She screamed out loud, banging the door of the locked elevator. It's been an hour, she's locked inside, the empty building produces terrifying noises as she screams, her voice echoes, she can measure the density of her voice but none came to her rescue.

Obviously, she was the last to leave her office. She wanted to wind up all her incomplete work and enjoy the weekends with her friend's. After a disastrous fight with her boyfriend, her friends were her only hope and reason to be happy. And now she's stuck in the elevator all alone. She tried to call her friends but they never picked her call and the only person she was left with was her boyfriend who she knows will pick her call for sure because the fight was from her side, he had been trying to sort out things but she didn't agree.

Why would she listen to his falsehood stuff when she herself witnessed him kissing some other girl!?

The mere thought of remembrance enraged her!

She didn't call him, instead called the watchmen of the building who though pick her call but seemed to be drunk. Why do men see alcohol when they have a holiday the day after!?

She let out a growl and told him her situation but he was too drunk to understand her and come for her help. He cuts the call in between.

Another hour passes, the light goes off - - seem to be a power cut. She feels suffocated, sweat drops roll down her body. She's a patient of Claustrophobia. The darkness and close space scares her now.

She sidelined herself in a corner, her hands trembling but she managed to dial a number. She was left with no choice but to call that cheater.

He receives the call in the first ring itself, obviously he's free all the time - rich people things!!

Rich people are either too busy to make money or too busy to waste it. He falls in the second category as his father is working day and night to run their business empire.

''Hello!" His deep voice fell in her ears but before she could say anything the elevator suddenly started to fall with a high speed scaring her to the core such that she screams.

''Vineet!!!" She screams out his name.

She can hear his panicked voice asking her about her whereabouts.

''Main...main apne office ke lift mei atak gayi..idhar light bhi chali gayi aur pata nahi kyun ye lift apne aap niche jaa rahi hai....Vineet mujhe bahut darr laag raha hai.'' She cries over the phone.

He asked her to calm down and stand in a corner of the elevator so if by any chance the lift collapses she doesn't get much hurt while he leaves his house immediately. He engages her in the call so that she can be a little calm.

By the time he reaches her office, he finds darkness all around may be a power cut in the society. He breaks the lock of the main gate and runs inside. By now the lift was again stuck somewhere. Vineet asked her to flash the torch light of her phone so that he could know her position. She obeyed while he ran to each floor to check her.

On the 13th floor he could see light peeping from inside the close door of the lift.

''Ana!! You are here!??? Ana!!" He shouted her name.

''Vineet!! Vineet mujhe nikalo yahan se please!" She pleaded, crying.

Vineet tried to open the elevator but he refused to cooperate.

Vineet tried his best but couldn't open it. He called a few mechanics who told him that without electricity they can't do anything.

Vineet could hear her crying from inside, she was scared. While he was helpless, tears came out of his eyes.

All he could do now was to go on the terrace, open the lift cover, descend from 30th floor to 14th floor with the help of wire and reach the lift. He cannot take her out from the lift and move all long up to the terrace but at least he can be with her.

Without wasting even a minute, he ran to the terrace and began to execute his plan but it's not easy to reach the lift just with the support of wire. That too when you are a comfortable living person all your life. Still, he took the risk.

....

He got several bruises, his hands were filled with cut marks, he had hardly descended a few floors and he's exhausted totally. But he didn't stop because he knew her condition was more severe. By now, she must be trying hard to breathe.

While Anamika had fallen on her knees, trying to catch breath, her heart took up pace, her body trembles, tears rolling down her eyes continuously. When Vineet's voice disappears and he doesn't respond when she calls him, her heart breaks thinking he has left.

She tries to calm herself, to calm her heart to convinced herself that she's strong enough and can keep up herself till the morning, something good will surely happen. She keeps on reminding herself but her heart knows she may not see tomorrow's morning.

''Nahi!! Aisa nahi hoga, sab sahi hai kuch nahi hoga. Kissi ke nahi aane se kya fark padta hai, tu Bahut strong hai, haan tu strong hai!'' She reminds herself, tears still rolling down her cheeks.

Many moments pass by, Anamika keeps on motivating herself when all of the sudden a loud noise attracted her attention she scream in fear as the sound was from the roof of elevator. She looks up only to find a flashlight of phone. The person turns the toh himself, it was Vineet. Anamika is excited to see him. Vineet removes the fan and enters the lift from that small area getting cut marks in return.

''You okay!?? Thik ho na?" He questions her the moment he sees her.

Anamika stares at him, tears rolling down. Her heart wishes to hug him tightly but her mind refuses, it reminds her about his cheat.

Vineet nudges her and repeats his question.

''Main...main thik hoon.'' Anamika replied in a trembling voice.

Vineet sits beside her and holds her hand, she feels wet.

''Don't worry, kuch der mei light aa jaayegi toh mechanic bhi aa jaayega.'' He assures her as he had called his father and discussed the matter with him and he assures him of solving the problem.

Anamika turns to look at him, the light goes on. She can clearly see his sweaty face now, he has bruises on his face and also deep cuts are present in his hands, blood is oozing out of his hand.

