Infatuation.???????..Love.??????? Part 17

Naina reached home late night, they had left without having dinner. Rutesh had waited till she came inside the house and started the lights. Then he drove the car and went. Like a zombie she took the bags in her room and collapsed on the bed crying. She knew there was no future between them, but this shouldn’t hurt. Well it hurt a lot, she never thought this could be so painful.

Naina was sobbing now, she remembered everything each minor detail about him. The way he had touched her shoulder, kissed her forehead, wrapped arms around her when she was cold. But now there were no arms to come around her, she knew she had hurt him also which increased her own pain. It was not supposed to be this way, no one should be hurt this way. If he had not talked about marriage maybe they would have made up and no one would have been hurt. Oh, why did he have to tell her that he loved her? Why?

She kept on crying and never heard the door opening and closing. Now Kajal stood at the door of Naina’s room. She had heard the crying since she entered the house, she knew it was Naina. Sujit had just dropped her and went, well he wanted to say something but she had never given him the chance. She had just opened the door and came out, her tears had all dried. A headache was at the door waiting, but first things first she had to go to Naina. However mature Naina was right now she needed Kajal.

Her own pain was coming now as the numbness had gone, but it could wait. She walked towards the bed where Naina was crying. She touched her shoulder and she turned sobbing. Kajal had seen Naina crying when they were small but only if she was alone and hiding. But now it was a different matter, Kajal wondered what Rutesh might be doing and how come they were together. Well that she can save it for later, Kajal without saying anything hugged her. Which she needed, and Naina started crying more loudly. Kajal just sat there with her hands on her back.

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Naina’s tears had dried now, but hurt hadn’t passed. It was comforting to see Kajal with her. After a good cry without saying anything Kajal had got up to get water for her. She drank it and they both sat in silence. Naina knew Kajal must have questions but she didn’t have energy to talk to anyone. Maybe her feelings showed on her face as Kajal was also quiet.

Kajal wanted to ask Naina a lot of things but she looked drained, and she thought she could wait for the answers. Maybe now they both needed each other. Kajal made her get up and put her in the bathroom where she also kept her clothes. Naina finally understood what Kajal wanted, so she went and changed her clothes. When she came out on her bed Kajal’s pillow and blanket was also there. Kajal came in a moment later, she also had changed.

"Kajal I…" Naina wanted to say something to Kajal but she help up a hand, "Naina, we both are tired and not going anywhere. Let’s sleep we’ll talk tomorrow"

It made sense to Naina, and now she had noticed the hurt in Kajal’s eyes. If she could be this strong so could she. Naina also liked the idea of sleeping together, they might be able to comfort each other. Without a word they both lied down on the bed and tried to sleep.

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Kajal had not taken her lunch break and was finishing off her work. She had asked for a half day and was supposed to leave in an hour. They had returned on Monday from Lonavala, and today was Friday. She had spoken to Naina about the entire episode and shouted at her also. Well Naina had acted stupidly there was no other word to describe it. That guy loved her, wanted to marry her and what did she do? Tells him you will find a nice girl. That is Stupid and she had told her that since Friday almost 10 times a day. She had also explained to her that what if Rutesh was dark and she would have been fair, would it matter to her then?

And finally she had understood, they both had coped very well. They had cursed the guys in general and she had pointed out the mistakes Rutesh had made. And it was cheered by Naina, well now she was taking another step today. She was going to Rutesh’s place today, and that Naina didn’t know.

After understanding her point She had told Naina to call and talk to Rutesh but Naina had argued that she had hurt him and will not hurt him again. Blah blah. It was all so crappy, they both love each other want to get married but not talking to each other. She could understand Naina’s point as she was thinking of him which was of course love. But why Rutesh had let her go, she said some things to him and this guy accepts it and that’s it. If he loved her, why wasn’t he behind her, convincing her? So she was going there and blasting him also, she will plainly tell him to stop behaving like idiots.

Thinking about it she left her office and went in a rickshaw. She had been deliberately busy in Naina’s life as she still didn’t want to analyze what had happened in Lonavala. Naina had not asked many questions and whatever she had asked, Kajal had tried avoid her questions. She will tell her eventually, and that was the key word "eventually", she was still too raw to go into the details. Crying helped as every night she cried, buckets maybe she should give that water to someone. She shook her head if she had her sense of humor may be she was okay. But how can she be okay when everything reminded her of Sujit, his smile, his touch, his stupid house which was not furnished. Everything reminded her of him and she had to live with a fact that she was alone, he was not in her life. Wind was coming on her face in the rickshaw, she dried the tears and started thinking about what she would tell Rutesh. He would want to know about Sujit, and she had to as like Naina she could not ignore his questions. She closed her eyes to rest and saw the image of Sujit.

