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Here's the next chapter.

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While reading various tales, narratives or stories, Rey had often wondered about the feelings that were shown when the protagonist felt that land had been pulled beneath his feet or preferably as they referred – it seemed as if his life had been taken a 360 degree turn or the much more dramatic – he felt as if somebody had pushed him from a high mountain without any support and he swore nothing could be more exaggerated than this. So yeah, the guy or the girl was in love and it didn't turn up like they had expected – so what? It didn't mean that one had to overtly… so dramatically emphasize like this. What surprised him more were the invariant feelings that were shown over so many of the books and he would just chuckle over the absurdity of the situation; as to how someone could just relinquish the control of their feelings like this that it could affect them to this extent. He never understood it and found it extremely wrong.

But boy, he was so wrong!

As he had put his feelings out in open… and no… he wouldn't say the term as dropping the L-bomb coz it was no sudden appearance or something like that. Sudden appearance would be their kiss… sudden thing happening would be him losing his job… sudden would be his betrayal… or no… he was pretty sure the idiot have had his philandering ways on for so long… sudden would be rain starting to fall heavily when he said those words. But he was pretty sure that their developing feelings and the confession was no unexpected feat.

She was feeling scared… damn right he was too... but that didn't mean she was granted the audacity to walk over him as if he was some salesman coming to sell products. He was enraged… annoyed as how she had walked away. For the love of God, she hadn't even responded to him… just simply pulled away and went back to their lodging and he was pissed. He at least deserved some words; even if it was the pathetic thank you or the age old you are wrong Rey… it cannot happen… but not the silence.

Coz silence meant that she was still dancing around… and it gave him hope.

And he didn't want hope… he wanted a yes or no… I love you too or I love you not.

And he hoped… that she understood that.

After their return from Panchgani, the air in the home had become tensed. It had actually became tangible… one could easily sense it if they stood in the vicinity of two. After the incident, Kria and Rey consciously made effort to avoid each other. Kria ate in the kitchen and went to shower after and then Rey would come and eat his food. The conscious attempt to avoid was not over his part but rather hers… and honestly he didn't try to make any approach. He felt she needed it… she had to actually wrap her head around the incident… his words. So he didn't actually avoid her, but also didn't come in her way… like sneaking behind her and embracing her… or scaring the hell out of her if she was in her room by appearing suddenly… this became a rarity. Needless to mention, the physical closeness was also thrown out of the window… not that he cared about… he rather be talking to her like before. So he allowed... waited actually for her to make the first attempt.

Kria sat thinking about it. She avoided to do so and hence she tried to busy herself more and more, but there was not enough work for her… it seemed like. And the reason? – she often found herself sitting like this thinking which was the last thing she wanted, but her heart and mind it seemed would always force her to think. His confession had never left her… for not even a minute… safe to say - it actually haunted her.

I love you – he had said so easily… as if it was second nature to him.

She shouldn't be surprised actually… and she wasn't. She was terrified. Last time when she had said those words so easily, she had ended up in a heartbreak that broke her literally. But she knew Rey wasn't him. He was something else… he understood her… her fears… her insecurities… her weird whims and fantasies too.

But still it scared her. What if it was a pretense?

How much a guy could actually pretend? – a voice inside her called out.

He did… she countered.

Because you were an idiot to ignore the signs and keep giving him chances. Of course he could carry the pretense for the entire life. The voice admonished her rubbing her mistake brutally over her face.

And that stung.

So she was back to square one thinking what she wanted to say to him. That she wanted more time? But how much time? She didn't know that. And she couldn't ask him to wait for an eternity. But will he wait for an eternity?

Of course… the voice answered immediately.

Maybe… a little voice squeaked. And Kria held onto that voice.

Few days later, when Kria returned back from work, she felt uneasy… as if something was missing, but she couldn't pinpoint the things. It was just a feeling which was only increasing as she walked inside. Something was amiss, and her heart was sinking minute by minute. It was unusually quiet.

She went over the fridge to get herself water to calm the incessant worries in her nerves and was met with a post-it over the door.

Krys,

I didn't want to do it, but it seemed the appropriate thing to do. Before you jump to any stupid, mindless conclusions, I would like to say it before… I am not leaving you. So please give your heart a rest for now.

Krys, you know about my feelings, and by stating it here I don't want to add to the burden. But I think it is time that you actually face things that are troubling you without any external worry or anything else… or rather anyone else. Sweety, it's your fight… your issues and you need to sort it out yourself. I really want to remain by your side, while you do so, but then it would be wrong coz it be kind of pressuring you into outcomes. I know what scares you… I do… but I want you to have faith… and not because I am present there… but because you want to. So sweetheart, please think about it… what do you want… and what do you want for your future. Because I know what I want… the question is what do you want?

So I took this tour for three days for a project. I will return back, but not here. I will check into a hotel, and stay there. giving you space and time to think about things… to sort them out. I will message you the details… once I get back. Finally you will get a break from… as you so eloquently put it up mollycoddling me.

Until then…

Reyansh.

She stared at the letter for so long, and realized how he had purposely avoided using the L-word.

And she didn't know whether to be relieved or feel regret.

Thoughts.