The Hardest Choice

The Present State

Nikhil reread Anukriti's letter. He had done this so many times, still he just could not help staring at the words. Though she was no longer there but it seemed that he wanted to live in her memories. The tears in his eyes had dried but his mind wandered in all directions. Her brown shining eyes, short and straight hair, optimistic smile and positive energy were all he could concentrate on. To divert his attention he decided to go for a walk.

Satvik was at the Cafe Coffee Day when Nikhil messaged. Satvik like he, was trying to find solace by looking at the happier times he spent with Anukriti in the photographs he had in his cellphone. But unlike Nikhil, Satvik did not have the ability to exhibit his sadness and frustration in a fruitful way. He had too much aggression in him which did not come out in a good way. He held Anukriti's letter in his right hand and after gaining a bit of composure started reading it. As he read, his facial expressions changed from smile to being miserable. At last he stuffed the letter in his pocket and started surfing his cell. He saw Nikhil's message to meet him urgently.

He immediately went to Nikhil's home and saw him at the lawn trudging with heavy steps. Satvik walked towards him and hugged him as tightly as he could. Then they remembered the moments they shared with Anukriti.

His face expressed that he had not slept for a few days. He was extremely good looking but now looked tired. His sparkling light brown eyes had now got dark circles. His visage which attracted girls easily now looked fatigued.

After their brief meeting, Nikhil went to his room and started off the story in his diary. Nikhil had writing as one of his pastimes and so he thought that this could be the best way to vent out his doleful state. He had never felt so intensely about any girl before. But then he realised that he had to move on. After all past is just like dead. No matter how much good or bad it is you have to put a brave face and burn it.
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Satvik was exhausted emotionally. If melancholy could kill anyone instantly, Satvik would have been surely killed. Since the time he got to know about her suffering and impending doom, he had tried his level best to stay strong. But he himself needed help. He had been taking valerians to sleep. It was as if a concrete roof cascades down on a person's head. The only difference was that it made no sound. But now the action was over and it was the aftereffects which were more difficult to tackle. He was thinking about it when all of a sudden Manvi called on his cell. Manvi could sometimes get a clue of his state of mind. She was one of Satvik's closest friends and also the mutual friend of the trio.

"Hello, Satvik. Manvi here. Are you alright? "She asked with a genuine concern

"Yes and no both. I am right now in a pathetic state where I want to cry out my baggage of feelings but I am not able to do so. It's like internal bleeding. Even though you feel the pain but others can't see it."

"I know that it is hard on you. Really, I talked to Nikhil about this and he almost broke down. "She informed.

"He didn't tell me this, even though we met today at his home. We are sailing on the same boat. But I think that I need to move on in my life. Of course what she has been for me is something which you know. I can't bring her back, I can only cherish the memories with her, and move ahead in life", Satvik said with despair evident in his voice.

"Well done. So that means you are coming school from tomorrow. Right?" she said excitedly.

"Yes. I am also thinking that I would take part in the taekwondo championship. That would definitely help me to be busy. "He answered.

"That's good. I am happy that you are being sensible at this point of time. Really I mean it." She was actually relieved that he was not swaying into the sea of emotions and was being sensible about the loss and the life ahead.

"Thank you Manvi, your phone call means a lot to me. You really care for me and I acknowledge that."

"Does anyone say thanks and sorry to friends? And by the way, Nikhil told me that you went to his house. How was the reunion?" she questioned.

"We should have talked to each other about what all had happened before. When I went to his house, the first thing that he said was that he was sorry for his behaviour. I also said the same and then hugged him. We both had tears in our eyes. Meeting Nikhil eased up my emotional baggage. I think we took 'Everything is fair in love and war' rather too seriously", he said, chuckling a bit.

"I am proud of you. If you feel sad or anything, you are free to call. Bye mom is calling me and take care of yourself", with that she cut the call.

Satvik felt much better. He thought it was really a good gesture of her to call. Sitting at the study table, he thought about his goals and realised that this matter had deviated him from everything else. He was determined to make his life better.

Note: Please give me your valuable feedback through comments or voting or sharing(your choice) after reading the part. I would really appreciate it. Please speak what you actually felt after reading.
Thanks for reading,
Arpita