Abhedya reached the college and thanked Maan for dropping him. He rushed to Swarnima's class and saw she was not there. The college was buzzing. Even though the exams were approaching students were more interested in the budding love triangle between the bombshell, the stud and the nerd.
Abhedya's phone was vibrating from a long time. He was walking through the corridor when he saw notifications on his Instagram with captions and tags like '#showdown
#nerdwins
#bombshellblows
#studintrouble
#superfun
#catfight
#funtastic
#hechooseswho
#bitchbabe'

And the list was never-ending. The captions were supported by Swarnima and Adah's song videos which were uploaded. There were numerous comments and the college was now divided into two parts. There were verbal arguments in form of comments and videos. All in all the college now turned into a mini battleground.

Away from all this, the 'golden girl' was busy with her laptop. Abhedya found her sitting under the tree at a far end of the college. He was going in the direction when his friends informed him, that Adah tried to commit suicide. Abhedya was dumbfounded at the information and rushed to the infirmary. Adah was resting on the bed with a bandage on her wrist.

"Why did you do this?" Abhedya asked her in the calmest way possible.

Adah started to cry and said, "I am sorry Abhey. I am so sorry. I didn't mean to say anything to her. She blew things out of proportion. I can't take all the embarrassment and mean words Swarnima said to me. I don't wanna live. Please let me die. Help me die... I can't live like this."

Abhedya did not understand why Adah was accusing Swarnima.

"You don't know Abhey what Swarnima said to her. You cannot let that bitch treat our Adah like that. You have to deal with her." Resham, one of Adah's friend's enlightened Abhedya.

"I don't think Swarnima can say anyone anything so bad that they attempt suicide." Abhedya defended Swarnima.

Adah in a broken voice said, "leave it Resham. I told you there was no point telling Abhey anything. He will take her side only. Just help me die."

Resham came on Adah's side and consoled, "if Abhey can't understand right or wrong it's his fault. You are not doing anything darling. Please calm down. Abhey, you should see this video and then decide."

Resham passed her phone to Abhedya and a video played in which Swarnima and Adah were standing and Swarnima told Adah
"If you have to win your man with your booty and boobs you have already lost the battle."

Abhedya was startled by what he saw. Did Swarnima say what he saw? Coz it was actually mean, rude and a highly derogatory statement to pass.

Adah in her softest tone explained, "Abhey, I know what you think of me. But I have loved you truly. Yes, I did get jealous of her and in a fit of rage said mean things to her. I regret that honestly. When I saw her singing at the open mic I knew she would win. Yes, she did sing well, in fact very well. But that was not the only thing that made her win."
Abhedya looked at her confused, so she continued in the same dramatic tone of her's.
"Abhey don't get me wrong but we all have seen her wearing the same jeans and t-shirts that to in the same colour. Never in any other clothes. She wears those hideous specs. I mean who wear such thick-rimmed glasses nowadays? And, that day... she wore a beautiful LV dress and her hideous specs were replaced with not so hideous glasses. Didn't she do that on purpose? I mean, she did look better that day and therefore got the brownie points.
I, on the other hand, Abhey, am true with what I am. I love dressing up, putting on makeup. I like it when people find me attractive. Is it not part of growing up? I know I am born with a silver spoon just like you and we have always got what we want at a snap of our fingers. You at least understand me Abhey.
The way she insulted me I don't think anyone deserves that. People are looking at me like I am some whore who drops her clothes to get a man." Adah started to wail.
Abhedya patted her shoulder to soothe her and she, in turn, hugged him holding his waist.

Abhedya didn't resist because the words Adah said stuck in his brain. Did Swarnima dress up on purpose? If she had confidence in herself she should have come like she normally does. Besides what she said to Adah was substandard.

Abhedya and Adah were in a comforting hug when Swarnima entered the infirmary. She knocked on the door and lowered her eyes.
Abhedya wanted to break the hug but Adah clutched him tighter and shed some more tears.
"Adah Ma'am I..."
"No need to apologise Swarnima because what you said I can never forget. You spoiled my image, my character. You know my father is one of the most reputed people in the state and my image affects his image too. Please leave."

Adah cut Swarnima from finishing her statement and asked her to leave. She was rejoicing from within on her victory. She was successful in implanting doubts in Abhedya's mind.

Swarnima left from there and Abhedya hated it. 'She should have said something in her defence. Maybe she is guilty? Or maybe she is like that 'careless'. She is least bothered about her image and other's image too. Huh! And she wants to rule the state.'

Abhedya sat on the stool next to Adah and pacified her, "ummmm... Adah, look what happened was not correct, but what you did was not correct as well. Please take care of yourself and... I can't promise love to you coz I no longer believe in it. But we can try and be friends. Get well soon."

