MIRA'S POV:

As I walked inside the campus, I saw the students laughing and giggling with their friends or boyfriends or side chicks. They seemed happy and cheerful. I smiled to see them doing well. But the very next vision kinda churns my stomach from the cereal I had earlier.

A student sat on his knees to propose to the girl and she looks so shocked... and happy. Jesus, please let me be blind for some time, will you? I said I need some time. Not to keep pressuring me.

Well, I tried to avert my mind. The morning was bright and sunny. It was already March and the summer is almost hitting the weather. The morning was quite cheerful and energetic than before. But what this weather couldn't change is the rambling of those thunderstorms in my brain.

Even though I was trying hard to pretend that everything is okay, I know nothing was okay at all. Not me, not the situation. Nothing. Plus, now I had to deal with Kelly today. God, how I wish I could just skip today, but I can't. Not when the deal we signed, is finally on the way to establish a mark on NYU.

I can't mix up my personal life with work. That's not like me.

Today I have a few meetings regarding student profiles and a few files to fax to headquarters. The finance team need to check on last month's revenue, which somehow seemed altered by some upper hand. If my guess wasn't wrong, Nicarno has something to do with this. I have seen him in the account building quite a few times, also bribing Mrs. Rose, our accountant. However, I don't have proof yet, and until I have any, I cannot make any move. So, the best option right now is to raise a query and send the files to the head of management, to re-check. I am sure, they'd find some clue.

Apart from those, I have to send the invitation to the council for its meeting in South Korea in a few days. Mr. Han wanted me to come over with the second proposal, for our expansion. I had the presentation ready. Also, the list of students that were supposed to be sent out for internships was to be done by this weekend. The day was indeed busy.

So, without wasting much time, I began to work on my desk. Alex had an exam today, so probably I will get a day off from him, to think about everything. Maybe I need some more time for that. But without Alex, I don't think I could make any. I need him for my system to work correctly.

"Hey, bestie..." Nina's voice cracked through the peaceful room. I looked up at her and she had a cheerful smile on her face, as always.

"Hi, bestie..." I smiled back. It has been almost over a week since I haven't seen her. Well, a part of it is because we both agreed to spend time with someone we like. And I could tell from her face, she was doing pretty well.

"Guess what?" She asked being all excited... While making herself comfortable on my opposite chair. Luckily, Kelly was out for some work today and we could actually use the time with some bitching or girl's talk. I need her now.

Maybe her presence could do all better.

I pushed Alex, at the back of my mind for some time, as I wanted to give my attention to Nina. Also, I didn't get the time to tell her about the whole president selection thing, that Andrew said earlier. We both have so much to catch up on. I will tell her after she completes it. First, I have to deal with... whatever is going on here.

"What?" I asked, my brow furrowed in confusion and curiosity. To be honest, it has been over two months, since we didn't have a proper girl's talk. I guess I missed out on many things.

"David just proposed to me..." she squealed in joy, showing off the ring her fiancé gave her.

My face dropped and a bile rose in my throat making me hard to breathe. Once again, I was reminded of the burden, I am carrying on my shoulder for the past four years. That part of me, which I pushed inside a small metal box, locking it away. What is wrong with everyone today? Can't I just spend one morning peacefully, without thinking a hundred ways to shut my overthinking mind?

The small round diamond on her finger really looks beautiful. But I haven't expected that at all. I was really speechless at that time. "Wow... That's amazing..." My voice trailed with a hint of shock. I tried to sound as normal as possible. "But aren't you guys been dating for like... a few weeks?"

"Two and a half months now..." She replied all excited.

"And how do you know he is the one so quickly?"

"Well... you just gotta know when you gotta know..." her voice hold all the thrills and excitement, as expected. She was optimistic. I wish I could be like her. To see things without overthinking to death.

Despite how much she tries to explain to me in that sentence, I looked at her all confused as hell. I needed a definition. How to know what we are feeling is the right thing? That we should really give this a chance? Is there any theory that could tell me? If yes, then I needed it ASAP.

I know she was positive and charming as always, but I wanted to know how did she took the decision that it is the right thing to do? And did she know it won't ruin her? "How would you know you are not making any mistakes?"

