The Girls Of December

Chapter 5.

Heartbreak

Mayra's POV:

After an absolutely draining day at work, I was finally ready to call it quits when, lo and behold, the ever-so-important mailbox caught my eye. Amidst the chaos of interviews and exhausting project meetings, I had somehow forgotten to check it earlier. But there it was, mocking me with its pile of neglected mail.

And what do I find? The Singhania group, ever eager to entice me with their offers, flaunting something intriguing. Then, oh joy, acceptance from Mr. Khurana, confirming what I already knew deep down.

But then, as if the universe had conspired against me, I stumbled upon Mr. Malhotra's email. I had to read it twice to fully comprehend the audacity of his words. Rejection. Not just rejection, mind you, but rejection wrapped in disdain, as though I were his sworn enemy in past fucking life.

Mr. Malhotra had the gall to cross me? The nerve! Nobody, and I mean nobody, treats Mayra Kapoor this way.

But enough dwelling on the insolence of others; it was time to clear my mind. And what better way to do so than with a little distraction. I needed sex.a good sex.

So, with keys in hand and determination in my stride, I made a beeline for my favorite bar, ready to drown my frustrations in whatever liquid courage they had on offer.
As I walked into the dimly lit bar, the weight of the day's frustrations still heavy on my shoulders, I couldn't help but feel a sense of liberation wash over me. The pounding music and the thrum of conversations enveloped me like a warm embrace, a stark contrast to the cold rejection I had just experienced from Mr. Malhotra.

Ordering my drink with a confidence I didn't know I possessed, I scanned the room, searching for a distraction, a momentary reprieve from the chaos of my professional life. And there he was, sitting at the end of the bar, his gaze intense and his smile knowing.

We exchanged glances, and before I knew it, he was making his way over to me, his confidence palpable. We engaged in easy conversation, the kind that flows effortlessly between two strangers who share a mutual understanding of the unspoken rules of the night.

As the night progressed, so did the intensity of our connection. Each laugh, each touch, felt like a balm to my wounded ego, a reminder that I was more than just the sum of my professional setbacks. In his presence, I felt alive, unburdened by the weight of expectation and rejection.

And when he finally leaned in to kiss me, it was as though the world around us ceased to exist, leaving only the raw electricity of desire between us. In that moment, all the stress and frustration of the day melted away, replaced by an intoxicating sense of liberation and pleasure.

Our encounter was brief but passionate, a fleeting moment of connection in a world filled with chaos and uncertainty. And as I lay beside him in the early hours of the morning, the glow of satisfaction warming my skin, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the unexpected turn of events that had led me to this moment.

In the end, Mr. Malhotra's rejection proved to be nothing more than a temporary setback, a blip on the radar of my otherwise fulfilling life. And as I slipped out of bed and into the morning light, I carried with me a renewed sense of confidence and determination, ready to face whatever challenges the day ahead might bring.

And suddenly my phone rang. It's 8 in the morning, no one dares to....
It was Aashika, she never called me so early in morning before. I panicked and as I picked up the phone, I could already sense the tremble in Aashika's voice. It was the kind of tremble that only comes from deep pain, the kind that rattles the core of your being. "Mayra," she choked out, her voice breaking between sobs, "I saw Arjun... I saw him with her."

I listened, my heart aching for my friend as she poured out the painful details. She had caught her boyfriend, Arjun, cheating on her. The image she painted with her words was vivid and raw, like a scene from a heart-wrenching movie. She described how she had innocently decided to surprise him, only to be met with the sight of him intimately entangled with another woman. The betrayal cut deep, leaving her shattered and questioning everything she thought she knew about love and trust.

I did my best to soothe her, offering words of comfort and understanding. I reminded her that she was not alone, that I was here for her no matter what. Through her tears, Aashika managed to express her disbelief and anguish, her voice filled with a mixture of anger and heartache.

Once her sobs began to subside, I took a deep breath and made a decision. It was time to share my own story, which I was afraid how she mightactas I did that again, "Aashika," I began, my voice steady but laced with vulnerability, "I have something to tell you."

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how she would react. But I knew that if there was ever a time to be honest, it was now."I sent two collaboration requests , one to Mr. Khurana, who accepted it and another to Mr.Malhotra but he" I filled her in with the information so that she wouldunderstandme in a better way. Aashika hummed in a soft affirmation, her curiosity piqued by my sudden shift in tone.

"He rejected my proposal," I continued, my words heavy with disappointment. "I have never been rejected and you know how these negative things make my heart sink and well in my moment of weakness, I made a choice that I'm not proud of." I confessed to her about the one-night stand I had engaged in although I promised her that I would not do it more than twice a month but for did it.
"What is it, Mayra? You sound serious."

Taking another deep breath, I plunged into the confession. "I... I had a one-night stand last night."

There was a moment of stunned silence before Aashika responded, her voice filled with disbelief and disappointment. "Mayra, how could you? You know how much I hate that kind of thing."

I winced, knowing I had hurt her deeply. "I know, Aashika, and I'm sorry. But you have to understand, for me, it's just easier this way. I can't handle the complications of a serious relationship."

Aashika's voice softened slightly, but I could still hear the hurt lingering beneath the surface. "But Mayra, don't you see? That's exactly why I hate it. It always ends."

I nodded, understanding her reaction but also knowing that my experience had shaped my perspective in ways she couldn't fully comprehend. "I know," I replied softly, "but in that moment, it felt like the only way to fill the void inside me. To escape the crushing weight of rejection and loneliness."

Aashika remained silent, processing my confession and grappling with her own emotions. Eventually, she spoke again, her tone softened but still tinged with sadness. "But is it worth it?" she asked quietly. "Trading one kind of pain for another?"

I sighed, grappling with the weight of her question. "I don't know," I admitted honestly. "All I know is that sometimes, the pain of a fleeting connection is easier to bear than the agony of a shattered heart. But it's not a choice I would wish upon anyone."

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I realized just how lucky I was to have a friend like Aashika. "Thank you, Aashika. I don't know what I'd do without you."
And soon said our goodbyes, the weight of our conversation still heavy in the air. But despite the distance between us, I knew that our bond was unbreakable. And for that, I was grateful.