31) We are not friends

Babe, wake up. Another double update of FFMH just dropped.

Kiara's POV

What was that crash?

My eyes flitted to the clock and it read 1:15 AM. The door to my room was slightly ajar as I always kept it and there was a dim light coming from the hallway.

Should I go and check?

Was it real or just a dream?

I was contemplating my options when another loud crash resounded, causing me to jump in fright and clutch my blanket.

What was happening?

The first thought that came to my sleep-deprived, half-dead brain was ghosts. Then the logical part of me woke from deep slumber and pointed out I was 20, not a 10-year-old kid.

Scrambling out of the bed, I switched on the night lamp, my eyes roaming around the room for anything to defend myself with.

I am not going to die without a fight.

Rushing to the study table, my hands scampered along the contents and got hold of a scissor. And what would I do with it?

Give the person whoever was outside a nice haircut?

I'd just stab the person if they meant any harm to me.

Yeah, right. The mighty Kiara Sharma would stab someone, the girl who couldn't even shoo away a lizard without screaming her heads off.

Quietly padding out of my room while holding the scissor as someone would hold a knife, I realized that the light was coming from the living area. Being discreet was becoming a difficult task for me, quiet and me could never be used in a single sentence.

Reaching the living room, I backed against a wall as soon as my eyes fell on a shadow, hiding myself from the view of the intruder. My heart was pounding in my chest as I dared to peek a look.

I could only figure out a tall, dark silhouette pacing around before I hid in my place in fear of getting caught.

Oh lord.

Who was he? A murderer? A thief? A vampire? Grim reaper? How did he even break-in in the house?

And as if I couldn't get any clumsier, I lost my grip on the scissor and it dropped on the ground, a clinking sound echoing in the hall as it hit the marble.

Yay, my life.

My hand shot up to cover my gaping mouth and I froze in my place, screwing my eyes shut and waiting for the murderer to pop behind me anytime and slash my throat.

He would then proceed to clean my blood off his fingers, laughing maniacally while I'd be lying dead in a pool of cold blood.

A few seconds passed and my other hand slowly creeped its way up my neck, feeling for any cut. When I realized I was still alive, my eyes cracked open one by one and I smacked my lips, exhaling heavily.

Maybe the murderer is deaf.

Turning around slowly, I placed my hands on the wall and leaned left, my eyes squinting at the masculine figure. He moved around restlessly, a sense of urgency and anxiety in his posture. My upper half leaned to the side even further as I tried to catch the face of the person and my right leg slightly raised in air, balancing my body.

He spun around swiftly, raking a hand through his hair and my eyes widened in disbelief as his face came into view.

What the hell?

Arjun?

What was he doing here?

I wonder. My conscience sarcastically tapped its chin in thought. Maybe trespassing in his own freaking house!

And as if my poor leg couldn't handle the shock, I slipped. With a loud thump, I dramatically hit the floor, a sudden pain spreading in my side due to the sudden, harsh contact with the floor.

I was almost going to stab my husband with a scissor.

The commotion caught Arjun's attention as he swivelled around in alarm. He took a few steps forward as his searching eyes landed on my sprawled-out figure, his cautious expression first turning into surprise and then a monotone mask of indifference.

He had no right to look this good in those sweatpants and that tight t-shirt, not to mention those just-out-of-bed hair and that sexy frown etched on that equally sexy face, after he scared the shit out of me.

I desperately needed some sleep.

Arching a single brow, he crossed his arms over his huge chest, one of his hands gesturing at me, the look on his face demanding me to explain myself.

Well.

Offering him a bashful grin, I managed to squeak out a high-pitched greeting. "Hey."

He narrowed his eyes at me as he spoke. "Would you mind getting up?"

"No, I quite like the floor actually." I answered back, leaning up on an elbow.

Giving me a full eye roll, he approached me and offered his hand. I eyed his hand with keen interest as my inner feminist had a heated, full-fledged argument with my lazy self. Finally, when my too-lazy-to-get-up self won, I put my hand in his and he pulled me up.

"Why are you awake at this time of night?"

I could ask you the same.

"I heard a crash and thought someone broke in." With my cold, clammy hand engulfed in his rough, warm one, my eyes surveyed the room and zeroed on some broken pieces lying near the couch.

