If you are going to achieve excellence in big things,

you develop the habit in little matters.

Excellence is not an exception,

It is a prevailing attitude.

- Colin Powell

_________________________

Went wrong

Misha's POV

"How do you think I should have reacted?" I questioned, my heart heavy with the weight of the evening's unexpected events.

Karan's gaze bore into me, disappointment evident in his voice as he responded, "I do trust you, but this was too much."

"But..." I began, my words trailing off as he abruptly left the room.

Desperation compelled me to chase after him, but he didn't acknowledge my presence. Instead, he silently retreated to his car and sped away, leaving me standing alone in the pouring rain.

A few hours earlier, our evening had taken a different course. We had arrived at Tanya's home, planning a night's stay after a lively party since there was no college the next day.

The clock had already struck six, prompting us to order pizzas and fries. While Tanya and Clara ventured out for snacks, Karan, Rishabh, and I remained behind to handle other arrangements.

In the living room, Karan and Rishabh engaged in nostalgic childhood conversations, which I found uninteresting. To inject some energy into the room, I cranked up the music, setting off a spontaneous dance session. We laughed, teased, and reveled in the moment, barely noticing Tanya and Clara's return, as they seamlessly joined our impromptu dance party.

Amid the chaos, Tanya and I managed to organize the groceries in the kitchen. When we returned to the living room, our pizzas and fries were ready, accompanied by ketchup and chili flakes.

After relishing our meal, Tanya guided me to her room. The room was painted in a soothing light blue, featuring a king-size bed and a smart TV. A walk-in closet, brimming with designer and everyday clothing, adorned the bathroom.

Tanya's house boasted five bedrooms, a kitchen, and a spacious living room that had been the stage for our earlier dance-off.

As we settled into her room, we delved into the past, sifting through childhood photos. Amid the memories, a particular image seized my attention—a snapshot of me holding my childhood best friend, whom I affectionately nicknamed Piggy due to her round cheeks.

Confusion swept over me. How had this picture found its way here? It was a memento shared only between my bestie and me. I had vivid recollections of my father drunkenly burning this very photograph along with some of my cherished clothes after a dispute over bedtime.

My mind raced as I asked Tanya, "Hey, Mish, can you tell me about this photo?"

Her eyes met mine, filled with sadness. "Oo that! She was my best friend, Buttercup. We used to go to the same school back when I lived in India. But one day, my family had to move abruptly to New York, and I lost touch with her."

Shock rippled through me, and I exclaimed, "Oh, My God! I can't believe this. I didn't imagine meeting you here like this after so many years, Piggy."

Her eyes widened as realization dawned, and she exclaimed, "Don't tell me you are my Buttercup?"

"Yes, I am the one you playfully named when I swiped your sandwich during lunchtime," I replied, tears threatening to escape.

"OMG, don't remind me of that. It was my favorite sandwich, and you just came and ate it without my permission," she said, wrapping me in a warm hug.

We embraced tightly, as if our lives depended on that moment. After breaking the hug, I teased, "Ahhh! I can't believe that my pig has grown up and turned into such a hot and sexy chick."

Her laughter filled the room as she replied, "And I can't believe you're standing here with me after all these years, wearing my favorite clothes."

"God! You're still obsessed with your clothes, Piggy," I remarked with an eye roll.

"Of course, good habits shouldn't change, you know?" she playfully retorted. "But seriously, Mish, I'm so happy to see my Buttercup grow into such a mature woman. I missed you, yrr."

"I missed you too," I admitted with a small, content smile.

Our conversation flowed effortlessly as we delved into our shared history. Tanya recounted her family's move to New York during her high school years, while I shared the trials and tribulations I had faced with my mom and Prisha.

I confided in her about my crush on Karan, the diary that remained unread, and the childhood engagement that still haunted me. She teased me about my fiancé, Karan, and our apparent compatibility.

Time seemed to slip away as we lost ourselves in our reminiscences. It was only when the lights abruptly went out, plunging the house into darkness, that we snapped back to the present.

Tanya voiced her concern, "How can the lights go out like this?"

I offered a plausible explanation, "Maybe it's just a power cut."

"No, Buttercup, my house has power 24/7. This has never happened before. And where are the others? There's no noise coming from downstairs."

"Perhaps we should go check," I suggested. We armed ourselves with the flashlights on our phones and ventured downstairs into the pitch-black house.

As we descended the stairs, the living room lights suddenly flickered to life, revealing an eerie message on the sofa: "Only Misha will come and sit on the sofa."

Tanya whispered, "Maybe Karan has a surprise planned for you."

With a smile, I proceeded cautiously toward the sofa. Thunder rumbled outside, reminding me of my love for rain. My heart raced with anticipation as I sat down, expecting Karan to reveal his surprise.

The TV in front of me sprang to life, displaying a simple but heartfelt message: "I like you." Though the word "like" fell short of my expectations, a grin spread across my face. At least Karan had expressed his feelings.

Suddenly, the entire house lit up, and I heard footsteps approaching from behind. Filled with joy, I leapt from the sofa and turned around, ready to embrace Karan.

But what I saw left me in shock: Rishabh stood there with a broad smile. My smile faded as my eyes widened in disbelief.

Rishabh. It was Rishabh who was standing there. My heart pounded as he took a step toward me, dropping to one knee and saying, "I like you, Misha. Will you be my girlfriend?"

I was too stunned to respond when, out of nowhere, a punch was thrown at Rishabh, causing him to crumple to the floor, blood trickling from his mouth.

"What the hell, Karan?" Clara exclaimed, rushing to Rishabh's side.

Tanya pulled me close as I watched in astonishment. Karan remained stationary, his gaze locked on Rishabh, a simmering anger radiating from him.

Then, Karan glanced back at me, his expression marked by disappointment. Without uttering a word, he walked out of the room, his footsteps receding until they were lost in the distance. I snapped back to reality and ran after him, breaking free from Tanya's grasp.

"Karan, please stop," I pleaded as I chased him.

His voice was strained as he replied, "What is it, Mish? Let's talk some other time. I'm not in a good mood right now."

I gripped his hand to prevent him from leaving, "I know you're angry, but you shouldn't have reacted that way. He's your friend."

His frustration was palpable as he asked, "How do you think I should have reacted?"

"I know it was wrong, but at least you must have trusted me."

"I do trust you, but this was too much," he said, disappointment tainting his voice.

Before I could offer any further explanation, he left, and I watched helplessly as he drove away, leaving me stranded in the pouring rain. Tears streamed down my face as I sat on the doorstep.

This was not how our relationship was supposed to unfold. We had plans to announce our love to everyone. Rishabh was never supposed to develop feelings for me, let alone propose in front of Karan. What would happen next? Was Karan angry with me? Would he ever forgive me? My thoughts spiraled into chaos as I feared losing him, just as I had lost so many loved ones before.

Tanya came to my side, concern etched on her face. She led me inside her house and offered dry clothes as I shivered from the rain. She comforted me until I fell asleep, but my mother's words echoed in my mind: "Keep calm when things don't go according to your expectations! Beautiful things always meet friction."

_______***_______

Special credits to BhumikaBV for the comment on my previous chapter and for helping me with the further story idea.❤️❤️

Thanks for reading

Lots of love

xxx

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