Just Friends

CHAPTER 50

"There are no secrets that time doesn't reveal." 

- JEAN RACINE

^^^

"What is wrong, Kiara?" Harshad sounded offended. "You are not even trying to listen to me."

Kiara enlarged her orbs in horror. "Forgive me Harshad, it was just..."

"It's about Dhruv, right?" Harshad inquired directly. "Even if he is so far from you yet, he had grabbed you tight." He shook his head. "He isn't allowing you to be happy, though he is enjoying his life away from you."

"How can you be so certain that he is enjoying his life? I know him well. He will be dying from inside and the companion beside him won't even be provided with a hint."

"Why do you love him so much?" Harshad was exasperated yet his tone came out in a patient manner.

"Why do you love me so much?" Kiara directed the same question to him. "You are aware that I won't ever like you in the manner you desire. I won't be able to treat you in the manner you deserve. Somewhere, I am using you for my benefit. I am using you as a weapon to distract me from my pain and yet you're allowing me to do that. You're allowing me to play with your feelings. Why can't you simply walk away from me?" She pushed him away as he took a step forward to pull her into his embrace.

"Stop caring about me, Harshad. Stop loving me so much... it makes me guilty because I am not able to offer the same in return. It assures my doubt that I am selfish."

"You aren't selfish," Harshad scowled. His arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her close. "A plant can't provide flower if it's not watered. You won't be able to love Dhruv if you can't receive it back. You will feel exhausted, drained, and defeated and I won't ever be able to see you like that. I can't force you to love me but I also can't force myself not to love you. You are so unaware of what your mere presence can do to my heart?" He smiled at her adoring face, "don't look at me like that. I might not able to hold myself back," he warned her.

Her hands slowly reached his face. Harshad closed his eyes, allowing her to caress his face. "Can you teach me to love you back?" She asked softly.

"Do you really want to forget, Dhruv?" Harshad whispered back. Kiara thought about it for a minute. Did she want to forget her childhood friend? The person that made her believe in selflessness? The person whom she considered an angel.

"I..." Kiara couldn't bring the exact words out. "I want to love you back as you said a plant needs water, I don't want to exhaust you."

"You love me, sweetheart or you wouldn't stand in my arms against your father's will." He pointed out but Kiara shook her head.

"But I want to love you in the manner I feel for Dhruv because..." she paused as a tear slid down her cheek. "You deserve it," Harshad opened his eyes staring at her brimming orbs.

He smiled at her, his hands moving from her waist to her cheeks. He softly drew a pattern on it. "May I?" He was staring with a hopeful gaze at her lips.

Kiara frowned and as the realization sparkled in her brain, she widened her mouth in horror. "No," she screamed trying to create a space between them.

"Why?" Harshad tightened his grip on her in a playful manner. He was enjoying his scared-kitten.

"What do you mean by why?" She shook her head as if the mere thought could make her nervous. "How can someone just do such a foolish thing?"