Aditi's POV

"Go ahead." I stirred my coffee feeling truly intrigued.

"Well, my boss. Vladimir Rys. He's looking for a photographer and I showed him your gallery..." Akash trailed off. I smiled wider than I ever have before.

"So. Are you interested?" Akash got straight to the point.

"No, she's not." Shubman gritted his teeth and placed a hand above mine.

What the-

I snatched my hand away and glared at him, Akash frowned looking at the two of us.

"I'm delighted. When do I start?" I answered the completely opposite of Shubman's likings.

"I'll email you." Akash grinned and paused. "You didn't change your email address did you?"

"No, I didn't." I shook my head smiling.

Gods! An opportunity to work with THE Vladimir Rys. Duh! I'm not going to pass this up! I stood up and started to walk with Akash.

"I'll talk to you later Shub." I smiled at Shubman. I was on cloud nine, but even then I understood that I'd hurt him.

"I'm sorry, it's my dream." I sighed, Akash apologized for crashing our date. No matter how much I insisted it wasn't a date, he was fixated on the idea.

"Would you be willing to travel to Australia?" Akash asked randomly.

"Yeah." I shrugged and toyed with my coat strings.

"Great! I'll see you at the Gabba. Flight ticket details will be emailed." Akash winked and rushed off.

That bastard-

"Ugh!" I huffed under my breath and made my way to the apartment. I saw Paul standing there. I shifted on my feet awkwardly.

"Look at you! All grown up..." Paul seemed melancholy as he spoke.

"We received an email from Mr.Rys." Deepika sighed and shifted in her wheelchair.

She managed to recover from the accident but was still on a probation period. It was a delicate state where she needed to be taken care of... or otherwise. She came home just yesterday from her hospital stay.

"I don't have to go-" I started but was cut off by Paul's bewildered snort.

"Are you kidding me! Of course, you should go!" He threw his hands in the air. "For Pete's sake, it's Vladimir Rys! Aditiria Roy. You are going." Paul slammed his hand on the desk. He never, I repeat never, used my full first name.

Aditiria.

(By the way, it's pronounced ADD-E-T-RIA)

The only person who'd ever called me that was my mom. To hear it once more was a slightly painful experience but it brought me to reality.

"When's the flight?" Deepika asked in a soft tone.

"Three days from now." A very upset Jenny sniffled. I'd grown to love my step-sister. Honestly, I thought she might be like that Cinderella step-sister.

"I'm going to be just a phone call away Jen." I bopped her on the nose.

"Well. We need a farewell party." Asha snorted and rolled her eyes.

"No need-" I started but it was too late.

Family Meeting Dispersed.

Mission Party is a go (Much to my sadness)

I wandered into the storage room to look at my old photos. I noticed that there was a box on the way top. I hadn't noticed it before. Standing on my toes I reached out for it.

No luck.

Then it tilted and fell on me. At first, it was just a rain of dust and a painful hit on the head. I mumbled an ow and began to notice the box's contents. They were childhood photos of me. The first one I picked up was a photo of me jumping in the air. My face was covered in fear, and Shubman snickering. The next photo involved me beating up Shubman. I laughed softly to myself as the memory came back to me.

***

"Ahh!" I screamed. Shubman had snuck up on me and scared the life out of me. Shubman was clutching his side laughing.

"Hasso! Kitna khushi! (Laugh! How much joy!)" I snorted and took off my sandal. Shubman's eyes widened as he realized what I would do. I chased him around.

"Arey please! Maaf karo! (Arrey please! Forgive me!)" Shubman pleaded as he leaped over a trash can.

"Never!" I hissed. In the end, we were both exhausted.

"I promise I won't leave you." He told me firmly.

"Kya? Tho Three Idiots ka Amir Khan heh? Yeh Dialogue spoute karke. (What? Are you the three idiots Amir Khan? Spouting Dialogues.)" I snorted.

****

My tears slipped down my cheek.

"You did leave me." I sighed to myself. "It's my turn to leave."

The next two days were a blur in time.

"Come on!" Asha hissed. "You're going to be late for your flight.". I lugged the heavy suitcase out of the trunk. Deepika couldn't come, because of her condition. Paul voted to stay back, he didn't want to cry. Jenny, well, she wouldn't even talk to me. A car pulled up next to the cab that we'd taken. The door creaked open to show Shubman.

Shit!

I ducked immediately, hoping that he hadn't spotted me. I yanked Akanksha's wrist, she too crumpled and fell next to me. She winced when she landed on her bum.

"What's wrong?" She nursed her wounded backside.

"Shubman," I whispered to her. The cab driver looked at us oddly but didn't say anything.

"I'll distract. You run for it." Akanksha decided and stood up. She sashayed over to Shubman.

"What do you want?" She sneered and winked at me. Shubman didn't notice the latter or me. I bolted with my suitcase into the airport. Shubman noticed this although.

"Aditi!" He called out for me.

Nope! I sprinted as fast as I could with my suitcase. Sadly, that cricketing pain in my neck was faster than me. He had a tight grip on my wrist. He pulled me toward him.

"What do you want!" I grumbled and looked away from his pleading eyes.

"Aditi. Please." He held my chin and tilted it toward him. I looked into his begging eyes.

"Why are you leaving me?" He placed his thumb on my cheek. Every fiber of me wanted to kiss him right then and there. But something stopped me.

"I... Shubman... I got an internship..." I trailed off unable to meet his loving gaze. Shubman leaned forward toward me, I found my eyes closing.

"Babe!" A shrill voice called out. I turned around saw Suhana. I felt my blood boil. Shubman winced.

"Sweetheart! There you are." Suhana rushed forward and pushed me away from Shubman. She leaned forward. And. Freaking. Kissed. Him.

Not on the cheek. Nope. But Full on the lips.

"Ugh, I missed you so much! Sara still won't believe that we're dating." Suhana gushed. I felt something inside me snap. But something more delicate too. Shubman pushed Suhana away. He held my hand was about to say something.

"Don't touch me," I told him harshly and pulled my hand away. I turned around, grabbing my suitcase.

"Australian Airways are now boarding." The voice on the loudspeaker announced. I made my way to the gate.

"Aditi." Shubman sighed. I ignored him and sped up.

"Aditi!" He ran toward me and grabbed my hand.

"Was that your plan?" I laughed bitterly, my voice was shaky.

"What are you talking about Aditi?" Shubman frowned. I pushed him away.

"Making me fall for you and then breaking my heart. All. Over. Again?" I felt tears slipping down my cheek. Shubman was surprised, for a split second he seemed to be blissful. Of course, he would be happy with me being heartbroken.

"For once I thought you changed. I thought that you..." My nostrils flared and my voice cracked.

"Baby! You coming?" Suhana's shrill voice called out.

"Your girlfriends calling." I put my anger and hatred into the three words. But I had three more for him.

"This isn't new to you. But I'll say it anyway." I started to walk away from him.

"I hate you."

And for the first time, I didn't look back. 

****
How was that and what was ur reaction?

Don't kill me

~ Ria