When The Heart Lies | ✓

[58] The Rain

Through the window of her room, wind was interfering with her silence, speaking secrets in her ears. The smell of coffee competed with the smell of soil in her pots that were bathing under the pour in their gallery.

Sakshi turned around to look around her room. She had cleaned her bookshelf, changed her bedsheet and packed her suitcase already. She wanted this similar looking room to have a new face. Because it reminded her of all the new memories she had formed with Shrey.

It wasn't a long relationship but they knew each other from years ago. Months felt like lifetimes and she knew him more better. It was harder this time to distract herself from thoughts about him.

She wasn't trying to forget him, she kept telling herself. She was just being practical. Just like Rishabh Malhotra had taught her that day. She was enemy in his eyes but he did give her enough wisdom.

Having a future with Shrey was not just tough but impossible. Their brothers were rivals, their families wouldn't get along because of it. True it was, that first love was so hard to become last.

Her phone rang again, must be thirteenth call. She didn't pick up after looking at the cutest selfie of his on her phone screen. It hurt her to ignore him but it was for good of both of them. It wasn't like he would trust her again after getting that truth about Kabir being her fiance.

"When are you leaving?"

She turned around, catching Aditi looking at her tiredly. "Day after tomorrow. I was booking tickets for tomorrow but Bhabhi has already messaged me telling about her brother and family leaving for Chandigarh. I'll get along."

Aditi smiled. "It's good. They are family and it is convenient to have company."

Sakshi nodded when Aditi chuckled lightly. "I was thinking if we could celebrate Christmas together. Even New Year. You're going, Aarush is going. I'll be alone," she said, quietly.

Sakshi frowned immediately. "Come along with me," she smiled.

Aditi chuckled, waving off. "That trip is booked for your wedding. I'll be fine. My school friends will be in Delhi. I'll call them and have fun."

"Why aren't you going home?" Sakshi asked lightly.

"Dad and mom are helping my uncle build their home back at town. It's a long journey. I will be better off here than there with my judgemental cousins."

Sakshi pouted. "Why don't you ask Aarush to stay? He'll stay for sure, I know. He will do anything for you."

Aditi rolled her eyes. "Right. He is there at his flat, calculating the possible marks he would be scoring in this semester and already applying for internships."

Sakshi chuckled. "I'll tell him to stay for you. He will," she said, confidently.

Aditi shrugged her shoulders and sighed. "I am tired and now watching some series. Do you wanna join?"

Sakshi shook her head. "I'll sleep after reading the novel I left in the middle before exams."

"Sure," said Aditi, giving her a smile. "The Coffee was good."

Sakshi smiled, nearly blushed since Aditi would never give her a serious praise. But her face dulled when she asked, "Are you going pick his calls or not?"

This was the question, she had been asking herself all the time. She didn't know. Why was he even calling when he had left all hurt and betrayed like that? He hated her already. She couldn't think of a patch up. Even if he was calling to lighten things, Sakshi couldn't get Rishabh's words out of her mind.