Chapter 5

<After another year>

*Pia Pov*

“Finally!” I and Nikki said at the same time looking at the certificates in our hands. We are finally the graduates and left the college after looking around for one last time.

“I will stay at your house Pia. I am still emotional that we will not meet every day.” Nikki said looking sadly at me.

“Don’t think about later and get sad Nikki. Think about now that you are a graduate and that is very good thing.” I said smiling.

“Whatever Miss positive!” she said rolling her eyes when we got inside the bus.

“Miss Positive?” I asked her confused.

“Yeah! You are way too much positive in this situation than the remaining.” She replied looking at me.

“You are just negative. I mean we will meet each other frequently right so there is no reason to cry.” I said.

“Anyway there is another reason that I am happy.” I added smiling.

“I know that reason. Arthi told me that Aman is going to come this weekend.” She said and I can see the teasing in her eyes.

“Nope! Don’t start with me. As I told you both I will confess my feelings immediately when he comes back.” I said narrowing my eyes at her.

She grunted and said “You are no fun.”

I laughed and by that time the bus stopped at our destination. We bid our ‘Bye’ to all our bus mates and got down.

When we reached my house I saw that, my parents are sitting in the living room along with Arthi’s parents.

“Good evening!” I said going near them.

“Good evening Pia! We thought you will be home but Suhas told me that you went to bring your certificates.” Uncle said smiling at me.

“Yeah! All the classmates decided to go there at a time and even spend some time until evening after receiving the certificates.” I said smiling back.

“Where is Arthi?” Nikki asked.

“She is back there spending time with her brother.” Aunty said and I suddenly saw shining in her eyes.

“Through internet?” I asked her confused.

“No dear! Don’t you know he came today morning?” Aunty asked even more confused.

“What?” I asked in shock.

Nikki pinched me so that I can compose myself and said “Arthi told us that he will come this weekend.”

“We too thought that. But he came early to surprise us. We spend the whole day with him but now we came here so that he can spend his time with his friends and Arthi.” Uncle said clearing our doubt.

“Ok! We will go and meet him.” Nikki said.

After that she dragged me outside my house and she didn’t even gave me time to put my certificate somewhere safe. All this time I saw what she is doing but I didn’t said anything as I am very nervous.

“Please don’t tell me that you are expecting me to confess to him like right now.” I said when we reached near the door of his house.

“We should never postpone these matters Pia. Just do it and be done with it.” Saying this she opened the door and we both saw him sitting along with his friends in the living room.

At the same time Arthi entered the living room from the kitchen with some snacks on the tray.

“Hey.. Pia! I.. was about to call you.” Arthi said stuttering a little maybe because of the shock.

“I just dragged her here immediately when we got to know that Aman returned.” Nikki said looking at her.

 “Aman! It’s been so long. How are you?” Nikki asked looking at him while I am just staring at him.

“I am fine Nikhila.” He replied smiling.

“Heard that you both are graduates now.” He added looking at both of us.

“Yeah and Pia wants to talk to you.” Nikki said pushing me forward a little.

I looked back and glared at her but she was just showing me ‘Thumb’s up’. I turned towards him to see that he and his friends are looking at me wide eyes.

I cleared my throat and said “Can I talk to you?”

“Sure.” He replied smiling a little.

“In private.” I said making him understand and placed whatever in my hands on the table beside me.

“Just tell him here so that we need not hide behind the doors.” Nikki said laughing making me want to glare at her again so bad.

“You can say anything here Pia.” He said smiling and looks like no one is going to move from here at all. I don’t think it is a bad thing to say infront of there people.

I reluctantly smiled and after taking few breaths I said “I love you Aman.”

He looked at me wide eyed but didn’t said anything. I started fidgeting with my hands and waited for him to say anything like anything.

After few minutes I said “Say something Aman.”

He blinked a few times and said “I am sorry Pia. I can’t return your feelings. I already have a girlfriend.”

“Oh!” That’s all I said and tried my best to just dig a hole beneath me to hide myself.

“What is her name?” I asked looking at him.

I don’t know why I even asked him that question. Maybe for some closure from this situation.

“Uhmm.. Priya! She is actually my classmate.” He replied smiling reluctantly.

“I.. I will leave.” I said turning away from him and saw Nikki looking at me sadly.

I took her hand and dragged her out from the house. Arthi followed us and we both walked to my house in utter silence.

