Let Me Breathe

Past and Regrets!!

Yash POV

I shouldn't have talked to her in that way. I could see the hurt in her eyes. Honestly, proving my innocence was tough the first time. The whole thing was shitty. But what broke me now was the person who has most of my attention is so much into my past, makes me hurt. Falling in love was a curse for me and the sole devil, the source of my doom was Mitali Hansraj. 

 I first met her at my parents' party for my sibling's birthday. I was enjoying myself when she suddenly crashed into me while coming down the stairs. My drink fell on her dress, ruining it. I held her straight. She apologised and then I apologised and that is how our conversation started. She wasn't anything special but not someone repulsive either. She loved talking about fashion and her perception world which now I know were all rehearsed. but then She was my father's friend's daughter, so I never judged her. 

After a few days, she was everywhere. At every party, gathering, our beach trip, in every photo acting all shy and sweet and innocent. I even remember when some pictures from our beach trip looked as if we were in love. Later that photo raised a headline in a daily newspaper stating I would get hitched. When I read it I wanted to burn their newspaper down. According to my family, little publicity was not bad as long as they said positive stuff. so they never thought of making a big deal out of it. But honestly, I was pissed. I remember clearly that Sam, Jay and I were fooling around and when one of them talked about being romantic with their girlfriends, I couldn't stop myself from teasing back and then the three of us were laughing like fools. Don't take it wrong but we have been friends since eternity. There is nothing we don't know about each other. Earlier most people used to think we were boyfriends or had a love triangle but we never cared.

Mitali was a smooth talker and people gave in easily as everyone thought of her as the ideal woman. At first glance, no one could tell what kind of gaslighting, manipulative, victim-playing witch she was. but then one can't see these big red flags in anyone. One thing everybody noticed initially was, how she would always mention me or ask about me in every conversation. She started to spin stories that would make people believe that she and I, were interested in each other. I was not into her for sure. Her jokes were funny but I could sense some hidden intention every time she approached me as time passed. 

In between, one day my father and I were discussing the work when he mentioned how senior Hansraj is on the verge of bankruptcy and he has been proposing projects that could bring him stay afloat. But there was no benefit for us or anyone to try to save them.  My father wanted me to work out some options that may help Hansraj's. He also mentioned that in this time of crisis, he and my mother have asked Mrs Hansraj and Mitali to come to stay at one of our penthouses located in the upper hills. It was close to college and would keep her out of the trouble of family crisis. To which they happily agreed. Even I didn't care cause a friend should be helped. What my father would never have anticipated was the plans the Hansraj family had.  I was quite busy with college, my mother was sick for a little while, and then dad's work I had no time for anything else.

A few weeks later one of our bar friends, Mayur and Vani (they were a couple), called me to ask to catch up. It had been a while we all were also free so we all decided to meet. That night, while discussing life, Mayur mentioned Mitali and my relationship. We were all taken aback cause in my conscious memory I was still single. I told him we were not together. and he said something that shook me. According to Mayur in the past few weeks, Mitali has been going around telling people that we were intimate, living together in my apartment and that she has been spending time together with me and whatnot. She also said so many things, including my sex life, my dominant and possessive attitude towards her and how I keep forcing her when I feel like doing it. I could not believe she dared to say all that. I was fuming and wanted to rip her apart for lying and ruining my character like this.  Besides what sensible human beings would behave like this? Vani told an even more detailed story as she was keeping tabs on things she heard from different people in our circle.