ᴇx-ʙᴏʏʀꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅ, ɴᴇxᴛ ʜᴜꜱʙᴀɴᴅ

Chapter 23

Yuvaan

She is so ziddi. So arrogant. So... difficult.
You shouldn't have spoken to her that way.
At her own house, Yuvaan.
I don't care.
She made Vami cry, she did the same that time.
You didn't even hear her.
I don't need to.

I was punching my punching bag - this bag has been taking a lot of hits because of that girl. My music got switched off suddenly and I looked up to see my two friends, Arush and Rohan.
"What are you two doing here?" I asked.
"Well, we wanted to attend the punching bag's funeral." Rohan joked, "Farewell bag."
"Seriously, why are you breaking it?" Arush said. "Because Nishtha is annoying the life out of me. I can't stay with her. How will I survive?!"
"What is she even doing?"
"She...."
What did she do, Yuvaan?
Did she bother you? No.
Well, she isn't taking. That's annoying me.
"She?" Rohan said, "Bro you don't have a reply."
"I do. She is aggravating." I said.
"Kinda sounds the same like it did 7 years back when you fell for her." Arush teased.
"I'm not making that mistake again." I said.
"We'll see." Rohan said.
"Why are you two here?"
"We're here because no matter how the situation is, we are having your bachelor party."
"What? I don't want that."
"Listen. It's not an ask. We are telling you. Every guy gets only one bachelor party." Rohan said.
"Well, lucky for you, I'm ending this marriage in a few years so we can do it then."
Arush and Rohan looked at each other, "We'll see about that Yuvaan. For now, just get ready."
"Man..." I groaned.
"Come on!" Arush said, pulling me up.
"Okay. Give me a few minutes."

I went and took a warm shower and then got in my black cargo pants and a white sweatshirt. I set my hair, and then looked at myself in the mirror. I looked good.
I was about to leave when I saw the ring.
My engagement ring.
Should I wear this?
Technically the marriage doesn't even matter.
Did Nishtha have it on?
Of course, she did.

I picked it and wore it on my left hand finger where she had adorned me with it, and then made my way downstairs.

"Are you ready?" Arush said while he sat with Vamika, "it's been years."
"What are you two doing?"
"I'm helping her finish an assignment."
"Mom," I said when Mom walked in, "I am going out with Arush and Rohan."
"Technically J Aunty, we're taking your son for his own bachelor party." Rohan chuckled.
Mom smiled, "Good, make sure he relaxes and you all enjoy and be safe."
"We will."

Loud music, people dancing everywhere, lights. I used to like coming to bars but after I ended my thing with Nishtha, it just stopped. Nishtha and I used to come to bars frequently. Nishtha liked dancing, I liked seeing her dancing.

Coming back to the bars where Nishtha and I had danced was giving me a sense of throwback, one I didn't want. I was feeling weird. After our relationship ended, I came to the bar a lot, until I realised that I need to get my act together.

So, now I stood in front of the Cha Cha Club.
"Let's go?" Arush asked, and we nodded.

We walked in and were greeted by a huge smell of alcohol, a wide range of drinks and a very huge number of dancers - male and female.
We walked to the bar and ordered drinks and then got to the floor.
It didn't feel right.
I don't want to dance.
I haven't danced since....
"Arush, I'm gonna sit there. Y'all dance." I said.
He was too busy to hear me.

I walked to the bar and drank a few more drinks. Why did you betray me, Nishtha?
This could have been us.
I can't be here.
Where are these two?
"Hey handsome." A feminine voice said. I turned to see a lady. She was hot.
"Hey." I said, uninterested.
"Drinking alone? I can give you company." She called a drink for me and her.
"No thanks." I said, looking down.
"Come on, a man shouldn't drink alone."
"I'm not alone, I'm with my friends, celebrating my bachelor party." I said.
"You're getting married?" She asked.
"Yes."
"So you're still single then." She winked.
I showed my ring, "I'm taken. Please leave."

