It had been a turbulent week for Pallavi Khuranna this far. Her situation could be mildly compared to a small area destroyed in a blast, leaving it empty. Now the workers were working to rebuild that place again. Such was the relationship between Adhvik and Pallavi.

It was like a new beginning for them. Adhvik didn't talk to her as much as before but he did talk. He didn't joke as much, Pallavi noticed. It was as if he was still proceeding his conversations with caution. It angered her but she couldn't do anything but slide it for now. She had to be patient.

It was one fine morning. Pallavi had just settled down in her desk when she noticed Adhvik returning from his conversation with Hyoung, wheezing.

“Hyoung says we'll have to do N10 again.”

“N10,” Pallavi rolled the name from her lips, until her eyes widened in realization. “You mean the first model I documented after I joined? But why?”

“Exactly but this time it's N10—” Adhvik paused dramatically, exaggerating the pronounciation of the next word,
“Argentiiiina!”

“Strange, I heard about Korea, Vietnam, Philippines... Argentina is a first.” Pallavi tapped her chin in thought. The countries she mentioned where places where Xiaomi products were shipped sometimes. Either that or they were manufactured using the blueprint from the Mansur branch of that country.

Just then, Pallavi noticed Adhvik typing Argentina on the empty box of Google Images. Without thinking twice, she slide herself with the chair entering his cubicle. Adhvik shifted slightly to the right to give her space.

“I'm trying to find the answer myself.” Adhvik answered her unvoiced question. When the page displayed an array of pictures of Argentina, her eyes twinkled at one picture she recognized clearly.

“Oh, so Rio de Janeiro is in Argentina?”

“Rio ne jaane diya? (Hindi rhyme)” Adhvik mispronounced.

Pallavi deadpanned at him before magnifying the picture. It was a gigantic statue of Jesus Christ, standing on top of a mountain, overlooking the city with its arms spread wide. “The statue is of Christ, the Redeemer in Rio De Janeiro. Oh, and it's not in Argentina but Brazil. Anyway, it's one of the seven Wonders of the world. I mean just look at this. Ah, I wanna go there right now!”

“Just how many places you want to go? You already mentioned Paris, New Zealand, Egypt, Korea, and a dozen of others. Sorry to break your bubble but you need to be loaded with cash to go there.”

Pallavi's eyes crinkled as she clicked on another landscape like picture. “When you look at these pictures, it looks like a different world in each place. Several worlds within one. What's life without exploring the world? I don't care how much money it takes, I'll visit them anyhow.”

Adhvik and Pallavi spent the next few minutes in travelling Argentina through the pictures. They explored Buenos Aires — the European stylised capital of the country, then the marvelous Tores Del national park of waterfalls and glaciers. There were some more pictures of colonial sites, mountains, and football stadiums from the country. They voiced out their thoughts about each as they proceeded.

“These are beautiful...” Adhvik commented, staring at the picture of a mountainous area. “But you'll find them in India, too.”

“Yeah, some of them.” Pallavi corrected. “What about you though? Don't you wanna step outside India?”

“Of course. I want to visit atleast two- three countries in my life. But before that I want to explore India.”

“Yeah, cos' India is unlike any other. I get it.” When Adhvik questioned her sarcasm, Pallavi continued with a sigh. “I mean I know our country is diverse and there are many beautiful places to visit, especially historical monuments but that doesn't mean the world outside isn't special. You won't find Egypt anywhere else.”

“Talking about monuments, do you know Kailasa temple of Ellora Caves?” Adhvik paused to search the pictures of the same on Google images. “It's one of the extremely rare monuments that's been built from top to bottom. They cut down a hill to build that thing. Even the architects of today will find difficulty carving that.”

“Oh.”

“See, I'm not undermining Egypt or other countries. They are unique that's why they are popular around the world. But I feel like some of us forget about the diversity of India. We look outside so much that we forget to peek inside our own house and locality. Other countries are great but so is ours. Also, you don't need a Visa to travel to any state. It's easily accessible.”

“Hmm, that is true.”

Just then, Hyoung approached their seat to hand out a pendrive to Adhvik containing some files regarding N10 Argentina. Pallavi took that cue to end their conversation as she shifted to her seat. Hyoung then told her to take the pendrive later on to make pehs regarding the same.

That day, Pallavi resumed her work with a smile on her face. That was one heartfelt conversation she had with Adhvik after an excruciatingly long time.

