Two weeks later

DurgaPrasad Maheshwari had never been this disappointed with his son. He was aware of Laksh's impulsiveness but he had hoped that with time, his son will grew out of it and become more responsible like his cousin.

He never intended to bring home work matters  but tonight he couldn't help but comment on Laksh's decision during dinner. He had expected his son to fight back with him or walk away instead he only listened as he got scolded in front of the whole family without a word and that worried him the most than the rest.

Because that was when DurgaPrasad Maheshwari realized something was not quite right with his son. When his wife walked inside their room little later, he had expected her to gently chide him for his behavior and was taken back to see she looked as distraught as him.

"What is going on with Laksh?" DurgaPrasad asked his wife. He knew she was always more aware of Laksh's thought process than him.

"Do you remember the first time we fought?" his wife answered back instead making him wonder what was going on her mind. But he did recollect their fight and he nodded in answer.

"It was after my third miscarriage, just three months since Sanskar was born and I was distraught. You were away on a business trip even when I asked to stay behind because I was nervous. You said your brother needs to be with his wife and a new born and you can take break after I gave birth to our child." his wife continued speaking and Durga Prasad had to admit she had every reason to resent him back then for going on a work trip.

"Then you returned and you never really left for the next two months not even to office. You stayed at home all the time to the point Sujatha had been complaining her husband overworked to the point of ignoring their son. That was when we first fought, I shouted at you for being home all the time when I no longer need you and leaving me alone when I really needed you. You never really said anything back to me, so it was more of me lashing at you then a fight. But it was the first time I ever raised my voice with you. " his wife spoke up and Durga Prasad knew the truth behind the words, it was the only time his wife let him know her displeasure.

"In truth, I wanted you gone from home so I can break down and cry. With you around it was hard for me to cry and I felt like I couldn't catch a break. But remember what you told me that night. You stayed at home because you didn't want me to be alone. Until that day, I didn't know that was the reason you stayed home. I assumed their was no work, I assumed you were grieving the loss of a child too but I never assumed it was for me. " his wife spoke up and he knew it was only then she broke down and cried in his arms the whole night. Still he had no idea why she was making him remember that night now.

"Laksh is like you in so many ways. He never really know how to use words to let others know what he feels. He talks plenty for sure but never let others realize the extent he cares for them and he always downplays what he does for others to the point no one really understand him. Just like you, You stayed behind to be a supportive husband to the point of foregoing your work and yet I never really knew not until that night because sometimes we need those words as well to understand.

I am sure there is a reason for Laksh to quit his job this time. He might not be able to tell us the truth but I don't think it was because he was irresponsible. We just have to wait till he tells us the reason or he may never tell us but we have to trust him. Because as much as Laksh remains aloof during dinner today, I know as his mother that he is not making an hasty decision. " his wife answered back and he had to agree with her. Because she knew their son better.

                          *******************

Ragini knew she shouldn't have come to the party. It was not how she wanted to spend the last day of the year. She would have preferred to stay behind at home with a book for company.

Ragini knew Swara was with Sanskar  on a date night. She can't believe that both of them are still pretending not to be in love with each other when anyone with eyes can see the truth.

She was all set to decline the invite from her colleagues to attend the company's funded party for its employees because Laksh would be there and she had taken all the painful measures to not be around him for anymore than necessary.

Until Laksh's announcement earlier today. There had been an surprise meeting requested by Laksh with all the employees. Everyone expected it would be an event to announce the next year plan or something along the lines of thanking the employees for this year.

But Laksh announced that he was walking away from the company. He said he got the travel bug and would like to spend next few years travelling around the world. Hence tonight party was also meant to be his farewell party of sorts.

So she was here in spite of her stubbornness because all she recalled from the earlier meeting had been Laksh casual mention of few years.

The knowledge that she will not get to meet him for few years made her want to get all the glimpse of him tonight. They had been friends not long ago, while she had no leg to complain since she had been the one to cut their friendship. It still hurts to see him ignoring her as well.

Ragini had been the one who established the boundaries. So she can't really blame Laksh for treating her just like the rest of her colleagues. She was here to look her fill of him and then she will go home and try to move on from this one sided tragic love story.

A tap to her shoulder made her turn to see a smiling Shradha, another reason Ragini avoided Laksh. When her sister said Laksh asked for Shradha's contact number. She had been heartbroken because she didn't want to see him dating someone she knew . Selfishly she didn't want to see Shradha and Laksh together.

