The Inseparable

"Simmi, your cell is ringing, it is Arhaan", her cousin shouted.

Simmi was looking at her blurred reflection in the mirror standing in the washroom. Her eyes were red with hours of crying, some glints of tears still escaped the corners of her eyes. She finally wiped those tiny dazzling drops and gathered all her courage. She picked up her phone which was ringing for the last half an hour.

"Simmi, Where are you? You know we have been waiting here for an hour." Arhaan was furious.

"Sorry, I woke up late today." She tried hard to keep her tone calm.

"Are you fine?" He sensed a flutter in her voice.

"Yes I am fine and I’ll be there in 10 minutes" She hung up immediately to let the tears make their way out

She took an auto and left for the place where Arhaan was waiting. With every passing second her heart beat increased. She knew that with every passing moment she was getting closer to losing him forever.

"So finally you're here. I am blessed" Arhaan said in a sarcastic tone. Simmi took her place on the table where they both were sitting, Arhaan and Siya.

"Shut up Arhaan, She must have been busy. Don’t tease her" Siya said. She was holding his hands. Simmi replied with a faded smile.

"So Simmi, here is the person you wanted to meet, Siyamy love" Arhaan introduced Siya by sliding his hand around her shoulder.

Simmi forwarded her hand to Siya, Hi, I am Simmi.

Siya shook hands saying "Yes I know you well, you are Arhaan's bestie"

After a few minutes of awkward silence Siya broke the ice. "You still love him right?" Siya asked Simmi was taken aback with this question and looked straight into her eyes, trying to read her mind. This question tore her apart completely. Her past came flooding back, memories of their time together started floating in front of her eyes and left her nostalgic.

Arhaan had proposed her three years back. She was on cloud 9 that day. The guy she was silently in love with for the past eight months had finally proposed her. Their relationship was like a fairytale. Everything was perfect. Simmi used to take care of him like a mother. Arhaan was so lucky to have her and for Simmi, her happiness knew just one word "Arhaan".

However, destiny always has a role to play. Their relationship started suffering from complications. Simmi tried hard to save their relation but Arhaan was not mature enough to cross the hurdles of their love. He had somehow decided that Simmi was not the right girl for him. Misunderstandings and distances crept in their relation. Simmi knew that it was just his immaturity and he was sure that he can be much happier without her. Things were getting worse day by day and finally Simmi had to give up because of frustration, his abusive language, his insecurities and his uncontrollable anger. She did not want her love to be turned into hatred. They broke up but deep inside Simmi had a hope that he'll come back, for her love, for his promises and for their togetherness.

After three months of break up, Arhaan called Simmi and wanted her back, but only as a friend. Simmi's love for Arhaan did not lessen a bit. No matter what, she wanted to be there for Arhaan. She was ready to bury her feelings for Arhaan, just to be there for him, and tagged herself as Arhaan's bestie.

Siya’s nudge brought her back to the table. "Answer me Simmi, do you still love him?" Siya asked again in a stern tone. Simmi was good at hiding her feelings. After all she was doing it for months!

"No Siya, it’s just that Arhaan told me about you just two days back. So it was a little surprising for me. He never mentioned anything about you before" Simmi succeeded in hiding her feelings.

 "Actually I forbade him to do so, but since you are shifting to Kolkata today, he wanted me to meet you before you leave". Siya said is a very fast monotonic voice, as she she was reading a script she had learnt by heart.

Simmi nodded and faked a smile.

"Here comes the food, now please take a break from your never ending chit chat and let us fill our bellies. Siya, my love here is you cheese burger with your favourite coffee." Arhaan pushed the plate towards Siya.

"Simmi, here is your". Before Arhaan could finish, Simmi interrupted. “Arhaan, I need to go, I have to leave tonight and I haven’t packed thing.” She said in a hurried tone.

"But Simmi, at least have some food." Arhaan insisted.

"No Arhaan, please try to understand, I am getting late" Simmi said standing up to.

There was a long silent moment when Simmi and Arhaan kept looking at each other

Arhaan broke the silence, “Fine, Happy journey and good luck for your future. Stay blessed Simmi" he hugged her for one last time.

Simmi wouldn’t regret this, even if this was the last moment of her life, for she would be dying in Arhaan's embrace and that was her dream.

"All the best Simmi, good luck" Siya too hugged her.

"Take care of this idiot, bye" She left, leaving all her hopes behind. She left for never looking back. She had to move on from now, for Arhaan's sake and for his happiness, little did she know that she was his happiness!

"She really loves you Arhaan" Siya said looking at her disappearing silhouette.  

"I know and I love her too. But some stories have no ending Siya. I can't let her come in my life again, just to hurt her to and break her again. She loved me with all her heart and what did I do? I broke her heart. I can't change Siya. I am what I am. My anger, my insecurities can never let her be happy and I can't see her suffer anymore. Thanks a lot for coming Siya. I owe this to you." Arhaan’s voice faded away in that room full of banter.

"Don say thanks Arhaan, but I wish I could tell her that it is opposite of what she thought, that she is your love and I am your friend" Siya put her hand on his shoulder.

"No Siya, I had to break her completely before she starts her new life, she will be fine, I know my Simmi is strong” Arhaan fell on his knees and broke into a sob.

He was still looking at the gate, as if Simmi might come back, but she had left, never to return again.