NEVER LET ME GO ✔️ (COMPLETED)

Chapter 60~ Moving On

'Here.' Rishabh forwarded a white, red helmed mug to Aashi. She looked up and smiled little. 'Masala Chai! Your favourite.' He said sitting beside her.

'Thank you.' Aashi side-hugged him, Rishabh smiled acknowledging her hug. Aashi sighed and tucked her legs properly. She held the mug with both her palms and sighed staring at the TV screen right in front of her.

'My apartment,' – She looked around sadly, - 'Feels lonely already.' – she shook her head, - 'Search for another roommate begins.' She looked at Rishabh and nodded. He placed his palm on her shoulder.

'Give the ad in the paper.' He patted her shoulder, she agreed with him.

The two friends sipped tea silently till Aashi interrupted the silence, - 'I am so happy for Suchitra.' Rishabh turned his head and looked at her, Aashi sighed.

'After Aditya, she was so hurt.' Aashi noticed Rishabh's expressions change also he stiffened beside her.

Aashi watched him as he looked away. It is now or never, Aashi – She thought to herself.

'Rishabh.' She moved her free hand and held his hand, - 'One bad relationship doesn't mean the end of the world, yaar. Look at Suchitra, she had a broken relationship. Look at Himanshu. He had proposed me first and was disheartened when I rejected him but he found love again, right?' Aashi explained, Rishabh turned his head and looked at her, - 'Aren't they happy with each other now. Don't let one bad relationship ruin your chances of finding true love.' She looked at him cautiously.

Rishabh leaned forward and placed his mug on the coffee table, he sighed nodding. Aashi watched him holding her breath. 'You are right, Aashi. When I was with Laila, in college. Everything was so perfect. I knew this is the girl I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. But...there was always something amiss, Perhaps,' – He paused and turned his head to look at Aashi, she stared at him like a statue, - 'it was our fall out that... disturbed me.' Rishabh shifted in his seat, he seemed uncomfortable, - 'I never talked about this to anyone, no one. After college, I and Laila decided to get married. But, she wanted a stable, secure life while I wanted to be a footballer. But for her, I sacrificed my dream and began to work as an Accountant. Obviously, I wasn't happy. She wasn't happy. Fights, fights and eventually-' Rishabh stopped speaking. He closed his eyes and exhaled loudly. Aashi held his palm tightly.

After few minutes of deathly silence, Rishabh looked at Aashi again. He smiled sadly.

'You know what affected me more than this bad relationship?' Rishabh asked her. Aashi held his gaze and slowly shook her head. Rishabh lowered his gaze and held her palm, - 'Our fallout.' He confessed and Aashi felt her heart skip a beat.

'The guilt, our fight, everything just depressed me further. Aashi, I really missed you so much. We were like inseparable but after we parted ways, I felt a part of me had been cut off.' He had tears in his eyes, Aashi had tears in her eyes as well.

There is silence, the two stared into each other's eyes. After few minutes, Aashi extended her hand and held his, - 'Don't be guilty, please. That was past. Promise me.' Aashi clasped his palms tightly. Rishabh looked down at their hands and then back at her, into her eyes.

'Promise me, you won't leave me?' He asked.

Aashi smiled nodding, - 'Only if you don't do stupid things.' She faked stern voice. Rishabh nodded.

He shifted and held her cheek, Aashi froze.

'I lost you once, Aashi. I will never repeat the same mistake again.' He said sincerely. Staring into his eyes, Aashi felt giddy. The intensity of his eyes made her weak in the knees.