Fᴀʟʟᴇɴ

Chapter 31: Goodbye

There was dead silence. No one knew how to react. Arjun and Noor were surprised and kept looking at each other , Aditya was still not able to believe what Pooja said and Zoya stood motionless. Pooja kept sobbing. She looked at Aditya biting her lips to suppress her cries. Aditya came forward looking at her.

"Sin... since when?" Aditya tried to sound normal but failed to hide his fearful emotions. Pooja turned to go but Aditya caught her hand and made her turn to him. She was his friend and he can't let her hide anything from him.

"Pooja please.." he insisted becoming emotional.

She kept looking down for some time and finally looked upto him.

"One year." She said . The word Shock was nowhere matchable to Aditya's expression. He left his hold from her hands. Tears welled up in his eyes. Was she dealing with it all alone since one year? How did she do that? She was happy with him and all other people. What hurt him the most was he wasn't capable enough to know things from her. She didn't even approach to him once and he wanted to ask everything ... but how. She was already suffering besides all that she got to know today gave him so much discomfort. She was his friend but he was the reason behind her pain and this hurt him the most.

"I have blood cancer Adi.." she said. Zoya silently kept watching her with her unstoppable tears.

"You know how happy I was back in college when you proposed me? I saw our future . A bright future. I was the happiest girl. You were my happiness Adi. You were.." she couldn't complete the sentence due to tears but quickly composed herself "There's no use of talking all that now." And further continued .

She sighed .
"So just so you know .."

"I'm suffering from blood cancer. Initially i didn't mind it much because it was stage one . I thought I will settle things up by myself because I couldn't afford to give pain to my parents and you . I kept saying to myself " Pooja you're strong , You got this, it's just a temporary pain which will go. You're grown up and you can handle things on your own." So I pretended. I pretended to be happy around people. I tried to enjoy things. But when I was with you adi , I was really happy. You gave me hope . You gave me a reason to live and that motivated me to fight this. I knew how you would react if you ever got to know the truth so I was mum. Your world would collapse and I didn't want that to happen. I organised poetry events to feel peaceful. I felt contended with that. You always thought that I gave preference to my career , that Iam an ambitious person don't you? But I felt good and happy doing that Adi . That was the part of my happiness along with you. " Everyone were listening to her . Every word of hers pricked Aditya and Zoya the most.

"Dr. Daksh. The one who's treating me right now." Pooja said showing the picture Arjun and Noor brought.

"That's the reason we kept meeting secretly. Cafe, garden and many such places. I feel you're still not convinced with my answer are you?" She asked looking at everyone. No one could speak. They looked down with guilt.

"No let me clarify things more clearly." She took her phone which was lying on floor and unlocked it .

"Pooja please.." Aditya stopped her feeling completely guilty and shameful. She didn't listen and showed him the picture. It was her medical prescription.

"You want more .. oh wait I'll just make a call to my doctor." Pooja said. Aditya immediately took phone from her hands and stopped her.

"Stop it Pooja." He started weeping. She said nothing. Zoya felt painful . Her heart was breaking into pieces.

"I didn't know Pooja . Atleast once you could have said to me . You really thought I won't understand it ? How can you do this Pooja . You were my best friend right ?" Aditya said looking at her . Pooja chuckled.