Chapter-29

Mohit kept his promise to take Navya on vacation to the wild life sanctuary on Saturday morning. Miss Padma has provided them with snacks. Mohit brought snacks and bottles of cold drinks in a large backpack. The car driven by Mohit drove towards the eastern region of Delhi. In less than two hours, they had arrived at their destination.

Navya immediately fell in love with the atmosphere of the Asola Bhatti wild life sanctuary. The towering pine trees lined up tightly, the cool air, and the fresh aroma of pine wood further add to the charm of this tourist spot in Navya's eyes.

"Come on, Mohit, let's sit on that tree trunk!" cried Navya, half running in the direction where she was pointing.

She was amazed to see a row of benches made of whole tree trunks, arranged in a circle around a performance stage in front.

Mohit followed her while laughing. "Do you want me to take a photo of yours? The background is good, you know, if you take a photo it will look good" said Mohit.

"I want to take a photo but the photo of the two of us in a single frame. Let's take a selfie," Navya suggested. She had her mobile ready, then deliberately brought her body closer to Mohit's side. "Let's take a photo, Mohit!" Navya said and was ready for a selfie.

Mohit was a bit stiff at first, but eventually smiled too. They sat next to each other, smiling broadly at the phone camera. Navya clicked a selfie. She laughed happily seeing the photos. She and Mohit seemed to get along very well, or at least that was what she had hoped for.

"The view is beautiful, yes! I like it when I walk in the forest like this," commented Navya, looking around.

"Oh, so that's why you chose the forest painting that I made to display in your room," Mohit suddenly said to her.

Navya smiled. Mohit apparently still remembered the painting he had given her. Mohit began to take out the provisions from his backpack.

"While relaxing, let's have snack first," said Mohit.

Mohit looks relaxed today in a dark green t-shirt and blue denim pants. Navya also looked casual in a salmon color suit. For Navya, this serene pine forest atmosphere was what she was looking for. Because she had already planned this moment for something important.

"Mohit...," called Navya.

"Yes?" said Mohit after taking a sip of the cold drink from the bottle.

"I want to tell you something. This is about the incident that made me leave Jabalpur, about my ex, Ronit...." Navya continued.

For a moment Mohit was silent, his distinctive eyes were always able to shake Navya's heart. "The story about Ronit? Why? Do you want to remember what happened again?" Mohit asked her.

Navya took a deep breath.  "I've already forgotten him. But I think I have to tell you, so that you also knows what happened. I want to share this part of my past with you. Not to hurt my heart, but quite the opposite. If I tell you about this part, I can feel better. I can come to terms with my past." Navya explained to Mohit.

Mohit looked at her with shadowy eyes, the same shade as the atmosphere in the pine forest. "If that really makes you feel better and more peaceful, tell me, Navya..." Finally Mohit agreed.

Navya was relieved to hear that. Seeing Mohit's face, which was so calming, made Navya speak fluently. Starting from the beginning of their meeting with Ronit, what they have experienced and lived together. Then when they started to be separated by distance, Navya was in Bangalore, Ronit was in Jabalpur, but everything still felt fine. They still see each other often. Until Navya's last year of studying in Bangalore, their relationship began to feel troubled. Navya told everything to Mohit.

"Maybe I'm the insensitive one. At that time, when you think about it, there were already problems. We rarely saw each other. Ronit was busy in his work, he never again visited me in Bangalore. We still call often, but maybe it's not enough for Ronit" explained Navya.

"The last two months before I returned to Jabalpur, those were the most suspicious times. Ronit said he was busy with projects outside the city. My calls and chats were rarely answered. I should have been suspicious, but I still trust him, because I don't think there was a problem between us," Navya said in a low voice.

"I just realized now, there is really no need to exist of contention. Problems in a relationship can appear in any form. Courtship of how many years is not a guarantee. For me and Ronit, the problem is that we rarely see each other. Maybe in Jabalpur, he can meet Priyanka, my high school best friend. Maybe Priyanka's concern is more real than me, i was far away, i can only able to make phone calls and video calls." Navya continued.

She sighed, continuing in a slightly trembling voice. "In the past month, we really lost contact. I didn't know what else to do, so I asked my brother Rishabh to find Ronit at home. But The only answer that Rishabh got was: Ronit is out of town. After I returned to Jabalpur and met Sruti, then everything was found out. Sruti also only found out about the bad news a few days before I came home. She found out that by accident from aunt of Priyanka, who turned out to be a good friend of her mother." Navya said to Mohit.

They were both silent for a long time. Navya just realized, she didn't cry anymore when she told all that. Maybe the tears had already been shed for Ronit.

"When I will see Ronit again, I really want to ask him. What's the reason that he wasn't honest with me that he had a affair with Priyanka? Why didn't he ask me for a break up openly? Or deliberately looking for trouble so that we can fight, then say break up.... It's still much better than suddenly disappearing without news. I don't care who he's cheating with. I just want to hear him speak the truth with me. We've been dating for five years, why can't he be honest with me?" Navya ended while lowering her head.

Mohit put his arm around Navya's shoulder. Navya raised her head to look at Mohit. Mohit's eyes still soft, as if understanding every expression of her feelings.

"It's not your fault that Ronit cheated on you. Even if he reasons that you are far apart from him, it's still not your fault. Ronit himself can't be loyal. If he really respects your feelings, he should have the courage to tell the truth no matter what the risk," said Mohit.

Navya's heart rumbled with emotion. Not because of Mohit defended her, but because she was finally able to pour out all her bad memories and heartaches in front of Mohit. She deliberately told everything so that she can forget everything easily. She wanted to start a new life, and the only person was Mohit whom she hoped to understand her.

"I purposely told this story to you, because I knew you would understand me. I want to be free from heartache. I have a new life here, I don't want to carry the burdens of the past anymore," continued Navya .

"I see, Navya.... In order to be free from past wounds, learn to forgive, including forgiving yourself. Again, it's not your fault." Mohit again said to Navya.

Suddenly Navya sobbed, no power to hold back her feelings anymore. She leaned her head on Mohit's shoulder and wept bitterly. She could feel Mohit's hand gently embracing her and stroking her hair. Everything that had happened between her and Ronit was no longer important to her. Right now, only Mohit matter to her.