"So why the glum face Ragini?, Aren't you enjoying the party and where is Laksh?" Shradha asked her and Ragini was shocked to know they were dating already.

"Do you know he is leaving? " Ragini asked wondering if Shradha's was aware of Laksh travel plans.

"Yes of course. It is the reason I am here instead of a lovely date alone with my boyfriend. Sanjeev really wanted to say goodbye to Laksh and I can't blame him after all he brought us together" Shradha answered back leaving her confused and with more questions than answers.

"You and Sanjeev are dating? What do you mean Laksh brought you together?" Ragini asked after a moment of silence where she tried to think how what she believed to be turned to be something else.

"Well, we have to thank Ragini too. If not for my silly revenge of irking Laksh. He never would have played Cupid for us" Sanjeev joined in on the conversation out of nowhere but fifteen minutes later, Ragini had learnt everything she needed to learn about their matchmaking.

Sanjeev had told her about the colleague misunderstanding between Shradha and him. About how he blamed Laksh for Shradha rejection and how he flirted with Ragini because it bothered Laksh just to spite him. Also learned that Laksh had tried to reconnect Sanjeev and Shradha so they can sort out their issues.

It had been the reason he called Swara. But given his past Ragini had reached her own conclusion resulting in becoming more distant from him.

Ragini knew this new found knowledge didn't change anything. Still her mind seem to be stuck on the fact Laksh was bothered with Sanjeev flirting, is it because she was his friend and Sanjeev did admit to being a player or is it because she was more than a friend.

Ragini knew it was stupid to even hope for something more. And she also knew there is no point in confronting Laksh about it now, not when he is leaving soon. Still her feet had others plans and she was right by his side when she realized it was too late to turn back.

                    *********************

Laksh was taken back when Ragini approached, while it warmed his heart that she finally decided to talk to him. It also hurt to know that him leaving is the only reason she was even willing to spare him a moment of her time.

Laksh had dated plenty of women. But he never was in love until her, they haven't even went on a date once and yet Laksh was hopelessly in love. It had been the reason he needed to leave because if not he would do something stupid like confessing his love to her and she would break his heart permanently.

His cousin had told him not to run away, talk with Ragini and sort it out. Even his cousin assumed Laksh was heart broken over his friendship but it was so much more than that, he needed distance from her if he could ever forget her.

Laksh knew he disappointed his parents and his whole family with his resignation. Just when they believed he was getting responsible, he was giving up. Still he couldn't stay in the same city as her and not be tempted to be reckless.

"Can we talk?" She had asked five minutes ago and now alone in the balcony with her, there was only silence between them. Usually Laksh filled the awkward silences with his charm, Tonight he was all out of it because this could be the last moment he spend with Ragini for a very long time.

"What am I to you?" Ragini asked him out of nowhere and he stood in silence because he had no idea what answer to give her.

"Forget what I asked,  be safe Laksh. " Ragini spoke up quickly as if she no longer wants to stay beside him and turned to leave and he heard her receding footsteps and let out a sign if regret for not being able to say anything to her.

"The girl I love, the girl I wish met first before everyone else so I could be worthy of her, the girl I am walking away from because I can't be with her" Laksh spoke up whispering the answer he wish he had told her.

"Why can't you be with her?" Ragini's voice reached his ears first before he heard the footsteps and he turned in surprise to see her standing on front of him with tear filled eyes.

"Because you could never love me. Why would you fall for me when you can't even want to be my friend?" Laksh asked instead hurting to see her in tears but unable to understand why she cut of their friendship in the first place.

"Oh Laksh. I walked away first because I didn't want to get hurt not because I didn't want to be your friend. I thought I was protecting my heart from pain. I walked away because I fell in love with you first. " Ragini spoke up and it took him a minute for her words to reach his mind and even before he could process what she meant, she was in his arms holding on him and crying her heart out.

"Do you really love me?" Ragini spoke up amidst the tears and he could only nod his head in answer because at this moment all words failed him. If anyone asked him an hour before if he could feel this much happiness, he wouldn't have believed them.

At this moment with Ragini in his arms and her confession in his heart. Laksh was filled with too much happiness that he couldn't find the strength to speak yet. But it must have been enough because Ragini smiled at him as if she was happy too.

                     ********************

Jealousy is an petty emotion. No matter how many times Sanskar tells that to his heart. It never listens even now at the sight of Swara talking with someone else not him was enough to make him want to drink.

