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Chapter 2

Seher's pov;

As Mayank sat in his luxurious car and drove away, I couldn't tear my eyes away from him. I watched until he disappeared from my sight, taking with him everything I held dear. With a heavy heart, I made my way back to my house, hoping to find solace within its walls.

When my aunt Ashwini opened the door, she greeted me with warmth, unaware of the turmoil that consumed me. I managed a mirthless smile in response and silently entered the living room without uttering a word.

Seeing my sadness, her concern grew. "What happened, baby? Why are you so sad?" she asked, her voice filled with genuine worry. Unable to hold back my emotions any longer, I rushed towards her and embraced her tightly, burying my face in her shoulder as tears streamed down my face.

“Oh Seher, you're scaring me, please stop crying bacha(dear)” Ashi Ma, my father's younger sister, gently patted my back as tears streamed down my face. It felt like a warm embrace, a motherly gesture that brought me some solace.

"He... he... he... came back, Ashi Ma!" I managed to utter between sobs. The mention of his name sent shivers down my spine, reopening wounds I thought had healed.

Ashi Ma's eyes widened in surprise, her face reflecting a mix of concern and disbelief. She knew the history between Mayank and me, the pain and heartache I had endured. But she didn't want to push me further, instead choosing to offer her support in the gentlest way possible.

"Bacha, please don't cry," she pleaded, her voice filled with compassion. Her words were like a soothing balm, a reminder that I wasn't alone in this turmoil. She wanted to shield me from the pain, to wipe away my tears and bring back the smile I had lost.

As I continued to cry, my sobs echoing in the room, Ashi Ma's heart went out to me. She knew the depth of my emotions, the fear and vulnerability that Mayank's return had stirred within me. She longed to take away my pain, to make everything right again.

At that moment, I felt a mixture of gratitude and anguish. Gratitude for Ashi Ma's unwavering support and love, and anguish for the unexpected reappearance of the person who had caused me so much hurt.

I sobbed uncontrollably as I uttered the words, “He came back” Ashi ma, taken aback, asked with a mix of shock and disbelief, “Who?” My heart was heavy, I whispered, “Mayank” The weight of his name hung in the air as she struggled to process the news. “But he left five years ago when you…” Her voice trailed off, not wanting to reopen old wounds. It was a moment filled with raw emotions, a flood of memories crashing over us.

"Alright! It's alright now. Stop crying now and tell me what really happened,"She said, gently wiping away my tears with her thumb and caressing my cheeks.

"Where did you meet him?" She asked, my curiosity piqued as I tried to understand the situation.

"His company is going to partner with my company," I replied, my voice filled with a mix of fear and uncertainty.

"What? You're going to work in that company?" She exclaimed, her surprise evident as she abruptly stood up from the couch.

"No need, Ashi ma. He already fired me," I explained, my voice tinged with a hint of sadness.

At that moment, a wave of concern washed over her. The room felt heavy with the weight of uncertainty, and I couldn't help but worry about future consequences.

As Ashi ma asked me if he had told me anything, her voice carried a hint of suspicion. I hesitated for a moment before responding, "No... nothing," my voice filled with reluctance.

"I didn't let him meet me, so he didn't say anything," I explained, my words laced with a tinge of guilt. I lied because I didn't want to upset her even more. She was already upset when she heard about it.

Ashi ma's concern overflowed as she reassured me, "Don't think too much about it, go and freshen up. I'll heat up the food for you."

"I have no appetite, I just want to rest," I replied, my voice weary and drained.

"But Seher," she began, only to be interrupted by my plea. "Please, Ashi Ma, I just want to rest," I pleaded, retreating to my room and closing the door behind me.

Sitting on the floor, my back pressed against the door, I couldn't hold back the tears any longer. I hugged my knees tightly, my body shaking with sobs. The room echoed with the sound of my heartache.

"I'm sorry, Mayanak... I... am... sorry," I whispered through my tears. "Please don't hate me. The pain of seeing… hatred in your eyes is unbearable." The words spilled out, a desperate plea for forgiveness.

In that moment, I felt the weight of my emotions overpowering me, and I couldn't help but surrender to the flood of tears.

