Love Me...Once Again

Chapter 13

Amisha decided to catch hold of Varun to understand more about her friend. He knew the Nirali who was happy with her Lakshay a night before was now sulking. Varun was the only one who would speak honestly, Amisha had realized that over few interactions. She now believed that there was another side of the story , a side of Lakshay. But this time she wanted to hear it from some one else.

The band had been busy with back to back shows and they couldn't meet. Varun assured her and finally he asked her to meet him in the coffee shop. ''Sorry, I couldn't make it earlier.''

Amisha nodded. ''Varun, I want you to be extremely honest with me. No filters.''

Varun smiled. ''You are her friend, so am I. Atleast, I thought that.'' Varun took a deep breath. ''I agree Lakshay would turn possessive and make choices for her but......'' there was a pause. ''Nirali always had the control. She could easily pull the strings going in aloof mode and making Lakshay beg.''

Amisha wanted to interrupt but she decided to stay quite. Varun smiled. ''What did she tell you? That Lakshay had started deciding for her. Yes, that was his mistake but who made him do that? Do you think Lakshay is an idiot that he would keep repeating same mistakes over and over again.''

''She pushed him to make such mistakes?''

''No! She was very selective about what she liked about the choices he made for her.''

''You make her sound selfish.''

''No, I make her sound human. We aren't in a soap opera where you expect the female protagonist to be sacrificing beyond limit even when world treats like her trash. No, Nirali is an amazing girl, but like Lakshay she also has her own faults. She is never sorry, even if she feels that, she would never acknowledge.'' Varun waited for Amisha to respond and to his relief, she did with a nod.

''Did she tell you about the fight on the party night?''

''She didn't give me the details.''

''I expected that.'' Varun paused. ''This is what she has to address.''

Amisha shook her head. ''Not everyone is a sharer, but this doesn't mean Lakshay gets the right to chose for her''

Varun smiled. ''Being independent is good, yet we all need that one person to depend on. Lakshay and Nirali will have to understand that. Love, is more about being dependent even if you are completely independent. If Nirali would have asked, he would have sacrificed all, even his dream college. But, she chose to put distance.'' He stared at his fingers. ''Amisha, she is the world Lakshay lives in, he would do anything for her if she would have bothered to discuss. But she didn't and Lakshay's fault he accepted this distance. But that's what he has been doing, accepting whatever she demanded of him.''

Amisha huffed, ''How do we address this? This is never ending.''

''The fun part is, its just not us, even their parents know how stupid they have been.'' Varun added. ''Do you know when Riya left, Nirali poured her hate on me but she created distance between her and Lakshay because she felt he was same as me. She gave him no reason , she just said it was good for both. Agreed, she was young and scared but why create this silence. She knew where he was yet she never reached out.''

''He could have.'' Amisha reasoned

''He did, all the time but somewhere he was tired, scared of being rejected.'' Amisha groaned holding her head. ''How do we help?''

''Make her realize her mistakes and I will do same for Lakshay. Small fight can led to bigger damages. They both will damage each other permanently.''

Amisha thought for a moment. ''Let's put distance between them. They love putting pain on one another , we will just double it.'' Varun stared at the girl and smiled. ''Let's do that.'' Amisha took her leave and then stared at a number on her phone. She had managed to steal Riya's number and now was planning on calling her, Riya had known Nirali more than her .

***

Riya huffed , the session with patient has been draining. The middle age woman had suffered a heart break and that broke her confidence which led to depression. Riya's mentor had warned against emotional connect and he was aware of her past but Riya couldn't help. She felt drained as if it happened to her all over again. He trance broke with continuous message notification. Curious,  she scrolled through the messages.

'hi...I am Amisha. Nirali's friend. I stole your number from her...Pls don't tell her. I just needed your help... with Nirali and Lakshay. Let me know when can we speak.'

Riya smiled. She would do anything for Nirali and she decided to speak to Amisha. ''I am leaving.'' She informed her assistant stepping out of her clinic . She moved to the subway, her mind little clouded with thoughts. She knew what Amisha wanted to talk about, Nirali was stubborn and as a friend Riya knew her shortcomings.

She got into the train and took her seat, her eyes scanning what the train left behind. She leaned against the window, her eyes slowly drooped taking her back to the time she wanted to move on from. 

Riya would drag Nirali every Saturday only to watch Varun play and sing. She had been smitten by him from the day one. Nirali had warned her a number of time but only if she could understand the she couldn't control her heart. Riya wondered how Lakshay gave in to all demands of Nirali. He kept with all her whims with a smile

Riya came for a conservative background and Nirali came from a family who supported  their child's dreams.  Nirali was confident and fierce, she didn't shy away from doing what she wanted irrespective of others views about her. At times, for others she came out harsh , snobbish but only ones close to her knew that Nirali was a warm girl and an amazing friend.

''Nirali, this is limit...he has been be begging you for forgiveness. Just let it go.'' Riya reasoned. Nirali and Lakshay had fought again and he had been begging again for her to have a word.

''He needs a lesson.''

''Nirali, he is the one always taking the first step, if you keep  on pushing and stretching your fights, your relationship will break.''

''That will never happen. We will never leave one and other I am sure of it.'' Nirali replied confident

Riya came back to present. Nirali and Lakshay were two different personality and none were wrong. They were just human. While in her life she chose the wrong person, Lakshy and Nirali were making right things wrong, unknowingly.

***

Nirali paced around the hall of her apartment , he eyes on the main door which was left ajar. It had been a week since she last saw Lakshay and now her heart itched to have a glance at him. She heart the footsteps and hurried towards to the door to be interrupted by Amisha. ''Hey, going somewhere?''

Nirali fumbled as Amisha shut the door behind her. Nirali huffed, ''No, I was waiting for you.''

Amisha smiled, she had been waiting at the door as she knew Nirali was desperate to see Lakshay and now it was time for them to act.

Lakshay stepped out of the elevator, his eyes on the door of Nirali's apartment. They had crossed each others path but for past one week, he hadn't had a single glance at her. He just wanted to see her once. Since they met again after years, he just couldn't control his heart. He felt she was going to step out but just them Amisha blocked his view and locked the door behind her.

''Hey, let's go to the club. I have our seats reserved.'' Varun suggested. The other two agreed but Lakshay preferred silence. ''Lakshay!'' Arun asked

But Varun answered. ''He will join us. Anyways, he is the one who always give in to others desires demands and mistakes.'' 

Lakshay stared at his friend. '' What do you mean?''

''You know what I mean. We will be waiting for you , just get ready and come.'' His friends left Lakshay alone who looked miffed . "I am not needy or desperate. I will not beg anymore.''

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Happy reading

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