I used to share with her the stories of Krishna's devotees that my grandma used to tell me, and in return, she would tell me unique facts and details about His paintings. As a painter myself, I always tried to predict her emotions through her artwork and even shared correction ideas with her.

  In short, I got a chance to spend time with her only because of Krishna.

  Everything was going well...

  Then, suddenly, on February 14th, I decided to confess my feelings to her. I was madly in love with her, and it felt like I could no longer bear the weight of my one-sided love.

  The entire night before, on February 13th, I kept practicing my confession speech. But the moment I saw her smiling on the temple stairs, I forgot everything. My entire speech vanished.

  All I could remember was... her cute, smiling face.

  So, I simply smiled back at her, and together, we entered the temple and stood before Krishna's idol.

  I slowly closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and as I opened my eyes and was about to express my feelings in front of Krishna and her...

  She interrupted me by saying, "I want to show you something."

  My heartbeat sped up. I couldn't resist her excitement, so I nodded.

  She took out a painting from her bag. In the painting, Krishna's form was shown inside the moon, and a girl's hand was reaching out to hold it.

  She looked at me with a spark in her eyes and said, "This time, let me break down the puzzle of this painting for you. I made it using the colors you gave me. So, finally, for the first time, I have expressed my true feelings to Him—without any fear. That I love Him... not as a God, but as my lover. And this confession was made possible only because of you."

  Her face was glowing with happiness, like a five-year-old girl who had just received her favorite doll.

  And I... I was feeling like a five-year-old boy whose favorite toy had just been snatched away.

  I looked at Krishna with tears in my eyes. I tried my best to hide them and forced a smile as I replied, "Wow, I'm so happy for you."

  "You know," she continued, "when we first met, you asked me what I was repressing. It took me five months to find the courage to tell you. You gave me the strength to express my love—not just in my art, but outside my mind, beyond just Him. And you're the first person I have shared this secret with. Here, have this laddu... let's have a small celebration for my first Valentine's Day with Him in public."

  I stood there like a fool in front of her, feeling betrayed by my own best friend.

  Who does this to someone?

  Why did Krishna do this to me?

  As I ate the laddu, I sarcastically looked at Krishna and said in a low tone, "You know what... I think I'm the first person who is jealous of God Krishna."

  "What do you mean?" she asked.

  I forced a laugh. "I mean... you both are a perfect couple. And He got my sweet friend as a lover. So, I'm just teasing Him, that's all."

  Only I knew the pain I was suppressing behind those words.

  She then started telling me her love story with Krishna, which felt like salt on my wounds. I felt empty inside, yet I forced myself to smile and nod along.

  As we walked outside the temple, a black cat suddenly came near my feet and started following me.

  She looked at the cat and stopped talking and picked up the cat in her arms, petting it gently.

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  In my mind, I thought, "One rival wasn't enough, now another has come?" (Ek shautan kk thi jo ek or aagyi....)

  I kept smiling forcefully.

  Suddenly, the cat started reaching out toward me as if it wanted to come into my arms. I hesitated but eventually took it and patted its head.

  That's when I remembered... this cat always roamed near the temple, especially when she was around.

  But why was the cat here now—when my heart was breaking?

  Was the cat mocking me?

  Wait... was this cat Krishna's spy, sent to take care of His dear secret lover?

  This cat... was just like Him.

  A cheater.

  I murmured the name "Kaalu" in my mind.

  She heard it and smiled. "So from today, we'll call him Kaalu. Look! He loves you so much. Why don't you take him home?"

  "No, I don't like cats... especially this one. I have to go," I said, trying to stay calm as I started walking away without looking back.

  It was the first time I left without even glancing at her properly.

  And for the first time... I wasn't going home alone.

  Kaalu was following me.

  My mood was already off, and Kaalu's presence made it worse. I overreacted and even yelled at my grandparents later that night, only to feel guilty afterward.

  After a long .... silent battle in my mind with Krishna, I made a big decision.

  For Krishna... I would sacrifice my love. Because He was my best friend, and I couldn't betray Him. So, I convinced myself to keep my feelings hidden from her.

  From then on, I met her as usual. Even though it hurt inside, I learned to joke with Krishna and her, telling them, "I am jealous of God Krishna."

  And over time... I got used to it.

  Kaalu became my new friend, even though he was also my rival—because he got the love of my one-sided lover. But it was fine. I had learned to accept it.

  Slowly, I started increasing my distance from her. The more she said she loved Krishna, the more I felt jealous. I know it sounds stupid, but trust me... at that time, I was worse than a madman.

  =========================

  Then, Suddenly one day, she showed me a new painting. It was different from her usual ones.

  It had small, ring-shaped earrings on Krishna's ear... similar to mine.

  Wait... did this mean she was developing a soft corner for me?

  Or was I overthinking?

  No... no... why was she acting extra sweet today?

  I didn't know why, but I started feeling guilty.

  So, I escaped with Kaalu, making up an excuse.

  When I got home, I felt like I was cheating Krishna.

  That feeling overpowered me.

  So, I made a sudden, big decision.

  I would vanish from her life.

  I would never meet her again.

  But before that, I wanted to give her a farewell gift.

  I booked a hotel for her in Vrindavan for a week.

  The next day, I met her and told her I had to leave for a sudden trip abroad—this was the best excuse I could come up with. I gave her Kaalu to take care of and even lied to my grandparents, knowing she might visit them.

  Then... I vanished.

  I felt broken, guilty, and too ashamed to even talk to Krishna.

  But deep down, I was satisfied... happy for her and Krishna.

  Life went on. I kept myself busy.

  But the guilt never left me.I cut off all contact with her. Until one day...

  I heard that she had died.

  That moment...

  For the first time, I cried nonstop.

  All my jealousy... all my suppressed emotions... came flooding out through my tears. I ran back to my grandparents' house, where I learned that she had been on her way to Vrindavan when she met with an accident. Hearing this... I felt dead inside.

  How was this even possible? I locked myself in my room. Tears kept falling uncontrollably.I felt numb. I just don't even want to remember that moment again.

  Fast forward... I ran to her house.

  For the first time, I rang her doorbell because earlier i used to wait for her outside her gate. Her mother opened the door. I gathered all my strength and asked about her in a shaky voice, introducing myself. To my surprise, with that heartbreaking news, she also had something for me. She handed me my own diary. I was shocked to see it in her hands with trembling fingers, I took it and left.

  I sat on the temple stairs and flipped through the pages, my vision blurred with tears.

  Each memory of her came rushing back like an old film reel.

  Then, I saw the last page—the one I had written before leaving.

  The page where I had confessed my feelings and the reason I left.

  And below my words... was a small note, written in her handwriting.

  As I recognized it, a spark lit in my heart.

  The note was.....

  After reading this... I don't know how to put it into words, but... thank you. I just want to say thank you. I know things have been difficult for you, yet you still chose to make me happy. I'm sorry that I couldn't reciprocate your love, but I can send you my best wishes. No matter what, whenever you need me, I will always be there for you—with my Krishna. And do you know a little secret? That black cat was never your rival. It was just a small gift from Him—to you. And now that I know this... I can finally say—I, too, am jealous of God Krishna. Because He gave you the sweetest gift...kaluu.

  Goodbye... See you soon, with Krishna.