Keeping Secrets

Chapter 9

There were way too many direct and group texts on Nikki's IM app, for Gaurav to go through. He sighed thinking of people like Nikki and Ruby who seemed to live such a huge part of their lives in the virtual world. So, he thought of taking a chance. He opened the IM app and started searching for random words mentioned in the entire chat.

The first word, of course, was 'pregnant'. The only text that showed up was a discussion initiated by Ruby in the group about the third girl in college who was pregnant from dating the same second-year boy.

The second word he tried was 'angry'. A couple of texts turned up, but only a few caught his eye.

The first one was from a year ago:

Ruby: How does this not make you angry, babe? Are you okay?

Nikki: Lol. Of course, I'm fine. Thanks for checking.

Nikki: NGL, I think it's all for the best.

Ruby: You don't really mean that, do you?

Nikki: Yeah, Ru. I don't know what I was even thinking. I should clearly stop drinking tho :p

Ruby: Amen, we all should! ;-)

This was a conversation about Ryan and his new girlfriend. Ruby had sent Nikki a Chatsnap screenshot of the two of them snuggling, where Ryan was wearing Nikki's hoodie, the same one that was found in her luggage by officers earlier in the day. Ryan's girlfriend Preety looked like a model, with her curvy, voluptuous body and flattering clothes. She had pouty lips and eyelash extensions that stood out on her fair, round face.

Another text was to Ryan, dated a few weeks before the conversation with Ruby.

Nikki: There's nothing to be angry about, Ry. Don't worry, it's not going to be that easy to get rid of me. :p

Ryan: I obviously could have handled that better.

Ryan: I could have thought lesser about myself.

Ryan: You would have.

Nikki: But I'm me and I'm messed up.

Nikki: You did the right thing, Ry!

Nikki: I'm glad we are talking again <3

Ryan: Me too.

Ryan: I got really scared for a while there.

Nikki: You're telling me? You know me well enough to know the thoughts that would have come to my mind.

Ryan: I'm really, really sorry Nik.

Ryan: I was beside myself in... idk.. shock?

Ryan: But it was still wrong.

Ryan: I should have told you something.

Ryan: I know I don't live upto it

Ryan: But I never want to lose you, Nikki. You're my best friend and undoubtedly the most important person in my life.

Nikki's reply had come in a little late: Told you, that's not going to be easy. :)

Ryan: I'm not gonna be this nice all the time, so enjoy my loving side while it lasts. :P

Nikki: Yeah right. Kill me now.

Ryan: So, we're good?

This was all in response to Ryan's message, "Are you still mad at me?" which was sent after a week of ignoring Nikki's attempts to strike up a conversation with him. As Gaurav scrolled through those older messages and read the thread again, he could sense the heartbreaking agony in her understanding messages.