chapter 51

Chapters 52 - 56 are updated on ScrollStack.

Chapter start

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1 month later.

" Are you okay now ?" This is Reyansh's words to Aarav.

" Yes i am fine now." Aarav replies to him with a smile but considering the time Reyansh has spent with him since childhood till now, he knows that his smile is not real.

At this time both Reyansh and Aarav are sitting in the college canteen.

Well Reyansh is in his third year of college but this is Aarav's first year again because after completing BBA's degree, Aarav had decided to do MBA as per his father's advice, so he decided to complete this degree also from the same college where he had completed his bachelor's degree.

And then for the last few days, while spending time with Aarav in college, Reyansh finds his behavior strange and changed so he asks Aarav what happened to him ?

Well at first Reyansh thought that he is sad because Aadhriti is not in the city because obviously Aadhriti had returned to her home town ( Bhopal ) only after Advaita-Ansh's wedding because at that time she had also completed her college, so she had no reason to stay here.

And then later it came to light that she will pursue her further studies from her own city, so due to all this reason Reyansh felt that Aarav is sad but now not only his increasing sadness but also his changing behavior where now he is no longer the same guy who used to joke at every thing, laugh openly no matter what happens in life, not worry much in life, but now, the same cheerful guy has become very quiet these days, he doesn't talk much to people and speaks only as much as is necessary.

And noticing this changed behavior of Aarav, Reyansh was continuously questioning him for the past few days but today when Aarav could not hold himself back so he shared the things with his best friend about his life which he had never imagined.

Aarav tells Reyansh that how his heart broke, he and Aadhriti are no longer together and it's not a two-sided breakup but a one-sided one where she tells him her decision that she didn't want to be with him any more and he couldn't do much except respecting her decision and breaking up with her because obviously he cannot force anyone to love him or stay with him.

Things are difficult for Aarav because obviously this was his first love, and yes it was love from his side, He was really looking forward to a future with Aadhrithi but he didn't know something like this would happen to him.

Both of them were in a loving relationship for almost a year and knew each other for 2 years.

Two and a half years ago, ever since he saw Aadhriti at Ansh and Advaita's engagement, he liked her at first sight and then when he met her in college, he tried very hard to impress her where after some time they became friends and after some time Aadhrithi reciprocated his feelings making him super happy.

But suddenly after returning her home after Ansh and Advait's marriage, she stopped talking to Aarav first and then one day suddenly she said that she does not want to have any relationship with him, well Aarav tried a lot to convince her but she remained adamant on her decision.

" My life was better when it didn't have this love drama, I wasted my time on useless things." Aarav says to which Reyansh looks at him.

" Don't say this, maybe God has thought something good for you." Reyansh tells him

" You know, if I'm being honest, I always felt like I was God's favorite child, He gave me such a good family, such a good friend and a tension free life but suddenly he gave me something which I had not expected, he broke my heart badly." Aarav says

" You are still God's favorite, your people are with you, and you know that." Reyansh further tells him to which Aarav looks at him.

" you know what reason she gave for breaking up with me?" Aarav says to which Reyansh looks at him confused

" She says My identity is nothing without my father and she doesn't want to be with a man who has no identity of his own." Aarav says slightly laughing on his own condition to which Reyansh looks at him.

" Bro, I had just completed my bachelor's degree, how would I have created my own identity?

At least she would give me time but no she decides to end things for this reason." Aarav says and Reyansh silently listening him

" I don't know from where people have got this thinking that if we are known by our father's name or our mother's name then it is our failure.

Bro, our parents have made us capable of creating our own identity, so why should we be ashamed of being known by their name?" Aarav says further

" If in the future, I am saying "if", Even if I become successful, I will be proud to be known as the son of Rajveer and Simran Mehra.

What is this "identity of one's own" thing?

It doesn't matter what position you hold, but we should never forget that we belong to our parents, they have made us, then why be ashamed of being known by their name?" Aarav says and Reyansh puts his hand on his hand.

" It's ok, I would just say that it's her loss." Reyansh says to which Aarav looks at him

" No, I am the one who has suffered a loss in this relationship, I ruined my best relationship for her, I hurt my sister in such a way that even if I want to, I cannot remove from her mind the things that I did to her." Aarav says regretfully.