* * *

Guess she was happy too soon.

Don't get her wrong, she was more than grateful to be on talking terms with Adhvik.

What she loathed was the distance. Imagine flirting and holding hands with a guy for almost two months, only to be forced to put an abrupt stop to it. Just like that.

They no longer flirted. Didn't hold hands. Didn't hi-five. Didn't whisper things in their ears. Didn't make a non- veg or any kind of suggestive joke. Didn't message after office. Didn't... Just how many didn't will I add to break Pallavi's heart? You get the drill. It had been ten days now.

Once upon a time Adhvik used to brush past Pallavi deliberately (with her standing) during the times he wanted to exit the cubicle section. They took advantage of the lack of space between the wall behind them and their cubicle. Now he would simply tell her to step aside to let him pass by. She recalled how he told her to push herself closer to the table so he could have enough space to walk by. Tulsi had commented something about the lack of space for him.

“Nope, not enough. I need to create more distance between us.” Adhvik stated cheekily and got away before Pallavi could punch him in the gut. That was the only time he voiced out something related to what was happening. This son of a bitch.

It was the smallest things that hurt the most and this was just one example. Pallavi could give you several. Like during lunch when Adhvik used to take a morsel from Pallavi's lunch sometimes. She didn't mind it of course. While returning from lunch, he would either push or roll the chair she was sitting on as an indication to give away his seat. It was playful. And now? Now he just sat on her seat and left only when she did.

It was torture and it seemed like it was here to stay. Especially when Pallavi was still going to see him everyday. She could totally imagine herself swinging on a ball singing ‘Wrecking ball’ like Miley Cyrus. He wrecked her.

Was Adhvik really standing by what he said about never flirting with her again? Did he not crave her? Did he even possess a dick in the first place? God!

Pallavi even resorted to join an online chatting app obe time. She only wanted to flirt and feel good about it but even when few online guys tried to hit on her, she didn't feel a thing. She uninstalled the app two days later.

Pallavi had it all by the end of the week. She needed a change of pace. Someplace away from all the shit she was dealing with. Luckily, she had a perfect arrangement this weekend. It was something pending for a long time.

* * * *

“Namaste Uncle, Namasthe Aunty,” Pallavi greeted a middle aged couple as she stepped inside an apartment, carrying a small, purple luggage bag.

“Namasthe, beta! It's so nice to see you,” The woman greeted back with a warm smile, barely reaching Pallavi's shoulder as she embraced her. Hence they exchanged their pleasantries.

Pallavi swiveled her gaze across the living room as she sat on the beige sofas. Her eyes were naturally drawn to the golden wallpaper, adorning a part of the cream walls. A huge colorful painting hung in the middle while the corners were covered by shelves with showpieces. She thanked the middle aged lady as she returned from the kitchen with a glass of water.

“Come on, let's head to my room,” Aradhana Bhawani spoke from behind, taking Pallavi's bag away. Pallavi flashed a smile to Mrs Bhawani before heading to her daughter's room. A weekend sleepover at her college best friend's house sounded like a perfect escapism.

Delhi was known for its small apartments, despite being the capital of India. The spacious ones were overpriced as hell, making it difficult for an ordinary family to afford it. Bhawani's apartment was no different either. It was structured rather oddly with their living room acting as a mid point of a straight line. The left side led to a kitchen and Aradhana's room while the right side led to two other rooms, each with an attached bathroom.
Still it was a pretty decent apartment with an attractive exterior.

Aradhana and Pallavi took their sweet time catching up with each other's lives as they chatted away. Mrs Bhawani stopped by Aradhana's room for sometime to join the chat. She asked about Pallavi plans of  getting married. Mrs Bhawani was sweet and mature but marriage was the last thing Pallavi wanted to hear about. It's like marriage was all that was left in a woman's life once she hit her mid twenties in India. Aradhana flashed an apologetic smile, motioning her to bear with it.

“Forget about marriage and engagement, let's talk about office. Any hot guys, crushes, new gossip?” Aradhana asked, casually. Meanwhile she showed a photo of a hot, dark, dashing guy she was friends with. Somehow she got the best looking people. If only Pallavi could say the same about her office.

“There was one crush...” Pallavi admitted shyly, after a while stopping Aradhana's rambling midway.

“I'm listening...”