Her face dropped with surprise at my question. "Well, well, Miss Mira Malhotra is asking about love theories. That's a fucking day to celebrate" she teased. She knows how sure I was that I won't ever fall in love or date anyone. But here I am, sitting all tensed and asking questions about how to understand these feelings and makeup decisions.

God must be fucking laughing at me.

I tried to hide the frustration of getting caught on my face, as I replied, "don't think any otherwise, I was genuinely asking these questions because... I am worried about you." As I finished, the dry lump in my throat is back again, making me uncomfortable.

"Oh, I must be wrong then." She took a sip of her late' with a sly smirk, that she was holding all along, which I didn't notice until now. She knew I was not asking these questions because I am worried about her. Well, a part is true, I am worried about her. But the questions are not for her, rather it was for me.

She knew, I will never ask directly, so she sighed before replying, "see, when he is the one, you will know. There will be moments when you will be realizing that no matter what time you spend with him, it's not enough. You'd want more." Her eyes giving the warmth and comfort I need right now. "Nothing in the world would make sense before, but when the right person would walk into your life, they lit up everything like nothing ever existed before. It will be him, whom you want to see when you'll wake up in the morning or the last one before going to bed. When no matter how you'd try to end up thing with him, it will end up otherwise."

She looked with a small smile before saying, "Things will work out, with that person, that never had worked up with anyone. Enough to realize that he's the one, your heart has already chosen the one for you." She paused. I look up at her in confusion when she holds my hand, giving it a small squeeze, before saying, "And if ever, you find a person like that." She whispers, "never let him go."

I don't know what exactly to say to her. A part of me want to fuck everything off and tell her everything, but on second thought where Alex is involved and could be dragged into something that could affect him, made me stop right there.

"Is that a theory of love or something?" I asked, confused. If there really is a theory, I need to dig a lot before I come to any conclusion.

She broke into a small laugh when she says "Oh Mira, you are such a soul. You don't need any books or logic when it comes to love. It never will be that way. It is something magical, beyond those rules you've set for yourself so far. When you start missing that person even if it's been a short span of time. And when he looks into your eyes and you feel he is your world, your home, that's how you know. There is no such theory to fall in love, my dear Mira."

Her voice was softer than before. I know she knew; I was going through a tough time. And I love how she decided to respect my privacy and helped me without making me feel uncomfortable. That is Nina. Always the sweet and humble one. My best friend.

And a great speaker of course. As she said all that, I looked away from her and started rethinking everything that was happening in my life. Slowly her words began to fade away from my ears as I could now only focus on one person. Alex.

His blue eyes were drowning me in him. His sinful lips were taking all my morality away from me. No matter how hard I try to say that 'us' doesn't mean anything to me, I felt something that extended beyond just desires.

He started to feel at home. Someone I would come back for. My anchor. For all these reasons, I found myself wanting all of them.

But something stopped me. Seeing what we had set ourselves up for, I frowned at myself. This is not supposed to happen in the first place. This shouldn't happen. I gulped knowing that whatever I said to myself, some part of me wanted him.

"Mira? Are you even listening to me?" She called, grabbing my attention.

"Uh... Yeah..." I came back. "I am... so happy for you, Nina." I smiled awkwardly feeling ashamed of a part of me, where I keep ignoring her again and again. She doesn't deserve it.

"I know." She smiled genuinely. "I am too."

And I can see the glow on her face today. She is in love. In fact, she is crazy in love with David. And I hope she gets all the love back she deserves. I would rather break every bone of that David if he'd try to hurt her. She is and always will be precious to me.

But am I in love too? I don't know. If that was what she described as love, then... I think...

But how can I? I mean I am not likely to be in love... I cannot. Not after knowing what it did to me four years ago.

FADED FLASHBACK 5 YEARS AGO:

I was merely 21 years old. Young and foolish. I had never experienced love before. Coming from a strict family, I never had the chance to even look at boys like that. My brother was very protective of me. So, it was always the car, that brought me to every place I wanted to visit. Of course, with one of the guards.

It was just like any other day... I was excited about starting my career after my college and I tried to talk to mom, and she said she'd ask papa about it. And that is when my papa announced the big news at the dinner table. Sadly, it was nowhere connected with my career.

