Applause filled the auditorium as the play came to an end. Students bowed to the audience before the curtain fell down, and they joined for a group hug, celebrating their success. Their teacher clapped for them as many hooted, while others clapped.

"That was one of the most beautiful performances I've ever seen! Special mention to you both, Gauri and Omkara! While I expected the main leads to stay on people's minds, literally everyone is commenting about the second leads and your performances. I must say, it was incredible."

The teacher went on with praising everyone as few of them started disappearing to the backstage. Gauri and Omkara followed, both of them hurrying to the backstage.

"I almost blacked out!" Omkara said as he sat down and grabbed a bottle of water. Gauri looked at him in concern as she took a seat beside. His breathing grew rapid and he leaned back to ease his spine. "Are you better?" she asked to which he plainly nodded.

"Can you hold my head a bit strongly? It hurts really bad" he asked to which she immediately agreed. A few seconds later, he was back to normal and was smiling at her. She left her hold and sat back. They sat like that, in complete silence, unlike the chaotic environment outside.

"You could've taken rest if you weren't well."

"I didn't want a fever to ruin my hard work of two months."

She shook her head at his reply. When would he learn to take care of himself! "You did a great job there" he said and she smiled. She was about to say something when they were interrupted.

"Omkara!"

Both of their attention went to the door. There stood Ishana, looking worried and almost in tears. "What happened? I heard that you blacked out a few times in the morning. Are you alright?" she bombarded him with questions as she rushed to his side while he simply glared at Gauri.

"Stop glaring at her. So you were planning to hide it from me?" Ishana asked as she sat down. Gauri sighed and did a thumbs-up before she walked out, giving the couple their privacy.

Ishana and Omkara were the most adored couple in the college. Well, 'couple' was a strong word according to Ishana. They were two people who had feelings for each other according to her; Gauri too wished for the same.

Being the kids of best friends, Omkara and Gauri grew up together. Gauri had fallen for the charismatic personality of Omkara during her teenage years. She had too many realisations and breakdowns in the process of finally accepting her feelings for him.

It was then that Omkara proposed to Ishana. Ishana had rejected him stating their differences; he was from an influential family, he was rich while she was someone who wanted a nine to five job and lead a mechanical life.

But as someone said, love doesn't listen to anyone. If you want to move forward, walk the way it has already paved. Omkara only fell deeper for her. Ishana's highly ambitious personality mixed with her simplicity was, for him, the picture perfect.

Gauri never hated these facts. In fact, she was the happiest of all. If she prayed for something, it was for Omkara and Ishana to end up together. She didn't want anyone to find out about her feelings. She hoped, they may go away with time.

As she was walking through the corridor to the next class, she was all of a sudden interrupted by someone who popped in front of her with a bright smile.

"Hey Mon Amour!"

She sighed as she heard. When will he understand!

"Advik, for the nth time, I'm sorry. I can never accept that greeting of yours." She said in the monotone she always used on him. Advik, their batchmate, the ever so cheerful and bubbly guy, had come down on his knees for her.

For everyone, it was the flirty young lad playing with yet another girl. Omkara even went and gave him a warning. But Gauri knew better. Advik was nothing as he portrayed himself to be.

Beneath that flirtatious veil was a boy with high aspirations, a vivid reader with extraordinary writing capabilities. She'd read most of his works. She was the only one who was allowed to that side of his personality.

But she couldn't give him what he expected. He had said everything to her in private when she silently walked away from the grand proposal he pulled out in front of the class. She knew he was sincere. She knew he loved her.

Alas, if the timelines were different!

"I never asked you to reciprocate, did I?" Advik asked with a silly smile. He chuckled as he saw her tired expression. Shaking his head, he took out a book from his bag, and leaned forward to match her height.

"I searched for many things. You won't take a ring. You won't take anything fancy from me. So this was the best option. Perfect for a book lover. Perfect for you."

He said and forwarded the book.

"Happy Birthday Gauri!"

He whispered. Even with all the loud noise, his whisper turned out to be the highest pitch for Gauri. Her eyes filled with tears as she caressed the title.

The Fault In Our Stars

She had once mentioned to him that she would die to get that book. He remembered. He remembered her birthday, one of her silly musings and fulfilled it.

