Chapter 15: chapter 15

Chapter 15The sun was shining brightly as Sourabh walked through the bustling market area, his thoughts racing. Rohan had been relentless in his attempts to pull him out of the funk he had been in since witnessing Nitya ma'am with that boy. “You need to meet someone new,” Rohan had insisted. “My cousin Nikita is in town. She’s fun and wild, and I think you two would hit it off.”Sourabh was hesitant but finally agreed, curious about what a meeting with someone like Nikita could bring. “Alright, let’s do it,” he said, trying to sound enthusiastic.They arranged to meet at a popular café known for its vibrant atmosphere and quirky decor. As Sourabh approached the café, he felt a flutter of nervousness mixed with anticipation. Rohan was already inside, chatting animatedly with a girl who had bright pink hair and a mischievous glint in her eye—Nikita.“Hey, Sourabh!” Rohan waved him over, and Sourabh joined them at the table.“Nice to meet you!” Nikita greeted him, her voice cheerful and bold. “Rohan talks about you all the time. He says you’re a total nerd!”Sourabh chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah, that’s me.”Nikita leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Well, nerds can be fun too! So, what do you like to do for fun? Study physics and watch paint dry?”“Um, not exactly,” he replied, trying to keep up with her energy. “I like to hang out with friends and... well, study.”“Right. Boring!” she teased, a grin on her face. “Let me introduce you to the wild side of life.”As they chatted, Nikita launched into a series of outrageous jokes and funny stories that had Sourabh laughing harder than he had in weeks. Her humor was infectious, and despite his awkwardness, he found himself enjoying her company.“You should lighten up a bit, Sourabh! Life’s too short to be serious all the time,” she said, her eyes dancing with mischief.“Yeah, maybe I should take some pointers from you,” he admitted, feeling a sense of ease he hadn’t felt in a long time.Just then, his gaze wandered outside the café, and his heart sank. There, across the street, stood Nitya ma'am’s boyfriend, Kartik. Sourabh’s stomach twisted as he watched him. But it wasn’t just Kartik; there was a new girl with him, laughing and leaning into him as if they were a couple. Sourabh’s chest tightened. The sight stirred something raw inside him.“Hey, you alright?” Nikita’s voice broke through his thoughts.Sourabh’s eyes remained glued to the scene outside. “That’s... that’s Kartik. Nitya ma'am’s boyfriend.”Nikita turned to look, her expression shifting to one of curiosity. “Kartik? That guy? What’s he doing with that girl?”Sourabh felt a wave of anger wash over him. Kartik’s laughter echoed in his mind, a stark contrast to the tenderness Nitya ma'am had shown. “He doesn’t care about her. He’s just playing games,” Sourabh muttered, his voice low and filled with frustration.“Whoa, chill! You look like you’re ready to take him on,” Nikita teased, but there was a glimmer of understanding in her eyes.“I just don’t like seeing her with someone like him,” Sourabh said, shaking his head. “He’s a jerk.”Nikita leaned back, folding her arms with an amused smirk. “You’re really into this, huh? But you have to move on. You can’t keep looking back.”Sourabh turned back to her, grateful for the distraction. “Yeah, I know. I’m trying.”Just then, Nikita’s expression shifted to one of recognition. “Wait, I know him! That’s Kartik. He was in a relationship with me... for like a week.”Sourabh blinked in surprise. “You dated him?”“Yeah, it was a disaster. He’s all charm and no substance. We were totally mismatched,” she said with a laugh, rolling her eyes. “I thought he was cute at first, but once I saw how he treated people, I was out.”Sourabh raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “So, you know him well then?”Nikita nodded, her expression serious for a moment. “Trust me, he’s not worth your time. If he’s treating Nitya like that, it’s just a game to him. He’s not the type to settle down.”Sourabh felt a rush of validation at her words. “Exactly! He’s just... ugh. I can’t believe she’s with him.”“See? You’ve got to focus on someone who actually deserves your attention,” Nikita said, her tone playful again. “Like me! Let me show you how to have fun and not take life so seriously.”Sourabh couldn’t help but smile. “You’re definitely different, that’s for sure.”As the afternoon wore on, they shared more jokes and stories. Nikita’s carefree attitude and ability to joke about anything made him feel lighter. He realized that while he might not be able to forget Nitya ma'am completely, there was a world of possibilities waiting for him beyond the walls of his unrequited feelings.“Alright, let’s get out of here and do something wild,” Nikita suggested, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “I know a place with the best ice cream. You in?”Sourabh hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Why not? I could use some ice cream right now.”As they left the café, he felt a new sense of freedom—a willingness to embrace whatever came next. The shadows of his past began to fade, replaced by the excitement of the present and the promise of new experiences. With Nikita by his side, maybe moving on wouldn’t be so hard after all.