Abhedya came out of the infirmary and started to search for Swarnima. Finding her nowhere he called her. She picked up his phone and before she could say anything he ordered her, "meet me at the cycle parking, NOW."

Abhedya went to the cycle parking and found Swarnima already waiting there.
God!! Why did his heartbeat always increase whenever she was near. But now was not the time to be all lovesick. It was time for some serious explanations. He instructed his brain to act accordingly and went to where she was standing.

"Care to explain what happened between you and Adah?" Abhedya directly asked the question.

"Care to explain the situation that was narrated to you?" Swarnima answered in his words.

"Uhhhhhhh!!!!! You know what Adah was right. You are rude and this 'softy' look and voice that you carry with you are all fake. Why did you wear that LV dress on the night of the performance? You looked extremely beautiful that night. Why did you take all the pain to dress up that day? Just to get brownie points for your performance? You sing so fantastically. Did you not have confidence in yourself that your singing alone would make you win? Such a hypocrite you are!! On one hand, you preach that if someone has to like you they should like you the way you are and on the other hand, you do the opposite.
Wow!! You have grown up to be a perfect ruler Nim... doing something, saying something.
What you commented on her was very derogatory. Now explain yourself." Abhedya breathed out. He vented out whatever was inside him.

Swarnima looked at him for a few seconds then asked, "Is that how rulers are supposed to behave?"

Abhedya blinked his eyes in astonishment and shouted, "UNBELIEVABLE! That is the only thing you grasped? You know what until this morning I was sorry for my behaviour last night. I thought I said the worst possible things to you and genuinely wanted to mend things and apologise to you. I wanted to make efforts to make you open up yourself and accept feelings and exhibit emotions. But you are emotionless and no one can help you.
You have not once tried to mend things between us. I said keep distance from me and you did. I showed my anger and you said you won't cross your boundaries." Abhedya held Swarnima from her shoulders now and continued, "Tell me does it not affect you at all when I don't address you with the name I did?
Tell me does it not affect you when I talk all rude to you? Because the girl I knew would shed tears even if I told her NO in the sweetest possible way."

Abhedya stopped saying and looked directly into Swarnima's eyes and remembered an incident...

"ABY, please... I want to play with dolls. Please play with your football later on."
"SONA, please just five minutes more and then we will play with your doll."
"ABY, it will be her sleeping time then. She is not eating help me make her eat. Be a good father to her."
"SONA, please just five minutes and then like a good father I will make her eat. Just five minutes."
"ABY are you coming now or not?"
"NO"
"Sure?"
"Yes! It's a NO"
and with that 'no' little Swarnima started to cry and complained, "you lied to me. You don't love me. When Mumma calls papa he immediately comes. But you only love your football."
"SONA, please don't cry. I can't see your tears. Your tears pain my heart. Sorry! I will play with you now. Okay, which doll is troubling 'my doll'.
Little Swarnima smiled and pointed at one of her dolls.

Abhedya came out of his thoughts and asserted, "you know what I hate the current you. The careless, emotionless and feelingless YOU. And YOU DONT DESERVE ANYTHING. NEITHER MY FRIENDSHIP AND DEFINITELY NOT MY LOVE.
Maan has pledged already that he will help you find the 'right guy'. Good luck!! It was a 'Pleasure' having you back!!"

Abhedya had pain written all over his face.
Yes he was mean
Yes he was rude
Yes he was inconsiderate. But Swarnima's lack of explanations, emotions and feelings were hurting him beyond repair now.

Abhedya left Swarnima's shoulders but did not stop looking into her eyes. He wanted to hear something from her.

"I am sorry to turn into flesh and bones with no emotion and feelings.
I am sorry if you found the words I said to Adah ma'am inappropriate.
I am sorry to turn into a hypocrite.
I am sorry for not being able to win your friendship back.
I am sorry for not being able to grow up the way you wanted me to." Swarnima completed the list of sorry she thought she owed to Abhedya.

"You know what just..." Abhedya took a deep breath and continued, "you have any idea what I have felt all these years? It is pain!! Do you know what pain is? It is missing someone for years."

Swarnima took her cycle turned her back and corrected Abhedya, "pain is not missing someone but not being able to tell them how much you missed them."

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Dear Readers
Adah's plan of implanting doubts in Abhedya's mind worked. And like a fool Abhedya gave a thought to those thoughts. But, he is getting restless now because Swarnima refuses to give him any sort of explanations.
But the words Swarnima said in the last do they indicate that she was after all not emotionless?

Pain is a peril in the life of lovers.
How they overcome and win over the pain is what makes every love story unique and special and the pain bearable and pure.
Stay hooked
Lots of love!