In the evening;

I slowly woke up, realizing that I had fallen asleep on the floor while crying. As I got up, I made my way to the bathroom, splashing a small amount of water on my face. Looking at myself in the mirror, I noticed my eyes were turning red from all the tears.

Feeling the need to wash away the pain, I decided to take a long shower. The water cascaded over me, but my thoughts couldn't escape him. The tears started flowing again, mixing with the water as I cried in the solitude of the bathroom.

Returning to my room, I retrieved a box from my closet and sat on the bed. This was the shirt that Mayank had wanted to give me on my birthday. With anticipation, I opened the box and carefully pulled out the white shirt that we had both designed. Holding it in my hands, I stared at it for a while, a bittersweet smile forming on my face, tears welling up in my eyes.

Wearing his shirt had always brought me solace whenever I missed him or felt down. It was a way to feel close to him, even when he wasn't around. Slipping into his shirt, I closed my eyes, a single tear escaping from the corner of my eye as I got lost in the memories of our time together.

Flashback;

"Mayank, how much longer until you finish my painting? My back is starting to ache," I said, my frustration evident in my voice. It felt like he was taking forever.

"Just a few more minutes," he replied, his voice filled with anticipation.

"Enough already! Let me see," I demanded, standing up from the creaky wooden chair.

"No...no, just wait. It's not ready yet," he pleaded, attempting to hide the painting from my view.

"Let me have a look, you nerdy boy!" I exclaimed, my impatience getting the best of me.

"No...Seher, please stop," he pleaded, still keeping the painting hidden behind his back.

We found ourselves running around the college garden, a playful chase between us.

"So you won't let me see, huh?" I teased, a mischievous glint in my eyes.

"It's not like that. It's not finished yet, and I don't want you to see it incomplete," he explained, still trying to shield the painting from me.

"Alright, fine!" I relented, taking a step back to give him the chance to reveal it. As he let out a sigh of relief, I turned to face him and started tickling him.

His laughter filled the air, causing him to lose his grip on the paper. I swiftly snatched it from his grasp and ran away.

"Seher, stop right there!" he called out from behind, his voice a mix of amusement and determination.

"Take it if you can!" I shouted back, feeling a surge of excitement. I came to a stop when I noticed Mayank had ceased chasing me. I shot him a challenging look, daring him to mess with me, and playfully flicked my hair from behind.

My frustration grew as I laid my eyes on the painting. "What the hell is this, Mayank? Do I really look like this?" I yelled at him, my anger boiling over. He responded with an adorable pout.

"I'm sorry, Seher, but it looks cute," he said playfully, trying to diffuse the tension.

"Cute, huh? It looks like something out of a cartoon!" I retorted, my voice filled with exasperation.

He couldn't help but burst into laughter, his amusement contagious.

"Let me teach you a lesson," I declared, grabbing the liquid color box and wetting my hand with a vibrant shade of red.

"No...no no no no, Seher," he pleaded in a defeated voice, knowing what was coming.

I couldn't help but be amused by his reaction as I sprinted towards him. He tried to flee, but his attempts were in vain. With a mischievous grin, I pushed my color-smeared hand against his pristine white silk shirt, causing him to stumble and fall to the ground.

I couldn't contain my laughter as he lay there, a colorful mess.

“Hahaha, look at you!" I couldn't help but burst into laughter at the sight of us covered in paint. But then, without wasting a moment, Mayank sprang up and chased after me. I tried my best to escape, but he caught me in no time and playfully painted my face.

"How dare you, nerdy boy!" I exclaimed, retaliating by painting his face right back. I practically hid his white plain shirt under layers of colorful streaks.

“It looks even more beautiful now, doesn't it?" I teased him, unable to contain my laughter. He made a funny face and nodded in agreement. I couldn't help but laugh at his reaction when his beloved white shirt was transformed, all thanks to me.

Secretly, I wrote, "I love you MAYANK" amidst the chaos of colors.

"What are you up to, Seher? Stop, it's almost completely painted now," he said, sounding a bit concerned.

"Oh, nothing, just giving it the finishing touch," I chuckled mischievously.

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