"What happened here?"

"Nothing."

"I can very well see that." With sarcasm dripping from my tone, I pointed at the mess and neared the couch, my eyes landing on the center table. It looked like a tornado had hit it, scattered papers lying randomly along with a laptop nearby and three cups of...coffee?

"I broke a vase, that's all."

"Why?"

"I was angry." He shrugged like it was no big deal and his statement was followed by a silence of 10 seconds. The usual, expected, I'd-rather-die-before-I-utter-a-single-word silence from him and stunned silence from me.

I blinked at him once, twice, waiting for further explanation but it never came.

"You don't break vases when you get angry." My hysterical voice was supported by the exaggerated movements of my hand.

He tilted his head at me, the flat look on his face screaming 'I don't give a fuck'.

There was no point in fighting him.

I ought to go to bed now, relieved with the fact that no one was going to kill me in my sleep and then ship my organs off to some smugglers.

Instead, I plopped on the couch, rubbing my temple. "And what made you so angry that you had to break the vase?" I asked, raising my hands in air and quoting 'angry'.

"And why do you think I would tell you?" Not even bothering to spare me a glance, he seated himself on the adjacent couch, resting the laptop on his thighs.

"Because I'm your-" I stopped myself before I could complete the sentence. I was almost going to say the w-word. With the way he had reacted to it in the past, I decided it would be best if I avoided reminding him that we were married unless I wanted him growling and yelling like a daft troll.

"Because I live in your house?" I suggested meekly, cringing at my own words.

He scoffed. "Nice try."

"You can tell me as a friend." I shrugged softly, rubbing my arms uneasily. The horrid nightmare was still fresh in my brain, those memories lurking at the back of my mind and I needed to distract myself.

"We are not friends." His blunt answer deflated my shoulders but I didn't let it affect me.

"Then why don't we become friends?"

It wasn't something that I had blurted out in the heat of the moment, I was actually thinking about it. We can't spend our whole lives fighting with each other or behaving like total strangers.

His fingers paused on the keyboard, his stance freezing as if I had suggested him to go skinny dipping in the Arctic Ocean in the month of December. Even if I had told him that I breathe fire, I don't think he would be as weirded out by me as he was now. His squinted eyes snapped to mine, his brows knitting together.

Smoothening the crease on his forehead, he gave me a faint mocking smile. "No, thanks. I'd like to keep my sanity."

My mouth hung open, wide enough for a hummingbird to build a small nest there. "I'm being serious here."

"So am I."

"Come on, Arjun. Think about it." I insisted, my voice almost taking a whining undertone. "Let's be honest with ourselves. I don't think we both are going anywhere unless one of us kills the other. Now, I don't know about you but I don't want to go to jail." I thought for a second. "At least not so soon."

"So.." I crossed a leg over another. "How about we start behaving like normal human beings?"

He turned to me, his accusing eyes fixed at me as he closed his laptop and placed it aside. "First of all, I am already normal."

Are not!

"And secondly," His face pinched in suspicion. "Why are you being so understanding all of a sudden?"

I sighed. "Look, I know this marriage was forced on both of us. And while you had your own reasons for agreeing to this stupid contract, I had mine. This," My voice was soft and timid as I gestured between us. "is new for us. We have very different lives. And as much as I love to annoy the hell out of you, not trying to bite each other's head off would be a nice change for once. I'm not asking you to behave like a husband or boyfriend and all that shit. I just want that we start respecting each other."

Shut up, Kia. Please.

My conscience was already digging a hole for me to bury myself in when I ended that pathetic speech.

What was I even blabbering about?

If I had given this speech in public, the audience would have started throwing tomatoes at me.

Before any of you start accusing me, let me tell you that it was 1:30 in the night. And I was hungry.

So please excuse my word-vomit.

I stuck out a palm for a handshake, my tired eyes peering at him expectantly. "So... friends?"

His eyes darted between my own and my extended palm, a hard look crossing his features.

After 15 long seconds of an intense staring competition between him and the floor, at which the floor won (I think?) considering his sullen look, he sighed, frowning. "I'm probably gonna regret it but," He took my hand in his larger one, giving it a single shake. "Fine."

