At the end of the day, all that matters is your peace of mind.

-Nikkitha (@ NikkithaKJ) 

Sometimes all you have to do is look through the window, talk to the infinite and seek your peace.

-Jyotii (@ JyotiiD) 

If you feel lost,
Either find your way or create your way.
Quitting is never an option. 

- Shivi (@ the_lost_stories)

Double update as I won 1st place in 2 categories (reader's choice)! Thank you so much to all the people who voted for me!

Prerna's POV 

After the mention of 'Mishka', Anurag was quiet which was very unusual, not a single word from his mouth while we walked together till my house. No 'Bye', no 'Take care', no 'Will meet you tomorrow'.

Something is bothering him, possibly he also knows Mishka but how? Is Kolkata that small that we are connected in this way? Who can he be to Mishka? 

Argh, my head will blast with so many thoughts! 

"So where did you both go together?" Kirti asked as she opened the door for me.

"Library." 

"Oh ho 'A kiss in the library', nice place Pri." 

"We were also reading books like every other human unlike you two." 

"Yaar who goes to a library to read books with their love interest!?" 

"He is not my 'love interest', I'm not in love with him, and I know what love means."

"Why are you always so irritated Preu, now-a-days it's becoming too much, are you alright? Should I bring a cup of tea or coffee?" 

"No yaar, sorry, actually I was thinking something and that was making my head stress more." 

"About Anurag?" 

"Yes, it looks like we both are connected through Vikrant and that Mishka." 

"Who is he to Mishka?" 

"No idea." 

"Might be her boyfriend, what do you think?" 

"I don't know, let him be comfortable with me." 

"A week is not enough Pre." 

Right we can't be completely comfortable with each other in a week, that's completely vague. 

"You got a point Kri, but there's no hope or desire for 'Forever' between us." 

"Now hold your train of thoughts, and lemme make some cold coffee for you," Kirti smiled and walked in the kitchen. "And go to hell with your sorry, I won't accept it!" she shouted, making Prerna smile. 

"What!? That Vikrant, who pretended to be Mishka's best friend, was Prerna's boyfriend also," Anupam exclaimed in shock. 

"So-called boyfriend," corrected Anurag. 

"I swear! Something is pulling you two together, don't let her go away from you!" Sid remarked. 

Anurag was irked by the same comments again and again, but he maintained his calm. 

"Want some hot chocolate, I'm making it" he said, trying to change the topic. 

"Of course! Is that a thing to even ask?" Came their replies in high pitch. 

The next day. 

Anupam, Sid and Anurag went for 'Mussoorie Darshan', which made the trio tired after a long day. It was indeed a long day today! 

Anupam and Sid were enjoying themselves to their fullest, but Anurag's mind was still occupied with the thoughts of Prerna and him are connected.

At one point, Anupam had to shake him off to bring him out of his trance, that much he was engrossed in it!

All and all, this trip isn't doing any refreshments for him, it's like he is still in his old days. 

"Now stop it Onu! Enough yaar, why are you still in your past only?" Sid, for the first time in his life, shouted at Anurag, his best friend. Anupam was talking with their guide, a little far away from the two besties. 

"Sid, I thought you understood me-" 

"Anu, I care for you, I understand you but now you are thinking too much! Enjoy this trip, won't cause you any harm!" 

"What do you think, I don't try at all? When I'm with Prerna, those past things don't even brush my mind-" 

"So you mean, we are making you remember your past?" 

"At least listen to the whole sentence, damn it!" 

Sid just looked away, and this hurt Anurag deeply. 

Wasn't he trying his best to overcome his past? Of course, he is! But some things take time. 

"Sid-" 

"Don't talk to me Anurag Basu, don't you know how you are hurting yourself! I see your eating habits, Anu, I see! You're hardly eating anything, and at around three in late-night, aren't you always awake now? We planned this trip to make you feel better, if you're feeling like that, let's just go back to Kolkata!" 

Sid vented out the actual reason for his words. 

Anurag was overwhelmed, he never thought Sid cared for him this much! He quickly engulfed him in a tight hug. 

"Thank you, thank you yaar, I didn't even think someone could care for me too! This stupid idiot soul, who don't even know how to take care of himself!" 

"Thank you is never accepted, and yes Mussoorie isn't making any benefits to you, so let's just go back to Kolkata," Sid mouthed and pulled out of the hug. 

"This quick? It's not even a week, just four days," Anurag argued. 

"Anupam and I planned the trip for you to get better, but it's not working, so why to waste time here." 

