New FF-2nd chance at Love-Completed-PG 81-08/08/2014 - Page 42

Kalpi could not believe what had just happened. Her tears would not stop and her mind was
filled with agonizing thoughts.

She was sure that she had to reject his proposal as there
was no way she was going to get into a relationship with anyone at this point.
She had just recently sorted out her life and she did not want to put it into
turmoil once again.

The only thing was she was feeling guilty beyond belief in
hurting Vihaan. The first time she had rejected Raghav's proposal she had not
felt guilty, but with Vihaan she felt that she had wronged him by leading him
on.

She was really unsure whether she had given him signals of
being interested in him. She had told him she had missed him, she had hugged
him and generally always made him aware how important he was in her life.

It was not his fault that he felt that she reciprocated his
feelings and now the kiss today. She was surprised herself by her passionate
response to his kiss. She was always very shy about physical intimacy and
Raghav always teased her about it, but today she had kissed Vihaan with such
fervour as if she did not want it to end. If he had not removed his lips from
hers, she was not sure she would have ended the kiss. She remembered every
sensation that the kiss had engendered. She had melted like hot chocolate in his arms.
She turned beetroot red, even thinking about the kiss.

Kalpi did not want to hurt Vihaan, but suddenly comforted
herself thinking that Vihaan deserved a much better girl than her, someone who
was more beautiful, someone from his strata of society and someone who did not
have so much baggage from the past.

Then the thought that she might lose Vihaan's friendship
stuck her and she broke down into uncontrollable sobs.

"Why did he have to spoil everything?" she thought blaming
him.

The whole night passed sleeplessly for Kalpi who has
alternately blaming and feeling sorry for herself and Vihaan in turns.

She finally decided that she could not lie down anymore and
decided she needed to get out of the house.

She took a quick shower, did not even bother to dry her
hair, dressed and went down. The servants were up even though it was very
early.

One of the maids offered her coffee, which she gratefully
accepted, but she asked her if she could given it in a flask as she wanted to
carry it outside. The maid handed over her a thermos full of coffee and Kalpi
left the house.

Inadvertently, her legs took her towards the gazebo. As she neared the place all the
events of last night came rushing back and her knees almost buckled.

She went and sat on the wooden bench set on the river edge
and looked into the river. The sun was just rising. The beautiful vision,
somehow made her feel a little at peace for some time, but soon again dread of
facing Vihaan came to the surface and she again began to feel restless.

Vihaan who himself had spent a restless night came down. He
had finally decided that whatever was Kalpana's answer he would accept it
graciously. He knew he loved her enough to accept her decision, though if she
rejected him he would be heartbroken.
Her reaction yesterday had somehow given him her answer, and he had
already steeled himself for her rejection.

The maid brought him coffee and told him that the madam had
gone out towards the river to watch the sunrise.

Vihaan did not wait to hear her and just walked out without
picking his coffee cup.

He instinctively knew she would be near the Gazebo and he
walked toward it. He saw her sitting on the bench and approached her with
trepidation, as if he was sure to hear the worst.

He went and sat next to her on the bench and looked at her.
Her eyes were red and swollen, as if she had been crying. His heart went out to
her and all he wanted to do is hold her and never let her go.

"Vihaan, I am not sure what to say to you. I am really honored
by your proposal, but I am really sorry that I cannot accept it", she said.

Even though Vihaan was expecting it, it felt as if someone
had stabbed his heart with a knife. He said "Kalpana", with pain in his voice.

"Please let me speak. I really care about you, Vihaan, but I
am in no condition to enter into any relationship right now. I have gone
through enough pain to last me a lifetime, due to love. If that happens again, I will not be able to
survive".

"Is it because of Raghav, Kalpana? Vihaan asked.

"If you are asking me if I still love Raghav, then I can
honestly say I don't. But what has happened with Raghav has really changed my
perception about love and I am no longer interested in being in love ever again",
she answered.

Hearing the finality in her voice made Vihaan very upset and
he said angrily, "I am not Raghav, please do not compare me to that idiot. I
will never hurt you, Kalpana. You are so special and I will do everything in my
power to make you happy."

"Vihaan, Raghav had also promised me eternal happiness, but
all the received was unbearable pain. I know I was very nave then, but now I
will not put myself through it again", Kalpi said.

Vihaan was speechless and did not know how to convince her.

"Vihaan you are really special and I really cherish you as a
friend, but there cannot be anything more than that between us. I am really sorry. But Vihaan I am sure that you will definitely
get a better girl than me in every sense and someone with no baggage."

Vihaan suddenly felt very angry and forgot to be gracious, "I
really don't want you to be my match-maker. If you do not want to accept my
proposal, just say that".

He just stormed off from there, leaving a teary-eyed Kalpi
behind. Kalpi at the moment felt that she had lost her most precious possession
and there was nothing she could do.

Suddenly her mobile pinged and she saw a message from
Vihaan, " I won't be coming back to Mumbai with you. Just let the driver know, when
you are ready to leave and he will take you back."

Kalpi suddenly heard and huge roar and saw Vihaan driving
off in full speed.

Vihaan knew he was being a coward, by avoiding Kalpana, but
he knew if he stayed longer in her presence he would end up making her hate
him.

Kalpi decided to leave immediately and when the car started
leaving the grounds, she said goodbye to the place with a heavy heart because
she felt that this would be the last time she would be seeing this lovely
place.

All the way back to Mumbai she was hurting and she
periodically burst into tears when she remembered the great time she had spent
yesterday with Vihaan.