When Love happens !

18. Help or Hope

Mriga moved back and stuck to the wall like a lizard.

Whats he doing here? Mriga asked the girls with a cold look.

He bought us breakfast. You should freshen up and come to eat. Trust me, its delicious, Nisha replied while taking a bite.

No way! You cant be my real friends. And Srushi, you too? Im disappointed with you guys, Mriga started scolding the girls, but they shamelessly continued eating. While Vivaan was admiring Mrigas morning face and wondering how anyone could be this cute while scolding.

Mriga noticed Vivaan and shouted, What are you still doing here? Just get out! And dont you dare come here again, otherwise, Ill complain to the warden.

Vivaan hadnt listened to anything Mriga said. He was completely lost in his wonderland.

Mriga asked while snapping in front of him, Oh hello mister! Im talking to you. Where have you been lost?

Vivaan came back to consciousness. Alright, Im going! But what about the kiss you wanted in your dream? Vivaan asked.

Mriga gave him a cold look, which was enough to shake his soul. Vivaan understood that its time to leave. Oh, got it! Im already gone. Ok, bye, Vivaan said as he lifted his butt and walked towards the window.

Wait! Go through the door. Srushi, shield him until he reaches the entrance, Mriga said while looking at the wall, trying hard to hide her soft side for Vivaan.

Vivaan smiled a bit and walked towards the door.

In the evening, the girls went to the café to celebrate Mrigas victory. Coincidentally, Yug also came to the same place with his friends. Yug saw Mriga and came near her table to meet her. They greeted each other, and Yug sat along with his friends at the opposite table from where he could easily keep Mriga in his eyesight. Mriga and her friends ate their meal, and within half an hour, they were all ready to go back to the hostel. Mriga paid the bill and walked towards the door. But suddenly, Yug stopped her and asked if they could talk outside the café. She nodded her head in agreement.

Outside the café,

Srushi, Ishika, and Nisha went to the ice cream parlor on Mrigas suggestion, and Mriga waited to talk to Yug. Yug came near Mriga, gave her a pleasant smile, and said, Ive been waiting for this opportunity for so many days.

Why? What happened? Do you want me to do something for you? Mriga asked.

No, not at all. I just want to talk to you about that day. Whatever happened on stage was so sudden, Yug replied.

Mriga got a little idea about what Yug was going to talk about, so she interrupted him and said, Wait, wait dont get any wrong ideas in your mind about that kiss. Theres a long story behind it.

Ok, but I heard you are single as well, so if you want to get along with someone, there are lots of fish in the pond, Yug hinted.

What do you want to say? Just speak up clearly, Mriga demanded.

Look, I really like you a lot, and I would really like to date you, Yug confessed.

Exactly at the same time, Vivaan arrived and overheard the conversation. Mriga somehow noticed him and came up with an excellent idea. Ill think about it and let you know within 2 days. Ok. Bye, Mriga said, acting as if she didnt notice Vivaan. Then she walked towards the ice cream parlor.

Vivaan got so upset that he came near Yug and grabbed his collar. So you want to date her? Let me show you the consequences of that, Vivaan threatened, but Mriga stopped him. She already knew Vivaan couldnt manage his anger and might end up doing something really bad. Stop it, Vivaan. Leave his collar and stay away from Yug, Mriga said, standing between both of them.

Just stay away from this matter, Mriga. Let me handle this. You dont know these types of boys. They just want a girl for one reason, Vivaan retorted.

And youre the one talking? Who needs new girls daily to satisfy his lust. Disgusting. You cant even control yourself while sitting in the theater, Vivaan. so you dont have any right to talk about Yugs character. And yes, Yug the answer to your question is YES. I would happily go on a date with you. Now just pack your bags, Vivaan, and go back to the U.S. where you really belong, Mriga said as she grabbed Yugs hand and walked away.

Vivaans heart shattered into pieces. He kept looking at the two of them and their hands.

After confirming that Vivaan was not coming after them, Mriga clearly told Yug why she had to do it. Im sorry, Yug. I shouldnt have given you false hopes even for 5 minutes, but I had no other option. I dont want to be with anyone right now, but Vivaan is not able to understand this. He gave up on his childhood dream just to be with me. He dropped his NASA internship just for me. I dont want him to do that. Will you please help me send him back to the U.S. again?

After hearing this, Yugs heart tore into pieces, but at the same time, he admired Mrigas thoughtfulness. He agreed to help her. He saw this help as hope, where he could be with Mriga at least for a few days. Mriga explained her next plan to Yug and started walking towards the ice cream parlor. Yug shouted her name and asked, Mriga, can I drop you at the hostel?

Uhm actually, Im going to the ice cream parlor with my friends, Mriga said, turning back.

Do you think theyve waited this long? I mean, its been an hour since we are here. And its not safe to go to the hostel all by yourself, Yug pointed out.

Alright. Lets take a walk to the hostel, Mriga agreed.

Why walk? Actually, I have a bike, Yug revealed the key.

Mriga didnt find it right. Yug read Mrigas expression and said, But no problem. One of my friends will bring it. We can walk. But give me a sec, and Ill give them the key, and we are all set to go. Yug said this and ran towards the café, gave the key to his friends, and came back to Mriga, saying, Lets go!

They talked a lot while walking to the hostel. In fact, they became really good friends. Mriga said goodbye to Yug and went inside the hostel. Yugs happiness was on cloud nine. He was flying, dancing, smiling, and blushing while walking towards his hostel until a masked man came and started beating him up. Yug tried to unmask that person, but the masked man ruthlessly punched him. After hearing a bikes horn coming towards them, the masked man threw Yug on the road and ran away. It was Yugs friend's bike. They were shocked to find Yug in such a condition. Yug was terribly hurt. His nose was bleeding, and his face was swollen. Yugs friends immediately took him to the hospital. One of his friends lost control and called Mriga, blaming her for no reason. Mriga was shocked and scared. How could anything happen to him? A few minutes ago, he dropped me and Mriga hugged Srushi and started crying uncontrollably. Somehow, she composed herself, sneaked out of the hostel with Srushi, and went to the hospital. Everyone was saying it was Vivaans doing, but Mrigas heart didnt want to accept it.