25.

                                    

                                          
With that smile which was not leaving Teja's face, she got a call from her mother.
"Did you come back home?" Teja's mom asked.
"Yes . Almost half an hour ago , Karan, Kirti di and jiju were also here. We had icecream and it was too delicious. Anyways how was your chat with aunty."
"Yeah it was good, really humble people."
"They are" Teja said with surety.
"You are coming back this month right, I hope that you booked your tickets."
"Yes I did. The flight is at midnight on 30th."
"Good.
Teju should I shop for you for the family function or you will do it yourself once you come back. I was thinking that you will have really less time before the function so I will buy the outfit."
"No need mom, anyways I am not going to wear something that grand. I will buy for myself."
"You are not going to wear a saree." Her mom asked.
"Why will I."
"Teju beta, I will talk directly to the point. People will see you, they ask me about you, about your marriage. We already got many marriage proposals but denied because you asked for time. But now you are going to turn 27 this year and we have to find a family for you. Also the function is of a close relative you can wear a saree , it won't look extra."
"But..mom you know I don't like all this, please." Teja said sadly.
"Okay, you wear whatever you want to, but Teju it's time that you get settled , you get it right."
"Hmm." Teja hummed as she could not say anything more. Her eyes were already getting teary .
"Bye, take care." Teja's mom said.
"Bye mom." Teja somehow managed to say.
As soon as the call ended there was her pic with Karan which se she was seeing before attending the call. Teja just could not control and a tear escaped her eye.
Teja sat on the couch and buried her face in the cushion to stop her sobs.
'' why are you crying Teju, didn't you know that this was going to happen sooner or later. '' Teja said .
A few minutes later she finally calmed down and went to wash her face. Looking in the mirror she said to herself, 
'' One person just cannot come and change the plans I made for myself, I will not let that happen to me. At 27 completing my post graduation and then marrying a guy which my family selects for me . That's it.''
The next morning Teja left for the hospital early. She wanted to keep herself busy and most importantly, away from Karan. 
' I don't know what he feels for me, I don't know what do I feel for him, but one thing is for sure that whatever it is I won't let it move forward. I won't let anything ruin my plan. And I can only do it by distancing myself from him, I need to stay away. ' Teja thought.
.
.
.
The next few days Teja didn't talk to Karan much, she used to reply to his messages and attend his calls but she kept the talks small. 
Karan initially thought that it was because it were the last few days of her internship which kept her busy, but then the distance started bothering him. 
One evening when he was thinking about the same thing he got a call from Ruturaj.
"How are you, all fit for the IPL" Ruturaj asked.
"Yeah." Karan said blankly.
Ruturaj knew that his friend was not fine listening to his voice. As Teja told him about the dinner he decided to ask Karan about it. 
"What happened Karan, Teja didn't show up for the dinner or what."
"No yaar , she came....wait I didn't tell you about it,  did Teja tell you".
"Yes she did. She was really confused that she should come to the dinner or not, also she had some questions regarding you , so she called me."
"What questions."
"She wanted to know that why did you invite her to the dinner. She asked me if you like her. Basically she was stressed and confused. "
"So this is the reason she is ignoring me, she thinks that I like her."
"Do you not" Ruturaj asked. "Actually I think that you guys should talk to each..."
"Bye" Karan said interrupting Ruturaj and ended the call.
From what Ruturaj told Karan he understood that Teja wanted to know about what he feels for her. So he decided to meet her and clear all her confusion. 
It was nine at night and Karan got ready to meet Teja. He reached the living room where his mom and sister were sitting. 
"I am going to meet a friend, I have the keys so you guys sleep and don't wait for me. Bye" Karan said.
Kirti smiled mischievously and said , "All the best brother."
Karan looked at her in shock, shook his head in disbelief and left.
Karan reached Teja's house and rang the doorbell.
"Karan" Teja said with shock seeing Karan at her door. "Is everything alright, what are you doing here this late."
"Umm..can I come in." Karan asked .
"Yes please" Teja said and went in the kitchen to bring him some water.
Teja came back with a glass of water in her hand and saw Karan standing infront of the pin board. Teja suddenly felt guilty of not having him on the board. 
" I will add our pic soon. " Teja said.
"No , no need. Do not do it just to make me happy. Do it when you feel like. "
"And who said that I will do it just to make you happy."
"Teja, it's obvious that I am not as close to you as the people on the board are. Otherwise you would have talked to me directly about your worries rather than talking to our mutual friends." 
Karan saw Teja was clueless so he added, 
"I had a talk with Ruturaj. He said that you had some questions." 
"Ohh, that was almost a week back, and it doesn't even make sense now."
Karan moved towards Teja took the glass of water from her hand, kept it on the table and shortened the distance between them even more.
"Teja, if you think that I didn't notice you distancing yourself from me from the past few days, then you are wrong." 
"No it's no..." Teja tried to defend.
"Shh... I feel it and I know it. "
Teja didn't defend herself more, and looked down.
"If you want to know something from me , please ask. I don't want us to become distant because of any reason, specially when there are only ten days remaining before I leave."
The thing Karan said at the end made Teja instantly look at him. She thought, 
' just end it for once and all. Whatever he would say will anyhow not change anything. '
"I get it that di wanted to meet me, but just because of that inviting me to a family dinner isn't normal to me. I could have talked to di on a call also . "
"So?"
"So why was I invited to a family dinner when it was not that important, afterall I am just a normal friend."
"Maybe you are not just a normal friend." Karan said looking straight into Teja's eyes.
_____________________________________
  Confession 😳....
See you guys next week in a new year..🤍
Happy New year in advance ❤️.....
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