❝  Broken is Nice, Broken is Good, Broken is Honest, for it gives you one more chance to Get Up, Learn and Fight Again.  ❞

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MEERA'S POV

I walked in the park where I knew Kush was. It was magnificently decorated. I could see a lot of children. All were smiling cheerfully. But, then I noticed them. They were different, they all were differently able special kids. Yet, the vigour in their eyes and the smile on their face didn't tell the truth.

Some struggled walking, some juggled with the paint brushes, some couldn't identify colors yet they were enjoying a good evening.

Tears swelled in my eyes. I sat down on a bench as I saw them laugh, play and enjoy. They didn't mind the things they couldn't do. Some couldn't walk, some couldn't write, some couldn't see yet they were engrossed in doing the things which they could do and never stopped trying.

I felt so small and useless in front of them. God did bless me with everything that any normal kid would wish for, yet I sulked. Yet, I couldn't welcome someone's love. I was looking pity and helpless in front of these little ones.

" Dear... Are you alright?" I heard a motherly voice behind me. I looked at the lady in her sixties as she sat beside me. She looked like a nun as she was clad in white clothes.

" Don't cry for them. They are gonna have great bright futures, each one of them." She smiled.

" They are going to, for sure. I pity myself. I wish I could be happy like them." I sighed.

" Hmmm... That's the problem. You all youngsters get so involved in your stressful life that the little child in you is lost. It can either be because of fretting over bitter past, or messed up present or coz of brooding about the future. You must learn to live. Surviving is easy, living is tough. "

I nodded.

" These kids belong to 'Rainbow High'. Along with these kids there are many kids who don't have such difficulties. All of them study together and help each other. It's just a small step towards equal society where no one is discriminated. "

" That's amazing.... Kush... " I saw him playing with the children.

" You know him? " I nodded.

" Ofcourse, everyone knows him. He's the person who's responsible for such a wonderful initiative. He also volunteers in teaching and guiding the children. Everyone loves him. " I could see that clearly.

All the kids smiled around him and he looked so ebullient.

Suddenly, I think he saw me. I quickly wiped my tears as he came towards me.

" Meera... " He stood next to me.

" Miss. Dzouza... How are you doing? " He asked her politely with a bow. I've never ever seen him like this.

" I'm very well. I would really like to Thank You. If it hadn't been you or your fa..."

" It's my pleasure. Please...
I think, Miss. Ema was looking for you."

" I'll check out...." She left.

" Meera.. What are you doing here?" He sure sounded surprised.

" You are such a hideous person. How can you not tell me about this? "

" It's nothing great. I don't like to brag... " He laughed.

" Were you crying? " He stopped and touched my cheeks.

" Sir, Kush Sir..." We turned as a short bald man came running towards us.

" Your coffee as you like it. I'll be waiting for you in the car. If you need..."

" Jack Sir... Thanks... " He took the coffee from him.

" Sir, Why are you addressing me like this? Did I do... "

" Thanks Sir... I'll call you. You can leave now... Bye... " He pushed him away taking the Starbucks glass in his hand.

" Who was that?"

" None... Were you crying?" He came closer.

" No... "

" Kush... Kush... Come with us? Who's this pretty lady? " A small girl asked.

" She's her girlfriend, stupid..." Another boy said.
They were so adorable and cute.

" No... I'm not. " I quickly said.

" But, she will soon be... " Kush winked at me.

I don't know why but it felt true.

They were pulling him. Some of them were on wheelchairs too.

" Kush.. You must go..."

" Meera, Wanna accompany?" He asked.

" Can I? I'd love to..." He took my hand.

We had a lot of fun. We painted, played games and had ice-cream. I forgot all my worries and also about my terms.

After about 2 hours the kids had to go. At the rear end I saw the poster of Samar Kapoor.

" Sir... Should I put it in the car?"

" Jack, You again? Yeah... Okay..." He replied.

" What's happening?" I was curious.

" Actually, this school is funded by Samar Kapoor's Foundation. I volunteer here. They insist on putting his poster here..." He explained.

" I heard you were into some promotional activities. "

" Hmmm..." We walked slowly.

" Kush... I-I... Why didn't you call me?" I asked.

He looked at me.

" Meera, There's no pressure on you. Just because I love you that doesn't mean you feel the same about me. I'm alright with whatever you decide. I knew you were busy with your Finals. "

" Kush... Thank you for being such an understanding person. I want some time to compose myself. " I said.