"But it's so good here!" 

"Give a proper reason Anu," Sid said sternly. 

Anurag opened his mouth, but no words came, he was confused - why did he want to spend some time here? This place - it's like a normal trip! He can afford hundreds of trips to expensive places, then why here only! 

"There's no reason Sid, let's go." 

Sid went to call Anupam, who was now busy flirting with girls. Anurag slapped his forehead, thinking how will his Nivi Di handle this idiot. 

    *         *        *   

"Let's start packing our bags then-" even before Sid could complete, Anurag ran out of the house, "I have some important work, will come back in an hour," were the only words he shouted. 

"Bhabhi!" Anupam reminded Sid, of Prerna. They both shook their heads - seeing Anurag's idiocy - he is looking attracted towards Prerna - yet he is denying - typical clichés of life.

"So you are going?" Prerna asked. 

They both were sitting on the same bench as yesterday. The same sunset, but not the same situation. He was going back, and there's not really a chance for them to meet. 

"I guess, our friendship or whimsical, or whatever it is called, was supposed to be this short," Anurag mouthed, looking straight at the setting sun. The orange and yellow hues were gracing the sky, his eyes were blessed to see the scenario. 

Prerna forced a smile and looked at him, "So it's like, 'Our journey ends here', though short and small but I enjoyed this realistic one, all the best with your life, Anurag Basu. Can't say 'Miss me', but hope my name will make you smile." 

"Unfortunately yes, our journey ends here, but I want to tell you something." 

"Sure, go ahead." 

"You know, I never really wanted to come here, scratch it, I never wanted a love interest in my life after Mishka went out of my life. It was just me and my loneliness. 

Sid and Anupam care for me, and that's why they wanted me to move on. Every night I'll be awake at around 3 am and will be remembering those fun moments, and that day when she left me forever. It hurts! Even I want to move on, but something pulls me back to the past. I'm hurting everyone around who cares for me by not moving on, but when this heart is not ready to move on. What can I do!? I'm frustrated with this life, why can't I end it!! Because I'm a coward, I don't have any strength to end everything." 

Prerna couldn't react at first, by his sudden breakdown. He was the same as her, broken. Love hurts, doesn't it? It can make people the happiest, and if not reciprocated, they become depressed. 

Maybe the word 'move-on' was simple, but complicated when tried on. She glanced at this poor soul, he couldn't bear more and ended up hugging Prerna, tightly, close to himself.

He was venting out his frustration in the hug, no one knew how hurt he was with himself. Doesn't he always try? But fails miserably, and people assume this as 'You never try, Anurag'. His grip on her tightened unusually. 

She never wanted this sensation, that chills which were running down her spine, to stop. Naah, not love, it's just a little infatuation that she felt for him. 

As he pulled out of the hug, he found her smiling. 

"Woah I thought you'll cry, ain't like that typical girl?" Anurag wiped his tears and laughed. 

"Nope, I'm not, let's end our chapter here, smiling and laughing." 

"Wait, let's complete reading our pending books," Anurag suggested. 

"Good idea, let's go!" 

"Prerna yaar, don't get fired because of me." 

"Don't you know, I love adventures!" 

Both giggled and entered the library. 

"Pride And Prejudice to be finished first!" 

"Okay, we'll cry together," Prerna remarked. 

"And then A Passage To India!" 

"Yes yes of course, Mr. Chubby Anurag Basu!" 

After completing one book, tears were streaming down their cheeks, Prerna asked him, "Your life must be perfect, isn't it?" 

"Perfect?" he chuckled darkly. 

"Asked the wrong question-" 

"You know I never wanted to be a businessman, from my school days, I was interested in making portraits! Becoming a portraitist was my dream! But I had to agree with Dad's dream of seeing me as a businessman, and I agreed, call me a dumb person but I'm already hurting them by not moving on from Mishka. So I had to leave my dream of being a portraitist and do what he desired for me to be." 

"I would just like to say - be what your heart wants you to be - you won't get this life back Anurag, you won't get. Live, don't just exist. Do what you like to do in your life - just don't do so because your closed ones asked you to. You have a life!" 

Live, don't just exist.

- Anonymous; because of May (@ HappyWanderer77) I got to know this one. 

And with this we are left with only 1 chapter and 1 epilogue! Uff the last chapter is my forever favourite!

And those who were saying, move on Anurag!! Got what he was feeling since long?

Do vote + comments please! Inlines are always welcomed!

Kriya.