Naira looked hither and thither. Not finding that particular favourite face. She sighed in relief. She paved her way to the exam hall getting squeezed by the students every now and then..as they all stood in hallway with their noses in their books. Ah! The exam feels!

Just one last time! She thought as she sat on her desk. Waiting for the question paper. Just one last time,she has to ignore him. Walk past him like she has never met him. And not to turn when he tries to call her,stops her. Just keep moving away. Away from him.

She just doesn't how she managed to do that till this very exam. Pheww! It was her last exam. Then she will get away from these exams and Him.

That pricked her heart like everytime but she managed to compose herself. She has to get used to that. To not have him in her life.

•°•°•°•°•

Kartik was utterly hurt by her this behaviour. He just can't keep his finger on about what has gone wrong in their relationship? What did he do that she is behaving like this. In these days, everytime he tried to talk. She managed to flee away from his hold.

But today,he was determined to get all his answers. He wouldn't let her go away this time.

He can't live like this. Without her. When she has become his everything!

•°•°•°•°•

The bell rang telling all the students that time is over. Naira handed her sheets and slipped away from that place. She hurried towards the gate but a gasp escaped her lips. When she was pulled somewhere.

And her heart skipped a beat seeing him standing there in front of him. Damn! She missed him so much.

"Kartik" she whispered.

"Tell me!" He held her shoulders firmly looking at her.

"Kartik leave me." She said trying to wriggle out of his hold.

"Not today. I let you go these days because I didn't want to Trouble you over this matter.. so that you can concentrate on your exams..but Now.
Exams are over..and I am not letting you go..until you answer my questions." Kartik said exasperated. He had enough of her. Now he was determined to get his answers.

"What..what answers?", Naira played dumb. Trying to wriggle out of his hold.

"Pls Naira.. don't do this. You know. What I am talking about. Pls. Don't do this to me. Pls answer what has happened to you. Is anything troubling you?" He asked concerned with soft eyes.

"Kartik pls leave me." She pleaded.

"I won't" he said determined.

"Fine.." she said finally making herself free from his clutch.

"I didn't pick up your calls. I ignored you because I am not interested in you anymore." She said showing herself convincing but her shaky voice was telling otherwise.

"Really?" Kartik mocked. His heart knew that she was lying. Her shaky voice,her expressions were telling that. But still a tiny tipsy hurt pinched his heart. Maybe! She really isn't interested in him anymore. But how can he oversee that they don't just have attraction between them. It is a stronger feeling that binds them.

"Y..Yes." she tried to compose her heart. Which was paining seeing his pained expression. She definitely doesn't deserve him.

"Do you really think. I would buy that Naira. We both know that it isn't just infatuation between us. There is more. A lot more. So pls keep that crap out of this conversation. Tell me the real reason."he held her. Pulling her closer to him. Trying to see what she is reluctant to show.

But she didn't speak up. He waited but she didn't even speak a single word.

He sighed. "Naira,pls.. Your ignorance is very hard to deal with. I can't tolerate this. Pls Naira. I couldn't sleep.. I couldn't smile. Because you are my reason to smile. And you were ignoring me like I am no one to you. It hurts. naira it's hurt here. A lot( he said pointing towards his heart) pls tell me what's the problem. I promise,I will try my best to solve it. Pls" he literally pleaded in front of her.

Naira tried not to cry in front of him. Seeing him in such pain because of her was making her all more guilty. But the traitors tears didn't stop. They flew. Flew without any restrictions.

"Naira" Kartik cupped her face wiping her tears.

"I ..I.can't. Kartik." She said in broken voice. Looking in his eyes." I can't" she sobbed and he pulled her in hug. Trying to comfort her and his heart.

"Shh.." he whispered pulling her more closer. They both needed that hug. Tears flowing from their eyes,hearts finally coming into peace, and the emptiness, the loneliness finally getting filled with each other's presence. With each other in arms.

They closed their eyes, cutting off from world,from their thoughts,from their problems for a few minutes. Letting the content settle between them.

"Now tell." Kartik whispered pulling from the hug reluctantly.

"I can't kartik.." naira wiped her tears.

"Why.. you can't.. don't you trust me? We always shared everything Naira. So what happened now? Am I not deserving to know after tolerating your ignorance towards me? What's my fault naira. Did I do anything wrong Naira? I can't handle all this. When I don't know what is my mistake. What wrong have I done to deserve this treatment??..answer Naira.. pls." He asked her yet again in a hope that she will answer now.

"You didn't do anything wrong. It's my mistake." She said looking down in guilt.

"But what's wrong.. what did you do????" He asked trying not to shout. She wasn't answering and he is losing his cool now.

Naira didn't answer, standing like a statue in front of him. Just looking down. With her eyes glistening with tears.

"Fine.. Don't tell. I will ask from your Dad. You were there na. So I will ask him. He must be knowing." Kartik said moving towards his bike to go to her house.

"No." Naira shouted in fear and stood in front of him, stopping him.

"Let me go naira. It's enough. He will only tell me." He said taking his helmet.

"No Kartik pls." She pleaded.

He didn't listen and started belting his helmet.
When she cried. " My father is getting me hitched to someone else."

Her puffy eyes glistening with more tears seeing his shock converting into pain.

"Why didn't you stop him?" He asked. Taking out helmet. Moving towards her. She moved back in reflex.

A lump formed in her throat making her unable to say it. But nonetheless she let it out.
"Because ...I agreed. I agreed with him to marry whoever he will say me to."

"Why?" He shouted. "Why did you naira? Why??"

He asked holding her arms and pulling her closer. It hurt him that she agreed. She agreed without asking him. Without including him. Ignoring him.

"Because I chose him over you. Because we both know that this. (Pointing towards him and herself) will not work for long." She said and holding her bag. She ran away from there. Her heart crushed with the words she threw at him. She wiped her tears. And took rickshaw not looking back. Not Even once!

He stood there rooted with his broken heart looking at the space from where she went. Just a single question revolved in his mind.

Why?

•°•°•°•°•°
Just 3-4 chapters left for the story to complete.🙏
Thank you so much for sticking till here! Hope you stick to its end!❤️

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