"There is good news..." his deep voice, forced us to look up at him. Papa, my brother, I and Shaan sat at the dinner table, while mom and my sister-in-law, were serving.

All of us looked up at him waiting to hear the news from his mouth. I knew it was supposed to be regarding our business or maybe this time about me. I hope mom had a conversation with him.

Papa was a hard worker and believed in honesty and tradition. And I know my brother will soon take it over him in every aspect. They were so much similar. He was my dad's pride. And no matter how much I'd try, I will always be his liability.

However, the news wasn't about any of that. Rather something so strange that it made me forget how to breathe for a second.

"I have fixed the marriage of Mira."

It came to me like a wave of shock with a thunderbolt on me. Marriage? Me? What? I mean I haven't completed my studies yet. But with whom? Why did he even agree to marry me? Do I mean nothing to him that he wants to give me away like that?

My brain was bombarding e with questions that I need the answers to. But I can't. Nobody would tell me. I was still in my last semester of college. Have a career to build. A dream to accomplish. Why would no one listen to me?

While I was going through this paralyzed moment, others waited to hear all the details. I kept staring at them with confusion.

"Today Mr. Dixit came to our office and gave me the marriage proposal for our Mira. He is indeed a gentleman and belongs to a good family." He looked at me when he finished his sentence.

I gulped when everyone's attention was on me. I was having a panic attack by now. But like the good daughter that I expected to be, and no matter how much I hate the idea, I have to smile and say yes.

"But papa..."

I tried to explain my words but before that, he cut me off by saying. "I know Mira. This is a little rush for you. But I believe that you will like him. I am not forcing you. I never did. I want you to meet him. And when you feel comfortable, we can talk further."

No matter what I was told that he would always choose the right thing for me. And by 'we are not forcing you' means I have to agree mutually. So, without asking for anything else I agreed to his condition because I know, no one is here to really listen to me.

I have a dream to join a university in India for the job of administration and counselling. Opportunities and growth were plentiful. Apart from it I also wanted to be a writer, part-time. But papa said that our tradition says that a woman should get settled at the right time. They have a house to run. And the work and business are for men to handle.

He never raised his voice at me or forced me to do anything, but that doesn't mean I was given permission to do it of my liking.

AFTER TWO WEEKS:

I was waiting in the coffee shop for the person with whom my marriage was set. Harsh Dixit. I met him a few times during business dinners. He was indeed a tall and handsome guy. But I had never noticed him until now. He was older than me. 10 years. Still, technically he's young and rich in the eye of society.

"I am sorry I am late, Mira, I hope you didn't have to wait for too long right?" he apologized as he took a seat opposite of me. He was late for almost half an hour. But I didn't want to pick up a fight on our first day.

"That's okay. I understand you must be a busy person."

Technically he is. This marriage is not only a marriage but also a business convention for both parties. Where I had to act as the sacrifice.

But fortunately, he didn't turn out bad as I thought. We had an amazing day that evening. He was 10 years older than me. But he was indeed a gentleman. He did all the things that provoked me to fall for his manliness. He showed care and attention that made my heart flutter.

This was the first boy in my life, that was allowed to get close to me. That is only because we are getting married soon.

And after that, it didn't take much longer to set the final date of our marriage.

He made me smile every time we met. If this is what falling in love is called then I was slowly falling for him. And foolishly I thought he was the best man for me.

SOME DAYS LATER

I brought lunch for him today. Mom said to get into her husband's heart is through his stomach. I walked into his office with a smiling face, as I was excited to see him. The receptionist knew me, so she didn't try to stop me. I was about to knock on the door when I heard a few noises from inside. Like someone was moaning?

My heart stopped for a moment, but I still didn't want to think anything negative. To be sure, I opened the door to see what was happening and my jaw dropped when I saw a girl sitting on top of him naked. Wobbling. Having sex!

I felt like everything around me stopped for second and hot tears started running down my cheeks.

"Harsh..." I gasped shockingly not believing my sight.

The moment his eyes fell on me, he quickly removed the girl and stood up. He put his pants up and walked towards me.

