The function turned out to be a fun affair as the new couple could hardly keep there hands of each other earning glares and laughs from the extended family, ''It must be beautiful to be in love.'' Kajal said watching the couple.

''Love? Theirs is an arranged match, two weeks back she was all gaga about her senior at college and now she is in love with him.'' He said tongue in cheek.

Kajal looked at the couple and then him. Giving him you are so judgmental look. He smiled understanding her silence. She frowned ,''there is nothing to smile. Her senior might just be a crush and she must have fallen for her fiance. Ever heard of love at first sight.'' She retorted butting her explanation forward.

''Oh Please don't tell me you believe on that. I can understand my cousin saying that but not you....Please Kajal say this is false.'' He begged dramatically. She kept a straight face then smiled, yes she too didn't believe in love at first sight. He took a dramatic breather, ''Thank God!''

She slapped his arm, ''Enough of drama.''

He chuckled, ''On a serious note, like any other feeling love too needs time, space and understanding to nurture and grow. ''

''What would you say about the relationship which doesn't even have slightest of chance and are bound into loveless bond. Isn't it right to break such bonds.'' She asked hinting towards their relationship.

He replied after a minute, ''Not without giving it chance , love is not always the binding source. Has this been true, there would have been no divorces in Love Marriages but they happen and now are quite frequent. ''

''But there are certain mistakes which cannot be ignored.'' She said her eyes locked with his, blaming him for the situation.

He read the hurt in them, gulping the dryness he replied, ''humans commit mistakes, Gods don't. I know I have committed enough to be hated for life but I am trying.'' Their eyes stayed locked with each other, both trying to read the mind of the other.

''Okay now it's the turn of the love lost couple to bless the stage.'' Tarun Kajal jolted out with sudden announcement, before they could understand the couple was pushed to the centre of the room, their families encouraging them for a dance. Kajal glared at her mother for going all cupid on her.

''May I?'' Tarun asked, she looked at him shocked and angry. ''Its just a dance between two acquaintances. The day I bring you back I won't ask for the permission.'' He calmed her

Kajal's heart rejoiced for a second. Controlling her emotions, she gave her hand into him. They danced along the space winning whistles and applauds from the guests, ''None of them know our reality. They think we are in love'' She said with an artificial smile on her face.

He chuckled, ''Yes, we tend to believe our eyes more in passing a judgement. A minute before you too did the same when it came to the my cousin and her fiance.'' She blinked, that was indeed true.

"Its Okay Kajal, we are humans we are allowed to commit mistakes but not learning from them is a bigger one.'' She tried relaxing her. 

''Are you following some spiritual guru ?'' She asked her brows knitted together.

''No! I have enough mistakes on my plate to learn from.'' He replied all serious, halting his movements he bought their dance to end. The guests clapped and he led her back to their respective places. Rest of the evening he didn't crowd or followed her, he made sure she and her family was comfortable. On her way back Kajal stayed quite all along the drive, Tarun words about his mistakes were echoing his ears. Something other than their issue had happened, she wanted to ask but couldn't . She didn't have any right to question him on personal front.

***

''Why don't you come to our place today?'' Jatin asked his son who seemed to have lost his smile. He too was upset over Tarun's mistakes , still he couldn't stand his son's dull face.

''No dad, I have work. ''

''We can drive to your place and pick your necessary stuff. We too miss you Tarun.''

Tarun smiled, he gave his father an arm hug, ''I know dad but for now I have to be alone. I want to find few answers.''

''Like?'' Jatin probed

''I couldn't answer Kajal when she asked me the reason for marrying her. I can't say it was an escape.''

''Was it?'' Jatin questioned back, his eyes intently focused on his son.

Tarun thought for a moment, ''NO!'' It came as a shaky whisper

''Then why did you marry her son?'' Jatin asked again

''Because mom wanted me to.'' His voice was laden with uncertainty

''Is that a statement or a question you are asking yourself.''Jatin crossed questioned him. After a moment of silence Jatin added, ''If you married her for Devyani then its better you set Kajal free.''

''Dad I don't want to break this marriage.''

''Why?''

''I don't know.'' Tarun now was frustrated

''Then find that one answer out Tarun, this one answer will set your life on the right track.'' Jatin's words started sinking in Tarun's mind. His parents insisted him to join them, but he decided to go back to his lonely apartment. The place he was supposed to turn into home.

''Do you think he will realise his feelings for Kajal? Devyani asked her husband on their  ride to home. He smiled, ''He will , slowly. Its not love to be frank, but liking is definitely there. He has to realize why he chose strong Kajal over pampered beautiful Sejal.''

''because she rejected him, stupid male ego.'' Devyani cursed under her breath

Jatin laughed, ''No marriage is perfect, ours too  had its share of ups and down.''

''Should we interfere?'' Devyani asked curiously

''With time, we will. For now, let the two hearts sought it out. The question I asked was not just for Tarun, its for Kajal too and I am sure Arun will defiantly ask the same to Kajal.''

***

Arun had noticed the silence of his daughter. He smiled, his wife nudged him, ''Talk to her''

''Later, let her be with her thoughts.'' Sheela made a face walking off to her room. She could never understand her husbands ways, yet believed him.