If that wasn't an indicator to his dark mood. Sanskar noticed the man leaning in to kiss Swara's cheek in a friendly gesture that had him wanting to punch the person before him.

Sanskar had been the one to choose the restaurant. He saw the five star reviews and wanted Swara to have a great night. What he didn't saw was that the hotel head chef was Swara's friend from school.

Since Sanskar had wanted a quite night, he had reserved the VIP section. It was the reason Mark, the head chef came to check on them as he used to do for other VIP clients and thus ended up with a fateful encounter with Swara.

It should have been a polite thing for him to leave after the first five minutes but he was still talking with her.  Sanskar didn't used to be this jealous when he was dating Kavita. It was because he knew her heart unlike now.

Every day he woke up with the fear Swara might find someone and Sanskar might have to let her go. It was the reason he cherished any moment he get with her and now this Mark was ruining it by his presence and the fact he was flirting with Swara right before him.

Sanskar was relieved when he left after fifteen minutes because there was an emergency in the kitchen. He knew it was petty of him to be jealous of every interaction Swara had with anyone except him. But every eligible men made him worry that one day Swara would leave him. It might have been the reason he asked her that question out of nowhere.

"What are your goals for next year Swara?" Sanskar asked her and she looked bit surprised but she was used to his question that she went into thinking mode before she answered him.

"Well I would like a real boyfriend and not a fake fiancée. " Swara answered back surprising him. He knew it was what he wanted to know and yet the knowledge she was actively looking to find her life partner made his fears more real.

"What is your goals?" Swara asked him  at his silence.

"To not get my heart broken. " Sanskar answered back already aware that it was not possible to protect something that is already been lost to him.

Sanskar was not a stranger to heart breaks and yet the mere thought of losing Swara was enough to make him realize his heart was still capable of feeling pain. More than he could ever imagine.

                 *****************

Swara was tired of this cat and mouse game she played with her heart. One moment she wanted to confess her love to Sanskar and risk losing him forever rather than being stuck in a friend zone.

Another moment she wanted to keep her mouth shut so as not to lose him. The constant battle between those two moments was enough to drive her crazy and tonight she had decided it was enough.

Tonight she had planned to confess her love and decided she wouldn't start the next year with the same uncertainty. She knew Sanskar was a rational person. She knew and hoped that Sanskar would still be her friend even if he had to say no to her tonight.

"I think I am falling for you and it is okay if you can't forget Kavita and it is okay if you can't see me more than as a friend. But I want you to know that while I will respect your privacy and feelings you need to accept mine as well. I will not beg you to like him back but I want you to know that I see you as more than a friend but I will stay in my friend zone if that is what you want." Swara's prepared speech remained unspoken because just when she had the courage to speak Mark walked inside ruining the moment.

Then her courage deserted her as Mark continued to flirt with her shamelessly and Sanskar remained unmoved by his action. Swara expected a hint of annoyance at the disturbance but Sanskar seemed more than content to see Mark flirting with her and it was as if she already had her answer. So she held those words back during the dinner.

Then he had to ask her about his goals and all she could think was that she didn't want to spend one more year pining for him. So she wanted a boyfriend.

On the drive back home. They took a taxi back since both of them had wine with dinner. She had been surprised to see a message from Mark asking her out on a date. She was about to type yes because she wanted to move on from her one sided love and she hoped it would be the first step.

"Say No. Please don't go on a date with him" Sanskar spoke up and she looked back up at him in surprise because she didn't knew he was reading her message

"Why not?. He is a nice guy and I did want a boyfriend this year remember. It is not like you are volunteering for that place. " Swara answered back and wishing she didn't sound angry with him. She knew it wasn't his fault that she was stuck on an one side love story.

" What if I did?" Sanskar words took a moment to reach her. But just that single question threw her out of the loop making her question everything about them.

"What do you mean Sanskar?" Swara asked him wondering what was going on his mind. But he only stayed silent until the ride ended and they both got down from the taxi

By then Swara was angry with Sanskar and his silence. She was too tired of the cat and mouse game she played with her heart and she didn't need Sanskar hopeful statements to confuse her more.

Swara didn't say a word when Sanskar followed her back into her house. She didn't say a word when Sanskar kept pacing to and fro in her living room. She didn't say a word when Sanskar turned to leave without giving her an answer. But it was  when she realised that it was her heart that was meant to be broken this year.

P.S:" That is it for now. Let me know your thoughts and feedbacks . Hit the votes if you liked it "

Juanita Reid