The cool breeze brushed against Rajeev's face as the birds' cheerful melodies filled the air—it was already morning. Perched on the rooftop, he had lost track of time, the night quietly slipping away without his notice.
In an instant, a torrent of questions inundated Rajeev's mind, each one clamoring for his attention. Should he have revealed his feelings to Ragini? Doubt gnawed at him, the uncertainty gnashing like teeth within. A night spent wrestling with his thoughts had left Rajeev in a state of contemplative exhaustion. For in the realm of emotions, the fear of losing a cherished friendship can cut even deeper than the sharpest wounds.
But why did Rajeev find himself in the midst of such turmoil? It was no secret among their college peers that the bond between Rajeev and Ragini surpassed the boundaries of ordinary friendship. Their connection often carried the enchanting whispers of a love story, heard in the corridors and noted in glances exchanged.
Rajeev's entanglement in this emotional labyrinth had begun months ago, a scene etched vividly in his memory. A memory that played out as Ragini arrived, tardy yet captivating, to the bustling pharmaceutical laboratory. "I'm famished," Ragini had confided in Rajeev, her voice betraying hunger's urgency. "I left home so quickly I didn't even get to eat!"
With a playful grin, Rajeev retorted, "You're insatiable!" A gentle laughter followed, then he immersed himself in his scientific tasks. The practical world consumed his attention.
Minutes danced by, accompanied by the voice of Jyoti ma'am. "Kids, hurry and complete your experiments. I'll be there in 15 minutes," she called. A gleam of delight sparked in Ragini's eyes—her heart leapt. "I'll grab a bite before ma'am comes. Let me know when lab ends!" she shared with Rajeev.
He, too, was in agreement. Closing the distance between them, Rajeev asked, "Lunch plans today? Paratha with potato and cauliflower?" A nod from Ragini sealed the deal, and Rajeev returned to his spot, engrossed in the flavors of her meal.
Intriguingly, the arrival of Jyoti ma'am marked a shift in the scene. Ragini was beckoned to the front, Rajeev remained in the background. The question that soon followed resonated through the lab, "And who was with you? Rajeev," ma'am inquired, causing Ragini to stumble over her words as she tried to respond.
Instructed to step outside, they found themselves on either side of the lab door. The silence that hung between them was broken by playful gestures, exchanged in a dance of camaraderie.
On both sides of the laboratory door, they stand, engaging in light-hearted banter through gestures. After a brief exchange of smiles and jokes, they entertain each other. Then, after a moment of silence, Rajeev notices Ragini standing with her face turned away, wiping tears from her eyes. Concerned, he walks over and asks her, "What happened to you?"
As Ragini looks at him with a sad expression, Rajeev notices her eyes are red as if she had been crying a lot, and her tears hadn't stopped even then. "What's wrong all of a sudden?" Rajeev inquires.
"It's because of me that you got into trouble too," Ragini replies anxiously. "Due to a misunderstanding, your name was called out during roll call when the teacher hadn't even seen you eating."
Since that day, Rajeev's feelings for Ragini had grown beyond friendship. One day, the delicate thread of their friendship snapped, and Rajeev confessed to Ragini, "Ragini, I've fallen in love with you!" Hearing this, Ragini didn't respond and left without a word.
Some relationships are so fragile that a slight pull can break the thread, and perhaps this was about to happen between Rajeev and Ragini. Rajeev's phone rings, bringing him out of his thoughts. He sees a message from Ragini, clearly stating, "Rajeev, maybe there's no strength left in our friendship anymore. Even though you know that I love someone else and you never even considered proposing to me."
Since that message, neither Rajeev nor Ragini attempted to talk to each other. Sometimes, we lose some special relationships due to tangled emotions. This is the reason Rajeev and Ragini turned from friends to strangers in an instant.