Kajal absently changed into her night clothes and walked to her table. Taking a deep breath, she pulled out the half done designs and started working on it . She dragged her pencil into a curve and started filling the empty space with intricate designs

'I have enough mistakes on my plate to learn from them.' Tarun words echoed his head. He eyes didn't miss the sadness of his eyes. Was she the reason for it? She shook her head , reframed the question , was there any other reason for this gloominess.

She shook her head to push the thoughts aside, even if he was the best guy on the planet,she was being pushed on to him. Like any other girl she too wanted to be the first choice of her husband, she too wanted to be swooned over. She wanted to be looked at as if she was the most beautiful creature on the planet. Yes she was a female, synonym of compromise according to the world. But Kajal wasn't ready to be one, she was ready to fight for her happiness and self respect. Tarun will have to answer her and she was sure he had no answer, yet she silently prayed for the answer her heart seeked 

***

''Where are you going this early?'' Sheela asked her daughter who kept stuffing a slice of bread with jam in her mouth.

''Work''

''You were supposed to work from home.'' Sheela commented

''Mom, I need few ideas and inspiration to finish my assignment, so decided to go and spend my time in the old library. Will be back by lunch.'' Kajal waved at her parents before rushing out. She wanted to reach before the famous library gets crowded with readers. The place was famous for storing the knowledge  on possible subject. It was a 7 floored  building which had each floor filled with new , old, rare collections of books on distinguished subjects. Kajal had been a member since her school days and she couldn't thank her dad enough for pushing her to develop the amazing habit of reading.

Being the Sunday morning the parking looked empty and she felt thankful for that. She quickly made her way to the 3rd floor. The area which stocked the encyclopedias related to Indian and world history. It also had detailed in scriptures related to changes in dressing and jewelry patterns over the centuries.

Kajal quickly marched to the shelves and started shuffling the books. She pulled out few of her interest and made her way to the table. She pulled out a small not book and started making her notes. Kajal lost the time in skecting and making notes when a familiar voice bought her out of her trance, ''HI!''

She looked up to find Praveen smiling down at her. She returned his with hers friendly one and gestured him to sit, ''You here?'' She asked

''Yes, this is my Sunday routine.'' He replied in a whisper.

''History section?'' She was baffled. Like Tarun, Praveen too was an engineering graduate , his deep interest in history surprised her. He smiled gesturing her to come out for tea as they had been receiving too many angry glances for disturbing the others in the place.

''Now tell me, what's the connection between you and history?'' Kajal asked sipping the hot cup liquid.

''It has always been my interest. You can say my first love.''

''Then why engineering?'' She asked

''For better earnings prospects, making a career in the field of history is laborious tiring and low paying.'' He answered

Kajal didn't agree with him but she decided to stay quite. After a moment of silence Praveen chirped, ''before I forget, I am getting engaged and request you to join the celebrations.''

She smiled, ''Congratulations ! Strange tarun didn't tell me about it.''

''he isn't invited. We are no more friends.'' Praveen's disclosure bought shock to Kajal. She stared at him in disbelief. Understanding her confusion Praveen added, ''I gave him enough chances. Good you left him, he doesn't deserve a girl like you.'' Kajal wanted to retaliate but before that she wanted him to elaborate. ''Finally he is paying for being spinelessness. The promotion he was expecting came to me and now he has been pushed to work as individual contributor. He has no friends and no wife, he is just a laughing stock. Had he taken few guts to stand for the one who cared, things would have been different.''

Tarun's dull face immediately floated in her memory. So this was the reason for his gloomy eyes. ''Do come Kajal, here is the invitation.'' Kajal stared at the card. She had always respected Praveen, but his little act towards Tarun had shaken the respect. Her reason was different , they weren't even friends yet they behaved like ones and here this man who had been in friends with Tarun since kindergarten walked out so easily. That was against the definition of friendship for her, she pushed the card back to him, ''Tarun is still my husband, I won't accept the invitation where he isn't invited and about him being weak, you are the same. You couldn't fight enough for your choice of career as it required hard work. History too has lot of scope but you decided to you chose the easy path.'' Praveen was about to interrupt but she silenced him, ''My issue with Tarun is different from yours, but I know you because of him. So if you aren't friends with him after 2 decades of knowing him, I can't trust you enough to be your friend. Congratulations again and have a good life.''

Kajal kept her share of money before walking out, her mind running in all directions. She felt bad for Tarun and angry at Praveen. Child hood buddies are suppose to stick around. It's the friendship made with pure heart and nurtured with time. Flaws , status and other things never mattered. She shook her head, Tarun definitely needed better people in his life. What hurt was that he never told her. 'Why should he? Who are you?' Chided her mind, she huffed realising the truth.

She slowed her vehicle as the signal turned red, the clock showed 90 seconds ticking the waiting time away. She was now at cross roads, straight route would take her directly to home and her right would take her to her 'real home'. Kajal's heart thudded, she didn't realize how and when she had started considering Tarun her home. She took a breather, pressed the accelerator zooming straight to her parents house.

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