AllFreeNovel
Share Us
And read.
38
That day, sitting in her hostel room in Ghaziabad, Koyal had dialled Nili’s number. Her heart was thudding like an angry elephant, when finally a sweet voice said, ‘Hello?’
‘Hi, I am Koyal.’
‘Koyal Raje?’ Nili sounded surprised.
‘Yes.’
‘Atharv’s friend Koyal?’
‘Atharv’s Koyal,’ Koyal corrected her.
‘Oh hi, I have heard so much about…’ Nili began to gush.
‘I need to ask you something,’ Koyal cut in, desperate for answers. Her brain felt foggy with emotions she couldn’t quite understand.
‘Uh … yes, sure.’
‘Is there something going on between you and Atharv?’ she asked. Earlier that day, suspicious because of how often Atharv mentioned Nili, Koyal had hurriedly gone through Atharv’s phone. Her heart sunk as she read one message after the other. They were casual, but hinted at a lot more than casual friendship. Reading them had made her want to throw up and she had hurriedly jotted down Nili’s phone number.
‘Wh … what?’
‘Is there something going on between you and Atharv?’ Koyal repeated.
‘Um … no…’
‘Great,’ cut in Koyal. ‘I need you to stop talking to him completely, with immediate effect.’
‘Why?’ The first traces of shock and anger began to creep into Nili’s voice.
‘Because I need you to,’ Koyal said simply.
There was silence on the other end for a few seconds and when Nili spoke, her voice had an edge to it.
‘I am sorry, I am his friend not yours. I don’t really care about your needs, Koyal.’
‘Don’t make Atharv choose,’ Koyal warned. ‘Go away on your own and it will just be less complicated for all of us.’
‘And you think Atharv will choose you over me?’ Nili
asked.
‘Are you,’ snorted Koyal, ‘even considering the possibility that he would choose you over me?’
‘Koyal Raje, let me tell you something that may surprise you. Atharv and I are in love, have been in love for months now.’
Koyal stared at the wall in front of her, feeling her hands turn cold.
‘We’re almost living together, Koyal.’
Koyal’s mouth felt dry. Of course this couldn’t be true.
‘He … he … never said anything to me…’ Koyal ventured bravely.
‘Do you know what? I feel for you, I do. But, honey, reality check: Atharv has been lying to you.’
