Ishq by chance - where it all began

"Mood swings ka reason pata hai?", Yuvraj asked and dropped into the seat beside him.

But vihaan didn't responded and dropped his head on the table.

"Bhai, tujhe kuch pata hai Navya ke baare mein?" Yuvraj asked, breaking the silence.

Vihaan frowned. "Kya matlab? Uske baare mein kya pata hona chahiye?"

Yuvraj leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "Tujhe lagta hai na ki tu usse judge kar raha hai ya bas usual banter chal raha hai, but tere ek comment ka us par kya impact hota hai, tu soch bhi nahi sakta."

"Seedhe point pe aana, Yuvraj," Vihaan said, growing impatient.

"Tujhe pata hai, main Navya ke ghar ke paas rehta hoon, right?" Yuvraj started, his tone unusually serious.

Vihaan nodded, his interest piqued.

"Uski maa kaafi saal pehle guzar gayi thi. Tab wo sirf 8 saal ki thi," Yuvraj said quietly. "Aur jab se uski maa gayi hai, uske papa bas apne kaam mein busy rehte hain. Navya ke saath almost koi bond nahi hai unka. And she mostly stays alone and doesn't like to bond with anyone, I have heard my mother talking about her."

Vihaan stared at him, stunned. "Kya?"

Yuvraj nodded. "Tu notice karega to samajh jayega. Woh apne aap sab kuch handle karti hai. Ghar pe kisi se apne emotions ko share karne ka option nahi hai uske paas. Aur school mein wo bas mask pehne rakhti hai - confident, witty, carefree. Par andar se... woh bilkul akeli hai, but does not tell anything to anyone."

Vihaan sank back into his chair, guilt washing over him. "Mujhe yeh sab nahi pata tha..."

"Exactly. Toh jab tune library mein woh baat boli thi na - 'Tumhari mummy tumhe kaise jhelti hongi' - tujhe idea bhi hai woh kitni hurt hui hogi?" Yuvraj's voice was filled with disappointment.

Vihaan ran a hand through his hair, his expression remorseful. "Mujhse yeh sab galti se ho gaya,I didn't mean it... Main bas usual Navya-Vihaan wali banter kar raha tha."

Yuvraj shook his head. "Bhai, yeh koi normal ladki nahi hai. Tu samajh - woh usse zyada chhupane ki koshish karti hai jitna tu soch sakta hai. Agar tu genuinely sorry hai, toh jaake usse sorry bol."

Vihaan nodded slowly. "Teri baat sahi hai. Mujhe Navya se baat karni chahiye."

Yuvraj smirked. "Aur please, jab baat kare na, thoda subtle rehna. Tu apni awkwardness mein usse aur annoy mat kar dena."

Vihaan groaned. "Thanks for the advice Mere bhai. Chal ab tu apna lecture bandh kar aur mujhe handle karne de."

------

Navya sat in the farthest corner of the library, her head buried in a book, but her thoughts were far from the words on the page.

"Navya," Vihaan's hesitant voice broke through her trance.

She didn't look up. "Vihaan, main busy hoon. Agar script ke liye aaye ho, toh ab akele hi complete kar lena."

Vihaan pulled up a chair and sat down across from her. "I'm not here for the script. Main tumse sorry bolne aaya hoon."

Her fingers tightened around the book, but she still didn't meet his gaze. "Kis cheez ke liye?"

"Kal maine library mein jo bola... mujhe nahi pata tha, Navya. Tumhari maa ke baare mein. Agar mujhe pata hota, main kabhi aisa nahi bolta." His voice was soft, sincere.

Navya finally looked up, her eyes glassy but steady. "Vihaan, tumhe pata hona chahiye tha ya nahi, isse kya farak padta hai? Tumhare words hamisha itne harsh kyun hote hain?"