" You know Ansh bhai told me one thing that we should not forget the old relationship for the new relationship but that's what I did...I hurt the old relationship for the new one." Aarav adds.

" There is nothing like that, everyone makes mistakes but accepting them is a big deal and Aaira is your sister, you know how she is, her heart is made of wax which doesn't take much time to melt. As quickly she gets sad, she forgives her people too." Reyansh says at which Aarav smiles as he knows he's saying right things about his sister

" But yes, if I am in that list, then her heart becomes stone, it took her years to forgive me." Reyansh adds this jokingly which makes Aarav smile.

" Well, I am really happy for you both, Aaira has taken the best decision of her life by forgiving you...you both really look good together." Aarav changes his topic and comes to these two and Reyansh also smiles on his words that at least this guy is happy for him and Aaira among the men of that family.

" Well, leave all these things aside now, and yes, always remember that we are there for you, whenever you feel like it, call me and this friend of yours will appear in front of you any time." Reyansh reminds him and tries to change his mood.

" I know but now my friend is committed so I will have to take care of his time, I cannot disturb you at any time." Aarav says to which Reyansh glares at him.

" Oh please it is nothing like that, there is a time for everything... the time for love is different, the time for friendship is different and the time for family is different." Reyansh tells him

" I wish I had also learnt this time management then all this would not have happened to me today, I really miss the moments spent with Aaira but now....

" Now, what ? Nothing has happened as you are thinking.

Just go to her, spend time with her, talk to her if you feel like it." Reyansh says but at the same time he looks behind Aarav where he sees Aaira coming close to them.

Well, he was the one who messaged Aaira and called her here when he came to know about Aarav's breakup, So he sent this same message to Aaira and asked her to come here.

" No, I would look very selfish.... When she needed my time I did not give it to her so now it would be wrong for me to ask for time from her." Aarav says

" Nothing will seem wrong bhai, your Aaira still yearns to spend time with you like before." Aarav gets a little shocked hearing Aaira's voice and before he turns back and looks at Aaira, Aaira herself comes in front of him and both look at each other.

Aaira sits in front of Aarav, next to Reyansh.

And there Aarav gives a look to Reyansh that he should not have been so honest with his girlfriend that he told her everything because after seeing Aaira here and seeing her expression, Aarav understands that Reyansh has called her.

And Reyansh, understanding this look of his friend, smilingly gives him the look that now I am like this bro.

" I'm sorry Aaira." Putting aside all his hesitations, Aarav tells her the words he has been wanting to tell her for a long time.

" Please bhai, no more sorry again, what happened is past, forget it all now." Aaira tells him to which he smiles

And with this there is a moment of silence between them but then after thinking something Aaira says

"Bhai are you okay?" Aaira asks him.

Well, she did not want to make Aarav more sad by asking him questions about Aadhriti that what happened and why and how all this happened, so she just asked about his well-being.

" Yes, I am fine, I have just had a break up, I am not sick that you both are asking about my well being." Aarav says in joking manner at which both of them look at him.

" hmm, By the way, should we go somewhere? Should we go to the movies?" Aaira asks Aarav and Aarav smiles understanding her thoughts behind it, she wants to brighten his mood.

" No, not today, my classes are over, so now I have to go on the path of becoming a successful person." Aarav says these words while looking at Reyansh because at this moment only Reyansh knows why he is suddenly obsessed with becoming successful.

" What does it mean?" Aaira asks when she gets confused by his words.

" This means... you know I am learning work with Papa, so after college I have to go there, no leave.

I will meet you guys later." Aarav says and then bids bye to both of them.

After Aarav leaves, Aaira and Reyansh look at each other

" She did bad to bhai, she will definitely regret it." Aaira says

" It's ok, she must have some reasons of her own, things have gone wrong with Aarav, but maybe she too must have some valid reason." Reyansh tells her

" Whatever the reason was, what she did was not right, it made no sense." Aaira adds

" Okay she's wrong, but now stop talking about her.

Should we talk about ourselves?" Reyansh tells her, changing the topic.

