"Parth now eat food, just one morsel"Arpita spoke out sweetly to Parth who was unable to eat anything even after his parent's final rites.

"I am not hungry, Arpita just leave me alone" Parth spoke out melancholy.

"Hmm...if you won't eat food, then I too won't eat anything" Arpita spoke out.

"Please eat food and leave me alone. Nothing is making sense to me now," Parth spoke, teary-eyed.

"Okay... I am going, but you repent it later when you will miss me," Arpita said before leaving Parth alone.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Class today I am giving you all, an assignment to complete, get it done by tomorrow morning" Vardhan sir spoke.

"Sir, these questions are tough to solve, how will we solve it in just a day?"Vidushi questioned.

"I will assign partners in alphabetical order. Two people will work on one assignment sheet," Vardhan replied.

Randhir and Sanyukta got paired alphabetically, while Jiggi and Kaustuki got teamed with Kaustuki.

On the other, Vidushi and Parth got paired up together.

"We will have to work all night to get it done. Let's sit in the library and get it finished on time," Jiggi suggested.

Sanyukta,Randhir and Kaustuki agreed in unison.

"Can I and Parth join you all in the library?" Vidushi asked enthusiastically.

"Yeah sure but stay 10 feet apart from us" Randhir replied sarcastically.

"Yeah, I can't tolerate the stench of Randhir's armpits. God knows how Sanyukta handles his odor," Vidushi smirked and laughed, thinking it to be the best joke.

Her laugh soon faded as she noticed all of them glaring at her. Randhir would probably punch Vidushi in her face if Sanyukta wasn't holding him back.

"Randhir's armpits are better than your stinky socks and feet. Stop sniffing around like a b*tch and use your brain to study Vidushi Kumar" Sanyukta shot back.

The group then went to the library after lunch. By evening, only half of the work got completed. Everyone again sat at the library after having supper.

Sanyukta and Randhir kept arguing about which method was best to solve the questions.

While Kaustuki and Jignesh were puzzled by the questions, trying to search answers in the books they had.

Parth sat determinant to solve the problems despite the ogles he got from Vidushi who staring him continuously.

"Stop staring me and help in solving the assignment" Parth spoke in annoyance.

"Assignments are crap, Parth let's get to know each other better" Vidushi spoke as she placed her hand on Parth's hand.

"Don't touch me Vidushi" Parth exclaimed.

"Parth don't tell me that you are a Gay!" Vidushi exclaimed and gave him a horrified look.

"Shut up! Get this crap done on your own now" Parth spoke out loudly before storming out of the library.

The librarian gave a dirty look at Sanyukta and others present in the graveyard of books, I mean library. Everyone heard the exchange of feisty words between Parth and Vidushi.

Sanyukta looked at Randhir who was fast asleep. He could beat anyone if a sleeping contest got conducted, even if dinosaurs came to attack, Randhir would sleep peacefully.

Sanyukta solved and rest of the questions and completed the assignment.

She then tried to shake up Randhir who didn't wake up but snored louder than before.

Sanyukta smiled at the sleeping figure of Randhir before heading back towards the hostel.

On her way back, she got reminded of Parth. Henceforth, Sanyukta thought to check upon Parth.

She realized Parth's room door was already open. She peeped inside to see an angry Parth.

Wrathfully, he was punching the wall, his knuckles bleeding.

Sanyukta rushed towards him," Parth stop hurting yourself!".

Parth's eyes were red, veins popping on his forehead in anger, he looked like an erupting volcano.

"Sanyukta go away, leave me alone!".

Sanyukta spoke out," Okay... I am going, but you will regret for sending me back and not sharing your thoughts with me".

As these words escaped from Sanyukta's mouth, Parth's face paled. He looked in astonishment,Sanyukta was speaking the same words spoken to him by Arpita.

His rage got replaced by agony, changing his aggression into tears.

He sat on his bed blankly, tears dripping on his face. He closed his as to remember Arpita's image in his mind.

Sanyukta sat next to him and placed her hand on his shoulder reassuringly,"Parth you are my friend, and can share anything with me freely".

Parth opened his eyes, he searched for Honesty in Sanyukta's intention. When he got satisfied that Sanyukta was being an honest and helpful friend. He narrated his tale with a tsunami of tears falling on his anguished face.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Arpita left the room as instructed by Parth. The latter slept while shedding tears.