An unconscious grin threatened to spread on my face as I bit my lower lip. "We'll not fight from now on." I fixed him with a warning stare.

"I'm not the one who starts the fights."

"Oh yeah." A sarcastic chuckle made its way out of my mouth, my hands raising in mid-air. "It's always me who goes around searching for a reason to go all apeshit crazy on you, right?"

"There, you admitted it." He made himself comfortable, an ankle crossed over his knee.

"When you're so annoying, you make it impossible not to strangle you to death."

He crouched forward, his elbows digging in his knees. "I'm not the one who goes around rambling about things that no one understands."

I gasped.

There he goes again, riling me up.

"Look I-" I pointed at him and then clenched my palm into a fist as I shut my mouth, exhaling forcefully.

Don't choke him. You'll leave fingerprints and it will be easy for the police to find you.

"We're not going to insult each other anymore." I told him calmly, emphasizing on each word, although I was ready to go all kung-fu panda on him.

His mouth twisted in humour as he leaned back. "Think you'd be able to resist the temptation?"

Okay, he had a point.

"At least we can be a little more civil towards each other."

"Agreed."

"Great!" I clapped my hands. "It's decided, then." Raising my hand for a high-five, I grinned widely at Arjun while he looked at me like he had just seen a cat dancing on two legs.

Never mind.

Grumbling to myself about him being a 'killjoy', I lowered my hand as he busied himself, picking some papers from the table and shuffling through them. I decided to occupy myself with a very interesting task that involved me ogling at my husband like a dog drooling over a bone. Meanwhile, I also came to an important conclusion-

He had a very nice side profile.

"You're staring." His deep voice snapped me from my thoughts, my owlish eyes staring guiltily at the side of his head while his own were focused on the papers in his hands.

I know.

"It's getting creepy."

I know but my brain has gone on a vacation and I've forgotten how to blink.

Clearing my throat, I angled my face away, my eyes falling on the broken pieces of the vase.

"Do you usually break things when you're angry?"

Arjun considered for a moment. "Most of the times, yes."

"Boy, you must've created a havoc here when you got the news of our marriage." I joked, shaking my head.

"Yeah, I had the whole furniture changed when I was done." He made it sound so casual as if he was talking about changing dirty bed sheets while it took all my strength to not fall off the couch.

And then he says he's the sane one between the two of us.

I don't know if he was joking or not, but if he was, then we needed to have a discussion on how to crack jokes while trying not to sound so solemn and give the other person a mini heart attack. And if he wasn't, then I might need to enroll him to an anger management class.

"Are you going to tell me what made you all riled up today?" I deflected the topic in another direction because I didn't really want to mull over what he just told me. I know he has temper issues but he can't go around pounding his chest and yelling like an angry King-Kong over every single thing that ticks him off.

I knew he wouldn't answer but it was worth a try.

He blew an annoyed breath, his lips pulling at the sides into a frown. Resting his elbows on his knees, he joined his hands.

"I have a meeting this Friday." He started and I blinked in surprise. He was actually willing to tell me. "If everything goes well, we'll be collaborating with one of the major companies in U.S. and signing a huge project."

Arjun wasn't the kind of person to get nervous over such trivial things. It must be a huge reason to make him this anxious.

"But you might've had a lot of meetings before. Then why is this one so special?" I asked, sitting cross-legged.

For a good ten seconds he didn't utter a single word and I thought he wasn't going to answer. But then...

"I want to prove my worth to dad."

The vulnerable tinge to his tone sent me reeling in shock as my mood turned sober, my brows shooting up and eyes widening.

Threading his fingers through his unruly hair, he ruffled them erratically making them stick out in different directions. He seemed extremely irritated, and for once not by me.

"I don't give a fuck about anyone else. I just want to show dad that I'm here not only because I'm his son but because I'm capable of it." He rubbed his face tiredly, an exhausting sigh leaving his lips.

I used to think of Arjun as a rich, spoiled brat who had everything in his life. Guess I was too busy portraying him as the devil in my life that I forgot he was a human too. Everyone had their problems and insecurities, so did he. He was just good at hiding them.