" Hmm." She says.

" By the way, Aarav did not come with us but shall we go watch a movie?" Reyansh asks her to which she straightaway refuses.

" Absolutely not." She says

" why ?" He asks

" because I don't want to go to a movie, I want to go to a concert." she says, confusing him.

"Concert?" he asks

" Yes, you know my Gabbu is coming to Mumbai." says Aaira excitedly, confusing him more.

" Gabbu? Is he a kid?" asks Reyansh to which her smile dims

" Shut up." She silence him when he compares Gabbu to a child.

" We fans call him Gabbu in love and yeah I mean Darshan Raval is coming to Mumbai in 2 days, we will go to his concert, okay?" she says excitedly again.

" You never told me before that you like Darshan Raval." he says

"Have you ever asked?" she answers him this

" No, because I thought you would not like anyone else except me." He says slightly teasing her.

" Oh please Reysu, Darshu ki baat alag hai, uske saamne sab pheeke hai." Says Aaira at which Reyansh raises his eyebrows

" Oh madam, mere saamne tum kisi aur ki taarif kar rahi ho, Matlab hadd hai....main Achha hu par itna bhi nahi...that you praise someone in front of me and I will tolerate it." He says getting slightly jealous from her so called gabbu.

" Oh sir, he is my crush, you should understand a little na..." Aaira says.

" And I am your love." He speaks sulkingly, like a grumpy child.

" And crush is more important than love." She teases him at which he makes faces.

" Now where is this thing written? I have never heard of it." Asks Reyansh

" This thing is written in Aaira Khanna's dairy..." she says, annoying him more.

" Huh, I wish uncle doesn't give you permission to go there." He says to which Aaira smiles proudly.

" Uff, Don't make such wishes that will never be fulfilled.....My father says yes to everything except you." She again teases him.

And there Reyansh makes faces that, This is also true, her father allows her to do everything except to be with him.

" And yes I will go and you will also have to come with me, because I don't have any expectation from you that you will ask me out.

It's been months since we've been together but you haven't asked me out even once." She complaints to which he is left speechless, he doesn't ask her out because he's afraid her father won't like it.

" That is why I am asking, will you come with me on a concert date?" Aaira asks him which makes him smile.

🦋🦋

" Aarav, meet her, this is Ikshita Sehgal, my friend's daughter who will be working here as an intern from today." Raj says this while introducing Aarav to a girl.

Her look 👇

" And Ikshita this is my son Aarav, he is also working here as an intern right now." Raj introduces Ikshita to Aarav

" Hello " Ikshita speaks with a sweet smile while extending her hand towards Aarav and Aarav looks at her hand.

" Hello " Aarav just says this in a slightly disinterested tone where not just Ikshita but even Raj gets a bit disappointed at his behavior when he doesn't shake hands with her.

How can he behave so badly, this is not the upbringing of his son. Raj thinks.

Ikshita takes her hand back after feeling a little awkward and she notices that he is not even looking at her properly. weird creature, How can someone be so mannerless? She thinks looking at him strangely.

" Well Aarav, I have reserved a place for Ikshita next to you on your desk, because as you are new and so is she. So, instead of teaching both of you things separately it will be better I do it together." says Raj

And in fact, Raj has set up Aarav's working desk along with all the other employees without showing any affection so that no one can point a finger at Aarav that without having any knowledge of the work he got a good position and own cabin in the office just because he is the boss's son.

Aarav works with all the other employees just like them, And as Aarav work progresses, he will get the appreciation he deserves.

Raj has decided this for him and Aarav has no objection to his father's decision.

" Ok Ikshita you go to your desk and start your work." Raj tells her

" Ok uncle, oops sorry. ok sir." Ikshita says hitting her own head on her mistake.

Well, earlier she addressed her father's this friend as uncle when she met Raj for the first time but now she will have to behave professionally in the office.

" You can call me uncle bachha." Raj does not react much to her mistake and says this

" No no, in office you are Sir...but yes outside the office you are cutie uncle, oops sorry, I started again." Saying this she runs towards her desk upon which Raj smiles.

But then Raj sees Aarav who is standing with him but is lost somewhere.

