The Hardest Choice

Anguish

Author's note: A big thank you to all the people for your constant support and love. Without this I could not have reached more than 200 votes and 2K reads. I wanted to clear something about my novel. People think that it is a conventional romance but my intention is to highlight the fact that how easily do we take our friends for granted and later fall into regret. My intention is to highlight the fact that how the so called love eats up the lifelong friendship. This chapter will be in two parts. Dedicated to yagappar, Sharvari410 and NATASHAJESS for their constant support

Nikhil's diary
27th May 2014 (11 :00 pm)
Dear diary, 

I don't know how to start off. The shock and the guilt is eating up from inside. How easy it is to take your friends for granted and believe that you will see them hale and hearty the next day. How easy is it to escape the problem of others and gain attention for your own stupid things. I think that I should now come straight to the point instead of ranting off like a parrot.

Everyone believes that we have the ideal trio. Satvik, Nikhil and Anukriti, the guys who take stand for each other, who are always there for each other. It was often said that if you have a group, that should be like ours. But after today, things have changed. It is a wake-up call for all three of us.

While Satvik was punching me, Shreya blocked his hand like a real karate fighter. She then glared at us, "Stop that you two morons. Have you seen Anu's condition? You guys are just preoccupied with your own selfish motives. You don't deserve to be called her 'best friends'."

We both then looked at her. Mridul and some other guys gestured to lift her up and put her into the stretcher. The ambulance was parked at the gate and they took her inside.

I was shocked to see the scene. What was I witnessing? But before I could ask her anything, she resumed, "She is suffering from last stage cancer and I suppose Nikhil you know what that means. The insurmountable pain that she suffered wasn't enough that you guys snatched her peace of mind. She got to know of her cancer while you were recuperating with depression. So she did not tell you this. About Satvik I don't know. Maybe it was your problem with your father. Nikhil, if a person is involved in your problem, it doesn't mean that his or her problems are smaller than yours. "

I remained silent. She then said, "How can you be so selfish? She has always taken you as a best friend, as a person who understood her emotions even when she was faking it, as someone she can rely on more than anyone else. Why do you have to complicate her short life? "

She started sobbing. Mridul was also there, looking at me sympathetically. I also had tears in my eyes but I controlled them. I said," I am sorry for disappointing her. I tried to ask her but she didn't give me any satisfactory answer. So I did not ask anymore. You are right Shreya, I had become selfish."

"I will be going to the hospital to see her and I will drop you from there. Is it fine with you? You have missed your bus, "Mridul asked Shreya.

"My mother won't allow it. But you can talk to her and convince about your plan. "

"OK no problem. "

After seeking the permission of her mother, he looked at me and said," It was this reason I said you Nikhil not to propose her. I knew that you would be heartbroken. I knew that she had cancer. "

"I wish that I had known this sooner," I replied and then cried. Mridul came and gave me a bear hug. I wanted Satvik to join me as well but I did not invite him. The humiliation that I suffered today was enough. I am in no mood to continue our friendship anymore. He just left looking at us.

"Would you like to come to hospital with me?" Mridul asked.

"No. I will not be able to face her." I simply stated.

With that I went off to my home. When I reached home, the first thing that I did was to look at my face in the mirror. My face and stomach was hurting badly, all thanks to Satvik Agrawal. Blood was dripping down my nose. I had never felt so hurt (not physically) ever in my life. Not even when Khushi ditched me. K

It was the time of October I suppose, the time of the Navratras. Mridul had gone to Kolkata for Durga Puja celebrations. During that point of time I had a girlfriend named Khushi Taneja, the younger sister of the one of the most popular senior guys, Kanav Taneja. She studied in a different section from mine. I loved her and she loved me. We had many good moments together until I discovered her lip kissing Ved Mittal, one of my enemies at the parking lot. I instantly went there, separated them and slapped Khushi. I was really upset with what had happened and so after returning to home, I called Anukriti and Satvik and told them about what had happened. The next day, when I entered into my class, one of my mates approached me and asked, "You cheated on Khushi for Anukriti? You seem to be the new playboy of the school. By the way how was it with Anukriti?"

I was gobsmacked. What the heck was he saying? I could not even imagine kissing Anu, cheating her. Nothing of that sort ever happened. Who created that fictional story? I had to know. But first I had to ask Anukriti about what was she facing.

I got a chance to speak to her during the break and she was really angry at what was going on. She had to face everything because of me. Even though she did not say anything about the insulting remarks to me, still I knew that she felt bad. This affirmed my resolve to find who was spreading these rumours.

I was proceeding to my classroom when I heard Khushi and Ved talking in serious tone.

"I think you should not have involved Anukriti in this matter, "Ved said looking straight into her eyes.

"I don't like that bitch. What does that Ms. Topper think of herself? And Nikhil was always in awe of that girl. She doesn't have good looks, neither does she have a good height but still she managed to sabotage my relationship', I couldn't believe my ears what she was saying,

"I hate Nikhil. So I kissed you;" he just droned.

"What? I mean nothing to you? You just did that because you wanted Nikhil to suffer? And I was a fool that I got into your trap?" Now it was her turn to get cheated.

I laughed. Now she has to defend her stand even though she has been back stabbed by Ved. I couldn't wait to tell her what I had heard and waited for the right time.

When I told Anu all of this, she chuckled, and then said," I am not here to please people. I will do what I want. And I know now what to do."

I was happy at her reaction but my happiness was short lived as my classmates had started off that I kissed Anukriti story again. When I reached home that day, I had an ugly fight with my parents. They, I felt, never realised that I needed them at other days as well, not only on the result day. My parents knew nothing about me except my marks and neither were they concerned to know.

Ever since, I had shifted from Bengaluru to Delhi, my life took turn for the worse. Ever since I stepped into my class, I don't remember a day when I was not bullied. From calling me names, to speaking shit about me behind my backs, to boycotting me, they had done everything to make me feel miserable.

So when they went to hospital, I found the perfect opportunity and took twenty sleeping pills.