When Dreams Shatter...
"Its my favourite colour."
The softly spoken words stopped Anushka who was in the middle of lighting diyas on the terrace. Her heart skipped a beat as she looked at him from beneath her lashes. Dressed in a maroon sherwani, he looked absolutely handsome and she had to force her mind to focus on his words
"Sorry? I didn't catch that" she said shyly
"Your Dress" He replied staring at her beautiful red lehanga. "It is very beautiful and you look absolutely gorgeous in it... I wonder..."
"Yes?" she asked, holding her breath, waiting for him to complete his sentence when they were both startled by another voice. Devyani's voice.
"Anushka" Devyani called out running towards her sister only to stop short on seeing Rajat. He greeted her and walked away telling them that he would meet them later.
Anushka sighed. She didn't understand the way her heart beat a tad faster every time he came near or the warm fuzzy feeling in her stomach when he spoke to her or the way his presence seemed to bring an excitement in her life.
"Anushka!!" Devyani said loudly breaking her from her reverie. "What did Rajat Sir want?"
"He was just wishing me happy diwali' . That's it."
Devyani fiddled with the dupatta of her yellow lehanga wanting to share the secrets of her heart with the sister whom her Rajat sir considered a friend.
"Anushka, I want to tell you something but you gotta promise me that you will not tell anyone and that you wouldn't be angry."
"okay baba, I promise." Replied Anushka
"I love Rajat Sir and he loves me too..."
The rest of Devyani's words seemed to be drowning in the buzzing that went around her ears. The moment Devyani had spoken about her feelings, Anushka realized they were her feelings too. For the first time in her life, Anushka Shastri had fallen in love, only to lose him the moment she realized it. But then how could she rue for losing him because that promised her little sisters happiness. How could she be sad when two people she loved the most in this world had found happiness in each other.
"Anushka?" Devyani asked tentatively
"Devyani" Anushka said her voice faltering. "Why don't you wear my red lehanga. Its Rajats favourite color and he will not be able to take his eyes off you"
"I love you Anushka" said Devyani running around to hug her sister, her happiness knowing no bounds. Anushka hugged her finding solace in the warmth of a hug while her dreams shattered
_________________________
Devyani stood on the terrace filling oil in the unlit diyas that her sister had abandoned for helping Alka in the kitchen. She was wearing the red lehanga Anushka had worn moments earlier imagining the scene when she would meet Rajat Sir over and over in her mind.
"Anu?"
Her heart stopped. Rajat Sir was standing right behind her thinking she was Anu. She didn't turn around, wanting to hear what he had to say to Anushka. Secretly she crossed her fingers hoping he would confess his love for Devyani and knowing that once he did so she would turn around and hug him and then he would know that she is indeed Devyani.
"Anu, before Devyani interrupted the conversation, I wanted to tell you something. I know you might not be ready to hear this but it has to be said. I love you Anushka Shastri and I want to spend the rest of my life with you." He paused and took a deep breath. "No.. don't say anything now.. think about it. Take as much time as you want. I will wait for you. Forever if I have to."
With this she heard him walk away. The night hid the tears that rolled on her cheeks. The sound of his footsteps faded as another sound roared in her ears.. The sound that came as dreams shattered.
____________________________________________________
Devyani ran out of the house , not wanting anyone to see her tears. Running near a Cliffside spot a few minutes from her house, she broke down crying. Crying for the dream that died before it could live, the love that was unreturned. The sound of a broken twig stopped her and she slowly turned around and there was Neel, her best friend.
Running towards him, she threw herself into his arms sobbing into his chest.
"What is it, Devyani?" Neel asked concerned having never seen Devyani so heartbroken before.
She looked at him, lips trembling, eyes wet with tears, face red and puffy from crying and yet to him she was the most beautiful sight he had ever seen.
"I love Rajat Sir and I just realized that he loves Anu."
He held her to him as so many pieces began to fall into place. He had thought that Devyani had loved him when he had seen her writing Devani Sareen on his book. His belief had been confirmed when he saw her fasting on Karwa chauth. But it had been for Rajat. It had been Rajat all along.
Holding the love of his life in one hand he hit the back of his head with the other, shaking his head at his stupidity for his mad heart for being so gullible. That was all he could do for his pain was too deep for tears.
"Neel, Anushka will never say Yes to Rajat Sir till she thinks that I love him and will never love him if she knows that he has unknowingly broken my heart."
"So what will you do now?" neel asked quitely
"If I ask something from you will you support me."
He smiled
"Till my last breath." He replied.
She laughed through tears "Don't be so dramatic. I just want us to pretend to be in love so that Anushka thinks that I was just infatuated with Rajat Sir and that now I am in a serious relationship with you. So will you"
Neel was a little taken aback at his suggestion but he smiled again and got down on his knees.
"So will you be my pretend girlfriend Devyani Shastri?"
"Yes.." she replied breaking into a fresh set of tears. "Thankyou Neel. I don't know what I would have done without you"
He hugged her in return. I will make sure you never know Devyani' he thought.
His dreams were shattered but yet a hope lingered. He didn't want to build a lot on his hope but he couldn't help but wish that their relationship was real, that she had loved him and not his brother. He would be the best boyfriend he decided, even if it was all pretence. He would shower her with so much love that they would both forget the Diwali night when both their dreams had shattered.
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