From Heartbreak To Love

Chapter 19 : I Missed You

My head rested against the cool glass of the car window as memories of the evening replayed in my mind. Harsh’s rejection echoed in my thoughts, cutting through the temporary relief I had felt when reuniting with my friends. For a while, they had managed to distract me, but now, the sting of those words was back.

I glanced at Arjun. He was unusually silent, his attention focused on the road. I wanted to say something, to bridge the distance that seemed to have grown between us over the years, but he didn’t seem like the same Arjun who used to be my best friend. No jokes, no lighthearted banter—just a quiet, composed man who felt more like a stranger than the boy I once knew.

My phone buzzed, breaking the silence. “Yes, Maa,” I answered.

“Have you reached the station?” she asked, her concern as familiar as ever.

“I’m on my way,” I replied, glancing at Arjun. “Let’s hope the driver makes it on time.” I noticed a faint smile tugging at his lips, though he tried to hide it.

“How was the party? Did you meet your friends?” she continued.

“It was good, Maa. I was happy to see everyone after so long,” I said.

“And Arjun? Was he there too?”

I hesitated for a moment. “Yes, he was there.”

Before she could start her usual barrage of questions, I quickly added, “I’ll call you once I reach the station, okay? Bye!”

Ending the call, I placed my phone on my lap, only to hear Arjun let out a low chuckle. I frowned, turning to him. “What’s so funny now?”

“Nothing,” he said, but the faint smirk on his face didn’t fade.

To ease the awkwardness, he turned on the car’s music system. A
soft melody filled the air.

                 
           "Ye raaten ye mausam nadi
             Ka kinaara ye chanchal hawa
             Kaha do dilon ne ki mil kar
            Kabhi na honge kabhi ham juda
           Ye raaten ye mausam nadi ka
          Kinaara ye chanchal hawa”

I looked at him, surprised. “You hated these songs. You always said they were boring whenever Smriti and I sang them back in school.”

He smiled, his gaze still on the road. “People change. Preferences change too.”

I studied him for a moment, trying to piece together this new version of Arjun. Had he been through a heartbreak recently? That could explain the subtle melancholy in his demeanor. But who would reject someone like him? Or worse, cheat on him? The thought made me pity whoever had lost such a gem.

“What time is your train?” he asked, breaking my thoughts.

“12:45,” I replied.

He nodded. “We’ll reach on time. Just ten more minutes.”

We reached the station at exactly 12:30. I opened the car door and stepped out, pulling my bag from the backseat. As I shut the door, I thought I heard him say something, but the door’s thud drowned it out.

I waited for him to step out, expecting a goodbye, maybe even a quick hug. But instead, the car drove off without a single glance back.

I stood there, stunned. What just happened? How could he leave like that—no goodbye, no suggestion to stay in touch? This wasn’t the Arjun I knew. The boy who used to be my best friend would never have left without a proper farewell. Shaking my head, I muttered to myself, “You really aren’t the same, are you?”