After a week,

Ritik's POV

"Ritik, is everything alright?" Mom asked looking at me through the rear mirror. She was driving the car and I was sitting on backseat with Aashika while dad was on passenger seat. Today it was dad's turn to make dinner but because he was too lazy to cook he decided to us to a restaurant.

"Yes. Everything is alright." I replied and started looking outside the window.

"But you don't look alright. If you want, you can tell us what is bothering you." She suggested. I tried to make her understand that I'm perfectly fine however it was of no use.

"I have been noticing you since past few days. Sometimes you are very enthusiastic and then suddenly you get nonchalant, What's the matter?" Mom asked again. Dad could have made her understand however even he was carefully listening to our conversation and kept looking at me with hopeful eyes.

"Nothing is bothering me. I'm just tired because of today's practice." I replied and saw her face soften a little. She didn't had those questioning eyes anymore.

"Fine. I know you are very passionate about your game but with that you need to take care of yourself."

"Yeah Mom, I will." I replied. Luckily mom didn't ask any questions after that giving me some relief. I was actually tired because of today's practice and it also made me feel little sick. If it was not for our family dinner, I wouldn't have came out of my room. Resting my head against the window, I was peacefully looking at the outside world until I heard Aashika giggle. I looked at her but didn't ask anything.

"What happened to you?" Dad asked as he turned back to look at her.

"A boy was asked 'how he wants his future wife to be?' His reply was so funny that I was not able to control myself." She replied.

"Good question it was." Mom stated.

"Ri, how do you want your future wife to be?" Aashika asked nudging my arm.

"You are not supposed to ask me such questions." I replied and again turned to look out.

"Why not? I'm not asking you any adult type question. Stop being a mood spoiler and answer it." She demanded however I ignored it. I never stopped Aashika from asking or telling me anything and that's the only reason why she keeps expecting.

"Ri." She poked my arm again.

"I'm not interested to answer you anything." I replied. I didn't had any plan of answering or looking at her until I saw mom looking at me again. Now she will again start with her doubting!

"Aashika, He must be shy because we are sitting here. You can ask him some other time, I'm sure he will answer." Dad spoke. I gave him a small smile and was going to get back in my position but Aashika stopped me again.

"He is definitely not shy. I remember once he told me that if he ever falls in love, he will never hide it from you dad."

"Aashi.."

"Please." She said cutting my sentence. Fine!

"I'm not planning to get married neither I have someone who I love but if ever I want someone to be my life partner then I want someone, who will love me for whom I'm." I replied.

"Someone who is fun to be with. I mean someone with whom I can play, sit and watch our favourite movies or football matches."

"And someone who will treat my family just like hers." I stopped and saw all three of them having very broad smiles plastered on their face.

"You know what Ritik, you have someone who is exactly the way you want but you are just too ignorant to accept it. Sometimes I don't understand what is stopping you." Aashika said slapping my arm and turned to look away from me.

"Who?"

"Leave it." She replied. Ok I got it, she was talking about Nia. I didn't asked anything after that until she slapped my arm again. Why she is irritating me?

"Don't act like you don't know about it."

"Dad." I called. He stopped Aashika from saying further and immediately changed the topic.

"What is the plan for your birthday? Also when is your next match Ritik?"

My birthday, six days to go!

"No dad, I don't have any plans for my birthday."

"And match is after 32 days." I replied and saw mom laugh a little.

"A wise person would have said, 'After one month' but you can't understand that." Aashika teased. Why is she testing my patience today? I again didn't replied anything.

"See mom there is something definitely wrong with him today. He isn't fighting with me."

"Dad."

"Stop it Aashika. By the way from football I remembered, I met Akshay today." Dad said. Akshay, how does dad know about his name?

"Do you still remember him? And where did you meet him?" I asked and came to know that he and mom went to mall this afternoon and there he met Akshay, who was shopping with Kiara. I know it already! The past few days everytime I see him, he is with Kiara. Sometimes I don't understand how they both got so close in such a short span of time?

"Ok."

"Very genuine and smart he is." Mom said complimenting him. It maybe a toxic trait but I absolutely hate when my parents compliment someone else infront of me. I mean I know they love me more than anyone or anything but they also know that I get very jealous when I see them complimenting someone else yet they keep doing it again and again indirectly making me more jealous and angry.

