"So, how it went with him?" Naira stopped sipping on her coffee when Nayel asked her.

She and Nayel were friends since college but due to lost of commutation they never met, until now as he was in the same country.

She sighed, "What do you expect? I don't know whats wrong with him, he acts like if nothing ever happened. I mean its not that I want him to talk anything about past but atleast he can be a bit sensitive."

"Well, you should've thought about it before signing the deal with him." Nayel stated.

"Yeah but whenever I thought about meeting him I always thought he would be a little nicer and he was nice to me when we met the first day but yesterday in the car, he reminded me of his old self, the same cold Kartik. One thing that isn't changed about him is his selfish nature. He never cared." Naira said with a hint of sadness that she couldn't comprehended.

"Maybe, hes like this because you were the one who walked away and he was the one who tried to stop you. Probably, this thing is giving him the liberty to be the victim." Nayel said.

"How can he be the victim? I had all the reasons to leave and he let me go. He just came and stated a few emotional words and just left. He can't claim that he tried to stop me, he never did." Naira said and Nayel just looked at her.

"Then why are you hurt? I thought you moved on."

"I'm not. And I don't want him back. I'm still trying to move on but that doesn't mean that I want him back. Even if he want I still would never let him come back and hurt me all over again." Naira said.

"Then, why don't you consider me?"

"Nayel, we have talked about this."

"I'm always waiting, you know. I just want to help you to move on and you know that I am capable of doing that." He said and Naira looked at him.

"I can assure you, I'm better than him. He never made you happy but I can and I have and I will." Naira somewhere knew he was right.

She had considered him when Nayel proposed her. He was everything that she ever wanted and he was everything that Kartik wasn't. Nayel had made her smile in times no one ever could.

She smiled at him, "I know. You are a better man than him."

***

It was her first date. Because Kartik never took her out on a date. She never knew how it felt to be prioritised even if its for a day. Nayel made her feel special that Kartik never did, he only made her feel worthless.

She promised herself to never compare Nayel to him. And she felt herself flee away from the cage of his memories. Today she felt she moved on. No bad feeling in the pit but just the hope and excitement to start something new with this man whom she completely adored.

"You've made me the happiest tonight." Nayel said, she laughed.

"You've been saying this to me since we got here." This time Nayel laughed along.

"Just stating the facts." She smiled at him.

She excused herself when she got a call from her father. After attending the call, she went inside. On her way, she collided with Kartik.

"Woah, easy." Kartik said rubbing his forehead. She looked at him, clad in black t shirt and bomber jacket over. No one could beat him in looks and charm.

He raised eyebrows looking at her nervous face.

"What you're doing here?" He asked her.

"Uh, I came here with friends." She said and he nodded. She nervously smiled at him and walked by him.

"I didn't have to lie to him. I should've told him why I was here." She scolded herself, "And why I'm feeling guilty? I shouldn't be guilty, I'm no more bounded to him."

She took a deep breathe and joined Nayel.

"Are you okay?" He asked, she nodded. She didn't want to spoil this night informing him about Kartik.

"Wanna dance?" He asked her, she gladly noded.

Nayel had his hands on her waist and she had her hands on his shoulders. Safe distance maintained between them.

Kartik looked around for Naira. She looked undoubtedly beautiful in the glossy look. He looked at the dining but didn't find her. He looked around the dance section and mostly there were couples dancing. Not having any reason of her being there, he turned towards his friends.

He was talking with his friends when his eyes fell on her dancing with someone. She was laughing having her hands on his shoulders. Kartik's eyes fell on her waist where Nayel had kept his hands.

His chest suddenly felt heavy with rage, but he stood still having no reasons to snatch her away from that guy like once he did. Then she was his now shes not.

The same time Naira looked at Kartik, he was staring her with untold emotions and rage in his eyes. The look on his face reminded her of that day when he looked at her the same way.

"Toh kya maaro gy tum?"
"Jaan se maarun ga."

She felt uncomfortable under his gaze and wrapped her hands around Nayel's neck. That time he was the only one who could provide her comfort. On seeing that, Kartik tore his gaze away.

***

Is it okay if for a while I ship Nayel and Naira?