Bulbul exited the back door quietly not wanting any of the people in the living room to be aware of her existence. They had come for an alliance for her sister Pragya and no way was she going to ruin it for her sister this time. Purab had messaged her saying he really needed to talk to her and clear things out, and if she didn't want to meet him, then he definitely has no problem in coming to her house and speaking to her in front of everyone.
"If it wasn't for my sister's alliance today I would have never met that cheater." She mumbled to herself as she took farther steps away from the house. "Bulbul where was your brain when you fell in love with that betrayer." She cursed herself for falling in love with him and allowing him to have an effect on her. She continued cursing herself when just then she noticed Purab in front of her.
"Bulbul!" He exclaimed. His face lit up at the sight of seeing her. All these days he had been craving for her beautiful face. Whether he was awake or asleep she was always on his mind. Seeing her in front of him at this moment assured him that he was still alive.
Bulbul looked at him with disinterest again trying to show that she wasn't affected by him. Who was she lying to? Oh how much did her ears long to hear him saying her name again and how much did her eyes miss the way he looked at her lovingly. "Bulbul what happened to you!" a voice inside her head yelled at her. She kicked herself mentally for committing the same mistake of falling for him again. She quickly composed herself and began to speak.
"Listen Purab, the only reason I came to meet you today was because I didn't want to ruin this special day for my sister. But I'm telling you this is the last time we meet. I don't want anything to do with you. Everything is over between us. Actually there was nothing between us to begin with. Everything was a lie from you. I was the only one who was truthful to you and how stupid of me I believed you and trusted you. Do you know what that means? I put all my belief and trust in you and what did you do? You broke that belief and trust Purab. How could you be so cruel?"
"Hey Bulbul, listen to me." He spoke as he lifted his arm and held her shoulder trying to comfort her.
"Don't touch me!" She yelled back at him as Purab stared at her with pain defining his eyes.
"Bulbul you have to listen to me. How will you understand the story if you aren't giving me a chance to speak. Even someone who is accused of a crime is given a chance to defend himself and you're not even giving me one chance to clear your misunderstandings and defend myself."
"I told you I don't want to listen to anything." She replied wiping away her tears. She hated herself at that moment. Why did she have to cry in front of him? He is the main reason for her tears and now she is allowing him to see her in this state. She turned her back to him and moved her feet to leave when suddenly she noticed him holding on to her hand.
"Bulbul you can't leave like this." He continued holding her hand. Bulbul tried to free her hand from him but his grip was too strong.
"If you don't listen to me then I swear to you that I will not even think twice in following you to your home and telling our story in the presence of everyone in your family."
Bulbul stopped in her place after hearing what he said.
"Purab did you lose your mind?" She looked at him shockingly.
"Look just hear me once and I promise if you are not convinced then... He paused for a couple of seconds. "Then I will never come in your way again." He finished his sentence looking in her eyes.
"Fine." Bulbul replied with a bit of annoyance in her tone. "Speak; say what you have to say I'm listening."
"Not here. Come with me to some quite restaurant. We can't talk here in the middle of the road."
Bubul was on the tip of losing her patience but had no choice but to comply to his orders.
"All for the sake of my sister." She spoke in her mind. "And maybe he would finally leave me when I'm not convinced with his made up lies as he promised." She added to that.
She quietly opened the front door and sat in his car as Purab happily began to drive off. The car vanished into the road.
Bubul looked at him impatiently waiting for him to say something.
Purab cleared his throat as he began to speak.
"I'm first going to start off by telling you about my relation with Abhi." He said. "It's important for you to understand the relationship that Abhi and I share in order to understand everything."
Bulbul lifted the glass of water that settled in front of her and began drinking. Showing that she wasn't interested in whatever he was going to say.
Purab continued speaking. He spoke to her about the strong relationship he shared with Abhi and how they were both like brothers more than friends. He spoke to her about the various times they stood up for each other. As he spoke Bulbul couldn't help but feel pulled towards what he was saying.
Purab took a deep breath and continued speaking.
"Abhi has a sister called Alia. Alia and I were also close to each other obviously because of the relationship between Abhi and me. She was also a very close friend to me." One day Abhi surprised me by asking me if his sister and I would like to get married. He thought we were perfect for each other."
Purab can see the hint of anger in Bulbul's eyes as he was narrating the story to her. He continued to speak anyways.
"I was surprised at first, but since there was no one in my life at that time, and Abhi and Alia were the only close people that I had, I accepted. After a couple of days Aliya traveled out of the country and years went by. Then I met you." He stared at her admiringly.
Bubul was really getting affected by his words now but continued to hold her emotions inside of her.
"A couple of weeks ago Alia returned." He continued wiping the tears that were piling up in his eyes before they trailed down." I had forgotten about the promise that I had given to Abhi. I tried to explain to Abhi but every time I try to tell him something comes up and I don't get the chance to tell him. Please try to understand Bubul everyone is against me. Abhi has broken all ties with me after knowing that I'm in love with you. You're the only person I have right now and if you chose to leave me also then you're basically choosing to kill me."
Bubul felt something pierce her heart as Purab finished his sentence. She was really beginning to believe him. Her hands wanted to wipe those tears that were settling in his eyes, while her arms wanted to hug him tightly not wanting him to go away from her ever. Instead of listening to her heart she decided to listen to her mind this time. She quickly pushed the chair with her feet trying her best not to meet his eyes in case she felt weak again.
"Are you done? I listened to what you had to say now please fulfill your promise and don't try to meet me again." With that she hurried out the restaurant door leaving behind a shocked and depressed Purab.
She continued walking outside the restaurant, a river of tears trailing down her cheeks. She was already beginning to miss Purab. A voice inside of her was telling her he was being honest about what he said. She saw truth and love in his eyes as he spoke but why was her mind refusing to accept it.
She continued walking and wiping her tears away when she heard Purab yelling her name from behind. She ignored and kept walking away when suddenly someone jerked her hand and she found herself hitting something hard. It turned out to be purab's chest.
Anupamaa
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