Kiara's POV:

Day three and even today Ritik skipped coming to college. I miss seeing him here either playing football or arguing with Sakshi and Viraj to decide whether to attend the lectures or not, I miss seeing that captivating smile of him but I can't, I can't go and see him.

Past two days I was dying to see him but that didn't happen. Today I thought maybe Ritik's anger might have faded and he will show his presence in the college but he didn't. The night at Nia's home didn't went well for three of us, in fact even for all our family. Ritik looked angry when he came downstairs, he didn't even have dinner that Nia's place. He just informed Aarav uncle that he is leaving and went out of the house. Aashna Aunty was worried for him and so even she left soon.

"Akshay stop," I said clutching his arm. I don't like when my friends ignore me and Akshay was doing that since a week already. I tried to contact him many times, he used to receive my calls but since last two days he has stopped doing that as well.

"What?"

"Why are you ignoring me?" I asked.

"What happened between you and Ritik?" He questioned and I almost got tongue-tied. Does he knows? No, I don't think so it is possible unless Anika or Veer told him everything.

"What happened between us?" I asked while trying my best to act normal.

"That's what I'm asking you, Kiara."

"Nothing," I replied.

"What did Ritik say to Nia?" He asked making me tongue-tied yet again. I'm sure Ritik didn't say anything to Nia that night but what if he talked later and told her everything? No no no, Nia will get hurt badly. Please god, don't make this happen. But why is Akshay asking me about this?

"Say it clearly." I requested.

"It hurts to see the person you love, loving someone else. I love Nia and I hate to see her going behind Ritik again and again when he clearly doesn't care about her."

"I thought Nia was moving on from him but no, A week ago she confessed of still loving Ritik and since two days, she is not even talking to me and all of this is because of Ritik." He said angrily. Did Ritik told her everything? God, please don't let it happen.

"What did he do? He will never hurt her intentionally."

"For the sake of God Kiara, stop defending him. You yourself know he has done nothing other than using Nia to get over his feelings for you." Akshay said making me feel guilty but at the same time hearing him utter a word against Ritik was making me angry.

"Maybe it's not like you think. We don't know about him, right? Maybe he had his own reasons." I tried to explain.

"Really? Please tell me what reasons justify his act of using someone for his selfish reason?"

"Akshay stop saying this. How can you conclude without knowing his point of view."

"Fine. Ritik didn't use Nia. I believe you. Answer my next question then, He confessed loving you, right?" He asked making me numb again. Why are his questions like a fire today?

"Please don't tell me he fell in love with you in just two days and then confessed his love. All this while, he knew he liked you yet he decided to give false hopes to Nia. If you say, he won't hurt her intentionally then ok I agree with that but still, he did hurt her. If not intentionally then unintentionally but he is still hurting her." He said and stopped. He clenched his fists a few times as if he was trying to control his anger and then raked his hand through his hair.

"Talking about you, you love him, right? Then why can't you accept his proposal and have a so-called happy relationship with him?" He asked angrily. The way he was talking to me was already making me angry but I was controlling it because I was guilty about being the reason why Nia was sad now.

"I have my own reasons," I replied and saw him curse something. I don't know if it was what he talked about Ritik or the way he was talking to me but it was very disturbing. For me, my self-respect matters the most. I never have and will never sacrifice it for anyone. I didn't wish to stand there and let Akshay talk with me the way he wants. So I turned to leave.

"Why are you leaving? Did you realised you and your Ritik are wrong here?" He asked in a challenging tone. The Akshay whom I considered as my best friend and the Akshay who was standing here in front of me were totally two different people. I could have gone away without answering him but I knew my ego will curse me for not showing him his mistake.

"You know what Akshay, Maybe Ritik and I are wrong but even you aren't right here. You don't even know if Ritik told her anything. You don't even know if Ritik ever promised her of being with her and you don't even know what my reasons are but yet you are acting like a teenager who lost his love." I said and took a deep breath to continue again. I hate when my anger turns into tears and here it was happening the same.

"Just because I can't be with Ritik, I didn't go and took my frustration on anyone. I know Ritik can be very childish and immature sometimes but just because I said no to him, he didn't go and took his anger on his friends."

