ᴇx-ʙᴏʏʀꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅ, ɴᴇxᴛ ʜᴜꜱʙᴀɴᴅ

Chapter 57

Yuvaan

Ever since Nishu called, I felt a knife slicing my heart, but the knife gave me warmth too, because it was Nishtha's voice.

I was sitting on the couch, when I suddenly heard Mom say her name. I ran to her and asked her to put the phone on speaker and I heard my love's voice after so long.
Heavenly.
But her voice wasn't the same. There was fear, confusion, and hesitation in it. I know I was the reason for that, but I had vowed to myself to replace the fear with security, to replace the confusion with clarity and the hesitation to confidence. I had vowed.

Dad took the phone and Nishtha's words Harshi me off guard, making me sit on the couch and hold my head as she spoke about love.
Her words replayed in my mind.

"Love... love is easy. When you love it's... it all falls in place, it all makes life easy and the road somehow feels easier because you're not walking alone, you're with someone. You wake up every morning knowing that there's someone who's holding your hand, someone who will choose... choose you every single day and someone who will fight for you. Such confidence gives you the courage to fight through all odds and tackle everything. U...Um.. Va..Vamika and Dhruv have passed the test of time and distance, two factors which are really important, but, they've also passed the test of trust.... Something which is the foundation of a relationship. If they choose to trust each other everyday Dad, nothing can keep them away. Give them a chance. Let them get married and watch them grow together."

She said everything, but she got none of that. I didn't choose her, I didn't fight for her, I did.... I didn't protect her, I didn't hold her hand.
I know she would have been tearing as she said it, and I wasn't there to wipe those tears off.
I failed her.
Not just her, I failed my entire family, especially my Dad, who looked at me as Nishtha spoke. She didn't tell them the truth.
Why not?
She should have told them.

I'm going to make everything she said true for her. It's a promise to myself.

Once the call ended, they all walked away from me, without uttering a word.
I stayed frozen, listening to the girl who lost love talk about it in such a positive light.
She's a strong woman, but, once she's back, I won't let her have to face her own problems. I'll take everything on me.

I drove back home and noticed the empty apartment. There was no life in it.
Nishtha's scent wasn't flowing around, her bag wasn't scattered on the couch, her several hair ties weren't spread around the house. Her constant yapping wasn't audible.
It was just 4 walls, not a home.
I walked up to her room, everything was exactly like she left it. I didn't dare to remove anything. Even in my anger, I didn't enter her room. I asked Jeena to get her clothes out and then I find out that her bag was already packed, I didn't know why but my bloody anger didn't let me think. I just got the bag down.
Everything is as it was.
The wardrobe had her clothes.
The dressing table had her hair tie, her clutcher, the box of sindoor.
Sindoor.
I didn't dare to touch it.
Her home clothes were scattered on the bed, I didn't let anyone clean it up. I didn't want it to be tidied.

"Jeena," I said when I went downstairs, "TKe a few days off. Go home."
"Is everything okay?"
"No. Nothing is fine." I said, sitting, "I messed up and Nishtha isn't going to forgive me this time. I need to win her back and.... I'm moving back to my parents' place for a bit, that's the only way she'll be in the same place as me."
"Oh. I... can I help?"
"Don't worry. I'll get her back, just... take care of yourself and if you need anything at all, please tell me."
"Sure... S—"
"Just Yuvaan." I corrected her, "Also, I have sent the payment for Soham, so don't worry about it."
"Yuvaan.... Why did you? I would have handled it."
"I promised you the day he was born that I will take care of Soham's education. I'm not going to go back on my words."
"But you're not doing okay. You have your own problems to worry about."
"I brought these problems on myself, if anyone's responsible, it's me. Soham shouldn't have to be caught in between. Just make sure he's enjoying. One more thing," I took my phone out and called Deepak.
Deepak came inside, "Ji Sir."
"Deepak, Geeta's school fees is also paid for, and her uniform will be delivered to your homes by the end of today. School starts next week, make sure Geeta study really well."
"Thank you so much Saab." Deepak said.
"Like I told Jeena Masi, no saying thank you and no calling me Yuvaan. Please. One more thing," I said looking at them, "take a few days off, both of you, spend time with your families. It's Soham's final year of university. He shouldn't have to suffer." I smiled and they then walked away.

I got my stuff packed and moved back to my home. I need to be here. I can't be alone.
"Hi." I said to Mom.
She didn't say anything but she opened the door and let me in. I entered.

"I have some news." Mom said, suddenly.
"What?"
"Nishtha is coming back tomorrow, her trip got preponed."

✨