love, hatred, friendship....we think and believe them as our life but the fact is that they are just a 'part of life. life not always what we have imagined or wished for. to love someone and to be loved a bliss as all say. But the end of all love stories is not always happy. everyone will fall in love at least once in their lifetime. but whether their love will last forever or lost forever, no one can predict that.

Kshitija with her efforts got selected for C university for engineering in S city. her parents were happy about her at the same time they worried that she has stayed in the hostel all alone. and maybe humiliated.

they are worried that Kshitija may not be able to take care of herself. as the enrollment day neared their worries became more obvious.

"Why don't we let her stay with Kshira," said Kshitija's mother while having dinner.

" she had been there before, and kanishk and kshira took good care of her while she was staying there" she added.

Kshitija's father finds it as a good option. said said 'hmm' while shaking his head in agreement.

"I will talk to them tomorrow it would be better to let Kshitija stay with her sister "

listening to this both mother and daughter became happy. but the reason for Kshitija's happiness was different. Kshitija can't hide her joy of staying near to the person she liked for two whole years.

kshira and Kanishk were married for five years now. Kanishk is a college lecturer and Kshira been a housewife. they are living alone in S city.

kanishk was always worried about kshira being alone at home and missing her family. so whenever Kshitija had holidays he would ask her to send over to accompany his wife. would also help her with her studies.

Two years ago when Kshitija was in 10th grade she went to her sister's house for winter vacation. she met a guy named Ajinkya. He was one of Kanishk's students. he used to live with his parents downstairs Kshira's house.

Ajinkya is to come to her brother-in-law to ask him to help with his studies. he was a brilliant student and had a joyful nature. His bright side caught Kshitija's heart within few days.

she then visited her sister next summer vacation. but she wasn't able to see Ajinkya as before. she heard from her brother-in-law that ajinkya was helping his father's business.

she could see him every morning playing cricket on the ground behind their house. And see him leave with his father. they are to return very late at night. Sometime when they returned Kshitija would have already fallen asleep.

She visited her sister next summer. but the instances she could see ajinkya were even less than the previous time. Ajinkya busied himself with his college and his father's business.

On the next holidays, Kshitija refused to visit her sister. she put her all concentration on studying. she thought for herself if she could enter the same university as Ajinkya's she would be able to see him every day.

Kshitija tried all her best to get herself into C university. now not only she entered the same university as him but also could live near to him.

she was so happy that she was jumping into her room.

in few days Kshitija and her father left for S city.

before they leave Kshitija's mother gave an earful of good lectures, like how to be careful in the city, to study hard, to help her sister with housework. also reminded her not to behave like a child in university or at home...and more importantly......not to be too close with the opposite gender.

Kshitija didn't bother about her mother's words. all she wanted is to go to S city and meet ajinkya.

while sitting on the bus she recalled how she first met ajinkya.

2 year ago,,,,,,,,,,

Kshitija sitting beside the dining table hitting her head hard as she was stuck on a maths problem that was hard to understand.

She hoped her brother-in-law to come early and help her with her studies. She deliberately looking towards the door.

while she was immersed in her thoughts a guy carrying a bag of his brother-in-law entered and he put a bag of her brother-in-law, as well as a vegetable bag in front of her.

she lifts her head up to see her brother-in-law, but to her surprise, it was a guy who was wearing the same uniform as Knisksh's college.

she gave him a disappointed look and put her head again in her book.

Ajinkya felt it was slightly interesting and observed what she was doing . with just a glance he realized that she was using the wrong formula to solve the problem. he took a pen and problem sheet from her hand and solve a problem for her within a few seconds and tapped on her head with a pen before returning it to her.

she became even more frustrated and snatched the pen back with an angry face. when she looked at the sheet it was solved correctly and step by step. she looked at the boy whose eyes were like teasing her. she turned her head away from him again.

'Ajinkya !!'

called kshira while carrying dry clothes in her hand.

'are you here for kanishk? he is not back yet!'

'"no Vaini*(*used to address sister-in-law in the Kannada language)\, I'm here to deliver his bag and these vegetables . he is discussing something with my father."

Ohh!!

kshira observed dissatisfaction on Kshitija's face. she didn't know ajinkya was teasing her previously. she thought Kshitija was troubled because she can't solve those problems by herself.

