Love's Strange Ways *COMPLETED*

Chapter 13

Vishal looked around for Shreya frantically as he stood outside the Café Coffee Day opposite his apartment. He didn't know Shreya's phone number or any other details about her though he desperately wanted to contact her now. He had to explain everything to her. It was his fault; he had to apologize to her.

After a few minutes of waiting in despair, Vishal returned to his apartment since there was no point standing outside the café. Shreya was not gonna come back....

As Vishal walked into his apartment, his mind was still reeling in shock. Darling had told Shreya about her phone calls with me? But she was the one who had told me not to tell Shreya anything about her. How could Darling do this to me? Let me call her. Does she think this is some kind of prank? She has ruined everything between Shreya and me!

Vishal grabbed his mobile and dialled Darling's number.

***

Shreya was standing in the balcony, deep in thought, when Swati walked up to her.

"Hey! You're back early?" asked Swati, walking into the balcony with a grin.

"Yeah." Shreya flashed an artificial smile at her friend.

Comprehending Shreya's fake smile, Swati's smile faded. "What happened? Didn't you meet Vishal today, Shrey?"

"I did."

"Then, what's wrong? Didn't your plan work?"

"My plan worked. Perfectly... though I didn't wait for him to propose to me." Shreya flashed another smile.

"I thought you said you'll be very happy once your plan works."

"Yeah, I guess I am; my plan worked today. I left him and ended my part as Shreya in Vishal's life. I'm waiting for him to call his Darling and close her chapter as well. I won't have to disturb him anymore after that."

"You left him. Okay, but how can you be so sure he won't try to meet you again?"

"If he wanted, he could have come to meet his darling but he didn't. He knows nothing about Shreya even if he might want to meet me again. Even though he had been really comfortable with his darling, he could leave her so easily. I'm sure he'll give up on Shreya too very soon and find someone else. He was never that close to Shreya anyway."

"But how can you let go of him so easily, Shrey? I thought you love him."

"I loved him Swati. But I don't love him anymore. And I didn't let go of him. It was he who let go of me. What guarantee do I have that he won't leave me again for any other reason? I'd rather not have him in my life again without that guarantee."

"Then, why did you go for revenge? You don't want him now; yet you entered his life again on another pretext. Couldn't you have just let him be? I'm sure he would've faced the consequences for his deeds even if you had just left him that day."

"Yeah, he might have. If I had left him that day, he might even be married by now. I wanted to delay it just in case he might realize that he loves me. But I was wrong. He hasn't realized till now and I doubt he will ever realize it. He will move on; I hope he finds someone who will love him more than I do."

Swati remained silent.

Shreya sighed. It is time for me to move on too.... The ringing of her mobile phone interrupted her chain of thoughts within a minute.

Shreya and Swati glanced at each other, sharing a small smile before heading towards the living room. An interesting conversation was about to ensue between Vishal and his darling....