The Hardest Choice

Confrontation

A/N :From this chapter course of the relationship between the three characters will undergo a metamorphic change. Your support is appreciated. I would like to say a special thanks to yagappar and NATASHAJESS for voting and commenting on my story till now.

The next day, she decided to go to school. She thought that she would succumb to depression if she stayed at home. She wanted the things crystal clear between the three of them and also she was determined to tell Nikhil and Satvik about the impending doom. She had to tell them the truth. Every single day brought her more pain and made her more aware of the inevitable end. Yesterday she had woken up with a jolt. The pain had eased but she had seen a nightmare it seemed. She searched for her phone and called Mridul.

"Hello. This is Anukriti. May I talk to Mridul please? "

" Hey Anu. I am afraid that Mridul will not be able to talk to you right now. He is busy with some work. By the way have you seen the time? It's 11:30 and I don't think it would be good for him if he saw you talking on the phone at this hour", the masculine gentle voice said on the other side

"I am sorry bhai(brother) for disturbing you and him", she replied, stuttering a bit. But then she heard a voice on the other side saying, "Sam, who is there?"

"It's Anukriti. Would you like to talk to her? "

"Sure. Just give me the phone."

Anu on the other side was thinking, Thank heavens that he picked up my phone. Love you for that. You have been a true friend even after our break up.

"Hello."

"Hey Anu. You OK? "

"I am in a confused state. Nikhil proposed me today."she said it in a matter of fact way.

"Damn no. I had warned him not to do that. Shit happened. By the way what did Samarth say?" she questioned.

"Oh he just said that I should not call you at this time. He was concerned about what will happen if your mother gets to know all this?" Anukriti said, knowing that it was not permitted to have girl friends or even talking to a girl late night. His brother helped to keep his past relationship with her under wraps. "I must say that you are lucky to have such a nice elder brother. By the way are you coming tomorrow? A surprise has been planned for your birthday," she then asked.

"Oh thank you so much. I am just so lucky that I got such awesome friends."

"Don't say thanks to friends, idiot."

She looked at the watch and it was 11:45 pm. Just fifteen minutes.

" Hey Anu, are you there? What are you planning to do now? Have you decided your answer? "

" I am seriously confused. This is the 'Hardest Choice' that I have to make. A choice that will impact not only my relations with them but also their equations. Relationships are much more complex than people presume. When we can't understand how to use synonyms of a word appropriately how can we expect ourselves to understand the complexity of human emotions?" she said sobbing.

"You are right. I am with you always. If you need any help call me. Do not listen to what my brother has said. I will talk to him about that. "

The clock had struck 12. Anu said", Happy birthday Mridul. May God give you all the happiness and prosperity. Stay blessed. "

"Thank you Anukriti. "He was thinking" My biggest blessing is that I got the opportunity to be your friend, to be your lover and to be your confidante. " But he did not blurt out.

"Bye Mridul. See you tomorrow. Take care. "
*********

The next day she thought would be the best of her life. Enjoying Mridul 's birthday party, bunking classes and the group dancing on the tunes of' Tamanchey pe disco', 'Badtameez dil','Dilliwali girlfriend' and various Honey Singh songs, she thought that this enjoyment can provide a dreamy escape from the reality. But that was not the case.

Satvik proposed the idea of playing Truth and Dare. Everyone agreed excluding Anu. She had the fear that what will happen if the guys get to know the truth.

"Let's start off the game, "Nikhil said in a cheerful tone.

"No please. It is a really boring game. Don't we know each other's secrets already? "Anu said.

"Don't spoil the fun Anu. We have the whole last period free and then we can go to canteen", Satvik said.

"Mridul will decide whether to continue with the game or not", Shreya suggested.

Mridul was in a fix. At one hand he wanted the game to be played (inquisitive about knowing the secrets) and on the other hand he wanted to safeguard her truth. He didn't want a sentimental scene on his birthday. But then Anu silently smiled at Mridul and nodded her head just a little that it is not noticeable. He understood her gesture and gave in.

The game started off. Initially there were all dares and rapid fire rounds with worse off choices. It was an enjoyable experience at the start. But the things turned ugly.

"So spin the pen Mridul, "Shreya said him.

"Don't be so impatient. Can't you see that I am doing that only?" he replied, annoyed.

Her excitement was subdued. The question side came to Satvik and Nikhil had to answer. Nikhil chose truth.

"So who is the unlucky girl whom you have a crush on?" Satvik said, jokingly.

"Someone you know." he said, playfully.

"Oye hoye, now tell me who it is. I can't wait to know the name."

But then the bell rang and it was time for the school to get over.

"Tell me quickly," Satvik said.

Nikhil, Mridul, Shreya, Anu and Satvik were escalating down the stairs when Nikhil said," Anukriti"

Satvik looked at Nikhil shocked by what he had heard. But then he realised that they had fallen in love with the same girl and he did not want Nikhil to be her boyfriend. Mridul, Shreya and Anukriti were looking at Nikhil and Satvik with widened eyes. Anu thought, "Siyappa abhi hi padna tha?"

Satvik slapped Nikhil hard. Nikhil did not expect this reaction from him.

"Why did you slap me in front of all the people in school?" Nikhil asked. They had reached the canteen now.

"You mother fucking creep. You can never get her. She is mine and will re remain mine only. Got that? "Satvik said and then punched on Nikhil's nose.

Now Nikhil was enraged. He didn't expect the humiliation that he was getting from his best friend. So this time he responded and punched Satvik back in his stomach.

"You think she can be yours? Never. I will never let that happen. Not until I am alive on this earth. You don't own her. "Nikhil said angrily. The muscles of his jawline twitched.

Then they started off hurling abuses and slaps, punches and kicks. They said many things to each other which best friends normally don't even dream of saying. Mridul and Shreya tried to intervene but to no avail. But then Mridul saw Anu. Blood was coming out from her mouth and she was vomiting and finally she collapsed.

"Shreya, you handle these guys, I am calling the ambulance, "Mridul said in a panicky tone. By this time, many school mates had gathered there and started helping him. He checked her pulse rate. It was erratic but it was there.