Pallavi's eyes lit up like a child. “Do you know we held hands? I held hands with a guy. We must have held it for like twenty times. We had late night conversations, smoked and drank alcohol together. Never done that with a guy before.
And he called me beautiful once. He said I'm cute too... Though I don't know if he meant it anymore. Also, he—”

“Hold up, P. Just hold up.” Aradhana cut her off, raising her hands before Pallavi could lose her breath by rambling. Her face scrunched a bit as she recalled something. “Is this the same chap who hit on you towards the beginning of your job?”

“The very same— Adhvik Dhawan.” Pallavi nodded violently then mumbled to herself, deciding from where she should start telling her story.

“Ohoo~ Pallavi madam got a lurrve interest! We should tell Saumya. The end of the world is near.” Aradhana said as if she was serious, then pretended to wipe fake tears. “Ah, I feel like a Mumma who finally heard the words ‘Mummy’ out her child's mouth.”

Pallavi rolled her eyes. “Drama queen. There's nothing to rejoice though. We don't flirt anymore. It's over... Oh no, I should start from the beginning.”

Aradhana laid her back on the bed rest, getting comfortable. “Go change in your pyjamas and then tell your story. You are going to stay till Sunday. We have plenty of time, babes.”

So Pallavi did just that and then summarised the events of this book from chapter six to chapter twenty four. It would have been easier if she just made Aradhana read the chapters but this book didn't exist back then.

“Man, that bloke did you dirty. Where's his photo by the way? I wanna see it.”

“Seriously?” Pallavi deadpanned. “That's all you have to say after all that Ramayan I told you.” (in this case Ramayan means story)

“Okay, if you wanna know then there's one thing I noticed,” Aradhana trailed off, seeming deep in thought. Pallavi urged her to continue, “It's just a hunch you see... Take a particular movie for example. The movie was good but you loved the hell out of it. You loved it so much that you'll go inside the theater to watch it again. It was a masterpiece to you but in reality, it was mediocre at best.”

“Explain without the metaphors, Aradhana.”

Aradhana sighed, “What I mean is the image you have of him for you. You put so much effort and meaning into all his actions and emotions. I bet you watched him like a hawk, waiting for one indication to prove your point that he likes you. Like suppose he's thinking about some cricket match he saw while absentmindedly looking at you but of course, you took it another way. Your mind played games with you, babes.”

“So he's not into me?” Pallavi questioned, her voice frail. “But what about all the words he said, all that flirting? Why take an interest in me in the first place?”

“I'm not saying he's innocent. I'm not taking his side but you should know people flirt for no reason. Just because he's flirting doesn't mean he's into you. That's how the world is.”

Pallavi took Aradhana's words in epiphany. Was this why she thought Adhvik liked her because she glorified their moments out of proportion? Was love a lie? She was starting to feel betrayed by her own mind. The hope in her heart had already waned at this point but she still felt a glimmer burning inside.

“He must like me, just a little...”

Aradhana placed her hands on Pallavi's shoulders, making her look into Aradhana's sincere eyes. “Remember this Pallu, as long as a person doesn't confess to you from his own mouth, he doesn't like you. None of your interpretations or his actions will mean anything. They are all zero if he doesn't say it. If he likes you— he will say it.”

A tear rolled down Pallavi's cheek as Aradhana's cut- throat words hit her like a truck. It was as if she was forced upon this reality that her heart refused to face. She quickly rubbed her eyes, silently agreeing with Aradhana.

Aradhana gave her an assuring pat. “I know this hurts, dear. I know because I've been betrayed by my own thoughts, too. Just not in your way.”

“It seems like I'll remain single until marriage.” Pallavi admitted with her head hung low.

Despite that, Pallavi was internally glad. This was one of the reasons amongst others why she visited Aradhana. Aradhana was a veteran when it came to romance having experienced one sided, two sided and failed relationships. No one could interpret this better than her. No one could advice it better than her. If Dilip Kumar was crowned as the tragedy king, then Aradhana should be crowned as the tragedy queen.

And it seemed like Aradhana's own quest to romance was far from over.

“I have something to tell you,” Aradhana announced while she was with Saumya on video call. They called Saumya to make her jealous at the fact that they were together while also reconnecting with each other. Meanwhile, they teased about Pallavi's almost love life and only let Pallavi go after they insisted her to show Adhvik's photo. Aradhana took a deep breath, grimacing for some reason. “Don't get mad at me but I've been talking and seeing Saurabh for the past two months.”