"If life is not a bed of thorns then it is not a bed of roses either so just because you think you lost your love, it doesn't give you any right to assume things on your own and treat people the way you want." I continued.

"You could have asked this questions to me calmly but no, you wanted to do it in another way. Also, stop blaming others for your loss. I always warned you about this but you were not willing to listen. If you are hurt today then it's only because of your overconfidence." I finished whatever I wanted to tell him and went away from there. The moment I turned I felt a tear slip down my eyes. All this while I always thought Akshay will be the first person with whom I will share my reason and even he will give me a suggestion without being biased but no, I guess I expected too much out of a friendship which was just started. Now I know why people say, expectations hurt.

As I walked in the corridor I heard someone call me, when turned to look at the person I saw Viraj.

"If you don't mind, May I ask you something?" He asked and I nodded immediately. He signalled me to continue walking and so I did the same.

"So, how are you?" He asked. Funny.

"I'm sure that's not what you want to ask," I said and saw him smile a little.

"Ok. I will come straight to the point. Do you love Ritik?" He asked. A thousand yes. I thought for sometime before answering and then finally decided to tell the truth as I knew Sakshi heard my confession and she must have already told Viraj about it so there was no use of lying.

"Yes. I do." I replied and saw his smile getting wider.

"Now you tell me, where is he? And why is he not coming to college?"

"You know he and his anger issues. I tried to bring him here but he refused. Was he always like that?" Viraj asked.

"Always," I replied and smiled remembering our childhood days. Once Ritik lost a match against Aarav uncle, he was so angry that he literally pushed Aashika who was coming to him thinking that he won. Aashika fell on the floor and cried a lot. It was like a lesson to Ritik and after that day whenever Ritik was angry, he took his anger on himself but never on anyone else.

"And why is that idiot so angry?" I asked and came to know that even Viraj doesn't know the actual reason as Ritik didn't share it yet.

"And were you always like this?" He asked.

"Like what?" I asked back.

"Someone who turns their sadness into happiness."

"If I'm going to be honest, No. I was not like this. I always wanted someone to console me for hours. However, I learnt my lesson as I grew up. Not everyone stays forever and not everyone can be with you all the time, right?" I answered and felt my heart getting heavy.

"Wrong. Stop pushing people away from you and they will forever stay by your side." He said. I was looking at him earlier but once he said that I was unable to look at him.

"One more question, why did you say that you guys can't be together?" He asked. I felt my throat getting dry at his question. I had an answer but I didn't know if he was the right person to tell it.

"Hey, there's no compulsion to answer it. It's just that I love Ritik...I mean don't take me wrong. I'm straight, I have a girlfriend whom I love and for Ritik, I consider him as my brother and it hurts to see him sad." He explained and I started laughing.

"You are funny."

"I know. Sakshi keeps saying this. Get back to my answer now." He replied.

"I don't know Viraj Sometimes things are more complicated than we think. I want to be with Ritik. I know it will make both of us happy but at the same time I know my happiness will be the reason for someone's sorrow and I'm not ready for that. I don't know what to do."

"What do you mean?" He asked obviously because he was confused.

"I will say it again, there's no compulsion. If you ever feel like you want to talk about it, you can talk to me. I promise not to tell anything of it to Ritik." He assured.

"Thank you so much. I will definitely consider this help of yours." I replied and saw him smile again.

"Anyway, I will leave now. Take care." He said and went away.

Should I tell him everything? Will I get an unbiased suggestion from him? I don't know.

Ritik's POV:

"Oh my my. Now I know why it's so hot even though it is winter." Sakshi said as she came inside my room. We had a wedding to attend and so I was getting ready for it. I didn't wish to go but mom left me with no choice. She even selected an outfit for me and told me to get ready soon. Mom kept saying, I look disturbed and she was afraid to let me stay alone so I should come with them.

"Too much drama," I said and signalled her to sit, while I continued setting my hair.

"Did you came alone?" I enquired as Viraj was not with her.

"Aren't you happy to see me here? Oh wait wait, You only want your best friend... who am I to you, right?" She acted. Drama queen.