She got up, and slowly came to me. Her legs came in between my legs as she stood very close to me, "She isn't with you here. Come on."
Her hand came around my neck as she placed a kiss on my neck.
What are you doing, Yuvaan?!
I pushed her away, "Don't you dare do that."
I walked out, desperately needing fresh air.

I stood on the road, by the sidewalk, as I looked at the city in its live form. It was 10pm, and it all looked so loud and vibrant. I walked over to the closest store to get a snack to calm me down. Once I entered, I walked to the section when I heard a familiar noise.
"Adi, which one?!"
I followed the noise and saw Nishtha.
What's she doing here?

"Nishtha?" I said, and she turned. Her phone, which was on her ear, fell down in shock.
She instantly bent down and brought it back to her ear, "I got it, I'll reach in 5 mins."
"What are you doing here, Nishtha?" I said.
"I... nothing." She said.
"I'm not blind." I said, coming close.
"We're... having a movie night... I'm just getting a few snacks." She hesitated.
"Are you alone?"
She was about to talk but suddenly she stopped.
What happened to her?
"Nishtha?" I said, but she backed away and ran to the self checkout and started to check her items out. I followed her into it.
"Nishtha, what's wrong with you?" I asked.
She didn't answer but I saw her eyes get moist.
"Are you going to talk or not?!" I said sternly.
She got her stuff and started to walk away. I followed her out of the store and grabbed her hand, "Nishtha. Talk."
"You are a very hypocritical man Mr Nanda. You tell me that I'm a liar and a cheat but you go around breaking the very rules you set, just before our marriage?!"
What did I do?
"What did I do?" I asked, confused.
"Of course, you're never wrong. It's always me."
"Nishtha, you know I hate it when you speak in riddles, just tell me what it is."
She scoffed, "I stopped knowing you after that day 4 years back Sir." She said and walked away.
What just happened?

I stood lost in thought at her words.
Why is she acting innocent?
It's a trick.
But, that's not something Nishtha would do.
"Yuvi! Where were you?!" Arush said, coming to me with Rohan, "We were worried!"
"What happened?" Rohan asked.
"I don't know. I met Nishtha. She was here and I asked her if she's alone and she was going to talk and then she just stopped and started running away and started crying. Then she just said that I am a hypocrite and broke rules of our contract before the wedding." I blurted.
Arush replied, "You have a contract?"
"I told you and showed it to you."
"Well, we didn't think you'd actually make it."
"I have to, so she doesn't get the wrong idea."
"Yeah, well she already did."
"What?"
"You told her that you'll stay loyal and you go and flaunt your new hickey to your fiancée."
"What?"
Arush pulled my sweatshirt a little down. Rohan showed me the front camera on his phone.
Oh God. She saw the lipstick mark.
"Dude whatever happened, at least Nishtha never cheated on you, can't say the same for you now." Rohan said, evidently looking upset.
"I didn't do this. Some lady came and tried to kiss me but I walked off. She just kissed my neck before that and that's what triggered me and I got up and left. When I came out to get air, I saw Nishtha and the rest is history." I explained.
"Oh God." Arush said.
"We have to explain this to Nish." Rohan said.
Nishtha. Kabhi toh full story sun liya karo.
"Where is she?" Arush asked.
"Aditi's house."
"Okay let's go." Rohan said.
"No. She's having her own party there. Leave it." I said, "I'll just tell her at the wedding."
"At the wedding?!"
"Yeah. It's in 2 days."
"That means from tommorow she'll be busy with the functions."
"Yes?"
"Yuvi you need to meet her before the wedding and tell her. Don't start your marriage with a lie and misunderstanding."
"This marriage is fake." I said.
"You and her want to believe it is, but it's as real as the love she has and had for you."
"Rohan. Don't go there."
"I've been telling you for 4 years now, look into it, you refuse to. You'll regret it."
"Whatever. Let's just go."
"Go where?"
"I don't wanna go back to the club." Arush said.
"Crash at my place." I said.
"Sure. Let's go."
"Rohan, you'll drive?" I asked.
"Sure bro! Give!" He took the car keys and we drove home.

How am I going to tell Nishtha this now?

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