PIHA'S POV:
[Seven days later] 27th May

My cheeks immediately become heated as yesterday's meet revolves around my mind.

//Flashback//

I place my hands around his arm which rests on the Gearshift and grabbing the chance I move closer to him.

I let out a sigh of relief. So comfortable and warm.

My head involuntarily leans further and I feel it rest upon his biceps which are nothing but a pillow for me for now.

His chuckle falls onto my ear causing me to widen my eyes at my own actions.

"How closer are you going to come, Venus? How about you come and sit in my lap. I shall not complain at all." He lets another scary laugh.

I pull my hand back and move far away-almost sticking to the window, "I was just...you know..."

"No I don't know. Please explain, my Venus."

My eyes widen once again, but at his actions this time. Did he call me his Venus??

No, he did not mean that. He was just trying to imply that the name Venus was given by him-nothing else. If anyone would have heard him they would probably wonder if he was flirting with me, but then why would he flirt with me? Of course he wouldn't, after all I am nothing compared to him.

Curling up in the seat, I throw my gaze out of the window only for his soft yet rough voice to reach my ear, "you okay, Venus? Is something wrong?"

No, no, no, Piha. Do not look up, his blue orbs are going to melt you.

But shouldn't I be talking to him right now because after going to college we would lose contact right? It's not possible for us to be the same like we are now-for the next three years.

Who would ask me about my day? Who would pull me close and hug me as of there's no tomorrow? Or maybe even tease me and call pretty and kind?

How can I be strangers with someone who I've spent all these memorable times with.

I feel the car stop and a hand snakes up around my waist as I am pulled to his chest.

"Is it about Roman? Are you thinking about him again?"

He says only for me to realise how the centre of my thoughts has changed-from being sad about Roman's dead to being sad because I won't be able to talk to Ansh anymore.

"Ansh." I fist his shirt as he strokes my hair.

"Yes, Venus?" But I just stay quiet not wanting to break the silence. "Tell me about it, please."

My arms wrap around him and I snuggle closer, "We'll lose contact once I go to college, won't we?"

"No, Venus, no. I've told you so many times we won't. I won't give up on us and won't even let you, though it is just friendship. But you're much more than a friend to me, sweetheart. You are very special and important to me. There is no way I will let us lose contact." He tightens his grip around my shoulder.

"But it's three years we are talking about Ansh. You will be annoyed by me someday or the other." I gently push him away and curl up in my seat.

I hear him sigh as his fingers continue to run in my open hair, "what difference does it make? I want to be friends with you forever. Like forever. Because you make me feel understood and as if I have someone of my own...you make me feel happy. Losing contact with you is losing all these things-and I cannot afford that because what you make me feel is fucking priceless."

He continues, "promise me Venus, we'll be friends forever, right?"

My eyes meet his ocean blue orbs only for me to nod at his sincerity.

//Flashback ends//

He wants to be friends with me forever? Like forever? He must be crazy. Why would anyone want to be friends with me?

Anyway.

Coming back from the thoughts of the blue-eyed man, here I am-waiting for him in his car given that he told me, 'Venus, sit here. Do not move okay? I'll get us some coffee. Don't you dare move, it is not very safe here. Also, lock the door and call me if you need something. I'll be back within five'.

He is so freaking silly, like I have been living here-in Pune, for my entire life, minus the years I've spent in college-but nothing has ever happened to me.

He is concerned about, Piha. Maybe he...likes you.

Widening my eyes, I cover my face with my palm. How could I think of something so absurd?

"Ugh, how could I?" I continue to curse myself.

"How could you what, Venus?" A husky voice falls onto my ear only for me tremble.

Ignoring him, I bury my sight into the textbook which I was supposed to be reading but a certain guy has been a distraction.

"Keep the thing away, give me some attention," saying, he pulls the book from my lap and I feel his lips pressed to my cheeks.

It has been very difficult for me to digest the fact that we have been holding hands, but here he is, kissing me.

On the cheeks of course.

I turn to him before he does something that could make me a blushing mess, "hi."

He leaves me into a confused state as he does everything but get into the car.

Pointing towards the backside of the car, he states, "let's sit behind shall we. The front seat is quite uncomfortable for me to hug you."

Can he stop?