" You have all the time... " He smiled.

I loved the way he smiled. His eyes glowed.

" But, one thing is sure. I'm never letting you go. " He said with a seriousness that made me stand straight, stunned.

Then he laughed.

" Till then can we be as we were? " I asked.

" So I can steal kisses right?" He laughed.

I didn't answer that. I had that strong urge to kiss him right now but I don't want to get confused between love and lust.

" Kush, Will you attend my PG ceremony? It's in the coming week. " I asked.

" I'd love you. "

" Thank You. Coz, there's no one for me. Tara is extremely busy with work and so are my mom and dad." I explained.

" Don't worry. I'll be there for you. Anyways I'm so free nowadays. The Semester is still gonna take 6 more months. Also, I know I can't be as great as my Dad. " He sighed.

" C'mon... Im sure you're gonna be a better artist than him. " He looked at me and laughed.

" Let's have pop tarts. " I said when I saw a van selling them. We walked towards the end.

There were a couple of kids beside us. They were having pop tarts too when one of them dropped his. They started fighting.

" Hey! Young Fellow... Have fine..." Kush offered.

" Is it chocolate ? " He asked making a cranky face.

" We share same taste." Kush smiled. I was looking at the two.

" Have you eaten it?"

" Not a bite..." Kush offered him again and in a moment he took it.

" Thank you... "

" Gentleman, I'll buy him. " I think she was her mother as she came out of a shop when she saw what happened.

" It's alright Miss. Anyways the seller's van is half way through the junction." We looked behind.

The Trio felt.

" You are good with kids... " I offered him mine. He readily took a bite.

" I can be better..." He laughed.

After an hour we reached my apartment. I didn't realize that we were walking since an hour and a half. Times flies with him.

" Good night... Rest well... " Kush said.

" You too..." I saw him till he took a turn at the junction.

I turned to go in my building with lot of thoughts running in my head. I realised that one must never judge a person by his first impression. Our first was horrible but now it just makes me smile.

" Meera... " I heard Tara.

I saw her running towards me. She was panting.

" Y-You came in K-Kush's Maserati?" She was panting as well as stammering.

" No. He doesn't have one." I replied.

" I just saw him get in one. I think his chaffeur was waiting for him."

" Weird. He didn't tell me he had a car waiting for him."

" Meera it was just any car, it was a Maserati. Never mind, you have a zero knowledge. Next I'm asking for a ride. " I followed her in.

" He's kinda rich. Isn't he? "

" His father's a junior artist. So, I don't know. "

" Hmmm... Spooky... " She made a face.

" He does a lot of volunteering work and works for celebs so must be from work. "

" Possible... "

It's actually surprising. He could have told me that a car was waiting to take him. I could have taken a Uber.

🌟🌟🌟

KUSH'S POV

" Jack, For God's sake..." I was surprised to see him waiting for me.

" Sir... "

" What the hell are you doing here? " I was furious. If Meera had seen him it would look so suspicious. I still have to tell the truth.

" Ma'am landed an hour ago. She wants to meet you ASAP. She called you but you didn't answer." I checked my cell.

5 missed calls. It was on silent.

" Mom's in Ohio. How come?" I asked getting in the car.

" She was heading to NYC. But wanted to meet you so made a stop here." I nodded.

I'm sure Dad must have told her everything and that's the main reason she's here. I was so tensed now. I don't know what am I going to tell her if she enquires about Meera, which she sure as hell gonna.

In the rear mirror I saw someone glaring at the car. I couldn't see the face of that person but she was a female. It looked creepy the the way she kept staring.

" Mom..." I hugged her. She was waiting for me and I could make that out from the look of her face.

" Why didn't you come to the condo?" I asked.

" Really? There was no way I'm crashing a bachelor's pad." She laughed.

I went straight to her hotel.

" Mom... There's nothing to..."

" Enough of small talk. I want to meet Meera. Samar says she's amazing." We sat on the sofa.

" We've just met and this was no small talk. Also, Meera's not my girlfriend, yet."

" But..."

" Can we talk something else?"

" Sure..." I'm glad she didn't push me more.

🌟🌟🌟

The week passed by quickly. Meera and I were spending a lot of time together the past week. We are still as we were a week ago and she hasn't answered. But, also I haven't told her yet. I have to but we spend such amazing time together that I fear ruining it.