"Dad you know Akshay's house is something like we see in movies of kings and queens. Just like the houses during Renaissance period with rich interiors. Maybe his family is fond of traditional things but it looks so nice." Aashika stated. What the hell, how does she knows about his house?

"Wait, how do you know about his house?" I asked aashika for which she replied that she saw it in the pictures he posted.

"And why were you seeing his pictures? Don't you have any other work?"

"Why are you behaving like your girlfriend just ditched you?" Aashika asked.

"That is none of your business. You tell me why are you seeing his pictures?"

"Ritik baby why are you so angry? You are scaring me now." Mom asked while stopping the car. Damn, I should start controlling my anger.

"Nothing Mom, I'm sick and you all are just making me angry." I replied and saw dad looking at me obviously asking 'What did I do?'

"I'm sorry." I said further.

"Even I'm sorry if you got angry because I complimented Akshay and now no one will say anything. Stop troubling my baby." Mom stated and started driving again whereas Aashika shifted a little towards me and kept her hand on my forehead to see how much sick I was.

"I'm fine." I replied removing her hand. I expected her to move away and let me sit properly however expecting something from Aashika is a big mistake. Instead of going back to her sit, she clutched arm and rested her head on my shoulder.

Kiara's POV:

"Now what happened to you?" Akshay asked entering inside our club's office room.

"What happened to me?" I asked back.

"Why did you went away from there without saying anything?"

"Nitya took me with her, nothing else." I replied however he didn't looked satisfied with my answer and also Anika started looking at me with her eyes filled with dozens of questions.

"What happened to her?" Akshay asked to her. He looked very irritated and probably was going to fight with me.

"I don't know but even I think something is wrong with her. When she came here, she looked like she was going to cry." Anika replied.

"No guys, I'm not crying and also everything is fine with me."

"Listen Kiara, If I keep asking more questions you will say that I'm interfering in your life but I honestly want to tell you something. Either accept that you love him or stop getting hurt by his behaviour. If you are not willing to make any move you are not supposed to cry over it." He replied angrily.

I was already on the verge of tears, his anger became the reason why they slipped out. I didn't wished to breakdown in front of anyone and was trying my best to hold myself but nothing seemed to work. I don't understand why Ritik treats me like I'm a toy, who don't have any feelings. Few minutes ago, I was in Canteen with Akshay whereas Ritik was sitting with Nia, Sakshi and Viraj. Akshay obviously got so happy to see Nia and went towards them. I knew I was going to get nothing other than ignorance so I didn't move from my place but then again Akshay took me with him. Once I was next to their table, everyone greeted me except for Ritik. Forget about greeting, he didn't spared me a glance.

"Either accept it or stop all this." He stated.

"Exactly. Even I think she loves Ritik but she never accepts it." Anika stated.

"I do. I love Ritik and it is not just now, I love him since we were in our school. Happy now?" I asked.

I never thought I will have to accept this truth the way I did now but I guess things never happen the way we want.

Me and Ritik, we grew together. From playing to studying we used to do it together. If there was anyone other than my dad and brother whom I admired and trusted the most then it was Always him...then how was I not supposed to love him? Sometimes I really wish things between us never changed.

I agree we are not together but can't Ritik be a little civil? Sometimes he is very friendly and then the rest of the time he is completely opposite. Today morning when I went to his home I came to know that he was sick, so I asked him about his health however he didn't reply anything even now in the cafeteria I got the same response from him.

We were bestfriends once upon a time, I know things are not the same between us but why he has to be so rude? Maybe he is with Nia now but does that mean he should ignore me? I knew one or the other day I was going to see them in relationship, so I was well prepared for it. Seeing him with Nia doesn't hurt me as much as his ignorance does.

Leave it Kiara, you are stronger!

I wiped my tears and decided to look at my two idiots who were probably very much shocked because of my confession. I remembered all those times when Anika used to ask me and I used to deny my feelings.

"Got your ans...." I was going to say but stopped immediately when my eyes shifted towards the door.

Sakshi and Ritik.

Damn since when they have been standing here? And what if they heard everything?

Man, it will be like digging a grave for myself. If Ritik was already ignoring me, I can only wonder what will happen if he has heard everything.

Do vote and comment.
Thank you.