It must be crazy how much I blush when he's around. I instantly open the door and sit at the backseat as he chuckles and sits beside me.

I carefully eye the glass of tea he has been holding and say, "Ansh, weren't you going to get coffee?"

He smiles sheepishly, "I know it was supposed to be coffee because I did not realise-we don't get coffee at chai stalls. Do you not like tea, Venus? We can get you something else."

He says causing me to instantly object, "no ya Ansh. Which idiot wouldn't want to drink chai that too while it's raining. It have been days since I did this."

Feeling his sight upon me, I snap my head in his direction.

He continues piercing his gaze through me as he places the glasses of tea upon the hand rest and his arm goes around my waist, "oh yes, I like it too. It is so romantic."

What the hell, Piha? Is he for real. Isn't he going overboard now? Oh, I mean yes, he can flirt with you-but calling the situation romantic and looking at you like that, isn't it a bit extreme? Here he is flirting with you casually and there-you won't even realise when you'll fall for him.

Fall for him??

No. I cannot do that.

That sounds so stupid. He deserves so much better. I am probably the last person on this planet he will ever like.

I am insecure about myself, not so beautiful and definately not those popular types. Being friends with him and knowing him feels so different, you don't know him as Raghvansh Birla anymore. He is Ansh. A normal being and not the person who every single person in this country knows.

But it's weird to think that he has a life outside, like outside this small world. Apart from his friends, his practices, his house and also apart from me, apart from what we both have.

This is not his life. His life is full of money, fame, popularity and all the glitz and glam. He sits and gets up with influential people.

That is his life.

It is not this one.

We don't belong to the same world.

Not wanting to meet his eyes, I turn to face the door and fidget with my fingers only to feel his chest pressed against my back as his arms tighten around my waist, once again. His mint breath fills me up and my I place my hands upon his-leaning into his frame on its accord.

"Don't you freaking turn away from me. What is it?" He places his chin upon my shoulder.

I might be so annoying-getting upset upon the most minor reasons ever, which you can't even call upset. The only thing I am good at is ruining everyone's mood.

"Venus," he says, "tell me please. Did I do something? Did I make you upset? I am sorry if I did, I shall not forgive myself."

Shifting comfortably, I reply, "no Ansh. You can never upset me."

I hesitantly continue as he deserves to know, "Ansh. It is fine for you to have a bit of fun and you know...like flirt and all, but then you shouldn't say such things. What if I take it in the wrong way?"

"And what if it is the right way?"

"Ha?" I question as he throws me his confusing statement. Right ways? What is that supposed to mean-that he likes me?

He is so silly. He wants to say something else and ends up saying something else.

"You'll understand soon, don't worry," he whispers as he kisses my earlobe and pulls back even before I can comprehend it.

"I probably have a sweater in the Trunk, let me get it for you," he casually says and adjusting his mask and shades, he gets out.

Piha, what did he say? You'll understand soon?

Yes, yes, he did say that, but he'll understand soon what it sounded. I chuckle at the 31-year-old man and sneak towards where he was previously sitting.

I am literally so weird.

My laugh is broken by a ringtone which is unfamiliar given that is not mine but his. My gaze diverts to his 'not-so-affordable' phone.

'Mom'

What is this supposed to mean?

Maybe it is someone who he considers as his parents. He doesn't have parents, Piha. He has told you, you've probably read about it on the internet too and the world knows it. How's it possible that his parents might be alive?

But he would've told me about it, right? Like he has someone who he considers his mom, then she might be close to him. He should've spoke about her.

Should I pick up the call? I know it would be very unmannered of me, but what if it is important? I know he would be a bit upset, but it will be very ignorant of me to not pick it up.

Doesn't matter, I am going to pick it up given that I am curious about who it is. I mean he had someone who he referred to as his 'mother', but never told me about it.

Sighing, I quickly pick his phone up and swiping across the green button, I press it to my ear.

"Raghvansh beta (son)," an annoying high-pitched voice falls onto my ear.

Beta? Why would someone call him that? My palm covers my mouth in order to not let the thousand questions slip off my tongue.

I feel my curiosity at its peak and the lady says, "Raghvansh, come on, how long are you going to keep your mouth shut? You have to answer your mother someday or the other, right?"

