Reality can be daunting

As it turns your world upside down,

Treat it with caution,

For it can also cost you a cauldron.

Seek before you understand

Before seeking to be understood

Words cannot be taken back

Even if you trying fixing the root.

So hold on O dear,

Let yourself care.

Because if you don't,

There will be consequences you can't bear.

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For the umpteenth time, Arnav tried as hard as he could to make peace with the fact that he had read on his phone through Akash's message almost half an hour back.

But every time he made an effort, he failed miserably, and struggled to stand up from the big fall he had, with the announcement of his parents' divorce.

His mind played tricks with him as visions of the past, of the happy moments he had spent with his parents surfaced before his eyes, making him feel all the more miserable and helpless, as he recalled how all of it had been a lie, a compromise on his parents' part to keep the cracks in their marriage concealed just for the sake of their son.

As if he was some liability, some bargain they had to take care of, and hence, act like the happiest couple in the world, whereas in reality, they neither cared for each other, nor about their relationship.

''F*king liars!''

Arnav gritted through his teeth as his eyes became red, trying to control the brimming tears in them.

While the memories of his good times with his parents were the only strings that connected him to his former life, where he was manipulative yet a charmer, who at least smiled and cared about some people, they also became his daunting past, since the reality of it all was a lie.

Every single party they had.

Every little dinner they enjoyed together.

Every happy-frame photographs they clicked.

''All bloody lies!''

He enunciated with rage as he slammed his palm harshly on the desk, making a thud sound, and with that sound, he also tried to regain his composure, wiping off the trace of his moist eyes as curled his fingers into tight fists, and uttered to himself.

''Everything is a lie.''

''FAMILY is a lie.''

''LOVE is a lie.''

''RELATIONSHIPS are a lie.''

''There exists nothing called true love. Absolutely nothing!''

.

.

And with that thought, he once again vowed to himself that he wouldn't care even a dime for his family or any kind of love in this world, for it was nothing but a hoax, an illusion that was man-made and as fake as anything else in today's world.

..

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Khushi panicked as she kept looking at the direction of ASR's cabin, while her heart paced rapidly, wondering what that monster, Lord Voldemort with a nose would be thinking of her designs.

She knew very well that given the personal grudges he had against her, she would be stupid to expect something remotely close to warm from him.

In fact, deep inside she thought she wouldn't be surprised if he taunted her for thinking of such color combinations, that were ''not up to the mark'' in his words.

But then, she was a newbie and she was so, so scared.

She had never put so much passion in anything she did before the way she had dedicated her entire time to making those designs.

''Those designs are like my first-born children, and Mr. Snuggles, you know na, moms love their first-born the most?''

She spoke animatedly to her soft toy, who was still not fully fixed from the brutal attack it had to undergo, courtesy ASR throwing it roughly on day one of her work.

Khushi made an expression as if Mr. Snuggles to replied to her turmoil and said, ''Yes. You are right. I should take it easy, else I will have a panic attack.''

While at it, she also reminded herself that though her theory of moms loving their first-borns is correct, in her case, her mom loved her the most.

''I am sure, my mom loves me the most between me, Kunal bhaiya and Kia.''

She mentally patted herself.

And somewhere, she was indeed true.

After all, her parents could do anything to pamper her, and not just them, even Nancy could go beyond limits to make sure her ''Khushi baby'' was okay.

Well, she couldn't deny. She was one hell of a lucky child.

''But if only Kunal bhaiyya-''

She had merely begun when suddenly the sight of Samantha caught her attention.

.

.

Looking at her extremely gloomy expression made Khushi forget about her own thoughts, including her fear of knowing Arnav's verdicts on her designs, and she quickly strode towards Samantha's desk.

As soon as she reached there, she saw Samantha was actually teary and that made Khushi's heart sink as she inquired with urgency,

''Sammy? Why are you crying? Oh god! Are you okay?''

.

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Samantha had liked Khushi from the beginning.

