Zaroori Tha

PART - 3

Niharika's cottage

Navya observes that through out the lunch Niharika is unusually silent . Even sometimes Manvi's cute antics also failed to bring a smile on her lips . Navya by the end of the lunc is sure that something is bothering her friend .

So after lunch , she opens the cartoon channel and asks Manvi to watch it .

Niharika is busy in the kitchen in washing the dirty utensils . Navya goes to her and put her hand on Niharika's shoulder to gain her attention .

" Navya what happens ? Do you need something ? " Niharika asks .

" Yes Nihu . We need to talk . Just leave all this and come with me . " Navya replies back .

" Are Navu I have works. " Niharika tries to avoid the " talking " as she very well understands that Navya is suspecting something .

" Nihu ... Works can be wait but this talk can't . So just come with me . " Navya replies back with a little no nonsence tone .

Niharika , without finding any way out , at last gives up and comes out with Navya . They both sit in the balcony , their favourite place .

" So tell me the matter ? " Navya , without beating around the bush , asks directly .

" What ? What matter ? " Niharika replies back without looking at her eyes .

" Niharika Khurana I can understand you little better than you think . So tell me what happened . And yes I want the truth . ' Navya answers back .

Niharika leaves a heavy sign and closes her eyes . She knows that now she needs to open up . As she can't lie in front of Navya .

" Navu .... Navu , Today I saw their pictures . They are getting engaged. " Niharika replies back in a broken voice .

" What ? Whose picture ? " Navya asks with confusion .

" Nachi ... I mean Nachiket ... He is getting engaged with Rhea . " Niharika replies back and breaks into tears.

Navya hugs her tightly and tries to calm her down .

" Nihu ..... Nihu .. please calm down . Everything will be okey . Please don't cry . " She says softly .

After sometimes Niharika gathers herself back and comes out from the hug .

" You know Navu , even after everything I still had some hopes that may be everything I saw that morning wasn't true. Maybe Rhea lied to me . Maybe Nachiket did it under influnce of alcohole . May be he will understand his mistakes and will come back to me . . But today this news just broke my every hope . Nachiket never loved me Navya . Nachiket Malhotra never loved me . " Niharika says without realising that she is telling Navya the biggest secret .

Till now Navya only knew that someone cheated her friend and the person is some Nachiket But she never thought that the Nachiket she taled about is actually the singing sensation The Nachiket Malhotra . .. As Niharika never told his full name to her . Suddenly something else to strike her .

" Accha Nihu ! You never told me what exactly happened ! Why did you leave everything ? Please Nandu tell me everything today . Maybe it will reduce your pain . " Navya replies back with a soft smile .

" Navya leaves it na ! What is the need to open up the old wounds ? " Niharika asks in a sad voice .

"Nihu you know in our life we all need a place to open up , to vent out our frustration , so tell me what happened that you suddenly left everything and came here ? " Navya answers back .

" Navya that time we , I mean Nachiket and me were in a relationship almost 2 years . We already living together by then and planned to get married as soon as possible . We wanted to keep our relationship a secret one as me did not want the media and others around us always . That time both of us was at the starting point of our career . Nachiket got is fame just then . Only bhai , I mean his secretary c*m best friend Cabir knew about us . Everything was going good , but suddenly .... " Niharika suddenly stops this point and closes her eyes tightly .

Navya can understand very clearly that it is becoming very painful for Khushi to discuss the matter more but still she wants her to say everything. So that her friend can feel little better .

" Then ? Then what happened Nhu ? " Navya wants to know .

" Then ? Then came that night which destroy everything . Which snatched my every happiness from me . That night was the premiere of my first ever movie where I got one noticeable . In which he was the lead singer .

That night we planned to announce about our relationship . As both of us were planning to take our relation in next level . I also felt slowly my dream was coming ture . As people started to notice me . Though I got the side role still the critics appricites my acting and even I got a new movie offer as lead .

Rhea, I mean Rhea Saxsena was the heroine of that movie . In a few days we really made a good bond . I started to think her as my friend . But later I came to know that everything was fake . She just wanted to have him ..

So that night after coming to the party I don't know why I was feeling very sick . The noise , the people gathering , those sounds were making me feel sick . I even vomited and my head was spinning . So I informed Nachiket and left early . For that, we couldn't disclose our relationship . So we postpond the plan . He wanted to come with me but that party was really important to his career . Our I mean Nachiket's penthouse was a little far from the venue so I decided to go to my old flat for that night . Then I didn't know that one night would change my life completely.

