Hello everyone! Thank you so much for the love the story is receiving!! We finally get to the phase of the story where Kunj reveals his hidden wounds to Twinkle in this episode, and I’ve been looking forwards to it for so long! Happy reading!
Twinj: My Lifeline: Episode 82
A quick recap: Kunj remains troubled by his act of snapping connections with Krish and just broods all day long, turning down all of Twinkle’s attempts to make him feel better. When he overhears the entire ordeal later, things only worsen and he breaks down in front of her.
“You wouldn’t know how this feels, Twinkle! I see the bond you share with Yuvraj and Chinki, it’s all that I could ever want, and more! In fact, I had it, with Krish! And then he chose to ditch me, to destroy our friendship over so many years so that he could quickly climb up the ladder, not once looking back! I believed him then, and was left with nothing but disappointment; let’s say that wasn’t my fault. Wasn’t I a fool to let him in again?” Kunj was saying as Twinkle gently ran her fingers through his hair, not once stopping him from speaking. She had realized that he had probably hidden away this ordeal in some corner of his heart for years now, and badly needed to vent all his pent-up frustration and disappointment. She knew every word he spoke was true too. She had been extremely lucky in terms of friendship, she could trust Yuvi and Chinki with her life. She also knew Kunj didn’t have any other friends, so it was only fair that he seemed so broken right then.
“Maybe a little your fault this time.” She said, and heard him sigh. “I should have just listened to you!” He regretted for what seemed like the hundredth time that day, and she shook her head. “We all make mistakes, Kunj. You don’t have to be so harsh on yourself for this. Besides, I had no idea you and Krish were so close back in college. Perhaps I would have done the same as you. I only insisted that you don’t work with him because of what he did back then. You had looked so unlike yourself for weeks after that.” She justified for both of them and he pulled back to look at her. “What?” She asked softly, analyzing his expression.
“Did you just tell me that you stared at me in college for long enough to know what was ‘unlike myself’?” He broke his silence after letting the fear flicker in eyes for a minute. She blinked at him. Once. Twice. And then he received a hard smack on his head, making him giggle a little. He had to admit, it felt good to be laughing after all that had transpired. “One, that was a stupid scare, Kunj Sarna. And two, I should never have said that. Third, I will never ever tell you any more stories from our college days. Also, did I mention that I hate you?” She blabbered while he watched in amusement. God, he loved her so much! Just as much as he loved to annoy her, and so, “This is just unbelievable! A stalker! That’s what you are!” His tone was gentle, teasing and just enough to make her glare at him. She rolled her eyes at that, leaning away from him and crossing her arms before her. “Oh come on, Twinkle Sarna. It’s nothing to be embarrassed of!” He continued, ending in laughter. She smiled at him, glad that he looked so much better then, but perhaps, just from her watchful eyes, he was reminded of all that he had just been through, for the light in his eyes disappeared just as quickly as it had appeared.
“Kunj…” Twinkle began, but she didn’t know how she should be taking the conversation ahead, so she just looked at him looking at her, hoping he would get the gist. But Kunj Sarna was a thick head in such matters. He raised his eyebrows at her unknowingly, and then returned to bending his head, threateningly close to losing himself in his sorrows yet again. That’s when she knew she had to say it, even if he wouldn’t take it too well initially. “Kunj, listen to me for a minute, please?” She tried again, and when she was sure she had his entire attention – which was forced by her fingers under his chin, but besides that issue – she spoke, “I’m sorry to be saying this, Kunj, I really am. But it appears you don’t really know what it is like to have a real friend. And by this, I mean that Krish was never the loyal, true friend that you claim him to be!” Kunj appeared offended at that and narrowed his eyes at her. “Just hanging out with someone for a long time doesn’t make them your friend, Kunj. Those people are only what you would call your ‘acquaintances’. You know them, you might even use their contacts for your purposes, but they will never be the ones that’ll fight a battle for you when you need them. They won’t risk their everything if they feel it’s going to do you good without even telling you. Because these are things that a real friend would do!” She elaborated, letting out a breath she didn’t even know she was holding in.
