One Fated encounter ✓

Awful Truth

Arjun's POV:

I don't know why they call it heartbreak when your loved one hurt you, it feels like every part of my body is broken too when she disconnected the call without saying anything.

I got on to my bike and someone pressed my shoulder. I looked back and literally dropped the balance at the sight.

"Dimple! What...are...you... doing here?", my words struggled to even come out and I stood shocked

"Arjun, he is my friend and I can't let my friendship die because of our relationship. I can't lie to you as well. Am not sure how to make you understand that"

I could not meet her eyes which speaks the truth.

"Dimple, I am not asking you to end your friendship with him. I really don't understand why you even think so. I was hurt hearing that you treat us equal. Please go up, what if your family see us, go in. I will call you later", I punched hard at the bike hating myself and my inner voice kept warning me to leave the place as my actions would certainly affect her which I don't want.

She held my hand and said, "I don't want you to hurt yourself! If you are ok with me being friends with him then I didn't understand what is that you are concerned with"

"Can I ask you something?" No Arjun! You are going to make things difficult now, I was warned by my inner voice

"What?"

"Say for an instance, you just have 15 mins left before you die and you can make one phone call then who will you call? Is it me or Arun?" Are you even in your sense, will you be able to handle the answer, my inner voice blasted me.

She was quiet.

"I know it's difficult to answer...this is the problem, I know we both are important to you and now you may think both of us are equal but eventually I want you to choose me over him, that's it. You don't need to answ.."

"I will call up Arun", she said firmly

Yeah, what else you expect idiot, she said she will not lie to you...my inner voice mocked at me. But I felt a lie could have been better than the horrible truth.

"Yup, I know. Let's not talk about this, you go up", I turned to my bike

"I have a feeling that you would be with me when I die, and thus I would call Arun"

I was dumbfound, not sure how to respond. I felt someone slapped me harder with the bare truth and my eyes suddenly welled up. What an idiot I am. Suddenly, the fear of losing her vanished from my thought and I hugged her tight and whispered "Thank you Dimple!, I wouldn't disappoint you!". She hugged me back and a tear escaped from my eyes. I felt ashamed to even look at her.

"Are you happy now?", she asked me with her twinkling eyes and I could not hold my joy and our fingers locked. I didn't want to let her hand go.

"Hmm, now you go" I said contradicting my thoughts

"Call me once reach home", she said and turned. I pulled her hand and the closed the distance between us

"Shhh, Arjun what are you doing, what if..." I gave a quick peck on her lips and she fluttered

"Who asked you to come down Dimple" I pouted and continued "Thank you for coming down, I will call you once I reach", I let her hands go halfheartedly and left.

On my way back, I wondered on how much this girl has changed me, my eyes that demands his shutter to be closed after 12 is now not ready to even blink. I have a new client meeting at 11 in the morning, which I have conveniently forgotten till now. I love all the roller coaster emotions that I am going through. There was just one thing, I had on my mind. I wanted to keep her happy always!

The watchman looked at me differently as he would not have seen me driving my bike that too in the middle of a night. I went up to my room and called up Dimple.

She picked up in one ring.

"Arjun!"
"Yes Dimple, have you missed me already?"
"Am afraid"
"about"
"Am afraid that if I sleep now and wake up, you would go back to your old self"
"Dimple, Trust me! Come what may, am not going to leave you even if you say so. Sleep tight! Sweet dreams" I assured.

I sent out a message to all 3 of them to meet at 9 am and dropped a message to Mats separately to pick Chitra as well.

I slept precisely for 3 hours and went down to meet them preparing myself.

Everyone came on time and I could see the varied expressions on their face and all of their eyes were looking at my Mom for cues.

"Mom, I told you the other day if I have a girl, I would let you know...I am seeing a girl now and I really like her", I paused and My Mom didn't say anything.

"Chitra, I wanted you to know this as well. I will take care of informing your family..."

"Arjun, don't you think it's too early to inform? It's just few days you have started seeing her, let's talk about this later", she said rising from the couch and continued "Is that it?" She asked raising her eyebrows and turned to my mom and said, "Aunty, I will meet you later. " She left.

I stood shell shocked.

There were no surprises and not even a question from anyone including my Mom. Their casual attitude on this made me feel even more tensed.

Finally my mom spoke, "Aju, we all knew about this girl. Mats informed us yesterday after you left the party." My eyes peered at Mats and he averted my gaze and moved closer to Steve

"Arjun, if you are planning to see her for some time and not serious, then we all have no issues", Vicky said

"I am serious about her", I stressed

"You know what happened to me and are you still serious?", Steve shouted

"Steve!, I know very well what happened to you, but this is different, she is different...She doesn't even know about my background", I explained

"Aju, all we want is your happiness and I can't afford to let you go through what Steve did", Mom sounded concerned

"Trust me Mom, She is very innocent and pure. I have confidence, so please don't worry" I clarified

"Boss, its time!" Alex steps in to alarm me on the impending client meet and I knew they were all not happy about what I just told them, But I understand them and their reasons.

Steve had a girl who was his all few years back, they were in love like crazy and everyone included me felt jealous about their intimacy. She was a girl from an ordinary background and Steve family was against their Marriage initially. When he finally convinced and got ready to marry her, the truth blasted us rather blasted him badly. She denied signing the prenuptial agreement and claimed a division of property for the emotional damages. Steve was taken aback when she even threatened to go public with all the photographs that she had insisting to damage his fame.

It took him couple of years to come out of that completely and I lost faith in love or true love whatsoever. I hated all the girls till I met Dimple, I knew she is different.

Initially I don't want to let my true identity out to her as I was not confident earlier, now I am afraid how she will take it if I tell her.

First time in my life, I was afraid to tell the truth!