Love after Heartbreak

"Heya!!" Shikha jumps on his shoulder. He narrows his eyes and just shrugs her off in anger. She gets upset "aree kya hua? Why so angry?" she asks. 

"What is going on? Haan?" He asks showing her the mobile. 

"What the hell? What is my mobile doing with you?" She screams at him. 

"That is not the question. The question, is who is she?" he lashes at her. She lowers her gaze to avoid eye contact. "Who is she Shikha?" he asks again.

Flashback 

"Oh God! I am getting late.. Bhaiya will be so upset. After so long we planned something and I am as usual late." She panics as she calls for a taxi. Usually at that time there would be no taxi available so that added to her panic. 

After a short wait, a taxi stopped near her. She got inside the taxi in a haste and so did another girl from other side. Both look startled at each other and then at the taxi driver. They didn't know what to do. The driver as usual left it to the girls. The other girl had tears filled in her eyes as though she went through something really bad. 

"Don't worry Miss. You go where you want to. But if it's not a problem can I sit here. I don't want to stay in this street anymore." She chokes as she speaks.  Shikha forwards her a water bottle which she carried. "Here take this." 

"Thank you!" she says as she takes it. Soon Shikha tells the driver where she has to go and the journey starts. "Hi. I am Juhi." saying so she forwards her hand for a handshake. "Shikha." she says with a smile. 

"Are you feeling better now?" Shikha asks. 

Juhi nods her head in positive "Yes. Thank you for letting me here." she expresses her gratitude. "Oh no worries." Shikha shrugs off with a smile. 

The traffic made them talk about anything and everything. It was like an instant connection formed between Juhi and Shikha. Shikha after sometime thought of asking Juhi the reason she was upset. 

"Juhi if you don't mind. Why were you upset? You can tell me I won't judge." She assures. 

"Yes I will but not now." she says as she gestures at the driver. Shikha nods in understanding. Juhi smiles. They exchange numbers and decide on a place they meet next day. 

Soon they reach Shikha's destination. Shikha didn't want to leave Juhi like this. But Juhi assured her to continue with her plans. She smiled and left from there not before checking on Juhi again. Both had some sort of numbness and happiness filled inside them. 

Shikha was numb because she saw Juhi cry her heart out and happy because she found a friend among her hectic schedule. 

Juhi was numb because of the previous incident and happy because she too found a shoulder to cry on. 

Shikha enjoyed the whole evening with her brother. She thought of telling him about the meeting but then shrugged it off her thoughts. 

The next day they meet in a cafe located beside nature. "Wow!! This is so peaceful!" Shikha exclaims as she looks around the beauty. Juhi smiles at her. 

"Yeahh.. this is my favourite go to place. I always like coming here. Feels a lot better." Juhi states. 

Shikha looks at her with a smile and presses her shoulder "How are you now? Better?" she asks. 

"Yes very much." She replies. 

"What had happened?" Shikha asks slowly. 

"Actually a very bad break-up with my boyfriend." Juhi answers sadly. Shikha comes and sits beside her. "You might think why I started crying so much for a break up right?" She laughed as she asked this question to Shikha. 

Shikha didn't respond. Juhi continued "We were in a relationship for 4 years. Everything was going good, when suddenly I realised that I might be a bisexual." She stated and looked at Shikha. Shikha expressed nothing instead just lent her a listening ear. 

Juhi was at ease now "I told him this. But he thought I am cheating on him and he couldn't believe me anymore. He didn't want to be in a relationship because he felt disgusted by me." She cries inconsolably. Shikha rubs her back in order to pacify her.  

She continues "Shikha, I realised it just recently. Before this I never thought of me. It was always him, my family and his family too. So recently when there was a discussion in office about LGBTQ+ I started questionning myself. That's when I realised I might be bisexual." She let out the tears as she explained Shikha everything. Shikha nodded in understanding. 

"But I came out to him as soon as I understood. But he didn't want to listen to me. I thought he loves me but no, he doesn't." She weeps bitterly. Shikha hugs her for a while. Sometime later she stops weeping and wipes her tears. 

"Sorry I started with my own saga." She apologizes. "So tell me about yourself." Juhi says. 

Shikha smiles and tells her about herself. Juhi listens with the same attention. After sometime she stops as waiter comes to take order. They order and talk further. While eating Juhi asks "Shikha are you in a relationship currently?" Shikha gets startled at this question. "No no don't worry. I asked because if your partner comes to know you are with a bisexual woman there might be a fight. That's it." Juhi clarifies. 

Shikha smiles lightly "Not as of now. I was in a relationship. But then it didn't work out. We were very different from each other. That difference alienated us, so we broke up mutually." she answers. Juhi smiles. 

"So don't worry. There won't be any problem." Shikha answers and both laugh. 

They talk until it gets dark. After which they part ways with a promise of being in touch. Days pass by with messages, calls and easing each other's stress, problems and giving advices. They both had each others backs and shared almost everything with each other. 

Months passed by and both knew there was something special between them which was much more than friendship. They felt at ease when together no matter what. But no one took a step forward. But after a long wait Shikha thinks of taking the next step ahead. 

"Juhi meet me at the same cafe today evening and wear something good. Please." She texts her. Juhi laughs as she reads the message. She had butterflies in her stomach as she knew what was about to happen. 

She reaches the cafe and sees there was a special corner which was booked for the two. She reaches where she sees Shikha in a beautiful gown looking no less than a princess. She herself was looking like one. 

They look into each other's eyes when Shikha gets down on her knees "Miss. Juhi this place will always be ours. Our friendship started here and now our relationship will start from here. I love you Miss Juhi. Will you be my girlfriend?" Shikha asks. Juhi has her eyes filled with tears and she too gets down on her knees. "Yes I will. I love you too Miss. Shikha." Both embrace each other in a hug. 

Shikha plays a soft music in her mobile and both grove to it looking into each other's eyes coordinating their steps with ease. Juhi slowly leans towards Shikha and they both share a passionate kiss. They part after sometime with a sense of fulfillment. Both finish their dinner, and bid a goodbye to go back to their homes. 

The next morning Shikha wakes up with sense of happiness and completeness. She freshens up and rushes to her brother who she sees is very busy on the mobile.

Flashback ends.

He has tears in his eyes. Shikha wipes it off "Bhaiya I know you are very protective about me especially after the first break up. I troubled you a lot. I know. But Juhi is amazing. Trust me." She makes a puppy face to pacify her brother. 

"And why did you hide it from me?" He asked sternly raising his eyebrows. 

"Bhai I proposed her yesterday and I jumped on you to tell that only." She pouts angrily. 

"Okay okay sorry." He holds his ears to apologise. Shikha takes his hand and both hug. 

"I am so happy for you Shikha" he says. Shikha nods her head in positive and rests her head on his chest.

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