Parth woke up next day, he thought to visit Arpita. He found her house had a big lock on the door.

He called Arpita, her phone went switched off. Furthermore, he then called her parent's contact only to find it unreachable.

An ominous feeling clutched his heart. He didn't have any other to contact them, neither he had contact of their relatives to know about their whereabouts.

Hours passed swiftly, making more anxious. He noticed her parents returning, their face filled with terror.

He rushed to them," Uncle, Is everything alright? Where is Arpita?".

"We couldn't find her in the room, this morning. Later we got a ransom call. We went to the police for help," Arpita's father spoke, breaking down into tears.

This Parth's mobile rang from a call of unknown number. He picked it up quickly," Parth help me!" exclaimed Arpita before the call disconnected.

Parth tried to call again on that number, only to find it unreachable.

"How much money are demanding, uncle?" Parth asked worriedly.

"They are asking for our orphanage's land for returning Arpita. We can't give it to the kidnappers otherwise where will the orphans live," Arpita's spoke remorsefully.

Parth felt helpless, he just couldn't do anything to save Arpita. Her words keep ringing in his ears whole night.

Next day came the worst news, Arpita was murdered by the kidnappers. Not only that, she was tortured and raped before getting mercilessly.

Arpita's parents lost everything they had, alas their only daughter died.

Parth on the other hand, couldn't believe that Arpita was dead. Police retrieved Arpita's mortal remains, her funeral got over with weeping parents and relatives.

Arpita's parents left the house, which was now haunting them. Before leaving they handed Parth a piece of paper, Probably, a letter written by Arpita.

𝙳𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝙿𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚑,
𝙸 𝚠𝚒𝚜𝚑 𝙸 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚙𝚊𝚒𝚗. 𝙸 𝚌𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚛𝚘𝚘𝚖 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚞𝚛𝚐𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚍 𝚎𝚗𝚐𝚞𝚕𝚏𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚎𝚛𝚢.

𝙿𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚑 𝚛𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚖𝚢 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚊 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚎 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚠𝚑𝚘𝚖 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚜𝚊𝚍𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚊𝚜 𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚕.

𝙿𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚑 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚙𝚎𝚘𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚐𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚢 𝚏𝚊𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚙𝚑𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝙸 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚎𝚛𝚟𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚜 𝚜𝚎𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚗𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝.

𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚜𝚎 𝚙𝚎𝚘𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚊𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚘𝚛𝚙𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚊𝚐𝚎'𝚜 𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚍, 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚖𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚖 𝚖𝚢 𝚏𝚊𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚢 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙸 𝚊𝚖 𝚜𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚍.

𝚆𝚑𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚕𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚙 𝚖𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚎.

𝙿𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚑 𝙸 𝚋𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚟𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎, 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚔𝚎𝚎𝚙 𝚜𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚢 𝚟𝚒𝚋𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚘𝚗𝚎. 𝙸 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚘 𝚖𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝙿𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚑 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚒𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚗𝚎𝚛.

𝚈𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎
𝙰𝚛𝚙𝚒𝚝𝚊

The police soon caught all the culprits, they were extortionists and goons of land mafia. A big racket got exposed at the expense of Arpita's life. She died tragically, but her death exposed the Mafia and saved many innocent lives.

As Parth finished his story, Sanyukta was in tears. She consoled Parth by giving him a hug. The latter too cried like a baby on Sanyukta's shoulder, releasing the pain and burden he was carrying for the last 3 years on his soul.

Parth's past life has been cracked open, showing his tragic past. Sanyukta too understood that Parth was searching Arpita in her when he kissed her passionately. That night in Mussoorie he was not in his senses, he was imagining Arpita in Sanyukta. He was giving love to his beloved Arpita not his best friend Sanyukta.

Love is blind, it's beautiful we know, but love stories can be tragic too. Parth was unable to forget Arpita and her love, he just couldn't move on in his life.Sanyukta smiled through tears when Parth showed her Arpita's photo." She was angelic" Sanyukta complimented as she looked at the late 18 yr old teen's photograph.

Parth's mysterious past gets revealed. Will Parth come out of his shell and lead a peaceful life? Are more difficulties still awaiting him, or will he find a peaceful, happy self again? Stay tuned to know more.