Enjoy reading.

_____________________

I needed a day all by myself to ponder upon the happenings of my life. I needed to get away from all the faces that made me feel suffocated even with a single glance. I took a day off from school yesterday and was fully prepared for yet another tiring day.

How happening my life is. Isn't it?

In between all the chaos, the only thing which gave me my solace was her. I could go on gazing at her flawless face without a single complaint.

But now, I am not even allowed to do that.

I have hundreds of problems
1. I am in an unwanted relationship.
2. I am also in a relationship with the girl I love.
3. My Dad is the reason of all this.

And I don't want anymore problems to add on to this list.

Anyways, I got ready for school and left my not-so-homely home unaware of what's going to happen in the near future.

At the entrance of Space, I spotted Soha who was waiting for me to arrive so that we could walk till the class together. I hated her this habit but did I have any other choice? No.

Just when I was going to go and stand beside Soha, I saw Nandini looking at me from a distance. I felt as if something was just not right. I felt like something terrible was going to happen.

Without thinking about it much, I went in the classroom 'hand in hand' with Soha and took my seat. Seconds later Nandini too entered with Navya behind her. For once she glanced at me and her eyes held slight tears. I couldn't figure out what's happening. The look in her eyes, it was so different. It was as if something had hit her hard which she was just not ready to accept.

Navya, on the other hand, passed me a glare. Her eyes were spitting fire.

Something is definitely not right.

I looked at Nandini who was sitting on her usual seat looking out of the window and by the way she was looking outside without blinking even once, I easily figured out that she was thinking something deep.

While I was busy thinking what she must be thinking, I heard three boys talking about Nandini. The usual stuff like how cute she is, beauty with brain blah blah blah.

I felt like punching them left and right then and there but I couldn't even do that. I couldn't even protect my girl. I could do nothing for her.

Yet she chose to be with me.

She was always the popular girl in the class. Not only because she was pretty but also because she was equally consistent with her grades. She was great in sports like badminton too.

She always had a bunch of guys behind her who would do anything just to be with a girl as perfect as her.

Still she chose me.

I did nothing till date which would make her feel special in any way. Leave that, heck I am two-timing on her. I didn't even realize when time passed and it was recess already.

Soha came and sat beside me and the bench in front was now occupied by Dhruv and Cabir.

We were discussing about the upcoming India series with West Indies when Nandini and Navya came near us.

"Umm Manik could I have a minute?" her voice fumbled, pale face and low confidence was something I witnessed for the first time. Before I could reply to her, Soha stood up and went really close to Nandini's face.

"The answer is NO. Can't you see we are having a discussion over here and moreover, I know that you know that nobody else knows other than six people including you," Soha spat venomously.

"What do you mean?" Nandini meekly asked. Her expressions clearly stating that she knew exactly what Soha meant.

"Oh don't pretend. I already told Navya that me and Manik are in a 'secret' relationship and being your best friend, she must have passed on this information to you too. So just keep away from him."

And with that my whole body went numb. The thing that I feared the most was exactly what was happening.

I couldn't even deny Soha because it was the truth. I wasn't able to understand what to do what not to do.

I was feeling so ashamed of myself that I couldn't even look into her eyes which were fixed on me waiting for me to stand up and just deny all this. But I didn't budge. I couldn't.

From the corner of my eyes I could see Nandini closing her eyes and taking a deep breath.

"I wanted to talk about the project in which we are in the same group according to the alphabetical order. It's okay you guys carry on. And yeah Manik," I looked at her as she called my name, "Congrats and you too, Soha."

My heart ached as I heard her. I wanted the time to just stop. I wanted to hug her tight and assure her that she is the one whom I love.

"Oh it's fine darling. Manik say something," fuck what should I say?

"Yeah umm thank no I mean," I was not able to form any meaningful sentence. I had lost my voice. My vocal cords had stopped working.

"Uffo Manik. Accha Nandini see you later," she sat back beside me as she said that. Nandini turned to leave and had just taken two steps when she turned back.

"By the way when did you guys start dating? I mean now that I know that you guys are in a 'secret' relationship, I really want to know when it all started," she stated staring right into Soha's eyes. Her voice was void of any kind of emotion. This would how zombies would have talked, only if they knew how to talk.

"Trust me darling its been not more than some 15 days," my head was down all this while in shame.

Nandini let out a bittersweet laugh before replying,"I have stopped trusting people," she turned on her heels and walked straight out of the classroom with Navya following close behind.

"What a weirdo."

"Stop." I shouted.

"What?"

"I mean stop na Soha. Apna muh kyu kharab kar rhi ho. Jane do," I tried covering up.

"Yeah okay," She agreed unwillingly. After all girls like her love bitching about others and losing a chance on doing so, not something very pleasing.

*****

I walked straight into the washroom after hearing it from his mouth. I had this thin ray of hope earlier that it all might be fake but now it was crystal clear.

He was sitting right there. Not a word did he utter. His gaze which was on the floor and his silence gave all the answers. I had started walking out but then I turned because I wanted to know when it all started.

15 days is not less. He was in a relationship even before the day I asked him whether he had a girlfriend or not.

I couldn't tolerate his presence around me anymore. I needed time. Time to overcome from the betrayal. Betrayal from the person I loved the most. I closed the door of the small cubicle and sat on the pot placing my elbows on my thighs and my palms holding my head. I was feeling as if my head would just fall out of its place for the pressure it was undergoing.

"Hey are you okay?" Navya was banging the door of the cubicle I was sitting in. She was worried for me. After all she knew each and everything how my heart broke. If not for me, Manik would have been dead by now in the hands of Navya for the pain he had caused me.

"I will be fine Navu. Just give me some time. I'll be there," I heard Navya sigh before she left the washroom. Tears were streaming down my face now because earlier I had promised myself that I would not cry before I hear it from him directly.

It was more than 10 minutes I had locked myself up in that place and in this ten minutes I made up my mind to not shed tears anymore that also for a guy who never cared for me.

The slight kohl that I usually applied was now all over my face and I was looking no less than Anabelle.

Sense of humor in the worst possible situation.

I washed my face and was walking back to the class when I bumped into somebody.

"Hey pretty lady. Watch it," that guy said. I didn't even have the energy to look up. So I didn't argue and replied with a plain sorry.

"Harshad," he said and forwarded his hand for a handshake.

"Nandini," I replied, my eyes still not meeting his gaze. I gave a quick handshake and was leaving when I felt a tug as if he was not ready to leave my hand yet. I pulled my hand a bit and without looking back at him literally sprinted towards the classroom.

Unlike the first half, I paid full attention to the classes this time. In all this chaos I couldn't let my studies get hampered.

I have a life. An ambition to help my father in his business and to make Murthy Industries No. 1. Manik can't take that away from me.

No. I won't let my feelings control my life.

I will come out stronger than ever before this time.

__________________________________
1626 Words

Like
Comment
Share.

Okay
Thanks
Bye.

Edited.

Published On-20/12/19