"If we get this deal, our company will rise on the top in no time. This is my chance and I don't want to screw it up."

He casted a glance over the paperwork lying on the table. "I'm trying hard. Really hard."

To say I was shocked would be the understatement of the decade. I didn't think he would open about something as personal as this to anyone, least of all me. I know it wasn't a big deal for many people but for Arjun, it definitely was.

Rolling my lower lip between my teeth, my eyes flicked to him as I played with my fingers. "Can I help?"

What did I just say?

He scoffed, his thumb and forefinger pinching his closed eyelids as his head slumped back. "Princess, do you know anything about my work?"

My wide eyes and lost expression gave him the answer he wanted. "Thought so."

"How about I sit here while you do your work?" I suggested hopefully.

I had no idea what I was talking about. I might not even remember half of the things tomorrow morning.

He gave me a strange look.

I added quickly. "I'll be your moral support."

My conscience face-palmed.

Seriously, Kia? Moral support? Why does he need moral support? To get over an emotional break up?

His face scrunched up and I rushed to explain myself further. "I mean, I'll just sit here quietly while you do your work. I won't disturb you; I promise. If you have some company, you'll feel better."

The strange look on his face intensified but he gave me a slight shrug anyway. "Suit yourself."

I'm glad he didn't ask why I wanted to accompany him because I myself didn't have an answer to that.

I always had compassion for others, sometimes a little too much which often got me in trouble.

With a giddy smile on my lips, I scurried off to my room and collected the book that I was currently reading, rushing back to the living area, not before stopping in the kitchen to grab a couple of my favourite chocolates.

"Here." I offered him the chocolate, standing in front of him as he took his time staring at me and then at the chocolate in my hand.

I don't share my chocolates with anyone and if I was willing to do it with him, he ought to kiss my feet.

"What am I supposed to do with it?"

"Oh, I don't know?" I looked around, pretending to be thinking hard. "Frame it, maybe? Offer it to your non-existent dog?" I shrugged and my deadpanned expressions met his stoic ones, a hand propped on my waist. "What else do you do with a chocolate?"

Thrusting it in his hands, I sat in my seat, opening the book. "According to research, it can help relieve your stress."

"It's not poisoned." I rolled my eyes when I found him inspecting the chocolate like the police would investigate a suspicious object on a crime scene. Muttering something along the lines of 'who knows', he cautiously opened the wrapper like he was waiting for a bomb to tick off and I narrowed my eyes at him.

Arjun took a bite, chewing as the vein in his forehead throbbed.

Look at that vein.

"It's good." His voice was muffled as he nodded slowly and a grin broke on my face at how cute he sounded. Mentally slapping myself for such thoughts, I concentrated back on the book.

Stifling a yawn, I rubbed my eyes with the back of my hand and settled into a more comfortable position while my lovely husband continued tapping away on his laptop. Turning the pages of the book, I got so lost in it that I don't know when sleep came over me. The last thing I remembered when I drifted away in my dreams, was a warmth draping over me and a hushed murmur. "Goodnight, princess."

*

"Kiara."

"Wake up." Someone shook my shoulder.

No, wait. I need to sort out things with Tom first.

"Princess." The voice became louder.

"Why would you do this to me, Tom?" I cried out, shooting upright and my eyes snapped open as a blurred outline of a face loomed over me.

Wait! Since when did Tom Cruise become this young?

Blinking fiercely to get rid of the haziness from my eyes, I found a familiar face above me, his lips drawn in a straight line. When he saw me wide awake, he walked back a few steps, adjusting the lapels of his suit jacket.

What was he doing in my room?

Wait. This was not my room.

"You slept on the couch last night." Arjun informed me, tying a watch on his wrist.

Last night?

I sat up straighter, a palm on my forehead as everything came rushing back to me. Okay, so I made him my friend, listened to him as he talked about the project and then offered him chocolate. I didn't know which was weirder-the fact that we were friends (kind of) now or that I offered him my chocolate.

I put my head in my hands, groaning at the headache that was starting to form. Sliding my hands over my cheeks, I glanced at Arjun with sleepy eyes. "What time is it?"

"8:45."

Shit.