" Aarav." Raj calls him out, bringing him out of his thoughts.

"What happened?" Aarav shakes his head "nothing" to Raj's question.

" Aarav you did wrong, at least you could have shaken hands with her, This is no way to treat someone." Raj tells him

" Sorry papa." Aarav says

" It's ok but yes try to talk to her nicely from now on. she has come here for experience, otherwise her father himself has a big business but she has come here instead of working with her father and my purpose of introducing you to her was that both of you are similar, both of you want to learn and achieve things through your own efforts. So I would just say make a good bond with her and work together to growth better." Raj tells him to which Aarav sighs.

Well, not just Ikshita, he is no longer interested in hearing any girl's praise but still he quietly listens to his father.

He is really hurt by Aadhriti's thoughts about him and somewhere this thing got settled in his mind that every girl likes only successful guys no matter how much he loves you.

" Ok papa, I will try to do what you said, I will not give you a chance to complain." He says at which Raj just smiles.

Well, Ikshita's introduction is that she has returned from London a month ago after completing her bachelor's degree but before pursuing further studies, she wanted to work to gain some experience.

But despite her father having a good and successful automobile business she did not want to work with him because the reason is that she is the only daughter of her father and her mother is no more. So her father has tried to give her the love of parents alone, her father took care of her like a princess, and seeing this over love of her father, Ikshita knew that her father would not allow her to do much work with him, he would give her princess treatment in his office too, so she expressed her desire to work somewhere else to her father.

And here also her father objected to this, but when she insisted, then her father remembered his friend Raj and he requested him and got her appointed here for work experience because Ikshita father did not want to trust his daughter to any stranger, that is why he chose Raj's office and in this way his daughter's wish of working away from him was also fulfilled and he is also assured that his daughter is working in a safe place.

After talking to Raj, Aarav is coming to his place where Ikshita is already sitting, Ikshita notices him coming and somewhere she gets fascinated by his innocent face for a moment and she thinks how can a guy have such a handsome face and look so innocent at the same time, his innocence is reflected on his face.

But Ikshita quickly composes herself when she remembers his behaviour.

" Only the face is innocent, obviously uncle is handsome, so he has inherited a good face from his father, lucky him. But the behavior? Never mind." Looking away from him, she mutters to herself.

Meanwhile Aarav reaches his desk and takes his place, Ikshita is sitting at a distance of about 1 hand from him on her chair.

And there, despite not wanting to, Ikshita's eyes go to him again.

Now it is obvious that if there is someone near her, she is not blind, she will definitely look here and there.

And on top of that she is new here and right now out of all the people Raj has introduced her to, Aarav is the only one she can see right now.

And she is a girl who cannot remain silent for long, she needs someone to talk to.

And then, despite looking at his innocent yet grumpy face, she thinks of taking the initiative between them.

" Hey Aarav, have you completed your studies that is why you are interning here?" Well, Raj told her that he is also new here and that is why she asks him this question.

But Aarav hears her question but doesn't answer and keeps his eyes fixed on his laptop

" I am talking to you, can you hear me?" Ikshita says patting him on the shoulder slightly, upon which Aarav turns towards her

And there Ikshita smiles when he turns towards him but her smile fades when she hears his next word :

" Don't touch me or don't try to talk to me, do your work." He says to which Ikshita looks at him

" Why? Did you get dirty because I touched you? Should I get Surf excel for cleaning?" She asks him

Well she knows that maybe she made a mistake by touching him without his permission but to pass her time she decides to tease him by saying this.

Now if not talking, then on this pretext she can have some entertainment, but she is not able to entertain herself as per her thinking when Aarav does not say anything on hearing this word and turns his gaze back on his laptop.

" Are you gay?" She asks again to which Aarav closes his eyes and clench his fist

" No, first you did not shake hands with me, now you have a problem with my touch, this means that you are gay Otherwise who would ignore such a beautiful girl." She says praising herself

And there, ignoring all her words Aarav turns towards her again.

" And who told you that you are beautiful ?" he says to which she smiles.

" My father." She also replies quickly instead of feeling offended to which he looks at her and she smiles.

To be continued......