The Other Girl

How It Ended

"Where are you? I want to meet you right now near the washroom area" I asked.
Shan replied - "I am not in college. I am not well. " I said -" Don't lie to me."
He said - "I can send a snapchat with the time filter."
I replied - "Fine. Then listen to me right now only. Since you and your girlfriend think that it is uselss to give any explanations- I don't need any. From now on, I would like to stay as acquaintances and then that would be it. "
He said - okay... and I disconnected the call.
I handed the phone over to Rey. Shan called back and Rey had a talk with him. He apologised on my behalf. He was trying to be nice.
Rey told me that Shan was sick and had a shaky voice. I said- "You know this about me. When I stop caring about someone. I really stop caring about them."

After that, I thought the chapter was over since we ended on amicable terms. But then at around 4pm - he called me.
He asked me- "I want to talk to you about what happened today"
I said - "I am in cab."
He said- "Can we talk?"
I said - " yeah"
I said - "Listen, i dont understand one thing. How could she come between you and reyansh? How dare she speak between the two of you? It wouldn't have been so bad had she spoken when I was talking to you. Why did she speak when you and Rey were speaking to each other? Who gave her the right to do that?"
He said - " see she is my girlfriend. Doesn't Rey speak in your matters?"
I replied - "He has never been given the right to come between my friends and I. He never speaks and nor he will. Else he knows that I will get seriously ticked off. No one in my life has the authority to tell me to not to give explanations to my friends. Also, it has been four years with me and him. In your case I'm guessing it hasn't been anything more than two months?"
"Also, Rey speaks when I have hung up and not when I am on call with someone. He has a some manners. Your 18 year old first year law student girlfriend barely does. Make her realise that she is speaking to seniors and in the matters of a senior. "
He said - "It's not about the time and all. She also has feelings. That day you turned around and walked away. That was so insulting. And she was talking to me that time. Not to Reyansh"
"Please stop acting DUMB, Shan. She was obviously saying that to Rey."
Just because Reyansh had agreed to the fact that- that day it was my fault - Shan kept his argument based on that one single fact.

I said - "See, if you have called me to make me count my mistakes we can do that. Just tell me."

He said - it is not about that. I said - If you have called me to sort things then that isn't happening either. To this he replied - I haven't called to sort things with you or to give you any explanations. I just want to answer you whatever you were asking me that time.
I told him to call me when i get back home since I cannot deal with this in front of my cab -mates.

When I reached home he called me. It went like this-
I said - "See, that day when I turned around and left - it wasn't such big a deal as you guys are making it to be."
He said - "Like you feel bad over things, she does too."
I - "That is her problem. She means nothing to me and I mean nothing to her. So why is this bothering her so damn much? This is her problem that she thinks over who thinks what about her. I am not that kind of a person."
He - "How would you have felt if one of Reyansh's closest friends would have reacted like that?"
I- "I wouldn't have cared. I had this friend, kushagr. We were pretty close. His girlfriend and I didn't get along. She saw me in the mall, turned around and walked away. You know what my reaction was? I laughed and THAT WAS IT. I didn't make such a big deal out of it in front of Kushagr. So stop making it such a big deal"
He - "And what about that day at the mall when you texted me that. She read it and she asked why do you dislike her?"
I - "I cannot stand her, okay? She caused your relationship with Ayush to break off and if today we are ending things it is because of her. I dont care if you feel that I am wrong but this is all because of her."
He -" She really tried to make things right, okay? And she felt really bad that day. So i would too. Wouldn't rey feel sad if some of his friend sends a text like that? Wouldn't you?"
I - "I dont care about what people think of me. I have better things to do. If she wanted to make things better, she would have left."
"Also, you know Kushagr? Yes it is all messed up right now with him and we barely talk.. but he acknowledges the fact that when he broke up with his first girlfriend there was no one to support him at lonley nights except me. Atleast he is not thankless like you are. You can imagine what standing you have in my life now that I have compared you with Kushagr."
My voice had started to get a little shaky so I let him speak because I don't like showing anyone that I am weak.

He- "I cannot explain myself.." I screamed - "You know how do I find out that my best friend is in a serious relationship? By seeing marks on your body. I mean seriously? You didn't think I was worthy enough to know?"

"Its not like that, Aanchal. How would I have told you? You dont like her..and then all that happened." Shan replied.
I said - "No matter what, I would have understood. It is your life. You will decide what has to be done not I. This is not fair. Its been what? 2 months i guess? Or am i still assuming something wrong."
He replied - "We came into a relationship on 27th of October."

There it was. 27th of October. And i was here, waiting and thinking that everyone else is not understanding Shantanu. He never lies to me. He never lies to anybody for that matter of fact. But he did. He lied to me. He lied to Ayush. He lied to everyone. She caused it all. I was totally right into believing that she was the one who wrecked our lives.

I said - "okayy.. so anyways, about what has to be done now. We will stay acquaintances as of now because I cannot handle so much of bullshit. I already have a lot on my plate."
He said - "Doesn't matter. She is trying to break it off anyways."
Thud.

"See Shan, don't ruin your relationship because of me. If I am causing this then I am sorry."
"No it is something else."
"Okay. All the best. Right now we can be mere acquaintances. Who knows about the future, right?" i said.
"Yeah, okay" He replied and he hung up.

Few minutes later, Reyansh texted me that Piyusha is not answering any of Shan's calls. He is very tensed. She said to Shan-" You never take my side."

And again that feeling of protectiveness and deep friendship emerged from inside.

I texted him- If it is such a big problem , you can delete my texts and I will send you a fresh text which you can send screenshots of to her and save your relationship. After that, you can block me from everywhere.

Message seen and not replied to.

I removed him from everywhere. Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram. I texted him - I have removed you from everywhere. Have a great life.
And he replied - 😊😊😊

I saw the text and didn't reply to it.