...The art of falling in love...( Abhira❤️Armaan)

18

The city lights blurred into streaks as Rohit drove, the bass from the car stereo a low thrum against their silence. "Rohit, let's go club," Armaan finally said, his voice thick, breaking the heavy quiet.

"Okay," Rohit agreed, a little surprised, but more worried. Armaan had been like a ghost since the incident with Abhira earlier that day, and Rohit hoped a night out might pull him out of his funk.

The club was a kaleidoscope of flashing lights and pulsing music. Armaan went straight for the bar, signaling for one drink after another. Rohit watched with growing unease as his friend knocked back glass after glass. "Enough."he finally said, placing a hand on his arm.

Armaan brushed him off, his eyes glazed. "One more, just one more, Rohit."

"Armaan!" Rohit's voice sharpened. "What's wrong with you? You haven't said a word since the Abhira thing. What’s going on in your head? Don’t tell me you’re thinking about revenge again. I told you, that chapter with Abhira needed to close today, and after today, you leave her alone."

Armaan turned, his face a mask of pain and confusion. "No, no, I won't do anything to Abhira," he said, his voice cracking. "It hurts knowing that we won't even talk anymore?

"What?!" Rohit sputtered, genuinely shocked by the direction of Armaan's ramblings.

Before Rohit could make sense of the admission, Armaan’s eyes rolled back and he slumped forward, unconscious from the drink. Rohit quickly caught him, a mixture of frustration and concern swirling within him.

He somehow managed to get Armaan into the car and back to his home. He carefully laid him on the bed, gently tucking a blanket around him. He reached out and lightly touched Armaan's forehead, a faint frown creasing his brow.

"Armaan bro," he murmured, a dawning realization hitting him with the force of a wave, "you're in love with her. And you lose her before you even admitted it to yourself." He shook his head, a sad smile playing on his lips. "Fool," he whispered, before turning and leaving the room, the unspoken truth hanging heavy in the air.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, Abhira walked home from college, the afternoon sun painting the streets in warm hues. Kiara followed close behind, her steps mirroring Abhira's pace.

Back in her room, Abhira turned to face Kiara, forcing a bright smile. "Yes, babe, I'm okay. And you know what? I knew his plan, so why would I be upset? In fact," she added a touch too brightly, "I'm happy today, because we're going to Rajasthan tomorrow!"

Kiara studied her, her brow furrowed with concern. "Okay. If you say you're okay, then okay. But remember, I'm here for you, okay?"

"Hmm," Abhira hummed, trying to sound nonchalant.

After Kiara left, the forced cheerfulness melted away. Abhira sank onto her bed, her mind replaying all the moments she had spent with Armaan, the good and the bad. The shared laughter, the heated arguments, the lingering glances – it all played out like a bittersweet movie reel in her mind. A wave of sadness washed over her, a dull ache settled in her chest. She knew this was the end, but the finality of it felt like a physical blow.

Exhausted, both mentally and emotionally, she eventually drifted off to sleep, the memories of Armaan swirling around her like a familiar, but painful, dream. The city slept soundly, unaware of the silent battles being fought in the hearts of two young people, their fates intertwined by an unspoken love and a painful goodbye.

Just hours ago, Abhira, accompanied by Kiara and her family, had boarded a train bound for Rajasthan, the location of her brother’s wedding. The departure felt like a physical wrench, leaving an ache in Armaan's chest that he couldn't explain.

He woke up in a cold sweat, the events of the previous day replaying in his mind. He’d wanted to push Abhira away, to make her hate him, a cruel act born out of… what exactly? He didn’t even know. He stared at his reflection in the bathroom mirror, the image looking back at him with a mix of confusion and anger. “Kya ho raha hai mujhe? Why am I hurting so much at the thought of Abhira being away? I wanted to push her away! Then why does it feel so wrong? Why is my heart so restless?” He splashed cold water on his face, again and again, trying to wash away the strange turmoil churning within him.

Downstairs, his usual breakfast was laid out, but it felt different. His entire group—Ruhi, Charu, Aryan, and Rohit—sat around the dining table, their faces reflecting a concern he hadn’t expected.

“What are you all doing here?” he asked, his voice rough.

Ruhi stood and walked toward him, her hand gently taking his. “We know you’re upset from yesterday. So, we're here to cheer you up.”

Armaan frowned, pulling his hand away slightly. “Why would you think I’m upset?”

Charu was more direct. “Because Ruhi’s interference ruined your plan, didn’t it?”

Ruhi’s cheeks flushed. “I know, Armaan, I acted too hastily. But that girl… I can't stand her for a single minute. I'm sorry.”

Aryan clapped Ruhi on the shoulder. “There’s no need to apologize, Ruhi! Whatever you did, you did it for Armaan, right, Armaan?”

Armaan looked at each of them, a flicker of something unreadable passing through his eyes. He felt like a spectator in their performative concern. His gaze landed on Rohit, who was unusually quiet. “Rohit, won’t you say something? You too, speak.”

Rohit, ever the enigma, simply said, “Listen to your heart.”

The cryptic response only added to the confusion. Charu, sensing the awkwardness, quickly changed the topic. “Let’s eat, guys. I'm starving!” They all agreed, and the awkwardness subsided into a more comfortable, if slightly strained, normalcy. As they ate, Ruhi announced excitedly, “Armaan, we’ve planned a trip to Rajasthan for a week!”

Armaan’s brow furrowed. “I don’t feel like going. You guys should go without me.”

Aryan was incredulous. “When have we ever gone anywhere without you?”

Charu chimed in, "And why don’t you feel like it?"

Rohit, ever observant, added, "Come on, we need to freshen up. It'll be good for all of us."

After some coaxing and gentle pressure, Armaan reluctantly agreed. The thought of being away from the familiar, even if it was with his friends, was strangely appealing. He needed to escape the suffocating confusion that Abhira's presence, or now her absence, had created.

"Okay," he said finally, a sigh escaping his lips. Rajasthan. Perhaps a change of scenery was exactly what he needed, even if he didn’t quite know what he was searching for. But as the plans for the trip solidified, a nagging feeling persisted. He knew, deep down, that running away wouldn’t solve the inner turmoil he was experiencing. The answer, he suspected, lay not in the vast desert landscape they were headed toward, but within the confusing labyrinth of his own heart.

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