ᴇx-ʙᴏʏʀꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅ, ɴᴇxᴛ ʜᴜꜱʙᴀɴᴅ

Chapter 58

Nishtha

"Let's go, the flight is on time." Priya said as we sat at the airport, checking in.
"Yeah." I said and got up.

Here I was, going back to India, after a tour which I thought would at least keep me away for 2 weeks. I was going to start searching for jobs and homes in Chicago when I get a message from IBM that our tour has ended and were needed back in Mumbai because of a big deal, that's expected to be major for IBM.

To be fair, we were given this week to relax. It was an all expense paid vacation - which we deserved! But, that vacation got replaced and now, I'm walking to the flight, where I'll land in another 15 hours. I have 15 hours to figure out what to do at home.

What did he even tell his family?
They don't know anything.
Did he lie to them?
What about now? He can't lie when I'm back.
I can't go back him, I won't go.
I'll live separately, but where?

I can't go to Aai Baba, they don't know about anything that's happened. I can't go live with my in-laws, that's embarrassing. I don't want to be a bother to Aditi, I've been living there so much.
Where am I going to find a home now?
I'll have to check into some hotel.

Yuvaan hadn't messaged me this entire week, well, he couldn't. I switched off my personal phone. Now, his Mom and Dad had my office phone and they knew I'm coming back today.
I let them know.
I just hope they didn't tell Yuvaan.

Beep!

I looked at my phone, speak of them and they're here. I smiled, seeing a message from Aai and my mother-in-law.
'Safe travels Nishu!' Mom said.
I texted her a thank you and she immediately called me, I chuckled and picked up.
"Hi." I said, smiling.
"Nishu beta! How are you? Is your flight on time?"
"Yes Mom, it's on time."
"When will you reach?"
"It'll be almost early morning, maybe 6am."
"I'll send someone to pick you."
What?
No.
"W...what? I'll go the penthouse, right?" I lied, I would just go to a hotel.
"Arre! I forgot to tell you, Yuvaan has moved in with us for a bit, your penthouse has been renovated. He didn't tell you?"
"Umm... no, I... I think he did, I forgot." I lied.
He doesn't even care, Mom.
"No worries! I know you're busy right now, but yes, I'll ask someone to pick you up, or I'll tell Yuvaan to come."
"No!" I exclaimed, then cleared my throat, "I mean, he might be asleep. I'll come, on my own."
"No, I'll ask him to come," she argued, "I'll need to go now, have a safe flight bete. See you!"
"See you." I said and cut the call.

What am I going to do?

I groaned and got on the plane, where I sat and told the entire situation to Pri, who said, "Bro, that's... that's messy."
"I know! What am I gonna do?"
"Look, I know that you don't need to talk to him at all, just don't wait for him. He's been so rude to you, why would you think about his feelings when he never thought about yours? Just go to the airport and get in a cab and come home, if you bump into him, if not, then you're good."
I don't know if I have the heart to do that.
"I... I'll try." I said.
"It'll be fine, Nishu. Now, we have 15 hours, I'm going to bed, goodnight!"
I chuckled, "Goodnight!"

~•~

Mumbai City. Home is home. Whilst Chicago is also home, this city holds its magic on me as well, it's home, my first home, after all.

We landed at 4am, surprisingly much earlier than we expected, and the airport was deserted. There was not many people except for the basic few people who worked there and a few people who were traveling.

We got our stuff and Priya had a connecting flight to Pune, where she was going to be for a few days, so she bid me a goodbye and I went ahead, dreading what's to come.

Coming back here brought out my anger. While I was in the US, I had managed to keep myself away, but the second I landed here, I felt all those memories coming back, all the painful memories, not just from 4 years ago, but also the ones from 10 days ago.
It's only been 10 days.
Yuvaan's words haunt me everyday.
Compulsive liar, that's what he called me. My nerves were popping and I was angry again.

Calm down, he's not here.
Of course he isn't.
Why would he bother coming?
Thank God.

I quickly booked an Uber and waited outside for it. The dawn time was my favorite time of the day. The slight breezes, the birds chirping, the light noises of car motors, the smell of the vendors cooking their first meal, the morning chai smell, the morning vibe of the city going to work, the slow color change of the skies....
A new day.
I let the breeze take me in.
Heaven.

But then, as I turned to my right, I noticed a car.
His car.
I could recognise that car anywhere.
His BMW, with a unique number plate of... wait a second.... YN424?
He didn't change his number plate.

YN424, it symbolized something. It was a symbol of our birthdays - 24th was mine, and 4th was his, and the YN, well for the outside world, it meant Yuvaan Nanda, but for us, it was our names.
Why didn't he change it in the past 4 years?
Unlike a tattoo, this can be erased.

I'll think about that later. I had to run. I could see his car coming and I quickly took my shawl and wrapped it around my hair and covered my face as much as I could, and wore my sunglasses.
I don't want to see him.
Not right now.
I'm not ready.

Maybe he's not even inside?
No, he never allows anyone to drive that car.

Thankfully, my Uber arrived and I quickly sat inside, but I hoped.... He hadn't seen me.

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