"Come home. Your father, brother and I have been waiting for you." Her voice chills my spine. The evil laughter as same as Anshs'.

No, it can't be.

Your father, brother and I.

No one says that unless they are biologically related. He has a family. They are not dead. They live with him. He is still in contact with them.

It was all a lie. They did not die in a car crash-there was no such car crash. He lied all this while-to the world, to the media...to me.

He never lived in an orphanage. He probably did not even suffer from pancreatic Cancer. About his parents hating him-it was a lie to.

Why put up such an act, Ansh?

My hand drops from my ears causing the phone to bang upon the handrest as it hits the glasses of tea.

A burning sensation over my knee causes me to whimper only to realise that the tea is spilled all over.

But that is the last thing I care about.

A tear escapes my eye followed by a sob. It hurts, physically and mentally. I could have never imagined that Ansh could have this side too.

He is the kind-Roman would ask me stay away from. I have failed you, Roman, my heart, my love, my everything.

I wish I wouldn't have ever met him. I feel so dumb. The guy who once made me feel so good; it's like I don't know him anymore. He is not the person he portrayed himself as.

How many people has he fooled before? It was so lucky of me to understand all this or-maybe it wouldn't taken me long enough to fall for him.

I would never for a liar and cheater like him?

Was that for sympathy or something worse that I cannot even think of?

I shouldn't waste my time thinking about people like him. I don't need anyone or especially him to make me feel good or confident about myself.

Spending time with him-will make me like him. A piece of trash.

Ignoring the fact that my body has given up and is in no condition to walk, I open the door and my trembling feet walk me out.

I cautiously close the door behind me, not wanting to attract the loser. Wiping a stream of tears which run down my cheeks, I spot my car and place big steps towards it. I cover a little distance only to feel a hand a go around my wrist.

It is not as it used to be. This time, a feeling of disgust takes over me and not the warmth with the comfort. It makes me feel sick.

"Where are you going, Venus?" he says in his soft voice, which sounds manipulative now. Has he always been this way?

I have to get out of here.

Using all the strength within me, I push him as his back hits the car not so gently. My eyes soften and breath hitches until I realise once again, he's pretending again.

My feet turn on the spot and I continue walking towards my car. Doesn't matter even if he gets injured, he is a doctor himself and is capable of helping himself.

I tug on the strap of my backpack and sniffle a few before unlocking the door of my car, but a hand shuts it.

"Venus!" He holds onto his hand as if hurt, "what is up with you?"

I try to unlock the door but his strong arm prevents me from from doing. Why is he testing my patience now? I do not want to yell at him because yelling at him-is talking to him and that is the last thing I want to do.

"Move away," I mutter which is not even audible to him.

Not being able to control myself, I yell, "I said move!"

He holds me by my shoulder and forcefully makes me face him as my eyes meet his vulnerable one. But they don't make me pity or understand him this time, I don't want to.

He cups my face and I end up shutting my eyes at his touch. Why can't he stay away? I don't want to associate myself with him any longer.

"Venus, tell me. What is wrong? Why are crying and yelling this way? I have never seen you this angry, sweetheart. Don't be this way please, it is hurting me. Please. Who made you so mad? We will make sure they go to hell, I will look into it, okay? Just tell me, I will kill the person."

"Then kill yourself!"

I can't help but instantly regret my words. No one deserves to die. But he doesn't deserve an apology. I am not going to meet him after tonight anyway.

Taking a deep breath, I place my palm on his chest to push him away but instead I feel his fingers interwine with mine as he pushes me against the car gently like ever.

He stares into my eyes and tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear, "Venus, I did not do anything wrong. I would never do something that would make you angry or sad. There is a misunderstanding, trust me."

"Stop lying for god's sake, Raghvansh. How long do you plan on hiding this? Stop wasting your time upon me, anyway we're not supposed to be friends. Go call your mother, maybe it is something important."

I watch his soul leave his body as he stares at me wide-eyed. Why wouldn't he? Afterall his secret is out, he's scared that I'll tell the world. But I won't. It is his personal life, and I won't care about it any longer.

"She ca-called? Why would you pick up the phone Venus?! Anyway I do not blame you for that. Did she say something? Something mean or rude? Don't listen to her, she is a fucking witch. Don't take it your heart."