Anamika holds his hand in her,''ye Kaise ho gaya??? Vineet ye kya kiya tumne.'' She scolded him while taking out tissues from her bag and pressing it on his wound.

All the while he stares at her. Her eyes were red due to continuous crying, her hands were trembling, she looked scared but still concerned for his wound.

He's still trying to figure out why she broke up with him? Because he kissed a girl? Wasn't he clear enough about his living style or his nature? He already had cleared her about his past relationship, also he has brought up in London where it is really common to smooch someone. He had told her about it still she gets angry when he kiss a friend, why? Above all, it was a welcome kiss. He wasn't smooching the lady in his own girlfriend's birthday party but a warm welcome to a dear friend. Anamika took it otherwise, he tried to explain to her but she refused to hear his side of the story. Lastly he drops the topic for he can't prove himself to someone who doesn't bother to listen to him and makes a decision according to one perspective without knowing anything about other thoughts.

The lift again begins to fall, Anamika screams and holds him tight. Her nails digging in his arm, Vineet holds her securely. Vineet fears, what if the elevator collapses!?

He moves in a corner along with him, Anamika hugs him out of fear, tears rolls down her cheeks.

''Vineet main marna nahi chahti!!" She expressed, sobbing.

Vineet just holds her. How can he comfort her saying he won't let anything happen to her when he himself isn't sure of anything.

Elevator again stops after a moment. They sigh in relief, Anamika doesn't leave him still. He caresses her back and separates her, he doesn't want her to regret later. He knows, he was her last option. She must have tried to get help from her friend and as usual they must haven't taken her call and so forth she called him.

Well, he doesn't blame her friend. They have their own life and on weekends they spend their time with their respective boyfriends unlike her who's much concentrated in her work and earning money.

Anamika cast a look at him, he's not looking at her but trying to call someone. He's calm and fully concentrated like always.

She doesn't see any guilt in his eyes. Well, he's not ashamed of what he did, instead he was trying to convince her that his act was normal and common nowadays, but how can she accept it? It wasn't normal for her. They were committed in a relationship where she only wanted love, trust, respect and loyalty but he broke her trust. He kissed someone else at her birthday party and expected her to accept it easily.

He never asked about her feelings at the moment. The moment she saw him kissing the girl her heart broke yet she tried to convince herself that it is normal for him, he had told her about such things. She thought to let it go but when he refused to accompany her and chose to go along with his girl - friend to drop her at her place, she lost her control.

She had planned so much for the day. She never liked to celebrate her birthday as it turns costly but because he likes it she plans a party and also booked a room in a hotel to spend the night with him but he ruined it all, he ruined her day for his friend and expects her to take it normally. How? Why? She has spent her one month salary to organize the party and book the room just because he likes it and also ruined it.

When she told him about the same, he simply said he would repay her the money. This made her insane and she broke up before he showed off his money again and insulted her self respect.

Anamika keeps her head on the wall of the elevator, tears still rolling down her cheek. There is a chance that they may survive, get out of the elevator but she may never be able to love anyone else. She closes her eyes and lets out a deep sigh.

Vineet looks up at her, he manages to type a message to his father who told him that the mechanic will be there in a moment and they need not to worry.

He finds her crying, maybe because she's scared.

''Don't worry, mechanic aata hi hoga kissi bhi waqt. Hum kuch der mei yahan se nikal jaayenge, tumhe kuch nahi hoga!" He assures her, Anamika casts a look at him, he smiles at her.

''Itna kuch toh ho chuka hai, aab uss se bura toh kuch ho bhi nahi sakta.'' She says turning away.

Vineet let out a breath,''aisa kuch hua nahi tha jitna tum react kar gayi. Meine pehle hi tumse kaha tha, mere liye ye koi nayi baat nahi hai phir bhi tum bewajah iss baat ko itna khichne lagi toh main kuch nahi kar sakta. Main apne aap ko bewajah ki baat pe justify nahi kar sakta. Tumhe lagta hai main galat hoon toh wahi sahi main tumhari soch nahi badal sakta!!" He exclaims, emphasizing on his words.

''It's okay!! Meine tumse koi justification manga bhi nahi. I know you have your own reason and I have mine, tumhare liye sab chij normal hai lekin mere liye nahi ho sakta sab itna Aasan. Tum toh London mei paale bare ho, wahan ki culture ko samajhte ko. Main toh Kabhi iss seher se bahar tak na gayi. Maine toh kabhi itna bada ghar bhi nahi dekha tha Jismei tum roz rehte ho. Hamara waise bhi koi match nahi tha, meine bewajah hi itne sapne dekh liye the aur fir bewajah hi ladai kar baithi. Sorry!! Mujhe laga tha shayad mera haq hai tumpe, shayad jaisa main feel karti hoon waisa tum bhi karte ho. Mujhe laga shayad hum dono committed hai par main bhool gayi thi ki tumhare pass mere siwa air bhi bahut kuch hai karne ko. I'm not the only person jiske saath tum special feel karte ho, tumhare pass bahut log hai, bahut paisa hai, sab kuch easygoing hai tumhare liye. Mere liye nahi hai aur ye main bhool gayi thi. I'm sorry.. I'm sorry!!" Anamika blurted out her pain in a calm yet deep voice.