"I am late!" With eyes as huge as tennis balls, I freaked out, hurriedly throwing off the blanket and jumping up. In my haste to get away, I went tumbling, smashing my face in Arjun's chest while his hands settled on my waist to balance me.

"Careful!" He rebuked, glancing down at me as I pulled myself away from him and made a run for my room, not before glancing at his scowling face and trying to ignore the slight tingles at his touch.

Setting up another world record of bathing and dressing up in a couple of minutes, I decided to leave my hair open and hurriedly packed my bag. I was hunched in front of the refrigerator, searching for something to eat when I found an apple and a chocolate smoothie and Arjun strolled in the kitchen.

"Do you need a ride?" He offered casually, hands in his pockets.

I dropped the apple.

For another 3 seconds, I stood still as an iceberg, crouched over the fridge, an empty hand extending in mid-air.

Was he talking to me?

My eyes roamed around inconspicuously, there was no one else in the kitchen except from the two of us. Okay, so he was talking to me, unless he had turned into a psychic and started conversing with spirits.

Covering my gobsmacked expression with a non-chalant one, I straightened up and swung my bag over my left shoulder. "Uh-no. I'll manage."

He stared at me blankly, his brows furrowed. "I'm dropping you to college."

"Bu-"

"It wasn't a question." I shut up.

Okay, then.

I rocked back and forth on my heels, waiting for him to make a move as he checked his phone and I glanced at my watch. "Can we go then? I'm getting late."

His eyes snapped to mine, noticing my anxious expression. Putting the phone in his pocket, he nodded and I followed him out after picking up the apple and putting it back in its place, the smoothie still in my hand. We went down the lift and the whole time I was having a nervous breakdown over why Arjun offered me a ride.

Did that chocolate have an effect on him last night?

Reaching the parking lot, we got in his black Lamborghini and he drove out of the parking while I considered the pros and cons of jumping out of a moving car.

Do not panic.

Why did I have a feeling that he was going to take me to a secluded alley and then kill me so no one would know?

Please stop watching movies.

Distracting myself from the horrid visual my mind had conjured up, I recalled today morning when I woke up and a thought came to me.

"Who put the blanket over me?" I faced Arjun with a questioning look.

"Just a friendly ghost, my old friend. Came to meet me and saw you lying there, shivering. And being the kind soul that he was, he covered you with a blanket." His eyes flickered to me, his brow raising. "Who else do you think, princess?"

I gave him a flat look, my voice mocking. "Ha ha."

Leaning a hand against the window, I looked outside, shaking the smoothie a bit, determined not to ask him any further. But then again, my curiosity was clawing its way out of me.

"And the pillow beneath my head? Did you put it there too?"

He didn't answer.

"Well? Did you?" I pressed.

His hands tightened their hold on the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white as he pressed his lips in a thin line. He managed a curt nod, his eyes on the road. My heart started beating faster as I faced ahead, a warm tingling in my chest as I considered the possibility of why he did so.

Does that mean that he cares?

"Why?" I bit my lip, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

"Didn't want you drooling all over my couch."

I gasped loudly. "I don't drool!"

"Try telling that to yourself."

"Meanie!" Huffing, I turned away and sipped my smoothie, my face contorting in slight pain at the pounding headache.

"Why did you wake me up?" I complained like a small child, groaning lightly. "You should've let me sleep."

"I couldn't miss my daily dose of morning greetings now, could I?" His lips quirked in a teasing smirk.

I placed hand on my heart, ignoring the blush that was slowly making its way across my cheeks. "I'm honoured."

"Did you even sleep last night?" I asked him, slurping my smoothie. The dark bags under his eyes were quite visible and he looked exhausted.

"Why, worried for me?"

"As if." I snorted.

This playful banter between us was queer but strangely relaxing. Last night had definitely changed something. I felt a little more comfortable with him.

"Arjun?"

He hummed along, his face set in concentration, eyes never leaving the road.

"I think your meeting will be great." A surprised look crossed his face at my soft voice and his head turned to me.

"Thanks." He gave me a tiny nod, his face devoid of any harsh expressions.

I placed a hand on my cheek, my voice amused. "My, my. Arjun Singhania learning basic manners."

He chose not to answer me, a comfortable silence surrounding us and we reached my college in no time.

