Page 127 of Reckless Dare

She looked into his eyes searching. “I hope this isn’t another game. Another one of your dares.”

“No,” he replied quietly. “It isn’t another dare. I promise you won’t see me again.”

Oh God. “P-pooja. W-where is he?”

“At the airport. Go there soon! I know I haven’t been a good friend to you, but I really hope you and Abhi end up together. Go stop him, Ava!”

“Thanks, Pooja,” she whispered before ending the call.

She was shaking all over. Is that what he meant when he said she would never see him? She had assumed that he was referring to them not being in the same class and no longer being paired in the drama class, but not this.

Letting out a sob, she ran out of the gym looking around for someone who could take her to the airport. She thought of his cousins. She dialed Rana’s number in hopes of reaching Abhi through him, but the call ended immediately.

She could imagine his cousin not wanting to talk to her, but she continued to call back and on the tenth time, he finally answered. “Stop calling me. I have no interest in talking to you.”

“Rana, please,” she begged. “I want to talk to Abhi. Tell him not to leave. Please!” The other end of the line was silent. “I love Abhi. I—” Her voice broke into a sob.

There was a sigh. “It’s too late, Ava. The flight just took off.”

“No!” Her heart ached and felt like it was breaking into pieces all over again.

She ended the call and started going out of the gym.

I have to see him and talk to him. He cannot leave!

She decided to follow him to his home. She would be in trouble as she hadn’t taken the permission from the university administration. But she didn’t care at that point. She had to reach Abhi. She called the transportation and placed a request to be picked up from the point nearest to her housing unit.

She quickly ran there and waited. Ten minutes later, she saw a vehicle approaching.

It stopped in front of her.

“Please, I-I need a ride to the airport urgently.” She wiped her tears away and that’s when she saw the person in the driver’s seat. Neeraj Batra.

*****

Abhi looked out of the private jet window as he headed home.

He still hadn’t told his parents about his decision to leave Simha University. He had only told Neela madam. He had seen the shock in the older woman’s eyes when he told her about what transpired between him and Ava. He had told the dean about his behavior and also that he could no longer stay at Simha as the student council president.

Neelima Raj surprisingly didn’t look disappointed in him.

“Your mother told me about what you thought of Vaishu’s death until now. I know circumstances make people behave in a certain way. You are not that person anymore, Abhi. If you choose to return to Simha, the doors will always be open.”

He didn’t want to leave Simha. But seeing the hurt and anger in Ava’s eyes as she begged him to leave her alone, he knew he would only cause her further pain if he stayed.

The thought of not seeing her again made him want to break something. His heart ached that he would no longer get to see her, or touch her or even kiss her. He would no longer get to see her sweet smiles or see her beautiful face during passion.

His eyes fell shut as he gritted his teeth against the pain he felt.

How can I stay without her?

He loved her too much to imagine a life being away from her.

What will she do if I show up and be around her until she listens?

Even if she were to slap him every time she saw him until her anger died down, he was ready to endure it.

He had wanted to give her the space and respect her wishes, but knowing she also loved him, he knew she had to be as miserable as he was.

---