CHAPTER - 3

It has been hours I have been waiting for her here, but there was no news coming from them. Each minute passing, tension increased in me and I was more and more scared to near death.

This reminded me of that one day, when she got to fear the same way for me. And when all started.

All happened few weeks following the proposal. I was trying to turn off my depressed mood, since Naina was not even calculating me whenever we used to cross each other in the college, and I had also decided to let her free.

Mid-semester exams were finally over, and mostly everyone was more available to enjoy their free moment. I heard through Kajal, that Naina went back to her hometown to spend her long weekend with her family and that she came back to Delhi on Monday evening only. I stayed back in Delhi not even able to enjoy my holiday time with my own family in Jaipur. I knew I wouldn't be enjoying, but thinking a lot more about her.

'Beta, why didn't you come to Jaipur ? It was your long weekend period right, after exams ?', I had to face my mother's complaints.
'Mah, I am sorry. I just had so much work to finish here...'
'Give your attention only on your work, yeah right. You must try to handle your schedules and take some time to breathe, and also to come and join us.', I hated when she sounded sad, but I was unable to do anything.
'Mah, why are you still talking sweetly to your laadla ?', I hears Kunal bhai's anger snatching the phone from her. 'Oe stupid! Do you still remember that you have a family in Jaipur or not ?'
'Bhai, please stop shouting on the phone, I hear you well.', he literally wanted me to become deaf, that's how loud he yells in anger.
'Oh really ? Then hear me well, your brother is cursing you.'
'UFF Bhai, you're such a drama queen.', I chuckled and sensed the surroundings calming down slowly there.
'Same to you. Now stop hiding the fact that you remained there because you were still upset about that girl.'
'Bhai, mah..'
'Don't worry I am alone, in my room.', I sighed in relief.
'Bhai, I am just confused totally. I don't know what to do.', as always I shared my sorrows with my all-time life mentor.
'Chill bro, nothing to worry. Just wait for the correct moment. If your feelings are true and pure then you will get its fruit. And well as per the way you proposed her, poor girl, she might have felt so shy and embarrassed.'
'Shut up bhai.', why does he always have to tease me advising ?
'Alright cool cool! Now listen. Don't stress much about this, everything needs the perfect time to happen. So don't spoil your studies thinking too much. Once with me : breathe in...', along with my brother, I also did the little treatment. '...and breathe out!', I heard his loud exhaling tone.
'Thanks bhai! Feeling so much better now.'
'I know, it always works. Nowadays even Daadu is applying that more often. Do you know what ? He looks much younger thanks to my fitness program.'
'Aww missing him.', I just missed my family so much hearing him right now.
'Will share it with him, and all the others also.'
'That's why I love you. Anyways I want to sleep now, feeling quite tired.'
'Alright! Take rest. Miss you too.'
'Pass my hello to everyone.'
'No worries.', I hung the call.

Talking to my brother used to bring a smile each time I was not in my jovial mood. He was not only my elder brother, but my best friend, my mentor, and just like a father figure since childhood. He never allowed papa to scold me, and used to take his name for each of my small mistakes. I would have never been the one I am if he was not with me. He was my everything.

Back to college. It was around 8am, and I was getting towards the parking lot before joining my boys' team. It was an early morning with dawn's fresh air remaining here and there. The weather was perfect and mood-pepping, and we boys enjoyed chilling and talking.

I discretely turned my head to look towards the gate, as I perfectly knew it was the time Naina usually enters in. She was there, walking in with her two pals, as usual talking and laughing. She looked so pretty in her kurtis, it used to shape her beautiful figure and made her look so much younger. She was certainly not the one who would get half-dressed like most of the girls here, just to seduce any man. My girl always used to be simple yet adorable.

She suddenly noticed us and, she slowing her walk, the beautiful curve on her face became a straight line. I turned back firm to leave her in her space.

'I am going to classroom guys.'

I walked away, leaving them look at the girls, while Naina still looked and followed me with her eyes.

'Naina, Karan never wanted to hurt you.', Rahul defended me and Naina looked at him. 'He just...'
'I know he won't hurt me.', she confirmed it. 'He.. he...'
'Yes, he does love you so much, that he actually ignores you because he knows you wouldn't want to see him.', Preet continued.
'Are you trying to make me feel bad ?'
'No, just make you realise how much he does for you.', Kajal held my shoulder to comfort me.
'You know it very well why.'
'We are not asking you to return the love Naina. We know you don't do it willingly. But we just can't see him like this.', Gautam concluded.

Naina walked away leaving the friends behind, silent to all the questions.