Like most people in the office, she knew the girl was extremely naïve and caring towards others. She couldn't forget how she had helped her overcome her dull mood from days ago when she had had a bad fight with her boyfriend.

And so now, when she was dealing with yet another low-moment of life, she knew that she could confide in Khushi. And so lifting her gaze up to match Khushi's, she said in a low voice,

''I am just so upset Khushi. This is such a bad day.''

Khushi grabbed the chair nearby quickly and sat next to Samantha, as she caressed her back to calm her down and asked,

''I know you are upset, baby. So just tell me, maybe I can help?''

.

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Samantha looked at her as she drank the water from the glass Khushi offered to her, and calmed down a bit, before saying,

''It is about my cousin Trisha. She is in a very bad condition. My uncle and aunt, meaning her parents are getting divorced and she's not able to take it. Her mom is going to remarry since she is in love with someone else and her father couldn't care less, so they took a mutual decision to separate. Me and my cousin are very close, so I just can't take it that she's suffering so much.''

.

.

Khushi heard her words patiently as she thought about it herself and when she saw Samantha relax a bit, she said in a soft voice,

''Sammy, I can understand. It's indeed a very sensitive situation and your cousin needs you the most. Why don't you take an off and go visit her?''

Samantha looked at Khushi as she heard her and said, ''I want to, Khushi. Believe me I want to. And her place is barely four hours away.''

''Then what's the problem?''

Khushi asked.

Samantha looked at her hands for some seconds before lifting her gaze and saying, ''Thing is, I don't know what to say to her, you know. I mean, I am the wrong person to give solutions for this. It is not that my family is very happy too, you know. My parents keep fighting, my sister and I hardly talk. Just that it doesn't affect me much anymore since I have stopped paying heed. So, I am the wrong person to go console her at this moment.''

.

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Khushi took a deep breath as she got her chair closer to Samantha's and taking her hand in hers, finally spoke with conviction.

''You are presuming things about yourself, Sammy.''

Samantha looked at her instantly as she said that, and waited for her to continue, and when Khushi knew she had Samantha's complete attention, she averred,

''You will be selfish if you think about whether you are the right or wrong person to give your thoughts about this issue. That's not for you to decide. You are Trisha's cousin and at this moment, she needs you. Let this be about her and not about yourself. Let her decide, if what you say, what you do to console her or support her through this, is good or bad.''

.

.

Although her words were quite blatant, they did begin to make sense for Samantha.

As the impact of her sentences began to sink in, she understood that she was actually being selfish and hence, she really did need to think this from another angle, the one that Khushi presented, since this was actually not about her, but about Trisha.

And so, with a lingering ray of hope and faint smile, she replied, ''Thanks Khushi. You have the answer to everything.''

Khushi reciprocated that smile, only tad bit wider, as she answered, ''I know.''

She waited for Samantha to cheer up and that happened too, when suddenly she heard Samantha ask her, ''Can you do me another favour, Khushi?''

Khushi instantly nodded as she said in a whisper, ''Anything.''

.

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Samantha smiled at her in gratitude and asked, ''I honestly don't know what to say to her. Divorces and stuff, you know. Please help me?''

.

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Khushi looked on with a thoughtful face as she analyzed the situation and said, ''Well, honestly, even I don't know anything about divorces and separations, because I have an extremely happy family and I hate anything that's related to separation, however..''

Samantha listened to her patiently as Khushi continued, ''However, if I were to give my opinion then I believe, you cannot and you should not force two people who aren't in love with each other to stay together.''

''I mean, though my parents love each other like anything, if I were in a situation where my parents were staying together just for my sake, when in reality they just wanted to separate, I would feel like I am being too selfish to make them do something against their will just because I want them to do it. Everyone deserves a second chance at life, and everyone had the right to find love. Not all marriages can be happy, right? And if you know that you are in love with someone else, yet you stay in the house with someone you don't love, just making a compromise, won't it be cheating? And cheating on anybody is a sin!''

.