Then looking at Nikki’s hands I remembered that I forgot my certificate there.

“Guys! My certificate is there inside.” I said stopping them from going any further.

“Let’s go and bring it then.” Nikki said turning around.

“I don’t think I can go back there Nikki.” I said looking down.

“No! You are strong Pia and these things happen. We both will be there as a support for you.” Nikki said smiling.

I smiled back or shall I say I tried to smile back and we three again turned to go inside Jaykar’s house.

*Aman Pov*

After Pia left along with Arthi and Nikki, no one said anything. Silence just filled around us and we all are still in our places.

Then I heard Sushant clearing his throat and asked “So you have a girlfriend?”

“And you didn’t tell us?” Dinesh added in accusing tone.

 I rolled my eyes and said “I don’t have any girlfriend.”

“What? But you just told Pia that Priya is your girlfriend.” Rajeev asked confused.

“Priya is just my good friend. When Pia asked my girlfriend’s name I told Priya’s name that’s it.” I replied looking at them.

“But why? Why did you lie to her?” Sushant asked confused.

“So that she can move on and forget the small crush on me.” I replied shrugging.

“What?” we all heard new voice and turned to see Pia standing at the main door along with Arthi and Nikki.

“Pia!” I said shocked because I didn’t want her to know all these.

“What are you saying Aman? Just tell me the truth.” She said coming inside and I can see the pleading in her eyes.

I contemplated to lie again but decided against it and said “I don’t have any girlfriend. I just lied to you.”

“So that I will back off and leave you alone. You could have told me directly?” She said frowning.

“It’s not that! Pia I tried my best for the past four years to make you understand that I don’t have any feelings like that towards you. Ask my friends too that’s what I have been doing for all this time. But you understood so I took this way.” I said explaining to her what I actually wanted.

“Wait! You know about this all the time? Even your friends?” she asked and looked at us wide eyed.

Did I slipped and told her that? I shouldn’t have but it happened so I can’t do anything about it.

“Pia! The change in your behavior just made me get few doubts and they got correct each time. I don’t know to whom I should share them so I told them that’s it.” I said calmly so that she understands the reason behind my sharing of this matter.

She closed her eyes and then opened them asking “Then why did you kept on asking about my well being for these past two years?”

“What?” I asked her confused and then heard Arthi gasping.

I ignored that and said “I never asked about you. I didn’t even take your name.”

“But..” she started to say but Arthi stopped her saying “I lied to you Pia.”

We all looked at her in shock. And I saw some hurt on Pia’s face when she asked “Why?”

“So that you will not ignore your feelings towards Bhai and finally realize that you love him.” Arthi replied looking guilty.

“Love? She doesn’t love me Arthi. She just has some crush.” I said looking at her.

“What are you talking about? She loves you so much.” Nikki said standing beside Pia who is looking at me in shock.

“There is nothing wrong to have crush on someone Nikhila. At this age it happens and some mistook it for love.” I said explaining to them.

“I really love you Aman and I didn’t mistook anything. If you are saying that you don’t like me back I will respect that completely. But you can’t label my love as crush and disrespect it. That’s all I am asking.” She said looking at me and I can see the tears falling from her eyes.

“Come on Pia. He is saying right that yours is just a crush then it must be. Don’t talk like he is disrespecting you. Because if he wanted to he could have made fun of you inront of us but he didn’t.” Dinesh said looking at her and I glared at him.

“Aman! Just accept that my feelings are nothing but love towards you. I will not ask for anything else.” Pia said looking at me.

“Sorry Pia! That’s what I feel about them and I can’t change that just for you.” I said looking at her.

Without saying another word Pia again left the house taking the paper she placed on the table with Nikki trailing behind her while Arthi just stood there infront of us with tears falling from her eyes.

“She is angry at me.” Arthi said after few seconds.

“I don’t think so Arthi. She will never take it out on you for whatever happened with me.” I said assuring her.

“I definitely know that. But she must be angry at me for lying and giving her false hopes. I can’t face her again.” Saying this she went towards her room crying.

“I have some work. I am leaving.” Saying this Sushant left.

Rajeev and Dinesh stayed with me for some more time and left as it is getting late. When my parents returned they are totally normal so that means they don’t know anything that happened here.

I returned to my room and started getting ready for bed. I am really sorry Pia. I know I shouldn’t have hurt you but I don’t think I ever saw you other than some friend.

I just hope you will be fine and move on soon atleast now.