Next morning ... Next morning when I wake up , someone was ringing my bell . I though Nachiket came as he didn't find me in penthouse . I opened the door but there is no one . I though maybe someone is playing prank with me . But then my eyes fall on an envelope which was lying on my door stop . I took the envelope .. First I thought maybe it was some bill but then my curiosity led me to open it .

As soon as I opened the envelope I got a picture and that picture ... that picture just snatched the ground under my legs. " Niharika stops there and starts to cry .

" Sha.. Sha.. Nihu please stop crying. Please . Please .. ok leave it . You don't need to tell me anything . But stop crying . " Navya replies back and tries to calm her down .

" No .. No Navu .. I am fine . When today I start to open up , then I will finish the story today only . " Niharika replies back and wipes her tears .

" The picture was Nachiket and Rhea's . They were ... They were kissing each other. It was from last night party .

I was shocked by seeing this . Just couldn't understand what To do .. Nachiket , my Nachi ... How could he do it with me ? I was feeling like everything was snatching away from me . I felt like one part of mine was died . " Niharika says in broken voice .

Navya who by now is also in tears , asks " Nihu .. didn't you go and ask Nachiket ? Didn't you ?"

" Navu , I was afraid ... From the very beginning, I always felt that Nachiket was too good for me . I was afraid that if I asked Nachiket then maybe he would say that everything is true and he never loved me , then ? But still I decided to talk to him . So I went to our penthouse . I ranged the bell like a mad and after sometimes , Rhea .... Yes Rhea opened the door . She was in semi-nude possition . Only a bedsheet was wrapping around her body . Her expression and states were telling me clearly that my worst fear was true . Nachiket actually betry me . He never loved me . They both were together.

She then hugged me thigtly and told that Nachiket proposed her last night to be his girlfriend and she said yes . Then they did it . That was enough for me . I didn't dare to ask anything or met him . I got the prove which I want . So by giving a force smile , I left from there . I lost everything .. I lost my Niharika ... My lover and best friend and somehow I lost my existence too .

But the things I didn't know that it wasn't the end of my suffering . I was just going to enter my old house , but suddenly I felt my head was spinning and suddenly everything turned black . Then I didn't know anything .

When I got my sense back , I was admitted in the hospital . The doctor told me that I was 2 months pregnant. "Niharika finishes her story and covers her face with her hands.

Navya just doesn't know what to say more . She just can't believe that her friend went through so much in her life .. She just silently put her one hand on Nandini's shoulder .

Niharika grips her hand tightly and continue in a broken voice , " I was pregnant Navya ... I was pragnant with Manvi . The news, which could be the most happiest news of my life became my nightmares. I became an unmarried mother , whoes boyfriend ditched her with her bestfriend . Who is unwanted. I knew that my family will never accept me in this condition . And even I couldn't live in Mumbai , as everyone would call my child with names . How could I allowed it ? It was the result of our love , Manik's last gift to me . I toh loved him with my everything so how could I allow others to point their fingers towards that love ? So I did what I think best that time . I left Mumbai and rest toh you already know . "

" Niharika did you ever try to contact Nachiket after came to know that you were pregnant ? " Navya asks suddenly .

" No Navu .. I didn't think he deserve to know it and even I am sure he just didn't care . Maybe till now he forgets me . I am happy with my life here . I don't want him to know about my Manvi . " Niharika replies back .

" Still Nihu , I personally think you should talk with Nachiket , face to face once . Every story has two side Nihu .. You should talk with him atleast once . You just believed Rhea and went away ? " Navya replies back .

" But Navu , he is now ... He is now getting engaged with her . What more proofs needed ? " Niharika wants to know .

" Still .. Still Nihu , he deserves to know . He deserves to know about his child . Please think about it once . Please " Navya replies back with a soft smile .

Niharika just stays mum without saying anything . Her mind is too messed up to think anything . Navya understands her inner turmoil clearly by seeing her . So she decides to leave her alone to think .

" Nihu .. it is already evening . So I am taking your leave . Take care and don't think too much . Everything will be fine . Bye . Good night . " Navya says and hugs her to give some silent support .

" Good night Navya . Take care . " Niharika replies back with a soft smile .

Then Navya leaves from there with something in her mind .