It was a Sunday when Nisha, Shatakshi's roommate finally pulled her out of bed.

"Till when are you going to cry over that bastard? Chala gaya na dil tod kr? Tu usse satisfaction kyu de rhi hai ki tu nhi jee skti uske bina? Bhaad mao jaaye saala. You don't have to stop living your life because of that. Get out of bed and start living Shatakshi. Go out and enjoy. Kya hua hai? Ek chutiye se bach gyi tu."

She said and Shatakshi sniffed while nodding and hugged Nisha.

"Thankyou for not leaving."

"Pagal! Get up now. Get ready and go get your art stuff or whatever you call them. You say it's therapy right?"

Shatakshi nodded and decided to go art shopping. Soham, who too had been waiting outside her PG got attentive when he saw her come out of the building.

He had walked behind her silently till the art shop. When she started walking back home, he pretended to accidentally bump into her and then looked at her shocked.

"Arre aap!"

He said and she looked confused. She couldn't recall where she saw this man.

"Umm-I think I saw you somewhere before lekin recall nhi kr paa rhi hu."

She said and Soham got a little deflated. But he continued smiling and said.

"We got that old lady in the hospital. The one who was injured."

Shatakshi remembered what he was talking about.

"Haan! You were the one who helped me. Thank you so much for that day-"

"Soham."

He provided when he saw her struggling to remember his name.

"Since that day, I can't get you out of my mind. Aap jaise log kam hai iss duniya mai aaj. You're very different."

Soham said and Shatakshi's smile fell.

In this muddy and swampy world, you're a lotus. So pure and so pious.

Sriansh had said that to her. Why did she have to remember him?

"Did I say something wrong?"

Soham asked looking at Shatakshi's fallen expressions. She quickly masked it with a smile and said.

"Nhi nhi! I just remembered something."

Soham smiled and nodded.

"Umm -will you have coffee with me?"

He asked and she looked at him shocked.

Chai peeogi mere saath.

Why was she recalling his words again and again. Stupid heart and brain!

"Umm-mai-wo-"

She didn't know how to deny. She had never been good at denying people.

"Please! Please don't say no. It's just a coffee. My treat. As a remark to your kindness. You truly are different Shatakshi."

She sighed. It's just a coffee. She nodded making him smile. She didn't like it much but she couldn't break someone's heart like this. The man seemed genuine.

Even Sriansh seemed genuine to her. She closed her eyes rebuking herself not to remember him again.

Soham took her to the nearest local coffee house and ordered their coffees after asking Shatakshi what she wanted.

They took their cups and stood at a side. Soham grinned at her and Shatakshi smiled weakly.

"Can I say something?"

He asked as they finished their coffees and moved out.

"You've been on my mind since the day I met you. I think I really like you Shatakshi."

She was shocked at the confession. Ok! Now this she can't do. Not when she's just gone through a heartbreak. Not when she still loves someone.

Before she could say something he continued.

"I want to be honest with you. Even though I liked you, I couldn't pursue you. Because I was scared. I had a really bad breakup a few months ago. I-I thought she loved me but my best friend said she was going to breakup with me. Mai bhut sure tha ki wo mujhe chhod kr kahi nhi jaayegi but she did. She broke up with me and left. Without any reasons. So I was scared. There's nothing wrong with you but I just wanted my best friend to meet you once and approve you for me. He did try a few times but shayad wo kabhi mil nhi paaya aap se."

Shatakshi didn't know what to comprehend from this. Something seemed odd here.

"What's your best friend's name?"

"Sriansh."

And there! Now she knew why that asshole said everything he did.

"He did meet me."

She said thinking about something and Soham looked at her surprised.

"Oh-umm-shayad tabhi he didn't stop me when I said I'm going to meet you now. Maybe he did approve you for me. So?"

Shatakshi smiled too sweetly and said.

"I'd like to meet him again. Just thank him for approving me."

She said and Soham nodded happily thinking she had agreed to be with him.

Soham took her the apartment that he and Sriansh shared. He rang the bell and Shatakshi hid behind Soham.

"You're back! Was she not home?"

Oh this man was so going to get one from her. Did he really plan to make him date her?

Soham didn't say anything as they discussed. She said she wanted to surprise him.

Sriansh turned to go inside and Shatakshi got out from behind Soham. Sriansh sprawled on the couch and then Soham spoke up.

"I've got a surprise!"

Sriansh looked at him bored but his expression changed when he saw her. Haa! Take that you asshole! Shatakshi was spitting fire through her eyes.

He stood up and looked at her wide eyed. She walked towards him and slapped his face. Hard! Soham was shocked and Sriansh closed his eyes.

"How dare you! Mujhe khilona samajh rakha hai aapne?"

She pulled his collar and yelled. He looked into her eyes and just listened to her. Letting her let out her pain. The pain he gave her.

"Why did you do all this? Mujhe shuru se sach bta dete na! Why did you have to say all those things and make me fall in love with you only for you to approve me for your best friend. What about my feelings, Sriansh?"

Sriansh had no answer. He knew he was wrong. Soham didn't know how to react.

Sriansh pleaded through his eyes. Asking for forgiveness silently. Shatakshi gritted her teeth and said.

"I hate you! Don't ever, ever show me your face again. And Soham ji, I respect your feelings but I can't do this."

With that she ran out of the apartment leaving the two men frozen there.

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