'What to do now ?', Preet looked at the others.
'We do need to make them talk to each other.', Gautam announced.
'Guys! Relax. Everything will be fine.', Shakti calmed down the atmosphere.
'I think he is right. We just need to give them more time to think and solve the issue.', Kajal agreed to Shakti's view.
'Hopefully it happens soon. They deserve to be together, they look sooo cute.'
'I know right. Such cuties!', the two girls adored loudly.
'Girls!!'
'What?!', guys laughed at the girls' reaction.

Naina walked in lost in her thoughts when she, to her bad luck, bumped into one strange girl group.

'Look who is here !'

Naina believed not to give a damn and tried to go away.

'Hey! Where are you going girl ?', Ruchi blocked the way.
'Now what do you want ?'
'Oh oh, madam looks very angry.', here comes Mamta, the right hand. 'Ruchi, do you think we have to waste our time talking to her ?'
'Of course Mamta. In fact, this is the perfect time to tease Nainaji.', third wheel Priya.
'I feel sorry if you get actually so bored coming to college, but I have some much more important work to do than wasting my time with you. So if you would please excuse me..', Naina fired back.
'Important work! Such as ?'

Naina sighed.

'Oh... maybe following the most popular guy of the college !', Ruchi started walking around Naina. 'Of course, what could be more important ?'

'Mind your ton..', she turned back to Ruchi who was standing behind her and smirking.
'What! Getting upset hearing the truth ? I even heard that you were the one who first noticed him.', Naina looked back straight.

Naina was burning wishing to slap her tight but ... something stopped her and she calmed down.

'Listen, I have nothing to do with this, and I don't even care what you all might think. I know the actual fact and I don't need anyone else's judgement.', Naina tried a lot to finish the discussion.

But the loud conversation again gathered the entire college, and everyone was just focused on their unnecessary fight. Naina was ready to go when their interpellation again stopped her.

'Do you really think Karan could even have an eye on you ? You are seriously not even that worth darling, especially not for him. Cant you even realize the status gap you both have ?', Ruchi walked back to her starting point.

Naina controlled to her level best her tears not to come out, listening to her harsh and insulting words. Talking about status meant talking about her family. And anyone talking about her family was something she never afforded. But she still didn't want to create a fuss calming herself.

'What do you think of yourself ? That you will get any guy in the world ? And that too with your looks ? Have you ever seen yourself on the mirror ?', Ruchi was willingly hurting her and Naina was already aware.
"I could ask you the same question, but I am not that cheap sweetheart.', she finally roared a little, once her heart was more relaxed. 'Don't even try to raise your finger at me. If you keep talking nonsense with me, then you better not expect me to remain quiet. And don't you dare talk about my family. Because they have nothing to do with this.', she neared her slowly pointing her index at her in warning.

Naina was to go and turning back, fell on their huge audience. She moved from there, lately followed by Kajal and Preet, and slowly the crowd disposed.

'Stupid girl! Advising me as if a downmarket would change my life.', Ruchi smirked.

They went away laughing, unaware some were still listening to them.

'Karan?', Shakti looked surprised at me standing there among the audience.
'Karan, let's go. There is no need to talk to them.', Gautam told me.
'Didn't you see how she was talking to Naina ? Attention seekers!', I shouted.

'Exactly. They just need attention. Now leave it, we need to reach the classroom.', Shakti put his hand on my shoulder and they took out the heavy anger from me.

The entire day was a flop, both hers and mine. I couldn't even meet her till late in the afternoon, and explain that she should not mind whatever Ruchi said.

She was waiting at the bus stop and I neared her when she noticed me and just ignored me.

'Naina, I am...'

She irked and suddenly stepped forward.

'Rickshaw!'

She waved at the coming auto rickshaw not even taking an effort to look at me.

'Naina, I am really...', I didn't want to leave my chances.
'Why are you asking sorry ? You didn't do anything.', she told looking at me with a fake convincing smile.

Words might tell so, but her tone and mood meant the actual opposite.

'Whatever she said was indeed stu...'

'Just leave me Karan! I want to forget everything. I don't want to go back home remembering all of this. So please, leave me alone, and stop following me from now.', my Naina was really hurt, and that too because of me.

She got into the vehicle alone, while Kajal and Preet exchanged looks, gazing at both of us.

'Are you guys coming or you are going to stay here ?', Naina's voice loudly asked them.
'I...'
'Leave it! See you.', Kajal's hesitating voice gave her the answer and she sat back straight in the rickshaw.

And she left the place in the three-wheeler alone, me stepping towards the road, not leaving my eyes off her going. She was angry because of me, and I couldn't afford it. But I still kept making her life a hell unwillingly. Why can't everything go well ?

I was quite deeply lost in my thoughts that I forgot what I was doing and ...

'KARAAAAAAN!'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

End of Chapter 3

Share your views in the comment section, and if you like it, then color the little star in orange.

© a shrucreationsx' pen work