I'm here at her graduation ceremony with a bouquet of flowers. Everyone was present there. Along with Meera, Jenny, Ron and Adam too had there ceremonies. I saw Meera collecting her certificate and she noticed me waving at her. She smiled ear to ear. I was happy that I was there for her.

" Don't you think you guys hang a lot together?" It was Joe. 

" Naah! She's was so busy lately." I didn't look towards them. I can't when I lie to them.

" Really? You've been going for regular walks with her. Along with Netflix, movies, brunch. We know that. C'mon.. Brunch now. We all know couples do lunch. " It was Paul.

" Not to forget the Ice-creams and Milkshakes. " It was Joe again.

" Fine... I love her. Also, Brunch is a couples only thing is a HIMYM stereotype. I don't believe that. " I blurted.

Luckily it was the two of them around.

" She doesn't know, right? " I shook my head.

" Kush..." Meera made her way towards me.

" We need to talk. But, later... " Paul said as he went on to congratulate Meera.

" Are these for me? " She asked cheerfully.

" Ofcourse..." I handed her.

The thought was worrying me more now.

We had a small celebration at our favourite place. It was fun but my mind wasn't tranquil. It was in a state of turmoil. I don't want to screw up that something we had. Not today at least. It was her special day.

" Kush... Will you drop me?" Meera asked as all of the party disappeared slowly.

Paul and Joe were looking at me. I avoided my glaze.

" Are you alright? You don't look well tonight."

" I'm good..." I lied.

" Kush..." She caught my hand.

" The other day you said you wouldn't be a great superstar. But trust me you are my Superstar. You really are a nice decent man and definitely not like an imbecile I crashed into one fine sunny morning. " She smiled.

" Meera... You know I love you, right? " She laughed.

" Of course. I know. I'm lucky to have you. That's why You are My Superstar. I like you... I really do. "

" What? What did you just say? " She moved closer to me and pressed her lips on my. We were in the parking lot, beside my car. With her, I do the driving of course. I was taken back but I held her waist and kissed her with passion.

I hugged her.

" I never thought I would hear that. " I confessed.

" Kush... I've been thinking a lot, about us. It took me a while to realise that the nightmares were stopped because of you. Because you were there beside me. The past year was amazing and I never thought that I would meet someone like you. You've helped me, a lot. " Hse stopped. But, I felt as if she wanted to say something more.

" Do you love me? " I asked.

" I like you Kush... I'm still working on that. " She replied in absolute hesitation.

I smiled as I took her hand in my hand.

" It's alright. But when you've convinced yourself that you truly have fallen for me then you have to confess with your Chocolate Pudding." I said.

" I promise... "

🌟🌟🌟

It's been a month since our relationship became better. I'm with Joe and Paul at the Activity Room of our University. Last night, we all were hanging out at Rockys when Meera said she'll be leaving for India soon.

" Kush, It's high time you tell her the truth. She's gonna take off for India in a couple of days. " Paul said.

" I know... I know... But, it's not couple of days. " I was frustrated with the thought that she was leaving and furious with myself for hiding the truth till now.

" You don't Kush. She might leave tonight as well. Tara said that she has been searching for flights since a week now. She's done with Ohio. She's even resigned from her job."

" I know Paul."

" Kush, Sooner or later she'll know that you are the son of Samar Kapoor. Samar Kapoor who means something to her. "

" I know... But she'll tell me when she's leaving, like months in advance. " I said with confidence.

" I understand that Meera is not a price of some challenges. It was just a conversation that we had. We were all so drunk that night. Alas, she likes you now. If she comes to know that you had taken it as a challenge to win her then it would be worst. " Paul said.

We heard something crash. I turned to look.

There she was standing, glass pieces in front of her and then I saw the chocolate pudding. I stood up and went closer, she eyes were red and I don't know what all she heard. The pudding had a heart shape on it which was now broken into two.

She came to confess her love for me.

" Meera..." I called her softly.

She wiped her tears and moved back.

" No... Wait..."

I glanced at the broken glasses and then her eyes cried out about her broken heart.

Yet, explanations are all in order for broken she shan't be.
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Hey Guys!

Truth is Bitter but It's Vital after all.

Kush and Meera's story sees another important turn.

Thanks for Reading.

Keep the Support Going.
It means a lot to me.

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Luv... ❤️
Vruksha.