Authors pov

Time doesn't stop for anyone, nor did it stop for him or her , the upcoming months that Mumbai  witnessed Naina Roy was a totally different girl , she didn't laugh , she didn't giggle, she no longer throw tantrums, she changed,

"Naina!! Naina where are you ." Shruti shouted entering inside the Apartment, she opened the door of Naina room which used to be his, and saw her reading a book.

Temper rised in Shruti, she went to her and snatched the book from her hand startling Naina," what the... Shruti ." Naina said startled.

Shruti glared at her," what are you doing Naina from the time you have come here you have completely detached yourself from the world, you always shut your yourself in your room , or studying, or writing like you are a 70 years old.." Shruti told her in anger, she couldn't see her like this not after knowing how she really is , this isn't Naina.

Naina sighed took the book from Shruti and sat back in the bed ," what do you want me to Shruti." She asked without looking up.

"Live enjoy." Shruti said in duh voice like it was the most stupid thing.

"I m living Shruti , if not then I wouldn't have been here with you." Naina said,

"Wrong this is not living, you are not living Naina you just...
Surviving." Shruti told her.

Naina paused , it was true she was not living, she was just surviving, living is enjoying every bit of your life smallest to biggest, and Naina she was just surviving, there was no enthusiasm in her life , no excitement, no boredom it was just plan the only reason for her to keep going was her parents and his dream of her become successful, she was just repeating the cyclone of routine she made for herself, wake , breakfast, college, home , books , dinner, sleep.

"Naina common yaar this cannot go on ," she said paused and turned her voice soft ," it's been months Naina, you have to move on , he wouldn't like this." Shruti said, she might not know his importance in her life but she was the witness of their blooming love .

Naina stifened, his name alone was to turn her whole body cold , there was a time his name alone was light up her whole world but now it only brought the darkness of hunting pain." I m moving on Shruti , I don't know what will make you believe that but I prefer to enjoy my own company, rather than wasting my time on some random strangers." Naina snapped and left the room.

She took her mobile and wallet and left from the apartment, as she exited the building two drops of tears escaped her eye which she roughly wiped , she catched a bus and got inside it , as she sat on a window sit she looked out of the window, she knows she overreacted with Shruti and for that she was ready apologize but couldn't people understand a bit was it Soo hard to see her trying, she was not some robot who will change overnight , she was a human a broken one to be exact there was only a certain limit till she can she push herself, she smiled at people doesn't matter if it was fake or real , she talked with them , going to college everyday , working hard for her future, couldn't people see that couldn't they see her pain , she faced the biggest lose of her life, she is living in the same city , same place where in each and every corner has his memories, couldn't they see her vulnerability was she becoming that much of a good actor.

She got down from the bus once reaching her destination, the salty warm air of Juhu beach caressed her skin in the month of December , she walked towards the shore where many people were enjoying, she sat on the, the dusk was creating a serene Scene even though the place was a little crowd, Naina sat in the sand looking at the orange sky , the memories of their first night in juhu beach was fresh in her mind like it was just yesterday, Naina placed her hand beside her where once used be warm touch now only remained the prickling of the sand. Naina closed her in fist , she looked around the people and saw a young couple laughing and and walking while holding hand, for a moment she saw herself and Arjun in place of them but it vanished like a beautiful dream.

Dream , it truly is a beautiful dream which is never going to be full filled Naina thought smiling while looking at the couple, she looked at the sands and draw their initial on it.

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When Naina returned home, she saw the apartment empty, she looked around for Shruti and then found a sticky note on the door of Shruti's room,

' going out with few friends tonight , will be late, don't wait for dinner.'

Naina sighed, guess I have to wait for tomorrow morning then she thought, she went to her room , and sat on the bed with her diary and pen , her companion from the previous few months.

She caressed her written words feeling them deep in her heart ,two drops of tears fall on it coloring in her pain. She closed diary and laid down on the bed while hugging , she didn't had appetite to eat and and cook for herself alone, she looked at his photo, " I miss you." She whispered and closed her eyes to lost herself in a place he existed even if it's not real.

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The next day when Naina woke up she saw Shruti was not in the apartment, she realized that Shruti is ignoring her , she was determined to apologize to her in college,

"Shruti!!! Shruti wait up please Shruti..." Naina shouted running behind her in the college corridor, Shruti stopped but didn't turn.

Naina catched her and stood in front of her ," Shruti I m really sorry , I shouldn't have snapped at you like that but it's dificult Shruti and trust me I m trying hard, just don't be mad at me." Naina pleaded her holding her hand.

