One Last Time

Chapter 14 - Kartik Sharma

I stared at the computer screen. What am I doing? I am falling for Jahnvi! But what about Trisha? Wasn't that love? Or was it really? Should I tell her? Will she forgive me? Will Jahnvi? Omg! Too many questions.

Now you must be wondering why I made a fake id by the name Kartik Sharma but c'mon, would Jahnvi even have a crush on Arnav, her best friend's boyfriend.

I read her message for the fifth time in a row and sat there with my finger on the Enter button.

"I still haven't seen you! I mean, I trust you but I need to know how you look!" She had sent this morning.

I deleted the attachment of my picture from my reply and wrote back. I'm not photogenic.

She replied instantly. I don't care. I don't care about how you look, I just need to know how you look. Does that make sense?

Yes, yes it does.

I attached my picture again and before I could think twice, I hit send. I stared at the words, 'Seen 3:15 P.M'

"No." She finally replied and that's what she came up with?

Jahnvi, please. I love you.

Do you realize how many times you've said that to Trisha? Who btw, in case you've forgotten, is my best friend!

When I came to think about it, how many time have I said that to Trisha? The answer, a single digit as it was, shocked me too. I didn't love Trisha. I was infatuated with her. When do you begin to notice the little differences between love and infatuation? I always asked Trisha to dress up when we went out but the one time I hung out with Jahnvi, she had just woken up and I remember thinking she looked amazing.

But I can't do this to Trisha. I can't leave her but I can't stay with her because its unfair, to her and to me. Suddenly, I heard a ping. I looked down at my phone and saw Jahnvi's message.

Okay, what do we do about this?

You're not mad?

Of course I am! But I think I love you. You have to talk to Trisha.

I know I love you. I don't know if I can.

If you can't, I will.

Damn. Okay, I'll talk to her.

Or we could both do it together.

Oh thank god. Yes please.

Tomorrow?

Are you kidding me?! :O

Tomorrow.

Argh! Okay.

I looked at the picture of Trisha I had on my dresser. What the hell had I done? I called her. "Hey."

"Hello Arnav! I really need to study! I'll talk later?"

"Yeah, okay. But just one thing, meet me in school tomorrow. In the recess, outside your class."

"Okay hon! Goodnight!"

"Goodnight."

Damn. Damn. Damn. Tomorrow.
___________________________________

I woke up and my head felt like it was splitting open. And gradually, it all came back to me. Arnav, Kartik.

"Jahnvi, are you up? Your friend called!" My mom screamed from the kitchen.

I rubbed my eyes and waited for my eyes to get adjusted to the light and checked my phone to find out that Trisha had called.

"Hey!" She said when I called back.
"Hello. You called."
"Yeah. Its Sunday! Want to go out?"
"Okay. I'll see you at 3? Park?"
"Done." She said and cut the call.

I instinctively called Arnav. "Park, 3. We're talking to Trisha."

3 P.M. arrived way faster than expected and before we knew it, we were both standing in front of Trisha as she stared at us questioningly.

"Um. Okay. Someone needs to start a conversation." I said.

"Finally!" She said.

"Um. Trisha. You. My best friend. Trisha."

"Yes?"

"Remember I told you about that guy, Kartik Sharma that I met online? He didn't send me a picture or anything and You kept saying I'm going to get into trouble.."

"Yeah well.." She interrupted.

"Let me finish. You were right. I'm in trouble. Huge trouble. He finally send me a picture. But before you say something, I am pretty sure I love him and I don't know if he loves me but he says he does. The problem is.."

"I'm Kartik." Arnav said before I could continue and I saw Trisha's eyes widen in surprise. I got ready for the punch that was evidently coming but all she said was, "Oh."

We both stood there and stared at her until she continued. "Well, if you guys think you love each other, then I don't see why you shouldn't be together. So that means, we are done Arnav?" She asked first looking at me and then at him.

"Trisha, will you be okay?" He asked.

"We. Are. Done?" She asked again.

"Yes."

"Good." She said and walked away. ___________________________________

I woke up to a squeaky voice message from Trisha. I called her. "Hello?"

"Pranav, open your door. I'm standing outside." She said, her voice sounding choked.

I called out to my mother to open the door and freshened up. Trisha walked into my room, sat on my bed and started crying. I knew she didn't like anyone seeing her crying so I slowly closed the door and walked out. I made her some coffee and walked back in to check on her. She had stopped crying but she was staring out of the window at nothing.

I went and sat beside her. "Well, Jahnvi is dating Arnav." She said, just like that. No emotion. Just said it and left it there. I moved closer and hugged her and she put her head on my shoulder and we sat there like that for some time.

"Are you okay?" I asked her.

"I will be."

"Hm."

"I was stupid! He just swooped in and was all perfect and I thought we were in love! Not everybody finds love like that!"

And as I hugged her close, I knew she was right. Not everybody finds love like that. ♥