A lot can happen over a coffee : Chapter 5

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It’s was beautiful day, with the sun shining brightly and a gentle breeze blowing.

Deepika tried to act as if the events of the previous night hadn't affected her and went about her usual routine at the office. She chose to ignore the missed calls and messages from Karthik. As the day progressed, she convinced herself that marriage wasn't meant for her. In an attempt to distract herself, she took on more work, but found herself easily distracted by thoughts of Karthik.

"I'm fine, I'm fine. I'll be okay," she repeated to herself, unaware that her colleagues could hear her. As soon as she realized that Jahnavi had overheard her, she fell silent. She headed to the cafeteria to grab a cup of coffee, thinking she had successfully managed to hide her inner turmoil. However, Jahnavi could sense that something was off with her. She followed Deepika in the cafeteria and sat across from her. Deepika confided Jahnavi about what happened with Karthik the previous night.

Jahnavi gave her friend a reassuring smile. "It's okay, Deepika. It's natural to have mixed feelings in a situation like this."

Deepika let out a deep sigh. "I just don't know what to do. I don't want to ruin our relationship, but I can't deny how I feel about him."

Deepika had always been a fiercely independent woman, focusing all her time and energy on herself and her career. Love was never a part of her life plan, as she was afraid of getting hurt. She had built a protective shield around herself, and the idea of being vulnerable to someone else scared her.

When Karthik entered her life, she wasn't ready for a relationship. She believed that love and caring for someone should come naturally, without any effort. And while being with Karthik did feel effortless, she was still afraid to let her guard down and fall in love with him. The thought of being emotionally invested in someone else made her feel exposed and vulnerable, and it was a feeling she wasn't quite sure she was ready for.

Jahnavi nodded in understanding. "Have you talked to Karthik about how you feel?"

Deepika shook her head. "No, I haven't. I don't even know if he feels the same way."

Jahnavi put her hand on Deepika's shoulder. "Maybe it's time to have a conversation with him. You never know what could happen. And even if things don't work out romantically, you both have a strong enough friendship to get through it."

As they finished their coffee, Jahnavi suggested to talk to Karthik and find out where they stood. Deepika didn’t say a word, but just held Jahnavi‘s eyes.

Jahnavi spoke expressing her concern, "You've always wanted to prove that love doesn't exist, and you believe there are more important things in life than falling in love and getting married. But by doing so, you're missing out on the beautiful things right in front of you. Trust me, if you don't value them, they will be gone and you'll regret it for the rest of your life."

Deepika felt Jahnavi's words hit her hard. She knew deep down that Jahnavi was right. She had been so focused on her own independence and career that she had closed herself off to the possibility of love. But now, with Karthik in her life, she couldn't deny the feelings she had.

Tears started streaming down Deepika's face as she realized how much she had been pushing away. She was scared, but she knew that she didn't want to lose Karthik.

"You're right, Jahnavi. I need to give this a chance. I need to let myself love and be loved. I don't want to lose Karthik," Deepika said, wiping away her tears.

Jahnavi gave her a warm hug and said, "I'm glad you see it now. Love can be scary, but it can also be the most beautiful thing in the world."

"But what if it ends up being a failed relationship? I see broken and unhappy marriages all around my friend's circle. Relationships are always painful, and they're only good at the beginning. Even in novels and movies, love stories don't have the same impact anymore. Gone are the days of true love. Our generation wants different things, and they're not ready for commitments or love."

Jahnavi interrupted her, saying, "Stop with your foolish philosophies and trust issues. True love only happens once, and the second time is always a compromise."

"Please spare me the forwarded quotes," Deepika replied.

Jahnavi urged Deepika to trust Karthik, telling her that while there may be many reasons not to be with him, there is only one reason to be with him - love. She could sense Deepika's love for Karthik in her eyes and in the way she spoke about him, and believed that Karthik loved Deepika deeply as well. Jahnavi implored Deepika not to let go of Karthik and to overcome her fear of starting a new chapter with him before it was too late.

Deepika was quiet for a long time because, it was too late now… she had already sent a message to Karthik ending their relationship before she arrived at the cafeteria. The message read: 
 "Dear Karthik, you are an amazing and compassionate person who deserves the best in life. Please know that my decision to end our relationship has nothing to do with how I feel about you. Any woman would be lucky to have you in her life. Take care." 

To which Karthik never replied…

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