"Stop. I do not want to see your face again." I put an end. It hurt so much to be betrayed. It was something I never expected. Is this love? Why it has to hurt like that?

I turned around to leave the building but then someone gripped my wrist. I knew it was him but I didn't want to see him right now.

"Can you just give me time to explain? I promise I will not ask anything after that" He begged.

This was all a nightmare. And once again his eyes made me a fool to believe all his lies.

END OF FLASHBACK:

This is why I never believed in love again.

But with Alex, it all began to feel like something new and I knew this could take me down. But no matter how many rules I set for us. Alex would come to me breaking them all again and again.

Throughout the day, the words "I love you" continued ringing in my head, making me a little crazy. I think we need to talk. I don't think Love is a good idea for us, perhaps we should think of some change?

******

That evening as I was on my way home, I heard a student gossiping about someone. Students, girls. Ugh... and their gossip. But something got me to stay back and hear them out.

"Did you hear that the new guy Alex and Mike fought this morning?" the first student said.

"Yeah... it's all over the school today. They happen to be good friends. I don't know what got them into this big fight." the second one replied.

"Oh, I heard it's about a girl." They were fighting about a girl.

"Yes. And it all started when that girl Bellamy kissed him out of the blue."

As I heard this, I fisted my hands. I felt jealous and hurt to hear that Bellamy had kissed him. Despite the fact that I trust him, the news still managed to hurt me. I began to hear more of their conversation.

"I always kinda knew she liked Alex from the very first day. But I didn't know that he was dating some older women."

"Yeah, men's fetish desires. We can never know."

"Valeria." Someone said. And that made me have a mini heart attack. What the fuck is going on?

"Mr. Nicarno had called them up for some clearance this afternoon, there Alex had to spill out the name. Valeria. She was some kind of high-end slut or escort maybe... I don't know"

Nicarno. Andrew. NYU board members. Alex. Mike. Kelly. Nina... Fuck.

My heart skipped beat when I heard that. How the hell did they know this? Is my reputation being on danger now? Oh, for fuck's sake it is. Wake up. The Board members know. Nina... Fuck...

I bit my lower lips in anticipation and fear. I don't know what to think or do. My body failed to respond to every action I attempted.

"I heard that Mike likes Bellamy and Bellamy likes Alex. And then when Alex rejected Bellamy harshly Mike threatened him that he would tell everyone of his little flings with that older woman or probably the slut. That is when Alex hit him."

"Yeah, he beat him really bad, he probably would be hospitalized right now."

I am impatient after hearing this. Is Alex, okay? Is he hurt? What the hell happened? My mind began to think about all the possible things that could have happened to him. I ran from there without a second thought in my mind.

I needed to see him. We need to talk.

Seeing Tom standing with my car outside the gate, I almost ran, ignoring everything going on at the moment.

"Take me to West 57th street, fast"

"On it, ma'am" he replied as he ignited the engine and the car rolled through traffic toward our destination.

Unknowingly tears ran down my cheeks and I silently prayed for his safety and maybe also mine. Things are running otherwise and I have no clue, what should I do to stop all this. My dream, struggle and reputation are standing on the very edge and on the other end was Alex. Standing in the middle of this whole situation only brings me anger and frustration.

That is when my phone rang, and it was none other than Nina.

"Hello?" My voice was shaky as hell.

"Care to explain what is going on? I thought you said someone from the club. Then how the fuck it ends as one of your students? What the fuck is wrong with you? Did you forget that this is forbidden? If they come to know you will not only lose your job but your reputation."

"Nina... I can explain..." Tears were not trying to stop today.

"Oh, for fuck's sake stop lying to me. Is this what you were doing all these months? Fucking your student? Lying to your best friend? Why?"

"I told you; I can explain... Just give me some time" I begged. By this time, I was crying so fucking hard, Tom noticed. But he chose to be silent as always.

"You know what? Take as much time as you want, because we- are over. If you cannot trust your best friend and lie to her about everything, don't expect me to save you ass now. Deal with this yourself. Goodbye"

AUTHOR'S NOTE: The climax has already started. Now we saw another glimpse of Mira's past. Her first love. Alex and Mira are now standing on a bridge that could let him to a whole new world or could end everything right here.