"Thank you." Taking off my seatbelt, I opened the car door and got out. "Oh, and yes." I crouched down, peeking at him through the window. "Since you didn't want to miss my morning greeting, here it is. Have a bad day, dear." Offering him a sickly-sweet smile, I backed away and straightened.

"Try not to kill anyone in anger, darling." Waving vigorously, almost hitting myself in the face, I called out to him as if I was seeing him off to war. A few students passing by stopped to gawk at me like I was talking about blowing up the college.

Not bothering with a reply, Arjun drove away, his gaze on me as he looked at me through the rear-view mirror but I didn't miss the faint line of amusement in his eyes.

And I turned to my college, unaware of the huge smile lingering on my lips.

*

"So, Arjun barged in on you naked."

"For the 23rd time Maahi, I. Was. Not. Naked."

"But the amount of clothes that you were wearing were as equivalent as naked for you."

With an audible groan, I dropped my head on the table and then shot up immediately, wincing and rubbing my forehead where it hit the table.

We were in a cafe near our college.

"Okay, enough of this." Nandini interrupted us and I was so glad that I could hug her. "Tell me, which one?" Twinkling her fingers, she showed her pink nails to us, smiling eagerly.

Maahi scowled. "Why does it matter? Both are pink."

I heard two loud, audible gasps that were enough to wake up a sleeping toddler. Nandini and Saumya looked horrified as they glared at Maahi like she had committed a heinous sin.

"Look carefully, Maahi." With an air of expertise and superiority, I leaned forward, pointing at Nandini's left hand. "This is light pink. And that" my gaze settled on her right hand. "is dark pink."

Ha! Next, I know, Kylie Jenner will be calling me for some fashion advice regarding her new lip shade. Cue a sassy hair flip.

"No!" Saumya's booming voice was outraged like I planned on murdering her dog and I flinched away from her in shock.

"This," Nandini almost thrust her left hand in my face, her voice as livid as Saumya's. "is vivid auburn."

"And this," Dangling her right hand in front of my vision, ready to poke my eyes, she leaned forward eagerly. "is lacquer red."

Excuse me?

Saumya nodded solemnly like a follower listening to the preaching of a priest.

I stared at Nandini with a ridiculous expression as if she was talking about growing a flower from her ears. My mouth opened and closed, trying to make some sense of her words.

Since when did pink become something red?

"This is pink, Nandini!" I said, my voice stressed. "How could- You know what, don't." I waved a hand at her. "I don't have the energy to discuss colour shades with you."

"Girls these days!" Maahi rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, like you are an alien." Saumya snapped.

"I wish, babe, I wish." Maahi sighed dreamily. Before she could go into the details of how her life would be super thrilling if she was an alien, a new voice joined us.

"Hey, guys." With a smile adorning her face, Anushka made her way towards our table. A chorus of hello greeted her as she set her bag aside and sat down in front of us.

"You're late." Nandini informed her as she took a bite of her sandwich.

"Don't ask." She groaned, rolling her eyes. "Our physics professor thought it would be a good idea if he shared his life achievements with us after the class was over."

Snatching a fry from Maahi's plate, which earned a squealing 'hey' from her, Anushka shook her head, irritated. "I mean, who cares if he won three medals in a lemon and spoon race?"

"And the traffic was awful. Sometimes I wish my college wasn't so far from yours." She took sip of her drink. "Even Sid said th-"

"Sid, hm?" My brows rose expectantly, a shit-eating grin plastered on my face. A series of smug smirks and suggestive voices followed my question while Anushka looked like a deer caught in headlights as she realized what she had blurted out.

"Which brings me to my next question, what happened yesterday, Anushka?" I blinked at her with my chin resting on my entwined hands, my face as innocent as that of a lamb.

Her soft expressions turned into a glare as she crossed her arms over her chest. "How would you know? You left me alone."

I raised a finger. "Not alone. Sid was there, too. And I had to go because..." I was trying to play cupid. "Saumya was sick."

"Me? Wh-" I stomped at Saumya's feet as she shut her mouth, my wide eyes trying to convey her to go along with the lie. She got my signal as her own eyes widened in understanding and she cleared her throat, her voice coming out squeaky. "Yeah. I was sick."