Shruti's heart melted she was not at all angry at her , but she needed to do this for what she has planned," fine I won't be but only in one condition." Shruti said, Naina nodded at her to continue,

"As from tomorrow our winter vacation are starting, I m going to visit my maternal grandparents in Puri and you have to come with me." Shruti said, she wanted change Naina atmosphere a bit , this place was filled with his memories which are suffocating her and Shruti wanted to see a smile on her lips even if it's temporary.

Naina hesitated, she didn't wanted to go , she was fine living the way she is living but she didn't wanted to upset her also, Shruti was a great friend all these times." Okay but it depends on my parents." She said.

Shruti held out her hand." Okay but promise me if uncle and aunty agrees you will not give any excuses or back out ." She demanded and Naina nodded keeping her palm on top of her promising making Shruti grin widely.

She hugged her tightly," I love you Bebe." She said then the last warning bells for class rang and they both hurried for the class.

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They were coming out of the college gate when Shruti called her," babe you go home I will be back after meeting my friends." She said and Naina nodded walking ahead, a notification come on Naina Mobile , she saw it was a reminder for groceries shopping, it's better I do the shopping now then return she thought,

After completing all the shopping Naina got in the bus to return , thankfully, it was less crowded and she got a seat , she was staring out of window, looking at the passing road,

"Aren't you Naina."  A feminine voice broke her thoughts she looked up and saw a women standing , she looked familiar to Naina, shoulder length hair , impressive height, elegant dressing....

Arushi Arjun's workmate Naina remembered she smiled light at her and nodded, Arushi returned her smile and say beside her, " how are you." Arushi asked.

Alive," fine , you." Naina politely replied, Arushi nodded, there was a awkward silence between them which Arushi broke," I m sorry I couldn't attend his rites , my engagement was on the next day." Arushi said there was genuine regret in her voice which softened Naina.

"He understands, after all he was Mr.Nice for everyone." Naina said chuckling, remembering their last fight.

Arushi chuckled to ," he truly was , he was too good for this world." Arushi said remembering the guy with brown eyes and Charming smile.

To good for me to  Naina thought blinking her tears with a smile, Arushi was silent for sometime then spoke up." You know Arjun made me swear on our friendship that I won't ever utter this word to a living soul ever but now I cannot stay mum knowing he won't ever be able to tell you this." Arushi said there was sadness in her eyes .

Naina looked at her confused and a little insecure, what is that Arjun didn't share with her but Arushi, what was Soo secretive that he had to hide it from his Tara to , she felt a bit hurt,

" He was in love with you." Arushi spoke up crashing Naina's heart once again, she tried to wave it off ,

" Yeah off course I know we used to love each Soo mu..." Naina was saying but Arushi got her off,

" Not the kind of love you thinking Naina, but the kind of love which a man loves a woman, a kind of love which bonds to soul together." Arushi said and once again Naina's world crumbled.

Arushi took a deep breath," Arjun and I become very good friends, from the beginning many tried to make a move on him but he refused, when I asked him the reason he told me his heart already belongs to someone else, and then one day I saw him staring at your picture, he has that look in his eyes that I cannot describe Naina, it wasn't lust it was pure adoration, he looked at your picture like he worshipped you in his heart , like you are his strength, his entire being , like you are his love of the life , and trust me Naina, I never saw anyone in my life like that in my life." Arushi breathed still in aw. but all the time Naina was silent.

"When I confronted him , he told me that it was just a one sided incomplete love which is never meant to be full filled, I gave him a piece of my mind but he refused to get anything inside his thick head , he said that cannot tell you because he thought you saw him nothing more than a friend, that if it ever gets out then it will be the end of both of your relation ,but when I meet that day in mall I know that you feel something for him if not love then definitely something more than friendship. I told him everything he refused to believe but after lots of pestering and forcing he finally promised me he will give it a chance after your birthday but....." Arushi trailed wiping a tear.

But he never got the chance Naina thought breathing sharply , her mind was repeating only one word he loved her , if she had heard it few months back she would have danced and screamed with happiness but now here she wiping her tears bathing in his absence. She wanted to scream, ask the All mighty why she, but she was helpless.

" Maybe some stories are meant to be incomplete." Naina told Arushi with a bitter smile , her eyes hallow and voice heavy , she got up from the seat ," my destination come, it was nice talking to you Ms.Arushi." she told her politely and got down from the bus .

As she slowly walked towards her apartment building, she touched her pendent, he loved her Naina didn't know if she should smile in happiness or crying in pain, she was lost in her own life , she was drawning, all these months she slowly tried to build some walls around her , tried to shut her feelings but it took a single sentence to crumble all her struggle's, she was slowly trying to safe herself from drawing to but Everytime she tired a new wave destroy's all her efforts.

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One more chapter plus bonus then it will be completed.

I hope you guys are not getting bored.

Love ❤️- Ira.