Ho Sake Toh Rehna Tum Saath Mere...

Chapter 18 - 𝘠𝘦𝘩 𝘛𝘦𝘳𝘪 𝘔𝘦𝘳𝘪 𝘋𝘰𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘺𝘢𝘯...

"Congratulations Miss Mishti Kashyap.
We are happy to inform you that your research proposal has been accepted by the institute.
Attached is your Provisional Admission Letter along with the Undertaking Form. Looking forward to hearing from you soon on your acceptance to the Provisional Admission Letter."

Naira stood surprised.

"Come on, congratulate me. Finally I'll do something good." Mishti laughed.

"So you're leaving for Amsterdam. Mish, this email was sent three month back and you're showing me today?" Naira showed fake anger.

"Yes, I'm supposed to join physically within six months of accepting the offer. I wasn't sure of joining at first so didn't tell anyone, in fact I applied for a visa only after Abi..." Mishti stopped. She should not say that!

"After Abir returned, you chose to accept the offer and now you're going. Were you planning this for three months, without anyone's knowledge?"

Shock was a small word to describe what Naira felt at that moment. She should be proud of her best friend's achievement, but she wasn't.

Because this time, Mishti is wrong.

"So you got your perfect excuse to run away for good? Congratulations Mish..." Naira looked straight into Mishti's eyes. She had to make sure whatever she was thinking about Mishti is right.

Mishti lowered her gaze, and there Naira got it.

She knows her inside out, she understands her each move without any explanation.

"This is wrong Mish. Don't act cowardly because you are not." Naira jerked her.

"I understand this is such a good opportunity, and I'm happy for you. But Mish, don't make it your excuse to leave Abir behind because if you really think you'll get over your feelings by doing this, then I'm sorry but it won't help. Because you couldn't get over it in 7 damn years for God's sake."

Naira was angry no doubt, but it was high time for Mishti to accept herself. And most importantly, how will she enter in a new phase of life with her past buried in her heart!

"It's perfectly fine if you don't love anyone, but Mish, you can't hide your turmoil from me. At least tell me what's wrong. I'm listening Mish..." Naira hugged her.

Mishti sat on the sofa, "It's difficult Naira, too difficult to see everyone sad. Everyone is hurt today, because of me. I committed a blunder and everything is ruined. I already failed Anurag, now Abir he's hurt too. I feel like a cheater Naira, I feel like I cheated everyone."

Naira held Mishti tight. Mishti looked at her and rubbed her face.

"Pata hai tujhe, Abir kehta hai I'm the strongest girl. Nahi hoon yaar main strong, bilkul bhi nahi hoon. He wants to be my friend because he feels guilty without his fault. But this hurts yaar Naira, I don't want him to be with me just because he's sorry, in fact, being friends with Abir, just friends? How can that be even possible?

Forever is a lie Naira, I was so young yet I dreamt of a forever with Abir. But now I've grown up and I realized there's nothing that lasts forever. In fact, what is a forever? Just an illusion. And I don't want an illusion to take over my life. You know right, it's not easy. What if I commit to someone and something happens again and we part ways? I won't be able to bear it. I don't want to lose Abir even before finding him! I miss him, I want him to stay. But if I commit any mistake again? And how can I love him? It's been 7 years and we're no less than strangers to each other. How can one love a stranger? It's all a lie."