" Ajinkya,,, if you are free now, would you mind teaching her how to solve these problems??"

ha??

Kshitija thought this guy is totally interested in making fun of her and she doesn't even want to stay near him.

*"Akka...."**( *a word used to address elder sister)

Kshitija wanted to refuse, before she could complete her sentence Ajinkya said in loud voice.

" it is my pleasure to help your sister "

[who are you shouting at, so loud]

" and it's been long since I had snack cooked by my Vaini* "

Kshitija rolled her eyes at him. does this guy even know what shame is?

"ok...ok...

you tutor her, I'll prepare some snacks for you both. "

kshira went to the kitchen carrying a vegetable bag.

Kshitija never hoped for him to be serious. But she was surprised to see how good he was at solving those problems with ease and good at tutoring also. she no more reluctant to him . she paid attention to whatever he was saying.

he taught her for more than one hour. He showed her some easy methods to solve problems as well as to memorize formulas. She was not a lazy person, to begin with. more new methods he introduced to her more excited she became.

she was surprised to see how a frivolous guy like him can be this good at studying. she started to admire him.

after that, she became more used to his teaching. she voluntarily goes to him asks for his help, not only in maths but in other subjects too. he would help her and tease her to his fullest too whenever he had a chance. but she was no more irritated by his actions.

Kanishk came to the bus station to bring them both home. After entering building blocks Kshitija first looked for Ajinkya. When she didn't see his motorbike at its usual parking spot she felt sad in her heart, but solace herself by thinking he might have gone to help his father.

She half-heartedly paced to her sister's apartment.

"Paapu...."

Before she enters the house, Ajinkya's mother called her with her eyes full of surprise. They lived a floor below her sister's house. It was common for them to run into each other.

"Paapu, how have you been? It's been long since I saw you..." said Ajinkya's mother gently patting her head. Kshitija's face flushed red.

Previously she hated this nickname "paapu( means toddler)" a lot. It was ajinkya who named her so, as she always been clinging to her sister. He always teased her by calling toddler or lackey. Because she always followed her sister as tail wherever she goes.

But now whenever she was called so, Ajinkya's voice would ring in her mind make her face flush red and a faint yet charming smile would appear on her face. now the person who was addressing her so was Ajinkya's mother pace of her heart was also fast.

"I'm fine auntie, how are you? and everyone at home (and ajinkya)??" asked Kshitija controlling his emotions.

At this moment auntie's expressions were a bit troubled but Ksitija was unable to read them. aunty patted her head wished her good luck with her Successful entrance into college. and went downstairs without turning back.

Kshitija still wanted to ask more about Ajinkya. She entered home dropping her head down.

she was longing to see him.

It was already late night when they finished their dinner. After chatting for a while everyone went to their respective room to sleep. Kshitija looked at the time before she turned to her room. It was already past 10 but ajinkya has not returned yet.

She went to her room. she was lying on the bed twisting and turning and was unable to even take a wink. From time to time she would straighten her ear so that she could hear Ajinkya's motorbike enter the apartment building.

It was not till 12: 30 am when she heard his motorbike horn. she felt a current of joy in all her body. but her heart shuddered the next moment. she heard a clear sound of motorbike go out of balance and was sure that rider clashed on something and fell. Her heart skips a beat. She ran out of her room. she wanted to go and see him.

A contretemps was so loud that everyone at home was awake too. Kanishk was the first one to go downstairs and helped Ajinkya. By the time Ajinkya's mother also came and she dragged him towards their home. Kshitija was standing on the stairs, she saw a wound on his knee and elbow and also a strong smell of alcohol coming from his body.

Kshitija knew Ajinkya was not someone who would drive casually and cause trouble. She remembers him saying that alcohol is not good for health and one should never drink more than what he can handle. But today he was completely wasted. His eyes were dizzy not focusing on anything properly. He walked in a crooked manner as his mother dragged him forward.

She wanted to go and help but she was unable to move after she heard what his mother saying.

Ajinkya's mother cursing a girl. Calling that girl a jinx and reason for his every misfortune. She cursed that girl to disappear from the city as soon as possible.

Kshitija felt as if someone pinched her heart hard. She was unable to come up with the possibilities that made him change so much. And what kind of girl is that can cause him to lose all his senses.