How could he speak about his mother that way? Does he have no heart at all? How disrespectful of him.

I yell, "how could you speak about your mother that way, Raghvansh? How could I not see this side of you until now. How could you pretend to have no family, that is so sick. You disgust me!"

I watch his eyes become teary and holding both my hands, he says, "don't say that please, Venus. I'm not a bad person. What you know is half of the truth. I will tell you everything, don't worry. But don't be too quick to judge, dammit. I am not a bad person, and I am not Raghvansh, I am Ansh. Your Ansh."

I pull my hand away from his grip as his word anger me. He still won't admit that he's wrong, will he?

"You are-Raghvansh Birla, the liar, who lied to the entire world to just gain sympathy. How could you stoop so low, Raghvansh? Is it humanly possible?"

"This," I point to back-and-forth between us, "we don't need this. You are no one to me and I am no one to you. Let's end this all. No wait, you don't even deserve a closure. Go to hell!"

He sticks his forehead to mine and as much as I try to move away, he pulls me closer, "Dammit you, don't say those things. You know what you mean to me and I know what I mean to you too. Don't rack your brain, I shall tell you everything. I will tell you everything this very minute-"

I push him away and he finally stands at a distance, "I don't want to know about it! I do not give a fuck about you, how difficult is that to understand?"

He stares at me with disbelief as if I am at fault, "Venus, don't, please. You are going to regret this later."

Regret this? What does he mean?

I tear escapes my eye as my own words dance in my mind.

He is very influential. He can destroy me within seconds.

No, I can trust him that much, right? He won't hurt me, would he? But he is not Ansh, he is Raghvansh Birla, the man I do not know. I know nothing about this Raghvansh. Whether he is safe to be with, I have no clue.

I have to reach home as soon as possible.

I clutch onto my backpack as I dig my nails in its stap.

"I am sorry, please let me go," I mutter under my breath as I slowly get inside the car, but he wraps his fingers around my elbow and pulls me out.

He makes me face him once again only for his sad eyes to meet me, "let us sought this out, please. I will tell you everything, then it is for you to decide whether you want to stick around or leave me."

No, I can't stay with him. He'll destroy me. No one would even know.

I release myself from his grip and say as I am a crying mess by now, "leave me please. Raghvansh Sir, I promise I won't t-tell anyone. Really. Please, let me go. I want to go ho-home."

His arm goes around my waist this time and I fall onto his chest causing me to move my arms and legs in attempt to get out of his hold but in vain.

"Shhhh! Don't cry. How could you even think I'll do something wrong with you. Hear me out-K? We'll talk peacefully, hmm?" He caress my hair and forget for a second what he is really like. I cannot trust him.

I continue to beat his chest until he place his arm below my knee and the other one around my waist. I fell my feet lift off the ground only to realise he has picked me up.

I am going to have a good fall today.

Squeezing my eyes shut, I throw my hand around his neck in order to save myself.

"Don't move," he whispers as I continue to to close my eyes at the fear. He is going to drop me or maybe even throw me, why pick me up in the first place? Even if I try to move I am going to die today.

How did I get myself into such a situation?

I widen my eyes as he opens the door of the car and sits on the drivers seat placing me on his lap.

I can't even get out of here. Everything is in god's hands now.

He lifts my head with his rough palms and I look into his sincere eyes, "listen to me. We will talk it out okay? No arguments at all. I know I should've told you before or more like not kept you in the dark this way. But Venus you would have left me, like everyone else did. I have a reason for it. For hiding all this from you-"

I let out a laugh at words, "for a second I thought-all this wouldn't be true. But you proved me wrong, Raghvansh Birla. What could possibly be your reason to hide your own parents? Do you not hate yourself?"

I watch tears leave his eyes as he sobs and runs his fingers through my hair.

"It is not what you think, Venus," his broken voice falls onto my ear.

I swat his hand away and grab the collar of his ruby red t-shirt, "isn't it very obvious, Raghvansh? I am not a fool. And don't try that-I'm not going to fall for it, just because you're crying doesn't mean I am going to pity you."

He presses his palm to his eyes as tears continue to flow down his cheeks and he sobs hard enough for me to be worried, but I do not care. He is no one to me.

