ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏʟʟᴇɢᴇ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ [ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇᴛᴇᴅ]

• Part 42 •

Mayukh POV:

"Where is she?"
After getting the green light from Mom, I stormed into Riya's house - demanding answers.

"Where is who, Mayukh?" Riya asked back.
"Don't play dumb. Tell me where she is."
"Why would I tell you that after you insulted my family publicly?!"
"Getting karma for your actions isn't insulting, it's called getting what you deserve."
"You could have confronted me in a silent place - why did you do it in front of our families?!"
"So that they know what kind of a person they wanted me to get hitched with."
"Was anything ever real? You toyed with me."
"I didn't mind you Riya, but the way you were once Nikita came was not something I'm gonna tolerate. You called her a slut?!"
"I...I was just angry..."
I scoffed, "If she was angry and she called you a slut, what would have happened to her? You'd get her kicked out of the university."
I saw her face fall, "I never disliked Nikita. She just went after you and I didn't like that."
"You don't get to decide who she goes after and who I go after. It's our business, not yours. Now don't waste my time - where is she?"
She didn't reply.
I sighed, "Okay then. Got it. Just remember, whatever happens next is on your hands." I warned and stormed out.

I drove back home and sat on the couch. I didn't get my answers. I didn't get anything.
Where do I check now?
"Any luck?" Dada asked.
"No, she didn't talk. I don't know now."
"Just check the recent CSDS internships."
"I did that. There's 3 places: Singapore, London and NYC. Which one of them is she in?"
"Did you check with your university?"
"They aren't allowed to give out this detail."
"You're a Roy."
"I only told them not to bend rules for me."
He sighed, "Her friends will know. Ask them."
"They don't want to talk to me anymore. I have messed it up with them."
"If they didn't want to talk, why would they hear you out, and tell you where she went."
I looked up, "what do you mean?"
"I mean, just go to them and ask them."
I nodded and took off.

Within 15 minutes, I was in front of Tulip Towers. I rang their doorbell and was greeted by Aisha.
"Hi?" She asked, confused.
"I need your help."
"Come." She said, opening the door fully.
I stepped in and noticed Krutika sitting on the dining table, working on her laptop.
"I hope I didn't disturb."
"No, no it's fine." Krutika said, "what's up?"
"I need to know where Nikita is."
Their faces became confused and alert.
"What?" Aisha asked.
"She's at CSDS. We told you." Krutika said.
"There's 3 internships in 3 cities."
"Why do you need to know this? Aisha asked.
"Because I want to go to her."
"What?"
"Yep. I'm going there."
"Why?" Krutika asked.
"Is everything good?" I asked them.
Aisha sighed, "Mayukh, we love you two but she told us not to tell you anything, if you ever asked."
I smiled and chuckled.
"Why are you chuckling?" Krutika asked.
"Because I got to know that she still had faith that I'd ask, that's why she told you not to tell!"
Krutika and Aisha looked at each other and smiled and chuckled, "Wow."
"I'm going to make this right, it's either now or when she comes back." I said.
They looked at each other, then at me, "Now."
I smiled.
"She's in London."
London. Amazing!
"London? But, she's never been out of India, right? Like alone?"
"She's never lived alone."
"She must have gone to UK at least, for her brother's graduation or his university time?"
"Umm, no. She always stayed back."
"Why?"
They hesitated.
"What happened? You can tell me." I said.
"They aren't that well off financially, her ticket and stuff could have costed so she stayed back."
No wonder she's so uncomfortable around us.
"She's missed out on so much because of the money." Krutika said, "she always backs off."
She doesn't deserve this.
I'm gonna make it right.
"She won't miss out on anything anymore."
"Mayukh... stay quiet." Aisha suddenly said.
"What happened?"
"Shhhh." Krutika said and I did as they said.

I watched them sit together and answer a call.
"Hello!" Aisha said.
"Hi..."
Her voice. They're talking to Nikita! I looked at Krutika and she shook her head slowly in no.
I sighed dejectedly.
"How are you?" Krutika asked her.
"I'm fine."
"Are you?"
"You don't look fine." Aisha asked.
What happened? Why doesn't she look fine?
"Niki, tell." Krutika said.
"Did something happen there? With him?"
I saw Aisha look at me. I was right behind the phone so it wasn't difficult to look at me. She raised her eyebrows slowly, I shook my head.
"Why do you ask?" Krutika asked.
"I got an email from my boss saying that my contract might be terminated."
"WHAT?" Aisha screamed.
What the heck? How?!
"I don't know Aisha. I haven't done anything. In fact, I got a great welcome and within 2 days I got a commission as well - they loved my work."
I'm proud of her.
"Then why is it getting terminated?"
"Kru, I don't know. That's why I'm asking you if something happened between them."

I figured it out.
Riya did this. Her contract is getting terminated after I confronted her, she did this.
I won't let her get away with this.
I fisted my hands and clenched my jaw.

"I haven't spoken to him. I don't know." Aisha lied, "should I ask?
"No no. Don't. He'll think I'm... desperate."
"No he won't. I think we should hear him out."
"I don't want to."
Her words hurt me, but I deserve it.
"If anything happened between Riya and him, it'll somehow affect me. She takes her anger out on me." She chuckled sarcastically.
I hate where she's stuck.
"It'll be fine soon. I promise." Aisha reassured, indirectly looking at me and I nodded.
"I hope so, or I'll just come back with the £20 I got!" She chuckled.
"Don't say that. You'll come back happier than you are when you left." Krutika said.
"I guess, I don't know."
"Anyway, where are you staying in London?"
"Why?"
"My cousin is there, you can meet her." Krutika said. I chuckled because I knew she's asking for me.
"I'll send you the address." She replied.
"Perfect."
"Anyway, I gotta go."
"Work is over or going on?"
"Just got over. I'll go home now."
"Okay, text us when you get home."

They then cut the call and faced me.
"Is Riya behind this?" Aisha asked.
I nodded, "I think so."
"Fix this before you go to her then, please."
"I've already gotten it ready. Wait till tomorrow morning."
"Sure!"

I thanked them and made my way back home.
"Mom, Dad, Kaka, Kaki.... We need to talk."

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