Night Changes

CHAPTER 22

  "So sorry, Aly, you came to me after so long and I'm asking you to excuse me..I feel horrible,"

"It's okay, Ritz. Of course you don't need to feel bad. Visiting your ailing aunt is definitely more important than my life issues,"I said clenching my teeth.

"Thanks for understanding, " Ritz said with a smile and hugged me.

  My car came to life and I called Jasprit.
  "I have something,"

And I narrated everything.

"I'm on my way," he replied.

As I parked my car in the parking lot,a thing caught my attention.

A bag.

With a T-shirt.

All this mess made me forget all about gifting this T shirt I bought for Jasprit the other day.

I grabbed it and went inside.

  Unlike the café that day, this coffee club was indoor based and dimly lit. The whole place reeked of antique but expensive decorations. Whoever was the owner, must've spent a fortune.

  I stealthily looked around and found Trent sitting. And at a corner, I saw Jasprit at a table, with a cap and a pair of sunglasses on.

I went over to him, careful not to show my face to Trent. Seeing me, Jasprit's face lightened for a moment and then again, his eyes darkened and he looked away.

"You chose a nice spot, I didn't notice you here,"

"I'm not very noticeable, you know,"

I rolled my eyes.

"And why didn't you tell me about this diguise thingie? I would've worn sunglasses as well," I smiled.

He only shrugged.

I felt confused but then held the bag of T shirt in front of him.

"A small token of love from me,"
I smiled brightly this time.

Jasprit looked amazed.

"What is this?" He inspected the T shirt and smiled.

"You bought this for me?"
I nodded.

He looked at it for a moment and then his face fell.

"Is this a compensation for that incident?"

"Nope. I bought it earlier that day,"

"But why?"

"What do you mean? You're my friend, I can give you a gift anyway, duh,"

"Thanks," he gave me a tight lipped smile.

We sat in silence till we saw Ritz walking through the door.
She looked around and sat beside Trent.

There you go, Ritika Sajdeh.

I took out my camera and started clicking pictures.

"What are you doing?" Jasprit whispered.

"Evidence. We need it when we'll confront Ritz,"

He nodded.

We waited and they kept talking. The music was so loud, we couldn't eavesdrop at their conversation. We saw Ritz hold his hand and give it a squeeze.

  After both of them left, we came out of the café and Jasprit walked away, without saying a word to me.
 
  I looked at him in surprise. He was behaving oddly, for sure. But why?
Is it because of what happened that day?

Now this was too much. He can't just do that to me! I was drunk, this wasn't intentional!

I ran and caught him by the arm.
"Jasprit, wait. Why are you running away from me?"

He removed my hand and went for the door of the car.

"I'm not. Now please leave me alone,"

I stopped him from grabbing the door handle and faced him,

"That's not true! Something's definitely going on. You're behaving weirdly since last night. You didn't talk to me over the phone, and you're avoiding me the whole time now!"

"Stop screaming, Aly and just go away!"

"I won't, untill you tell me why you're doing this!"

"You want the truth? Come,"

He yanked my hand and took me to a corner.

"Yes I'm avoiding you, because I'll not let you break me,"

My mouth opened wide.

"Here I'm loving you more and more everyday, and all I'm getting in return is your indifference,"

I wasn't prepared for this.

"You don't have an iota of liking for me, do you? That kiss...I was so happy that we shared a moment. But then, Shreyas called. Yes. Shreyas. And he yelled at me when I picked it. I always knew he liked you and I wondered if you like him as well? And you know what?" He let out a sarcastic chuckle, "I realised, you were just a usual girl attracted to a high profile guy like Shreyas. You can't like me in your wildest dreams. Yes you kissed me but you were drunk! Bloody drunk!"

He closed his eyes and a tear escaped my eye.

Jasprit likes me.

Jasprit Jasbir Singh Bumrah has developed feelings for you, Alayna Malik.

"So," he broke my chain of thoughts, "I will not let my guard down so that you pull the rug. I won't let myself get attached to you just so that I have to feel the pain seeing you with some other man,"

My throat felt dry.

"I can't afford heartbreaks at the moment,"

He looked at me with so much pain and love, I broke down.

"Jasprit, please. Listen to me. You're getting me wrong. I like you a lot and,"

"And what? You want me to be your 'friend'?"

He laughed again.

"So that I keep admiring you and keep my hopes high? And one day, you just go away, breaking my heart into two. No..I'll not let that happen..I'm not a freakin' masochist!"

I couldn't take it anymore. There was so much going on in his mind, I couldn't figure out before.

"I don't want to have any relation with you whatsoever, Alayna. Do whatever you want to. I might like you, but I know enough to not let my emotions grow so that one day I break down. If I just avoid you now, things won't be so tough for me later on. So bless me by staying away. You go on your path, I'll go on my own,"

He gave me one final look and stormed away.

My head buzzed and I kept sobbing. I wanted to scream and tell him : I like you too, Jasprit. A lot. You're the sweetest guy I've ever met. I love your smile. I love your words. I love each and everything of yours. I want to have you by my side. I want to love you. Please don't go. I beg of you.

But I couldn't move a muscle.

People actually do that, don't they? They think the other person is not gonna like them so they just stay away to not develop feelings. Is this stupidity or wisdom?

Please vote, comment and support♥