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Sujit had seen her leaving, well he saw her every day. He made a point to see her coming and going, today she had not come for lunch. Since then he had this feeling maybe he had a sixth sense but it only worked for Kajal. She was looking beautiful as usual chatting with several people waving, smiling. But that smile never reached her eyes, he knew the reason for that he just has to look in the mirror. He wanted hear her voice, was dying for her touch, but he could not dare to go in front of her. In past days several times he held the phone but couldn’t call her, call her and say what. She was going today in some hurry, he was damn curious where she was going. But she could not just leave, she never gave him chance to explain. When they reached she dashed out and then she didn’t even glance at him. He knew he had hurt her a lot, but he never knew that he had hurt himself also. He was a pathetic guy that’s what he was, he could have told her more gently and may be some time later. But no he got panicked by the love word, that’s was his entire defense. He wanted her back desperately, may be as a friend also. But he knew that was impossible even if she agreed, no chance of that but still if she agreed. He never would be able to keep his hands and mouth from her, even he tried hard very hard. His body still wanted her, there was no doubt about that. But he wanted more than her body, he wanted her to share things with him, joke with him, help him furnish the house. But all those things were not possible, he had to be satisfied by only looking at her. That’s what he had chosen for himself and he had to live with that.

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Kajal reached Rutesh’s house, there were many times when they had come to his place and had fun. His mom and dad were also cool, they were fun to be with. He lived at the ground floor, even after 5 years she remembered the house. She rang the bell of his house and Rutesh came to open the door. Kajal was shocked for a moment she forgot that she was going to fire him. He looked sad, hurt, and just worse she had ever seen. In the afternoon also he was in pajamas and T shirt, he needed a hair cut, a shave and maybe a good cry. One thing good about girls was that they cried and never kept anything inside. For guys it was like a virus to cry, if they cried at least it would be little lighter. He was surprised to see her which showed.

"Move Rutesh and let me in. I have not come to stand here." Kajal nudged him and went inside. Mr. clean Rutesh’s house was in a mess. Clothes surrounded the sofa, and also the computer. Table was covered in dust, TV was on with no volume. There was a belt lying on the floor with some papers. Something had been spilled on the rug which looked like curry. And the house smelled something bad. She turned and looked at Rutesh in disgust,

"You all guys are jerks, one thing happens to you and you start living like a slug. What the hell this is Rutesh?"

"Look I have a headache don’t start. Mom and dad have gone out and maid has not come" Rutesh slumped on the sofa as he was tired.

Kajal threw her bag on the chair and went in the kitchen and bedroom. She would have fainted but she came back on time. He was still sitting there on the sofa, he looked up when he heard her coming. She stood with one hand on her hip and glared at him.

"Do you think staying this way would bring Naina back? Staying this inhumanly way would get you Naina? When she said no to you I agree her reasons are stupid and you were angry. But later couldn’t you persist?"

To her horror Rutesh started crying and Kajal with no choice went and hugged him tried to console him. She let him cry, and then got him a glass of water.

"Rutesh I know what she said hurt you, but you know she loves you. You just had to make her agree to that" she dried his tears and looked at him.

"Kajal I got scared, what if I again went and she refused to see me. I was angry but she never tried to contact me till date. In all that worry I thought maybe she doesn’t want me" Rutesh was in control now maybe the crying helped, but he will never admit it to Kajal.

"You know you both are idiots and dumb. There that girl keeps crying and doesn’t call you as not to hurt you any more. And here you are living in garbage and not calling her for all foolish reasons" She took his hands and looked at him, "You both love each other, Naina hadn’t realized that before. The thing she never got a chance to love, or being loved. so she never could understand you. You just needed patience with her"

Rutesh sighed thinking she was right, he had used the wrong approach with Naina. And thanks to her friend he will now go and meet her. He took Kaja’s face in his palm and kissed her forehead.

"Thanks, you are the best friend I could ask for. I will straightened things out here and see Naina." Rutesh got ready to get up but again sat "What happened to you and who was that guy. Since when are you seeing him?"

"I’ll answer you later, today your priority is Naina" Kajal pushed him and started on straightening the room.

"ummm kajal, would you mind" Rutesh started but Kajal turned, "Yes I do mind, I am not cleaning the kitchen you will do it. You made the mess clean it"

Laughing she saw him going inside , she sighed that at least someone would be happy.