Vineet let out a chuckle.

''Wow!! Kitni easily tumne saara ilzaam bbi mujh pe daal diya ki sab galti meri hai yahan tak ki meri life style comfortable hai kyunki mere pass bahut paisa hai toh ye sab galti meri hai aur Kyunki tumhare pass ye nahi hai toh bhi main hi galat hoon, Waahh!! Tum waise bhi pehle hi sab decide kar chuki ho aur main pehle hi keh chuka hoon main khudko justify nahi kar sakta wo bhi tab jab tumhe samajhna wahi hai jo tum chahti ho.
Haan, I kissed her aur mujhe iss baat ka koi regret nahi kyunki ye galat nahi hai mere liye. Wo meri friend hai aur main bas usse comfortable feel karane ki koshish kar raha tha. Wo pehli baar mere kehne pe India aai thi, usse awkward laag raha tha, main bas usse comfortable karne ki koshish kar raha tha par tumhe toh ye samajhna hi nahi hai, toh main kuch nahi kar sakta iska.'' He asseverate.

''Kiss karke comfort feel karane ki baat meri samajh ke toh bahar hai!! Aur bhi bahut tareeke hote hai par tumhe kiss hi karna tha!!" She rages, how easily he says he's not regretful of his act.

''Toh!?? Jab tumhe kiya tab toh problem nahi hui tumhe kissi aur ko kiya toh hone lagi, kyun? You know what, you are just insecure aur kuch nahi. Let it be, mujhe baat bhi nahi karni. I came here because you called me!!" He reminds her, Anamika lowered her eyes and turned away silently.

Complete silence prevails in the elevator. Meanwhile, they hear some sound from outside. The mechanics had arrived. Vineet shouted for them, they assured him and asked to stand a little away from the gate. Vineet agrees while the mechanics process to work.

Few moments passed by, the mechanics successfully opened the door and helped them. Vineet thanked them for their help and asked the price for their service. The guy told him the amount, Anamika immediately took out money and paid them. Vineet was surprised by her act but let it go.

Now that they are safe, Anamika leaves the building, crippling as she was hurt on her leg. Vineet follows her and offers help but she refuses.

''Thanks!! Yahan aane ke liye aur meri help karne ke liye and sorry tumhara itna time waste karne ke liye.'' She states, not meeting his gaze.

It's okay, if he doesn't see any difference between her and any other girl. It's okay if he thinks she doesn't have any special place but some random person. She accepts it.

''Fine aab tumhe iska bhi issue banana hai aur ye sochna hai toh it's okay. Ye tumhari marji hai main kuch nahi kar sakta!!" He exclaims.

Anamika looks up, why is he being so cold towards her?

''Haan, main umeed bhi nahi karti ki tum meri problem samjho. Mere jaisi bahut hai tumhare pass jinko kiss karke comfortable feel karane mei jyada busy ho tum toh karo, I don't care. Main paaglon ki tarah nahi bhag sakti tumhare piche kyunki tumhare pass bahut paise hai mere pass nahi. Tum ghar baithe reh sakte ho par mere upar kuch zimmedariyan hai jo mujhe nibhani hai aur wo tum Kabhi nahi samajh sakte. Tum karo jo karna hai tumhe, hum waise bhi alag ho chuke hai.'' She shouted out and turned to leave but screamed, feeling intense pain in her leg.

She composed herself and headed to the road. It's already 2 at night, the roads are empty and she again struggles with her thoughts. How will she reach her apartment now??

She sat down on the road because of pain and tried to book a cab but couldn't. Who would serve at midnight?

She let out a deep sigh and turned when heard his deep voice.

''Agar tumhari izzat na kaam ho jaaye mere saath aane mei toh main tumhe ghar chod sakta hoon.'' He offers help in a sarcastic tone.

Anamika gazes at him, he walks to her.

''Fikar maat karo tumhe comfortable feel karane ke liye kuch nahi karunga.'' He assured her and forwarded his hand. She stares at him fir a moment but holds his hand. He helped her to stand and settle in the car.

He himself settled in the driver seat and ignited the car. Their journey to her apartment begins.

His hand was still bleeding and her body was paining.

They were silent, his concentration was on the road while she had tears in her eyes. She would never forget her 25th birthday, where she lost him and desired to love. She will never love anyone in her life, she can't.

Vineet gazes at her in between, her tears pain him but he ain't at fault.

Meanwhile they reach her society. He stops the car, she descends down the car and heads to her apartment but looks back at him for the last time.

''Good Bye, Vineet! I wish tumhe koi aisa mile jo tumhe samjhe!" She vocalizes with her stammering words and turns away leaving a tongue tied Vineet behind. He stares at her sitting in his car, tears rolling down his eyes.

He never knew, goodbye can be so cruel!!

...

Sometimes, ego wins over love!!

...

The end!!