"I hate to hear those words from your mouth, sweetheart. I wish I had told you before. It is all my mistake." He cries.

"I. Do. Not. Care," I spat, "get out of my car, I have to go home. Anyway there is no reason for us to stay in contact and also, I don't want to associate myself with someone like you."

I don't know whether it's the truth. I wish I had never picked up the call, things wouldn't change between us. But it is not my fault, he is the one who has ruined it.

I bury my sight into his dead eyes but they reflect absolutely nothing, "Let me go. I know I'm not a good person too, but atleast I am better that you. So stay away, you will just make me worse-"

I say only to be cut by his loud voice, "they are my parents!"

My eyes fall out of their sockets hearing his words as he says it so casually.

"What do you mean by they are your parents?" I yell.

He runs his fingers over my cheeks and kisses my forehead gently, "Venus, they are my biological parents. And yes, they are alive."

How disgusting can a person be? Hiding their parents who have given birth to them?

I try my best to not Kick him out of the car given that now I genuinely want to know why he would do something so inhuman.

I gesture him to speak and he continues,"it is true that they are my parents but I have never lived them. I mean I have but only till the age of five-"

"So does that allow you to disown your own parents? And at the age of five? Raghvansh, you think I'm going to believe that? Do you think I trust you after all you did- about lying about your parents, about living in an orphanage and about the accident? You sure are unbelievable," I state as anger takes over me and all I want to this moment is slap the man sitting in front of me or maybe the man on whose lap I am sitting on.

He wipes another stream of tears and says, "Listen to me dammit. I have not lied about the 'not living with them' and the orphanage thing. Venus trust me on this. I lived in an orphanage ever since I turned 5. They threw me out of my own house. I begged them every single day to take me in, they just wouldn't. They wouldn't even come to meet me once. What sort of parents would do that, tell me? They did it. They ruined my entire childhood, but to their dismay, they couldn't ruin my entire life-"

I press my hands to my ears as I cannot bear his sicking words anymore. Shall he go this far?

"Raghvansh, stop, for heaven's sake. Just stop. Don't go this far. Stop lying, you don't need to justify yourself to me, I do not even care. You think I am going to believe your lies? No parent can do such a thing with their own child. Get out of my sight right now, this very second."

What he said wasn't true right? They are going to stick in my mind forever. How low of him say something like that just for sympathy. He knows I am a little sensitive and I overthink, but despite of that- he would still go ahead and lie. He knows I am going think about it for a long time.

He is such a bad person.

I feel two hands remove the barrier of my ears and he holds my hand comfortably, "that is one of the reason why I wouldn't tell you. I knew you wouldn't be able to take it, digest it. It is sad and disgusting, but I have lived with it all my life, Venus. Why would I lie about something like this? You know I can never go that low."

His dilated pupils display sincerity-forcing me to trust his words for once. But I can't so easily. I will never trust anyone from today on.

"No, I shall not trust you," I say but my heart opposes.

Piha, what if everything he says is true? What if he wasn't lying about it? What if he has gone through all the trauma for real and you have said all those things to him, will you ever forgive yourself?

Whatever he said was a lie. Right? It cannot be true. That is not possible? Such parents cannot be for real, can they? Throwing their own child out of the house? Such people are only show in movies, how can they exist in real life?

Knowing Raghvansh, he would never stay in contact with them if they had left him to die this way.

I lift my gaze as my hands from fall his collar and rest on his chest.

"It is not true, right Ansh?" I whisper and realise that I haven't called him Raghvansh, but Ansh. Does that mean I want to trust him?

His broken blue eyes seem to have given up and he looks half dead. And it hurts to see him this way.

Trust him, please Piha. Hasn't he given you all those beautiful memories-making you feel love about yourself, letting you cry in his arm for hours and as you told him about Roman, telling you to take care of yourself once you go to college, being possessive about you and hiding you in his embrace. It cannot all be a lie, right? For the sake of the times you both have spent together, please. Give him a last chance and trust him. Why would he make you feel so special if he had to hurt you at the end?

I should trust him. Though he had hid it all, he might have had a reason.

I lower my gaze as I mutter, "I trust you."

Feeling his body push upon mine, my breath hitches and he cries, "Venus."

