Mahir drove home in despair, disappointed with himself, how can he just blurt out his feelings like that?

What did I expect Bela, to come and hug me? Why did I hurry? I crossed my limits. I am sure she wouldn't want to continue with our friendship anymore. She was sad, upset I should have comforted her and what did I do? Only increased her stress. I ruined the chance of being her friend.

He directly went to the guest room, as his room was getting renovated. Slumped on his bed recalling how he just ruined their friendship. It was all fine until he spoke about his feelings.

Staring at Bela's picture kept on the side table, he regretted his childish move.
As soon as he closed his burning eyes, the tears threatening to fall finally led their way.

I love you, Bela. I really do. You are precious to me.

"Mahir Ji" He opened his eyes at her call.

"Bela" He quickly ran to her, embracing her in his arms, "I am sorry. I am sorry I made you uncomfortable. Bela... I... I.. Didn't want to do it like that... I... I.. Said" He kept on wiping his stubborn tears with his shirt sleeves.

"Mahir", Andy shook his shoulder and that's when he realized, there was no Bela in his room.

"D... D... Dad. Something went in my eyes. " Mahir turned away but Andy held his hand and dragged him back.

Without asking anything, he just hugged Mahir. Mahir clanged to him and cried like a baby, keeping his head on his shoulder. Sumi stroked his hair softly, looking at Andy helplessly.

They both made him sit on the bed between them. "She doesn't....love me" Mahir whispered answering their unasked question.

Andy just tightened his hold around his shoulder.
"It's okay son. We don't love anyone to get loved back by them. We just love them wholeheartedly." Mahir looked at him and nodded he knew it but at that moment he was just feeling as if a hundred needles were piercing his heart.

"Your feelings are innocent don't blame them" Andy kissed his forehead for the first time without making a yuck face.

"Mahir are you sure it's not a misunderstanding? I always saw love in her eyes. Mahir, she ... " Sumi just stopped right there, realizing she was hurting him more. But she couldn't deny the fact that she always saw adoration for Mahir in Bela's eyes. She saw them both stealing glances at each other and then secretly smiling. She knew there was something brewing between them, she was waiting for them to come to her and tell her but she least expected what was happening in front of her.

She knew Bela as the one who had respect for her client and admiration for her friend. She never saw her taking any advantage of anything. She knew Bela was the one with whom Mahir would fall in love.

"Dad... C... Can I go to London in place of you to handle that meeting? " He asked Andy expectedly.

Andy didn't want to send him in that condition but looking at his face, he knew Mahir wanted some space.
He agreed with him.

Mahir quickly got up and started packing his stuff.

Andy and Sumi looked at each other and sighed. They never wanted to see him like that. He was always a child who kept his feelings to himself. They tried to converse with him but he wouldn't open up. It was only after Andy complained about a bully after he saw him slapping Mahir unnecessarily to his school principal. Since that day Mahir felt secure with Andy, slowly he started conversing with his parents then they realized why he wouldn't speak a word, he was following, "don't tell your parents or teacher otherwise we will beat you more".

Since that day, Ajitabh was always with Mahir, although he was younger than Mahir but he used to beat all his seniors who tried to bully Mahir. Many times Mahir had to drag Ajitabh to stop the fight.

Although they kept protecting Mahir from all the odds, he developed insecurity within himself that he wouldn't be able to do anything on his own. He lost his confidence and fell prey to self-doubt.

"I am leaving ", he bent down to take their blessings.

Both of them kissed his forehead and prayed for his safe journey.

He was about to sit in the car when he thought to call her once again to check if her health was fine. She looked weak to him. He called her only to hear

"She... S... Said he would leave me once he uses me... He would dump me like his clothes as he is a Richie rich and wouldn't wear same cloth again"

His heart broke again.

She thought I will use her?Change her like clothes? She was disgusted by my touch now which explains why she was moving back every time I tried to calm her down. She was my friend first, she thought I am some playboy to use her and then throw her? A Richie Rich playboy?

He wiped his angry tears and sat in the car, he wanted to leave the place as soon as possible.

He entered the airport with his documents and that's when he realized he forgot the most important thing... His passport.

He cursed his clumsy self for being active at the wrong time.

He conveyed the problem to Andy but before Andy could do anything they heard the flight for London taking off.
Andy called him back home. He advised him to rest at home till the next flight.

While exiting, he noticed a familiar figure sitting on the bench outside the Airport, he examined carefully to see Bela sitting there with a gloomy face.

No! How can she be here? I am hallucinating again. This is not possible.

He moved further but every time he kept looking back to see her still sitting there.

Is she for real?

He was waiting for the driver to come and pick him up but his eyes were all on Bela.

Minutes later, She stood up and started walking in his direction with a pale face looking down. She came up to her car which was just beside where Mahir was standing.

She was about to get in her car when her eyes fell on him, she could not believe her eyes, she rubbed her eyes to see clearly and again found him standing there.

She rushed to him "Mahir Ji" She whispered with happy tears in his eyes. He was taken aback by her voice "Bela" He too whispered with surprise.

They squeezed each other in a tight hug, not letting the air pass between them. Feeling each other, inhaling each other's fragrance. Stealing the solace. A soul calming hug was what they needed to relax. They both kept sobbing realizing they were seeing each other for real. It was not a dream but also not any less than that.

"Sir" The driver coughed bringing them out of their blissful world.

That's when it struck in Mahir's mind Richie Rich Playboy.

He withdrew her hand from Bela immediately, not even looking at her properly, he quietly sat in the car.

Bela knew she messed up big time with her unnecessary words. She would have to make it up to him.

She stopped the driver from getting in the car. She passed him her car keys and took his cap from him.

Although he was reluctant with the change, he also knew about the silent love story of them so without uttering a word he followed Bela's words.

Bela sat on the driving seat with a smiling face, " Sorry Mahir Ji, I know I have hurt you real bad but I promise I will make it up to you. I will keep on apologizing until you forgive me " She whispered to herself and started the car for a journey towards a new life. Their new beginning.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Please ignore grammatical mistakes.

Thanks for reading❤.