"Are you okay now?" Anushka's face was etched with concern as she enquired about Saumya's health.

"Uh, uh." Maahi tutted. "You're avoiding the question. What happened yesterday?"

"I told you. Nothing special. I mean, we just kissed and all, but no-"

"You WHAT?" I screamed so loud that a guy sitting near our table fell from his chair at my outburst but I was too busy hyperventilating over what my best friend just confessed.

I might have popped some ear drums.

Oh. My. God.

Anushka stilled in her seat and then bit her tongue, shutting her eyes in regret and palming her face.

"No!" Nandini's half-shout, half-squeal came out like a dinosaur groan and Saumya's face lit up like a Christmas tree while Maahi sat frozen, a half-eaten fry dangling from her slightly open mouth.

"You guys kissed!?"

"No! I said...missed." Anushka corrected, trying to lie but failing miserably. Her face gave it all away. "Yeah, missed."

"Anushka." I drawled, my eyes on her.

She slumped in her chair, sighing dejectedly. "I... I-ughh. There's no use hiding it from you people." Her cheeks tinted red as she uttered in a small voice. "Yeah, we kissed."

A round of inhuman squeals followed her statement which almost made the cafe owner throw us out. We huddled close to Anushka, our bright faces peering at her like she was going to offer us presents.

"How was it?"

"Was it just a peck or a French kiss?"

"Did the time stop?"

"Did rose petals start falling on the both of you?"

"Did a cool breeze flow past you?"

"Ooh, ooh, ooh. And the fireworks?"

We fired questions at her at the speed of a bullet train that I wasn't even sure if she had heard any of it among all the complimentary gibberish noises that we were making. But the look on her face resembling that of a teacher eyeing a notorious student confirmed that she heard us very well.

Anushka's glared at us. "You need to stop spending time with Kia."

"Hey!"

"Sid and Anushka, sitting in a tree." Nandini started, disregarding my offended tone and we joined her. "K-I-S-S-I-N-G."

"Guys!" Anushka hissed at us, glancing sideways at people who were only a step away from taking out their phones to record our drama.

"We need details!" Saumya banged her hands on the table in excitement, practically bouncing in her seat.

Anushka then proceeded to tell us (after lots and lots of insistence on our part) how Sid offered to drive her home after they had ice cream and made small talk in the car. When they reached her house, none of them made a move to get out as they sat there awkwardly. Sid couldn't resist her and ended up pressing his lips to hers. When he realized Anushka had completely frozen in her place, he pulled away, apologizing for not taking her permission first. Then, it was Anushka who pulled him into a kiss to stop his rambling. I couldn't help but 'aww' during the whole time. This was so cute!

"So..." Smirking like an evil villain, Nandini eyed Anushka with mischief. "You like him?"

"Um." She turned beetroot red, avoiding our eyes. "I guess so."

"Oh god." Maahi exclaimed suddenly, putting her head in her hands. I was still in shock while Nandini and Saumya were already planning about what to wear at Sid and Anushka's wedding.

"What?"

She looked up. "I just realized all my friends are getting laid." She pointed at us one by one. "Two of you have boyfriends, one is in the process of getting a boyfriend while the other one is already freaking married."

She threw her hands in air. "That's it, I'm going to die single."

Saumya chuckled, patting Maahi's back. "Don't worry, you won't."

"No, I'm going to end up with 30 cats and a bookstore. I know it." Maahi blabbered and we patiently waited for her to get over her fit.

"Harry? Where are you baby?" She glanced around as if Harry would pop out of nowhere. "Come and get your love! She awaits you." She opened her arms in a hug.

"You know, every single day I wake up in the morning, wishing that maybe today I would find Harry in my drawing room with my parents, asking for my hand in marriage while I would run in his arms, waiting for him to take me away from this cruel world." She turned her head away, sighing dramatically like a diva that she is. "But alas! I am disappointed. Always."

We had a good laugh at the dramatic interpretation of her fantasy and I couldn't help but steal glances at Anushka, a small but visible smile on her lips due to obvious reasons. A smirk made its way on my own face as I hid it by bringing a coffee cup near my lips and taking a sip.

My life just became very interesting.