His fingers play in my hair and ruin my middle partition but that is the last thing I care about. Hesitantly wrap my arms around him and he continues burying his head in my chest and cries like a five-year-old. I try hard hard to not let the the chuckle slip off my tongue given the situation but he has made it difficult now.

My fingers run through his neatly combed hair as I massage he back of his head, "Shhh, stop crying, Ansh."

He pulls back all of sudden and his swollen eyes are enough to break my heart.

"Venus, I didn't do anything. It is not my fault, trust me, please," his sad voice instantly make me feel guilty about not trusting him prior.

I extend my hand and wipe his aching tears away as I say, "I trust you, Ansh. I am sorry for saying all things before-"

He interrupts, "no, do not say sorry. You have to right to scold me or yell at me or hit me. I deserve it all. I had planned on telling you this, Venus. Maybe today-or tomorrow but I never wanted you to find it out this way."

He didn't want to hide it from me. Maybe he thought I was trustworthy and knew I would believe him. But I didn't.

I free the tears and they escape instantly making me bury my face in the nape of his neck and his concerned voice falls onto my ear, "why you crying, my woman? It is not your fault, nor is it mine."

"But I should've trusted you right? Why didn't I?"

He caresses my hair and secures his arms tightly around my waist, "I didn't expect you to either. It was normal for you to behave that way, Venus. But you do now-don't apologise now. Hear about it first-okay? Don't trust anyone blindly."

I cry further at his stupid words, "but it is not anyone. It is you, Ansh."

"Okay, okay, it is me. Your Ansh. Now shall I tell you about it, shouldn't I?" He pulls me back from his embrace causing me to whine at which he giggles.

However worse the the truth is, I will trust him because he is not someone who will hurt people for absolutely no reason. I shall face the truth.

I mentally prepare myself to listen to the reality of his life, which doesn't sound good at all.

I quickly mutter a 'tell me' and to that he says, "I told you a part of it, Venus. Yes, they threw me out of the house when I was as young as five and it is also true that they hated me and called me a burden. You see-my childhood was not that great."

Is it possible for people to become this way? Why have they destroyed their own hearts and become such heartless humans?

I have grown up with parents who have given me all they could and I have no reason to complain, whereas his parents have taken away everything from him-he could ever have.

But why would someone do such an act?? Are they crazy? Or maybe suffering from mental illness-but diseases don't make you monsters, do they?

I ask what I have been wanting to know, "wh-why did they do that, Ansh? What made them them do something so immoral?"

He lets out an evil laugh-similiar to the one of his mother which I had heard on the call and scares me to core.

He tries to compose himself but the scary smile still plays on his lips as he rubs my temple for no reason, "you don't want to know. You wouldn't believe. Also I thought it would be easy to tell you but I guess I was wrong. You are too pure to understand all this, Venus. It is going to disturb you and once you know-you are going to be a part of my life like, those who know are."

A part of his life? Like someone who is close to him and means a lot to him? I wouldn't mind that at all.

Blinking curiously, I simply say, "tell me."

He smiles all lovingly making my heart melt without caring about how disturbing or sad the reason is, "I was so fucking young that time, Venus. I wouldn't even understand half of the words they would speak."

"They would always tell me that they had gone for a business trip and would return in a few weeks. And by them-I mean the workers in the orphanage, my parents never visited me- once I went there. When I was young, I always thought they loved me very much, but they didn't. Dada (elder brother) and I were always a burden to them. Maybe just puppet who would carry the business."

"I would always wait for them at the entrance saying 'they are coming to pick me up and I would go home and we would live like a happy family at the end of the day but that never happened. They never came to pick me up."

"Dada would come to meet me and promise me that he would take me home tomorrow but they stoped him from visiting me the day I turned 10. I didn't meet him for fucking two decades."

He stops and takes a deep breath as I graze his cheeks with my thumb and press a soft kiss on his forehead. I feel him instantly pull me to chest and I place my arm around his neck comfortably.

"Let's stay like this forever," he whispers and I only giggle.

"I wish I could-but you still have to tell me the rest, right?"

He nods and pulls back instantly, "dammit you, interrupted my flow by your adorable shit once again."

I gape at him as he kisses my cheek and says, "okay, I shall tell you everything first."

