"What are you doing here... tumhara to stomach upset tha na"? Teja gave Karan a questioning look.
"Tum? yaha kya kar rhi ho?" He was shocked and was looking here and there to avoid an eye contact with her. He kept a hand on his mouth so that the smell of alcohol doesn't reach her nostrils.
Looking at his condition she understood that something is wrong with him.
"Main maggi lene jaa rahi thi for dinner but aage ek boys ka group khada hain so soch rhi hu jau ya ni" She made an excuse so that he leaves his peg and walks with her
"Ohh!! to fir akele mat jao m chalta hu tumhare sath" he offered and her plan worked.
They both started walking to the shop. She bought a packet of maggi and 2 bottles of pepsi. She offered one to him. He denied but she insisted. So he took it from her hands and opened the seal.
Teja wanted to spend sometime with him as she wasn't sure if Nishant is back in the room and now if he will go back then he will start overthinking.
So she pointed towards the footpath and said "Baith ke peete hain fir chalte hain wapas". They both sat there.
"Wanna talk? Wanna share something" Teja asked looking at him.
He was looking at the road and was not replying.
"Dekh Karan I cannot force you but don't know why i always think ki teri and meri vibe match karti hain so we can gel along. Agar koi bhi issue h and you want to discuss and then I am there ... agar koi cheez tujhe tang kar rahi h to tu bta sakta h and trust me I won't judge you" She said still looking at him.
Even after few minutes there was no response from him. She thought may be he needs some alone time. So she got up to leave.
"Thodi der ruk jao" He requested.
She turned back and again went back to sit next to him on the footpath.
"Kabhi kabhi na samjh ni ata kya karu.. sabko lagta hain k sab sahi h... sab kuch easy hain but aisa ni h" Karan said looking down towards his feet.
"Kya hua Karan... if you feel ok then you can share.." She gave him some assuring words.
"Samjh ni aa rha k mera and Anusha ka kya chal rha h..." He said taking a deep breath.
"Hum dono bachpan se saath the... 10th class se relationship me h... sab sahi chal rha tha... hum dono Chandigarh chale gae enginnering k lie... same college me the... wo girls hostel me thi and m boys hostel me" He continued while playing with the ring on his finger and still looking down.
"College me kuch dino se mujhe lagne laga ke wo mujhse kam baat karne lag gai h... milne ko bolta hu to avoid karti h... initially mujhe laga ke aise hi hoga but ek din uski roomate jo ki meri bhi friend thi usne muje btaya ke aaj kal ek ladke se wo bahot baat kar rhi h... mera and uske common friend tha wo... pehle to muje laga ke may be general baat hoti ho but fir maine apne friend ko confront kia to usne muje btaya k he likes her and she likes him as well" a drop of tear rolled from his eyes while saying this.
"Ye sunke mujhe bahot gussa aya fir maine Anusha and mere friend ko ek sath confront kia to Anusha ne apni galti maan li... usne mujhse apologize kia and bola k this was a mistake and will never happen again."
"M poora tut gaya tha... mere sab friends ne muje bola k m usse chod du... aisa chance dene ka koi fayda ni h... but maine introspect kia to laga k shayd kahi na kahi galti meri bhi thi.. college me m bahot apne friends ko attention dene lag gaya tha... daaru.. bike rides... night outs sab ... so i decided ke main usse ek chance dunga because ho sakta hain ke meri galti ki wajah se usse loneliness lagi ho and islie usse ye galti hui ho" he got up from his place while saying so.
She understood that he is trying to control his tears thats why he is standing with his back towards her.
"Uske baad sab acha chalta raha... m usse time dena start kar dia ... daaru bhi kam kardi... fir final year me jab mere pas hamari company me placement ki confirmation mail ayi to maine socha k main uske lie pehle cake leke ata hua fir ek sath cut karke celebrate karenge.. but jab m cafe pahucha to dekha k wo apne hantho se ek ladke ko sandwich khila rahi thi... that was it for me"
"Main waha khade khade hi shiver karne lag gya and meri aankhon se aansu nikal aaye.. bahot mushkil se main apne hostel tak wapas aya... waha aake mere sab friends ne mujse pucha ki kya hua h... maine unhe sab btaya but mere aansu ruk hi ni rahe the"
"Maine usse call kia and pucha kaha ho to usne bola k hostel me... this was the last nail in the coffin... us din ke baad maine Anusha ko kuch din call ni kia na hi uski call receive ki... tab usne mere ek friend ko call ki tab usne Anusha ko bahot sunaya and usse pata chala ke wo fir se pakdi gai hain..". Now he was sobbing loudly enough for her to get up and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Maine kuch dino tak usse baat ni ki but wo lagatar muje sorry ke messages bhejti rahi... she wanted one last chance... in dino main depression me chala gya... bahot smoke karne lag gaya tha... mere friends ne meri halat dekh ke meri mummy ko Chandigarh bula lia"
"Meri mummy and mama aye the... mere halat dekh ke bahot upset huye.. unhone meri counselling start karwai taki m depression se bahar aa saku... 2 months baad m bahot better state me tha... smoking drinking to ab bhi kafi h but depression related koi problem ni thi.."
"Jab m theek hua to usme muje ek video message bheja.. wo bahot ro rahi thi... usne mujse promise kia ke ye last chance maang rahi h wo... meri family and friends sab usse chid gae the and chahte the ke m usse or chance na du but itne saalo ka rishta h... isilie m usse bola k ye last chance h lets start afresh and sab kuch theek karne ki koshish karte h"
"Ab jab bhi m usse call karta hu wo kahi na kahi busy hoti h... meri yaha aane se pehle bhi wo mujse ni mili... Muje ni lagta ke ab wo muje cheat kar rhi h but ab blindly trust ni kar pata main usse... pta ni kya h jo andar hi andar muje sad karta rehta h" With this Karan hung his head down and started crying loudly.
Teja saw his vulnerability and started rubbing his back. She gave him a tissue and kept standing next to him helping him to relax.
Once he was better she turned towards him and said "Karan m tujhse kuch ni puchungi bas 1 ques but you will have to answer it to me while looking into my eyes"
Karan nodded.
"Tune Anusha ko jo last chance diya wo islie tha because you love her ya isliye because you are scared to break your relation with her" Teja questioned.
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Author's Note : The book is under editing and next parts will be uploaded super soon.
YOU ARE READING
U and I are meant to be US
RomanceSometimes two people who are poles apart come together.. but can they also sustain together? As we say "I love you" is just the starting.. what follows next is.....
