In her eyes..

Chapter 6 - Selfish

To Pari's relief nothing eventuated between Dev and Aditi - he just didn't seem into her. She didn't want to share her best friend!

The exam period ended and it was finally the end of year holidays. Results would be coming back soon and with that they would find out if they had been selected into their desired university and course.

Pari opened her laptop eagerly on the morning that results were out and was overwhelmed with relief and joy that she had gotten enough marks to pursue her dream in New York studying architecture. Dev on the other hand was hoping Pari would reconsider and stay behind with him and attend a university in India. He had been selected into his course to study as an engineer and he couldn't be happier. But the thought that she was still insisting on leaving bothered him. Why was she so adamant on leaving him behind?

With a knock on the door Dev heard Pari entering their house and talking to his parents. He waited until she came upstairs to his room. She looked ecstatic and he couldn't help but feel dismayed. He knew what this meant.

"Dev!! I GOT IN!!" She said jumping on his bed. He watched her half amused and half saddened. How could he let her go? She noticed his reaction wasn't very encouraging. Of course she knew he didn't want her to go - and she didn't want to leave him. But this had always been her dream, to study abroad. They would still talk everyday and see each other whenever she flew back - nothing was ever going to change. "Are you okay?" She asked gently when he didn't respond.

"I'm great! Just great" he couldn't keep the bitterness out of his voice.

"Well you don't sound great" she said rolling her eyes.

"Why would I not be great when I also got into the course I wanted!"

"Oh wow congratulations!" She said feeling happy for him. But she sensed he was not in a good mood. He was absently fidgeting with a piece of paper and avoiding her eyes. "Maybe I'll come back later, you seem preoccupied." She got up and headed toward the door.

"That's your solution for everything right? Just leaving!" He erupted.

"What?" She turned around and saw that he looked visibly angry.

"You're just so excited to leave everyone behind! I don't understand how you could be okay with leaving!" He brushed his fingers through his hair in frustration.

"I'm okay with it because I won't be gone forever. I'll always be back and I'll always keep contact."

"That's not how these things usually work! You will go there and at the start you will stay in contact and then you will find new friends, even a boyfriend and you will grow distant!"

"You have so little faith in me and our friendship!" She felt sad hearing these accusations.

"It's just a fact - that's just what happens! Don't you remember my cousin who left, she never talks to anyone here anymore!"

"I'm not your cousin" she replied angrily. "How dare you think I will leave and forget my family!"

"Oh so you will just forget me then huh?"

"Why are you acting this way!! Have I ever forgotten you?"

"Why don't you understand me Pari?" He didn't know what to say anymore.

"I'm trying! But why are you trying to stop me from living my dream?"

"It's a selfish dream!" He retorted. "Leaving everyone behind!"

"You're the one being selfish! You're trying to get in the way of living my life!" She was becoming angry now. How could he call her selfish? Was it so selfish to want to explore outside this city? Be free? See the world?

"Maybe I am selfish, but that's because I love you!!" He bellowed. Realising what he had just admitted he felt embarrassed.

"No you don't Dev! If you did you wouldn't try to hold me back. And what's more - we are just friends! I don't love you" Pari said tears forming in her eyes. It hurt her but she had to let him know what the truth was. She didn't love him back - not in that way. Or did she? No, she didn't - she couldn't have. The hurt of Dev's face was palpable. But Pari ignored it and stalked out of his room. How could he be so selfish?

Dev watched as she left and didn't bother calling her back. What was the point? With one sentence she had broken his heart into a million pieces. How could she be so selfish?