Nodding, I join my finger at the back of his neck and he does the same behind my wait

Taking a deep breath, he continues once again, "so yes. After that I battled with cancer. Beat it when I was 14 and ever since I started playing Kabaddi. I discovered my love for biology and then took up science followed by MBBS and MD. I knew I needed an alternative because Kabaddi wasn't popular back then and given that it wouldn't be enough to pay my daily expenses-"

"Fuck it! Where did I reach? I had to tell you about my parents, right? Why am I telling you about my career?" He lets out an awkward laugh.

I chuckle at the cute guy as he runs his fingers through his hair, "it is okay, Ansh. I am up to hear about your career too. It is all fine until you are involved in it."

I say only to realise how lovesick I sound.

He giggles adorably, "no no, I shall tell you about those people first. You deserve to know."

He grazes my cheeks smoothly saying, "they threw me out because I had cancer and thought I was going to die anyway. They could have saved me, but they didn't care to. The expenses, time waste, looking over me-they said it was unnecessary."

"I was a very chubby child during my childhood, and I started losing too much of weight all of sudden. By too much I mean, it dropped by 20 pounds within fifteen days. The cramps in my abdomen were to much for me to handle. I told them and they said it was nothing or maybe because I didn't eat much. It was true-a sandwich would keep me full for about 12 hours. My appetite was gone. When I told Dada, he forced mom and dad to take me to our family doctor."

A tear slides down his eye, "I was in stage 2B, suffering from pancreatic cancer. When I heard the doctor talking about it-I didn't even know what it was. Five year old Raghvansh thought it was like cough or cold. When I questioned them about it, they said it to my face-'you're going to die'. I laughed thinking they were kidding about it. The next day, our driver dropped me off to a unfamiliar place saying that Mom Dad were going for a business trip along with Dada and would return after a few weeks. It was very common for them to travel but they used to leave me and Dada with the maids, not at the place the driver took me to."

"I found it suspicious when they did not return even after two weeks. Whenever I would ask the workers at the orphanage, they would just pass me pitiful looks. A month and then Dada had finally come to visit me, but uncle, dad's brother was there with him. He said I could meet my brother for fifteen minutes only because I cough and therefore he did not want him to suffer from the same. I believed it. I believed their lie. He kept visiting me, be it for fifteen minutes. I missed my parents so much, I begged uncle to take me home, I would stay in the room and not come in contact with anyone, they would not fall ill because of me."

"Our summer vacations were over and they changed my school. It was a school near our orphanage. I had no Friends to talk to. My brother wasn't there too. Everyone treated me differently. I would do schooling for an hour and come back to my room there."

"Out of sudden, one day, Dada stopped visiting me. I asked everyone why he wouldn't, they just said he was busy with school. I had questioned them about my parents a billion times, but they would just keep their mouths shut."

"Another year passed, I cried to myself every night. I wanted to go home. I wanted to live with my family. The thought that would make me tear up within a second, it grew bigger. It scared my soul. What if they were dead?"

"But I was wrong. The person who was dead was me."

"Years passed. I was in stage 3. The doctors around me always said that I was one one of the luckiest people they had seen. Staying in the same stage for almost 7 years, it was close to impossible. But then it went down hill, my body gave up. All of sudden I found breathing hard, my appetite became zero. I thought it was a phase but maybe it wasn't. They informed me I was in the third stage now. I did understand most of it, but I thought I would get well soon. I didn't have the money for anything. They would come, one day, they would. But they didn't."

"There was no ray of hope, except one. The doctor said it was my last hope. If I could get through it, I would survive."

"And there is was. The Whipple procedure. Either I would die or live. At that point of life-I thought I was better off dead. There was no reason for me to be alive."

"But maybe-that wasn't supposed to happen. I bet cancer after the surgery. The pain was too much to bear, but then, I was free. Free from the illness."

"I began going to school like normal child. I was in 13, in 8th standard I guess. Finally I could enjoy my school life. I almost forgot about my parents and my brother. The people who couldn't be with me in my worst days-don't have to be in my life. But I still wished they would come one day. But soon, it all changed."

"Sagar Uncle, my caretaker at the orphanage he told me about it. He thought I was mature enough to handle the truth now."

"They had left me, Venus. My own goddamn parents."

