Omkar entered the room and placed his luggage in a corner. Then getting refreshed he sat on the couch and scrolled through his mobile if there was any important message from his office when his mother approached him.

"How are you?" Bhumika asked him.

"Everything is going fine" He stated in one line while checking his mobile maintaining a formal relationship just like he used to do before.

"Umm, Anything else?"

"Means?"

"Your father wanted you to get married, so any plans about it?" Omkar snapped his head.

"What?"

"Yes, as soon as possible. In between these months when you're here" She said making him clench his jaw.

"I'm not interested and if I get married any day that will be of my choice not anyone else's" His words came out clear which made her suspicious a bit.

"Do you like someone?" Bhumika asked him.

His tongue tied and he turned his face away. She gazed at him for sometime and then got up understanding he wasn't comfortable in sharing it. She knew his replies would be formal.

"Okay, then I guess. You should talk to your father about it and both of you decide what do you want" Saying so, she left from there making him sigh.

His thoughts went back to certain someone whom he lost six years ago. He knew it was just a mere attraction from her side for some days but her eyes used to speak different. He wished they could be real but she didn't want it.

"Chasmish"

The nick name rolled out his tongue as he closed his eyes trying to forget those moments with her but it wasn't happening.

~✿~

Niharika was sitting on her chair working on her desktop sitting in the office. After her graduation she collected an on campus job and now she was working there with a decent amount of salary of 8 LPA. She was working when a message popped up on her mobile screen. It was the invitation card of their departmental reunion party which was falling on the same date of Dashami/Dusshera. She sighed, she had no good memories from her college days except him.

Niharika deleted the message and put the phone aside when she got a call from Ritika. She had lost all contacts from all of them. It was just Ritika with whom she used to talk sometimes, just like formal hi, hello.

"Hey, Niharika. Where are you?"

"I'm in my office. I'll be leaving right now"

"Are you coming to the departmental reunion?" Ritika asked hopefully.

Everyone was busy in different cities or states for work purposes, so she also lost contact mostly except Niharika.

"I'm not interested, Ritu"

"Hey, but why?" She questioned her.

"You know why right?" Niharika asked instead.

"Yeah, I know but I'm missing you and above all, I know why you avoid coming to the college events because of Omkar Bhaiya but there's no need to run from him. Everybody knows, he isn't here and is in US. So you're totally safe" Ritika added with assurance as she closed her eyes.

"I'll let you know" Saying so, she cut the call. Then taking the bag she left the office.

Tears were threatening to come out from her eyes which she controlled. Six years weren't small. Everyday she used to think about him and only him.

~✿~

"I'm coming" Niharika sent the reply to Ritika and then slumped on the bed.

A miniscule smile appeared on her lips. Maybe, he had moved on with someone whom he actually deserved, she concluded. He was the best and he deserved the best.

~✿~

Omkar was chewing his food sitting on the dinning when a message popped up on his mobile screen. He was going to check it when Akhil interrupted him.

"Your mother talked with you yesterday. What did you think about it?"

"I'm not interested in marriage now"

"Any reason? You're well established now. So what's stopping you?" Akhil frowned still gulping the food.

"I'm not ready"

"It's not any good reason. Next week you're going with us to meet the girl whom I've chosen for you" Omkar gritted his teeth hearing his father's words.

"I'll marry whom I love not some randomly chosen girl, about whom I know nothing" Saying so, he left the place half eaten.

Then entering into the room, he checked the message. Although he wasn't really interested in this reunion and all but he wanted a distraction from this marriage and all things. He sighed and decided to join.

~✿~

It was the day of their reunion and Niharika got ready in a cotton white saree with a red border as Dashami was also falling in that day and she always loved to wear traditional in this day. She wore red jhumkas paired with a simple pendant.

She entered the venue and searched for Ritika who waved at her. The program was held at a place which was a little much distance from her home that's why she had to take the cab and as usual she felt the crowd of Durga Puja.

After six years she was attending any events like this. He was the one to compliment her on her freshers and after that she never tried to woo anyone. Only he had the rights.

"Lassi or cold drinks?"

"Only tea" Niharika said to Ritika as she brought two cups of tea and sat beside each other talking about random things.

On the other side, Omkar took a glass of cocktail as others looked at him weirdly.

"Bhai aj to ye bachcho ki cheeze chhod aur kuch asli ka pi" (Brother, At least leave all this today and try something raw) He handed him a glass of whisky.

"I've to drive"

"Abbey to humne thode hi na kaha ki pura bottle pi janeko" (Bro, when did we say to gulp the whole bottle)

He shrugged and went away. Omkar looked at it for sometime and then gulped two glasses down at one go in anger to shake off all the frustrations he was feeling right now. He was randomly walking through the hall when his eyes spotted the person just beside him whom he could never forget.

Niharika turned suddenly and her heartbeat stopped for a moment. She glanced at the person from top to bottom who was wearing a black shirt with a grey blazer over it looking handsome as always. It was him, for whom she could do everything, everything.

Her eyes held the same spark getting his single glance which she used to have six years ago.

Omkar was numb for a moment but then realised she was really standing there. She had grown up so much in these six years, before she was a girl but now a woman but somethings were missing. Those eyes which used to reflect with only mischief and craziness were now replaced with unshed tears which her spectacles couldn't cover, those lips which used to have a shy smile while talking with him were now quivering with pain, her face which used to become crimson red colour every time with his effect now it had became totally pale.

"Chasmish"

The name itself rolled out of his tongue raising goosebumps all over her body with his deep voice. Niharika again started losing herself, then came back to reality.

Guessing her move very well Omkar held her wrist tightly before she could make a run. He wanted answers and today he would get it anyhow. Holding her hand he started dragging her outside. 

"Leave my hand, please" She whispered lowly but without caring anything, he took her towards a corner.

"Today I'll leave you only when you'll say me everything with your own mouth" Omkar stated clearly when she turned her head away controlling her tears.

"Was it just a mere attraction for you chasmish? Was it just some moments of distraction? Were your confessions and love all fake? You didn't have any hard feelings for me?"

Her tongue tied and tears fell from her eyes like her answers.

"Say it, Chasmish" He pulled her closer and breathed near her lips.

"I love you and only love you. My love wasn't fake. My feelings and those confessions weren't fake. It wasn't only an attraction, you were the world for me but I'm not the one for you. You and me can never be a match. I have nothing, Om. You deserve the world, you deserve someone better" She paused for a moment as more tears came out of her eyes.

Those insecurities, those laughs, those taunts still haunted her like nothing.

"Kuch bhi khas nehi hai mere pas aur khubsurat to main kabhi thi hi nehi. Jab khudko aine mein dekhti hu to bas kamiyan hi nazar ati hai" (Neither I've anything special in me nor I'm beautiful enough. Whenever I see my face in the mirror, I can only see I'm lacking in everything in comparison with you)

"Kiyun ki tumne kabhi khudko meri nazron se dekha hi nehi" (Because you never try to see yourself with my eyes)

••••

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