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Samantha was left awestruck at that theory coming from Khushi and it was only after a good 10 seconds that the true meaning behind those words began sinking in her mind, making complete sense as she now had a good idea of what she could actually explain to her cousin Trisha.

Although for a first reading, the words were brutally honest, but wasn't it the truth of life?

We expect people to be honest with each other, and that's what they should be, be it about feelings of love, indifference or hatred.

As much as two people need to confess if they are in love with each other, they also need to confess when they are not in love with each other.

Sometimes, confessions do make life easy, since if people followed it religiously, nobody would be required to cheat on their partners or spouses.

And here, Trisha's parents were mutual about them falling out of love and hence, they did deserve a second chance at life.

Samantha flashed Khushi a smile, this time a lot more wider than before, while Khushi's face too lit up seeing the gloom go away from her friend's face.

''Thanks Khushi. You are simply amazing! I don't know how you do what you do, but you really are the princess of joy, dear. You are really amazing.''

She truly thanked Khushi while the latter smiled in returned, whispering a soft, ''You are welcome'' to Samantha.

Samantha was indeed clear-headed now, since she learnt a different dynamic of handling and seeing relationships today and she thoroughly understood it.

But there was one person at this moment, who had heard this angle to the dynamics of relationships come out of Khushi's mouth as well, and for a change, neither did he buy it nor he understood it.

He resented it.

For it was everything that came like a salt on his fresh wounds.

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''MISS GUPTA!''

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The loud echo of ASR's voice made everyone on that floor alert as a recently smiling Khushi suddenly became shocked and turned to look at Arnav standing right behind her, his hand holding the red file that contained her designs.

She gulped as she studied his face, his features reflecting in its entirety the anger that was bubbling inside him, though she had no clue, where was this coming from, because the last thing she knew, her designs couldn't be that bad.

Everyone looked at the sight of a raging ASR and murmured among themselves, while Kartika came to Khushi's defense looking at her petite figure all shivering with the impact of ASR's dangerous voice.

Kartika stood right next to Khushi while the latter looked with bated breath at ASR, who was as usual in his no-nonsense mood, and nobody had an answer to what could have possibly gone so wrong that ASR was in such a foul mood.

.

.

''You love lecturing people a lot on relationships, right? Too much philosophy in there to be stored inside that little brain of yours, isn't it?''

He mocked while Khushi's heart thudded hearing such blatant insulting words from him come her way.

''I'll tell you what? It's time you can go and open a Philosophy coaching or something, because Miss. GUPTA''

He stressed on her last name, making her shiver all the more, and the next thing she saw, completely caught her off guard, as he threw the file containing her designs on one side of the room, and barked,

''These designs are RUBBISH! You hear me?''

Khushi was hell shocked at the vitriolic words that he threw at her so brutally, not caring of the fact that they were surrounded by so many people, paying no heed to the fact that he was outright insulting her.

''You, Miss. Gupta, are incompetent. So, if you don't want to hear some more words of appreciation from me, you can leave.''

He said sarcastically before shooting her one last look as he turned back and lashed out from the area, heading towards his cabin in quick long strides, letting the brunt of all the frustration go away as he felt exonerated giving it back to that chit of a girl who time and again rubbed salt on his wounds and reminded him of his vulnerability.

.

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As everyone looked at the fair, petite, and now utterly humiliated girl, Khushi couldn't control the tears brimming in her eyes, and she was far too gone to escape the violent surge of emotions as she broke down completely, the devastating, deadly sound of his voice ringing in her head constantly.

The words resonated inside her head frequently, as her tears knew no bounds.

Incompetent

Rubbish

Leave

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This was the first time she had felt so humiliated, broken, so pushed to nothingness in life, and nothing could console her.

Not even Kartika, who held her hand tightly in hers, and tried repeatedly to make her relax, but Khushi couldn't take it anymore.

With one final look at everyone in the office, she rushed to her desk, collected her handbag and cell phone, and without wasting another second, she ran away from there as fast as she could, leaving behind a full crowd of tongue-tied people.

**