The buries his face in my chest again and cries as if it's the end of the world. As if it is all over. "That is it. That is my entire life."

My back rests against the steering wheel as he snuggles further and I massage his head, trying to control my tears, "Ansh, do-don't cry please. Look-it is all fi-ne now. They are not near you. No one can harm you."

He cries harder and tears leave my eyes at his broken state. Why shall he go through all this pain? He doesn't deserve it.

I arms tighten around his neck once again as we continue crying in each other's arms.

His sobs make it harder for me to control myself and don't even try to.

How can god give someone so good such a bad fate? Such bad parents. They have wasted his childhood for such an unbelievable reason.

Because he had cancer.

Giving his back a rub and detach him from myself. Holding his face in my hands- which displays nothing but hurt and vulnerability, I wipe his tears away, "Ansh, do not cry for such monsters. They do not deserve your tears, okay? They only deserve pain and hurt and betrayal and every thing they wouldn't be able to bear. How could they do something like that? I would have killed myself if I had thought of doing something of this sort to someone else-"

He laughs and smiles through his tears, "chill my girl. Didn't you just say-it is all fine now. It has been done already. I'm here in front of you, ain't I? It is the past, Venus. I have moved on long back."

Moved on? Didn't he try to kill the people who almost destroyed his life?

I fingers interwine with his and I look into his eyes, "Ansh, why are you still in contact with them then? Even after all their doings. Don't you feel life killing them? And also, Dada? Do you have a brother too?"

"What is the difference between them and me then? I told you Venus, I am not a bad person. Just because they have done something inhuman to me, doesn't mean I will do the same, right?"

I nod at the person in front of me who is nothing less that a idol to me. How can someone be this nice? "You have a very good heart after all."

He smiles, "I am not that good as you say. And also, to answer your questions, I am not in contact with them by my own will. Why would I want to be? They came back when I was 26, when Kabaddi received popularity. Maybe they want to use me, but I have stopped caring. They come, they go and it doesn't affect me now apart from the fact that I feel like strangling them to death well knowing I cannot do that."

I gape at him as he passes me a questionable look, "Ansh, they really had the heart to come back? How shameless can one get?"

He shakes his head, "you have no idea how worse they can get, Venus. That is why I panicked once you told me about picking up the call. But I have told you now and please, do not go anywhere. I cannot lose you."

I hit his chest playfully informing, "I am not going anywhere Ansh."

He runs his hand over my forehead affectionately and presses another kiss, "you are so precious to me. Do not ever leave me. No wait, I am never going to let you."

I laugh at his nonsense and attach my ear to his chest and close my eyes shut as it feels like home-somewhere I want to spend my entire life.

Spend your entire life, Piha? How many more hints do you require? Just admit it already.

What hints? Don't get started with it once again. He is nothing more that a friend to me.

Right?

I cannot become like one of those fangirls, having that crazy obsession. And even if I like him-at the end of the day, it will be labelled a celebrity crush. It is not even difficult to predict that half of the world likes him given to how perfect his game is, how he handles all the controversies smoothly, and doesn't spare people who try to go against rules. Not to forget how rakishly handsome his looks.

And the most important one-his blue orbs which can make you lose your mind at just a sight. How is it not possible to not fall for him?

Even if I like him-I shall not give it the name of attraction or liking because he won't reciprocate it and the person getting hurt is going to be me.

It's not like I can control my feelings. It might go deeper than liking and won't even realise it.

I divert my head sideways only to face his blue orbs which makes me dissolve my sight in them once again.

"Why're you looking at me that way?" He questions. I shake my head smiling and continue to rest myself upon him.

Should I allow myself to fall for him? The consequences don't matter if it makes me happy. Maybe I should let my heart do whatever it wants, I can't control it anyway-

"Venus, there is something I forgot to tell you." He passes me a apologitic smile.

His face becomes stern out of nowhere scaring me and his words followed by it make my heart skip a beat,

"Utkarsh is my elder brother."

~√~√

Author's note*

Freaking 8K words, I cannot believe that myself.
Raghvansh has finally revealed his past and their relationship gets stronger once again. The shock Piha has received cannot be expressed, but she is strong, isn't she?
Do let me know how you feel about Raghvansh's parents and his painful childhood.
Do vote and take care!