At least thats what I thought."

Dr Amit started laughing. Sort of sarcastically.

"What the hell are you laughing at?" I demanded to know.

"Stop lying to yourself." He said.

"Truth might hurt, but accepting it is what will help you finally move on." He continued.

Truth? Move on? What was he talking about it?

"What is the truth?"

"It is what you have known for years but you chose to avoid it. Just to save yourself from getting hurt more. But honey, you have only been hurting yourself. Thats all. You could never avoid it." He retorted.

Did he just call me honey? If he weren't talking in puzzles I would have found it totally cute.

"I don't know what you are talking about. And I wasn't hurting before I found out that my fiance was cheating on me." I exclaimed.

"You were."

"Can you quit your puzzles and just tell me what is it that I have been avoiding?"

"No." Oh god he is so annoying. I imagined the fan on the ceiling falling on his head. That comforted me.

Well, at least now I know, if my career fails, I could always be a terrorist.

"You feel like you don't know because you are still avoiding it. Once you accept it, you will know yourself." He said.

Aaarrrghhhhh!

"If I have to figure everything out by myself, what the hell are you being paid for?" I said. Quite rudely.

He didn't answer. He just winked at me.
Arrrgghhhhhhhhhh × 1000 !!!!!

"Now continue where you left off. What happened after Raven came back?"

I began answering but my phone rang.

It was Aryan.

Dr Amit noticed my blank expression.

"Who is calling?"

"Aryan."

"Pick up."

I did.

"Hello?"

"Nea I know you dont want to speak to me but this is important." He sounded breatheless.

"What happened?"

"Manvi was in an accident. She got hit by a drunk driver." He sounded like he was about to cry.

"Where is she? How is she?"

"Doctors say she might wake up in an hour or so. She is okay but she asked for you when she got hit. Just you." He emphasized the "you".

"But she is fine, right?"

"Yeah. She will be. But.."

"But?"

"She lost the baby."

"She was pregnant?"

"Yeah....I know I know! We are at Le Mercy Hospital. Just come over!" He hung up.

Dr. Amit was looking at me intently.

"I have to go."

"I know.Let me come with you."

"Okay."

We left for the hospital in his car.

As we waited in the reception, I saw Mark.

"Nea...hey."

"Hi Mark."

"And you are?" He pointed at Dr. Mehra. Oh please dont say psychologist! Please dont!

"I am Amit. A close friend of Nea's."

"Oh. Hi, I am Mayank. Nea's ex boss." He tried to laugh.

"Mark do you mind? We have to go see Manvi." I said irritably.

Mark pulled me aside.

"Listen Nea...I want you to know.."

"That you are a selfish, insensitive jerk? I know already!" I cut him off.

He didnt respond.

"Well, I am sorry but im leaving." I said.

"Wait. I am an insensitive jerk. But not selfish." He said.

"Oh really?" I said in a sarcastic tone.
"Yes. Because if I were selfish I would not have fired you." He said leaving.

Ohmygod.

"Yeah I am sure your new editor in chief will help you sell your magazines too." I shouted.

He turned around.

"I didnt mean that. I am not only about business Nea. I was before. But then I met you."

Huh?

"I love you, Nea." He continued.