36.

                                    

                                          
"This is literally the third time I am calling you, Karan pickup the call." She said with fustration.
"Hello." Karan said from the other side.
"I have been calling you since so long, where the hell are you."
"I'm in the mountains di, and I must say this place is literally heaven. It's so peaceful here, I needed this so bad."
"Exactly where are you?" Kirti asked curiously.
"I'm not staying at the same place for long, I started with Manali, then Dharamshala and Mcleodganj and now I'm in Kasol ."
"Why so much of traveling all of a sudden."
"I needed some time off..from everything, so I just took my bag and left just after a few days from the finals. "
"I hope you are enjoying there "
"A lot." Karan said trying to sound happy.
"Did Teja come to the finals."
"Huh?"
"She lives in Mumbai, so did she come to see the match."
"Yes, she did" Karan said in a low voice.
"And did you meet her "
"Yeah."
"And?"
"Nothing, we met , that's it."
"You guys had a flight or what."
' Dude , is my sister an alien ' Karan thought being terrified. 
"No, what made you think that" he said.
"Normally when ever I ask about her you hardly stop talking and today not even a few words. You definitely fought with her , didn't you."
Karan sighed sadly and said "We did not fight but I am not talking to her. I blocked her."
"What! Why?"
"Di you know how I feel for her.. I mean you know that I like her right, but I have realised that we cannot be together and after knowing this being friends with her is difficult for me. 
I just can't keep talking to her when I feel so much, and want more than just friendship when I know that there can't be anything more than friendship.
It's really suffocating."
"Karan what did really happen, why are saying such things. Did you ask her out and she said a no."
' No, she kind of asked me out and then herself said no.' He thought and smiled sadly.
"No di, nothing of that sought happened. But I just want to keep it to myself, I hope you understand."
"I just hope that you are fine Karan." Kirti said with concern.
"I doing good, don't worry."
"Hmm...and what about those articles, I read them a few days back."
"It's not true." Karan said with annoyance.
"I know that. But did you do something to stop them."
"The PR team suggested to let the news die out of its own, so that's why I didn't say anything but if anyone will ask me I will surely tell them the truth."
"Okay, take care and call me whenever you feel like. Bye."
"Bye."
.
.
.
Teja came back from her work and entered her house. Her mom, brother and bhabhi were sitting in the living room. They all looked at her at once and smiled brightly. Teja smiled back at them but their smile and stare stayed longer than usual. 
Teja narrowed her eyes and asked, "What ?"
The three of them looked at each other and then finally her bhabhi said, "We got a marriage proposal for you."
"He is from a really good family" her mother added.
"Ofcourse" Teja murmured.
"And he also earns good" her brother said.
"Good for him." Teja said under her breath.
"Karwa do phir shadi".Teja said in a sarcastic tone.
"Nhi , ek baar mil le phir decide karna" her mom said.
"Ek baar, itni meherbani."
"Stop with your sarcasm Teju. Don't you want to get married." Tarun, her brother asked.
Teja didn't say anything and went into her room.
"Give her some time" Niti, Teja's sister in law, said to Tarun.
Teja felt irritated, she did not know how to react. She layed down on her bed and covered her face with a cushion. 
After a few minutes she picked up her phone and dialled Karan's number .   .   .  .  . It did not connect.
Teja almost threw her phone in anger but stopped at the right time.
' Ahhh, Karan do you even remember that you to have unblock me . It's fucking ten days we did not talk to each other. Looks like forgetting me , our friendship was a cake walk for you.
Fine you do you. My life will definitely not stop because of you.'
"Kahan jana hai milne" Teja asked her brother.
.
.
.
Teja was going to meet the guy on Sunday for a lunch.
They both reached the place on time , greeted each other and started talking. Educational qualification, job, family, hobbies were the things they talked about.
Though the boy was respectful and sweet, still Teja was not at ease with him, as she was with Karan from the first day itself. 
They talked and with every answer the boy gave Teja understood how different he was from Karan.
' Karan would have said this if he would have been here . 
Karan hates this movie. 
Please, Karan loves this song and so do I. ' She used to think.
By the end of the lunch Teja hardly remembered anything the boy told her about himself, but she surely revised everything about Karan.
While going back home the only thing she could think about was Karan. The conversations, the memories filled her mind. 
Teja reached her home and straight away went to her room. 
"How was he?" Tarun asked as he saw Teja, but she didn't stop and left without answering.
Teja sat on her bed and thought about everything. The way she at every moment compared the guy with Karan. More than what he was saying she was thinking about what Karan would have said. 
His likes , his dislike. It was just him in her mind , and even after conscious efforts he was just not leaving.
Teja's eyes started getting teary and she again tried calling Karan.
"Karan please... please."
The call did not connect and Teja covered her face with her hands and started sobbing. She kept crying and crying.
Niti knocked the door and entered Teja's room as she heard the sobs. 
"Teju" she exclaimed as she saw Teja crying.
She hugged her and caressed her back, "Teju what happened, why are you crying" she asked with concern.
Teja almost chocked on her tears and said, 
"Bhabhi, I can not do this."
___________________________________
☹️
------------------------------------------------------