"I didn't say anything like that. I wanted to ask where Viraj is."

"Well, he took my mother-in-law for her monthly checkup." She replied.

"By the way, Are you planning to kill someone with your looks? I'm sure you will have a lot of spectators today." She said further.

"Shut up Sakshi."

"You don't deserve compliments." She stated angrily.

"Exactly. I don't deserve anything good." I replied and tossed the jacket on bed. It looked good but I was not in the mood to wear it.

"Idiot, please don't say that. You have already ignored me for two days now I won't let that happen. Tell me what's wrong?"

"The day I went to Nia's home she asked me to meet her on the terrace, I did. She is hurt and I'm the reason behind her pain. I always knew she liked me but that day she almost confessed that. Every time I remember her words I hate myself for hurting her." I answered.

"What is troubling you exactly?"

"The fact that all these days I totally forgot about her feelings. Since the day I heard Kiara's confession there was no Nia in my life, not her feelings... nothing" I replied and saw Sakshi's face dropped a little. I was ashamed of myself but it was the truth which needed to be out of my heart.

"You know you are at fault, right?"

"Of course I know I'm at fault. Just to get Kiara out of my mind I used to spend more time with Nia. I never talked anything about love but she must have considered it. I feel like used her."

"Hey no. Don't say that. I mean yeah I agree you hurt her but using someone is a big word. As far as I know you, I'm sure you didn't give her any false promises of being with her or loving her, did you?"

"No. I never did." I replied.

"Do you love her?" Sakshi asked.t

"Only as a good friend."

"When you were spending time with her what was your intention?"

"I was genuinely trying to know her. Mom always says love someone who loves us, I was trying to do the same. I wanted to get over my feelings for Kiara. I wanted to move on."

"That's the thing Ri. You wanted to move on, it was not your need and that's why you failed to get over your feelings."

"See Ritik as much as I hate to say this, You were wrong. It was not your intention but unintentionally you hurt Nia however I can't blame you. We are human beings, we are bound to make mistakes. So don't feel bad about it." Sakshi assured but I knew this guilt was not going to leave my heart unless I apologise to Nia.

"Did you talk with Kiara?"

"No, but I guess now I know why she said we can't be together," I answered.

"Why?"

"Kiara knows about Nia and if I'm not mistaken she thinks, Nia will get more hurt to see us together and so she wants to stay away from me," I replied.

"It is true Ritik. Nia will get hurt but I still think Kiara is doing wrong. We can't keep everyone happy and here, She is hurting you and herself just to keep Nia happy."

"I don't know what is going to happen next but I'm surely telling everything to Nia as soon as possible. I don't want to give anymore false hopes to her." I stated. I know I can convince Kiara. One day or the other, She will accept our relationship but before that I needed to talk with Nia.

"You sure?" She asked and I nodded immediately.

"Good decision. Do it soon." She said giving me an assuring smile.

"Thank you so much. I wanted to share all this with someone but I didn't had courage. Also, sorry for avoiding you guys." I apologised and saw her, roll her eyes.

"Anyway, Whatever I said earlier was a lie. You are not looking handsome and no one is going to stare at you. I said it just to cheer your mood." Sakshi stated.

Liar.

"Now you and I both know you are lying."

"I mean it. You look like a monkey." She said however I denied it again.

"Kiara, doesn't he look like a monkey?" Sakshi asked looking towards the door. What? I quickly shifted my gaze towards the door and saw Kiara standing there. Wow, is she going to attend today's wedding?

"Ok, I will take your silence as yes. So Ritik it's decided. You look like a monkey." Sakshi stated confidently. This time I saw a smile appeared on Kiara's face.

"Hi Sakshi. Ritik, Aashna aunty is calling you downstairs." Kia said and turned to leave.

"She looks very pretty in traditional outfits. Only if her smile was genuine, she would have looked prettiest." Sakshi said making a different kind of pain build inside.

"Idiot don't get sad. I'm sure you will make her the happiest person on this planet." Sakshi said however it didn't change my mood.

I am ashamed of myself hurting both of them.

***