She couldn't manage a thank you. That would be her taking him for granted. How she wished she could make him understand things. As much as she wanted to take away his pain, she couldn't. She was too selfish for that.

Love was such. Cherish or perish; you can't exist in between.

She just looked at him with a smile on her face and tears in her eyes. And for the first time, she accepted his hand for a shake.

"Thank you." It came out in a hoarse tone, filled with too many emotions.

Advik gave her a smile that truly came from the bottom of his heart. "Your performance was amazing by the way!" He said and walked away after patting her cheeks.

She stood there, staring at his disappearing figure, caught up in a million hastened notions and the gravity of emotions pulling her down.

"What's with him?"

She was startled by Omkara's voice. She just shook her head and smiled showing him the book. "Why don't you give him a chance?" He asked as he examined the book.

Because I love you

The voice in her head screamed. She simply shrugged at him and said, "I don't know. I'm not the one for him Om."

"We'll never reach a conclusion on this topic" he said and took something from his bag. "Happy Birthday" he said forwarding the wrapped book towards her.

She opened it and once again, the emotional calamity hit her.

It Ends With Us

The book was nothing like the title; she knew. But the title seemed to hit pretty hard. What was she supposed to do!

"Thank you!"

"Well.. see you at home then! I gotta hurry now. Remember we're reading the first page together!"

He shouted as he walked away. That was a habit they had right from childhood. Whenever any one of them got new books, they read the first page together.

Gauri's eyes switched between the two books as she thought of the two men in her life. One, a man who she wished was her's and other, a man who'd do anything for her to accept that he was her's.

And then there was Ishana. She couldn't even think of hurting that girl. It was better if they continued like this. May be her feelings would go away, and she might grow out of them. She hoped she would.

Her phone beeped with a notification and she looked at it and saw a message from Advik.

Some infinities are bigger than other infinities. And I am thankful for our little infinity.

With a final glance at the books, she walked to the green room to pick up her bag and soon she left. She had things to get done at home.

----------

The party had finally come to an end! She had asked her father not to throw one, but he paid no heed to that. Almost all guests had left. Only a few relatives and Omkara's family were left.

Gauri sat on the couch, staring at the decorations being taken down. She felt the spot beside her sink, and she looked to her side to see Omkara.

"What happened?"

She shook her head with a smile at that.

"It's your birthday silly! Smile na!"

She gave him a brighter smile which he returned. "I told them about Ishana" he said referring to his parents. Gauri felt her heart fall to the pit of her stomach as she heard that.

"And they're happy about it. As long as I'm happy, they don't care about anything else. They just want her to love me sincerely.."

"Which she does."

Gauri completed his sentence though her inner wound ached. They sat there, in complete silence, one in pure happiness while the other in distress.

"Well.. I think it's time for me to leave." He said looking at his parents who were bidding bye to her father. She nodded and stood up and hugged him as he walked towards their parents.

Soon they left, and while leaving, she could see the smile with which he looked at his phone; it was for Ishana.

Gauri sat in her room with two books on her table. She was about to take one of them when her phone beeped with a message.

Sorry, couldn't make it to the party. Now, you look beautiful in that outfit. Yes, I follow your father on instagram.
Well, I know you don't feel anything beyond platonic emotions for me. I can't do anything about that. But I can still love you. And I always will. I only see the girl who held my face in her hands and wiped my tears while I was crumbling.
I see magic in you. Happy Birthday Gauri..

A sad smile bloomed on her face as she saw that it was from Advik. She knew exactly how he felt. To see forever in the eyes of someone who doesn't see the same.

May be this was their fate. To simply love. Without expectations, commitments, disappoints, unnecessary fights. Just love. Never letting the other person know of your pain.

That's love, she thought.

Love, for her, was a wish she told shooting stars or whispered to dandelions. A lone tear ran down her eyes as she settled herself on the bed and closed her eyes as one of Advik's poems ran through her mind.

"In grief and in grace,
My heart will hold on to you.
Albeit you have another name for love,
But mine will always be, has always been,
You."

Hey all! I've updated after so long. I'm not completely back to my regular updates but will try to give one at the soonest.

The title represents the blooms of dandelion which fly away in the breeze just like some unrequited feelings.

Hope y'all liked the story. Do tell me your views.

Thank you for reading.

Stay safe. Be happy.