“Like you did.” Kunj whispered a moment later, and she wasn’t sure if she was dreaming or he had actually said that. “Huh?” She asked, just to be sure. “Like you did.” He repeated himself, clearer this time. “Every single time. And I kept crying that I had no friends, while you were here for me all along. My best friend in all terms!” She smiled at him, her eyes welling up. Although that wasn’t what she had meant when she was exposing the façade that Krish’s friendship had been, she felt a spurge of happiness in her at that. “If you say so.” She said nevertheless, faking modesty. She grinned at him as he chuckled, letting her eyes linger on him. “Krish was right about one thing though, you know?” Kunj said out of the blue, but Twinkle was quick enough to spot the smirk on his lips. “I married a fan girl! How cliché is that?” He said, hardly making to the end of that before he burst out laughing. “Oh really, Kunj Sarna?” She challenged him, and he nodded quickly, curious to see how she would react. “Fine then, don’t blame me later when you start seeing the consequences of this!” She huffed and stood up, glaring at him one last time before turning around and beginning to walk away.
“No! I was only kidding!” He called after her, and she bit back a smile, pretending to ignore him. He knew he would have to face the cold treatment; it was her go to method for getting back at him. But he wouldn’t be able to take any of that, not that day at least. “Twinkleeee!” He pleaded, and she turned back to him at once, surprising him. Had she actually given in so easily? He figured out for himself soon. She hadn’t. In fact, she seemed to be worried about something. “How is all this going to affect your career, Kunj? Will it be bad?” She blurted out, although she appeared to have put in a lot of thought at this one. He looked at her blankly, unaware of the answer himself. She was right. This was what he would have easily labeled a ‘do or die’ project for him, but not once had he considered it while shooing away Krish, or even after that. His eyes returned to Twinkle and he felt his mouth go dry. She was looking at him hopefully. How was he going to tell her that this could prove to be a disastrous decision? “We’ll see.” He said simply instead, and she nodded understandingly, forgetting all about her fake anger and act of pretending to go away.
“Twinkle! I’m pretty sure it’ll be just fine. Even if not, Ma and Papa, or Leela Ma for that matter won’t disown us. Don’t worry!” He said as light-heartedly as he could when she stood still for longer than usual. And he hadn’t even ‘statue’d her yet, his mind prompted. When in normal circumstances he would have burst out laughing at what he thought was his commendable sense of humour, he shook it off, for the look on Twinkle’s face was a clear indication that she wasn’t ready for any more of his stupid jokes. “I’m not worried about that, Kunj! I know our parents are always here for us, I’m worried for you!” She pointed out and he cast a soft look at her. Because he knew that already. He was only trying to make the mood lighter. But it appeared she wasn’t done yet. “But you have to be all dramatic about it, don’t you?” She taunted. However, he was ready with a comeback for that. “I can’t be taking any chances, you know? You are the very same person who walked out of this house because Alisha asked you to, not even hearing me out!”
Kunj laughed as Twinkle opened her mouth to say something but closed it immediately. “Ooh, Mrs. Sarna doesn’t know what to say to that?” He asked, annoying her. “Stop it, Kunj! I was actually concerned and discussing an important issue, but you are just impossible!” She said, completely ignoring his question. “It was hard the last time Krish caused a chaos, it might be hard now.” He said finally, letting her in on his thoughts. She smiled a moment later, but it still looked forced. Not that Kunj didn’t know the cure for that though. “I’m actually hoping it’ll be better this time, given the fact that I’ve had a few good years in this field so far…” He informed her, sounding as optimistic as his words claimed. “… and I’m also counting on you not leaving my side when we might hit a rough ground.” He said just as she had sighed in relief, winking at her. “I’m not leaving even if you ask me to, Kunj.” She hit back, looking right into his eyes, and he smiled.
“Besides, it appears as though someone has forgotten, they hadn’t told me they wanted me to stay when Alisha asked me to leave either.” She teased just as he had leaned closer to her, laughing when he slumped his head against her shoulder at her remark. “I wasn’t sure what you felt for me!” He tried to defend himself, quickly adding, “You were so bent upon being only my best friend and making all the sacrifices in the world for my sake after all!” She cringed at that reminder, but he was right. “I didn’t know either! That’s what I’m saying!” She argued, but they both only ended up laughing at that. “I know now though, and I love you too. So, you can safely count on me.” She offered and he raised his eyebrows in a ‘Really?’ She gave him a ‘Whatever’ look, and his grin only widened. “I love you!” He whispered, closing the little distance between them.
That’s it for now, guys. Woohoo! This feels like a personal victory to me for some weird reason. Perhaps it’s because I love the story so much. Also, coincidentally, Zara Thehro was playing on my playlist when I got to the last bit, refreshing so many fond memories! It’s been one hell of a journey! Lots of love!!