That day, Sejal didn't say a word.
She quietly lowered her eyes and walked into the hostel building, leaving Dean standing there, stunned and heartbroken.
He stood there for a few more seconds—still, numb—and then slowly made his way to the office with a heavy heart.
Inside her room, Sejal broke down.
Tears poured relentlessly as she curled up in the corner of her bed, whispering to herself—
> "Please forgive me, Dean… I've hurt you so much.
But maybe… maybe we were never meant to be.
I always wanted to spend my life by your side, Dean…
But that's no longer possible.
> If there's such a thing as a next life… then please, just be mine."
Just then, Ken called.
> "Sejal, are you coming to college today? We have to submit some important documents.
Also, why did you leave home without saying anything?"
Sejal wiped her tears, composed herself, and replied with a faint smile,
> "I had some things to do at the hostel, so I came early."
Ken said,
> "Alright, I'll come pick you up from the hostel. Let's go to college together."
Sejal nodded and hung up.
She quickly got ready for the day.
---
Months passed.
During these months, Dean tried several times to reach out to Sejal.
But Sejal ignored him every single time—pretending she didn't even recognize him.
At the same time, she wore a mask of false affection with Ken, hiding all her pain behind a hollow smile.
Sejal's family slowly began to believe that maybe she had truly started to love Ken.
And then came the day of Sejal and Ken's engagement.
Dean had no idea.
The two families agreed.
The engagement ceremony took place quietly, without much announcement.
Ken, however, noticed that Sejal's eyes held no joy—not even a spark.
Still, under pressure from both families, Sejal remained silent, like a puppet nodding to everything.
And Ken, holding on to his one-sided love, forced the engagement forward.
After that day, Sejal began living with Ken—under the same roof, even sharing the same room.
Ken was happy.
But Sejal's old laughter had vanished.
Time passed.
Both of them eventually completed their graduation.
Then one day, Ken told Sejal that he had decided:
They would move abroad together.
Ken would continue his higher studies, and he would make sure Sejal got better opportunities too.
Sejal didn't argue.
She agreed quietly.
---
The night before leaving, Sejal sent Dean a final message—
> "Dean, take care of yourself.
We might never see each other again.
I'm going far away from you.
Please don't try to find me again.
And there's something I hadn't told you yet—Ken and I got engaged a long time ago.
If you want, get married.
May your life be filled with happiness."
At the end of the message, Sejal wrote where she was going.
And within two days, Ken and Sejal flew abroad—
To the very same place where Sejal's brother Harry lived.
---
To be continued...