She sat on the couch, holding a glass of wine, lost in thought about her next story. The party was almost over when someone called her name from behind.
“Vartika?”
It was her friend, Alisha.
“Why are you sitting here alone? And where’s your man?” Alisha asked.
Vartika smiled and pointed toward the corner where a group of people stood, laughing.
“I’ll never understand you,” Alisha said, lowering her voice. “How can you never feel jealous?”
“No, why should I?” Vartika replied calmly. “People get jealous when they’re afraid of losing someone. But I don’t feel that way. I know he loves me the way he looks at me… Ah, that looks like I can feel it. And anyway, this is what happens when you date a handsome man.” She winked.
Amandeep Singh was Vartika’s boyfriend. He was tall, well-built, and quietly good-looking—the kind of presence people noticed without him trying. Even in college, his decency and kindness stood out. Vartika, on the other hand, was confident and striking at 5’7″. There was something about her energy that made people stop and look. Her directness intimidated most boys, but not Amandeep. College was where they first fell in love.
“And what if he leaves you someday?” Alisha asked.
“It’s possible,” Vartika said. “Falling out of love is normal. Love is a feeling, and feelings are temporary. You can’t force someone to stay. If they want to leave, they will with or without your permission. Honestly, I don’t want anyone in my life who doesn’t belong there. If someone doesn’t love me, it’s better they leave. It’ll hurt, yes… but leaving is still better than cheating.”
Alisha sighed. “When did you land on this planet?”
Vartika chuckled, and the two burst into laughter.
Also read this: The Fall of Faith
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