“WHAT?!” Both Pallavi and Saumya screamed flabbergasted. In case your memory rusted with time, then let me remind you that Saurabh was a guy whose love story with Aradhana started over the peculiar arrangement of laundry in the ‘Prologue’ of this story. Also known as Aradhana's mastikhor (fun loving) boyfriend from her college days.

Then, what about that character I introduced as Aradhana's second boyfriend in chapter three? If you mean the cool and collected Harshid Pallavi met during her jobless days, then that Harshid already broke up with Aradhana several months ago due to their religious differences. He was married to a Christian girl now. Talk about moving on.

If you thought the last few chapters of this book were dramatic, wait until you heard about Aradhana's love life. It was as hot and happening as Aunties trending gossips. Moving on.

“You think this is a good idea? Did you forget how messy your breakup was? You failed up three subjects in your 6th semester because of Saurabh,” Pallavi reminded Aradhana after she was done talking to Saumya. Leave it upto Pallavi to throw up advices like a true love guru, despite being far from it.

“I know, I know,” Aradhana replied defeated, “But Saurabh has been trying so hard ever since he came back from Dubai. He apologized over and over again, begging me to take him back. Years have passed still his heart aches for me. I miss him, too. He says he can't imagine marrying anyone other than me.”

“Marriage?! Oi, oi, where are you going with this? Are you sure? What about the men your parents have been searching for?”

Aradhana lied down her bed, curling her legs, “I'm tired, Pallu. I'm tired of the whole getting- to- know- a- new- guy process. Know about him, tell about myself, show my vulnerability to them only to get betrayed by something or the other again. First with that abusive bastard, then Saurabh, then Harshid. I'm sick of it. I never wanted this. How will the new guy see me when he knows about it, huh? That I'm a slut who has slept with three men.”

“For the love of God, Aradhana, that doesn't make you a slut. Get that shit out of your head already.” Pallavi pointed out for the nth time. “I can understand where you're coming from but I personally think you should get away from all these men who hurt you and choose a fresh start. I know, easier said than done.”

“Saurabh isn't bad. You know that, Pallavi. You've known him personally. He just made a few jarring mistakes and is trying to make up for it. And just so you know, I haven't said yes to his proposal yet.”

All the images of Pallavi travelling with him and Aradhana during her college days flashed before her eyes. No, she didn't want to play favourites yet.

“Hey, you wanna talk to Saurabh right now?” Aradhana's eyes lit up. She didn't even wait for Pallavi's reply as she called his number. Not soon after, Pallavi found herself chatting merrily with Saurabh, falling right into the his friendliness again. Guess Pallavi wasn't the only one who acted irrationally in love. Perhaps it was in the genes of all lovesick girls.

* * *

Pallavi returned home on Sunday evening after spending an exciting time with Aradhana. Her thoughts accompanied her as she lied down on her bed late night, unable to sleep. She reminisced everything everyone had said till now and something else, too. They played like reels in her mind.

He enjoyed a phase with you but backed off when it got too real. If a man liked a woman, he would give no shit to whatever anyone said.

Aren't you being the selfish one? You can't impose your wish on other people. You can't just "feel" something and expect the other person to feel it, too.

As long as a person doesn't confess to you from his own mouth, he doesn't like you. None of your interpretations or his actions will mean anything. If he likes you— he will say it.

And then someone else's words, too.

Don't take this the wrong way.

Nope, I don't like anyone right now.

We are awfully single. We got no one else so we resort to flirt with each other like this.

And that's why I keep telling you, Pallavi— Stop going berserk over this. Stop.

If Adhvik's words to Pallavi could be equated to that of rose petals, then these words were the little thorns in those roses. But Pallavi graciously jumped over these thorns to focus solely on the rose petals.

She had been on cloud nine for far too long. Now that she fell, she could finally see things from the ground level. She realized how she had glorified many of their moments and carved a love story out of it.

It was time to accept what her heart couldn't for all along. It was time to take her residence to the ground.

Adhvik didn't like her.

It was a bittersweet experience but it's time to give up on my crush. Pallavi wrote in her digital diary and eventually slept with tears on her eyes.

* * * *

Chapter dedicated to raima_123
For her gracious support. Thank you!

Overall thoughts. Now that Pallavi accepts it, how do you think the story will proceed from now on? Will there still be a spark between them or should I call out a new male protagonist? Lol!

Not much is happening so I hope these chapters didn't bore you. Vote and comment. Look forward.