Chapter 22

FLASHBACK

His name was Abhi... Abhinav. We met in college on our first day. Ananya was my roommate, and we became best friends in a short period.

We were late for the class, but we came before the professor started teaching. We sat near the door, not wanting to disturb the class.

After fifteen minutes, I heard the door open. I turned back to see a boy coming inside the class and taking his seat beside me.

He was breathing rapidly, I guess he came running to the class. He took a minute to compose himself and then asked me how far the lesson went.

I showed him my notes and told him how far along we were. He nodded his head and we both started listening again.

When the class ended, some of the students went outside the class to take a break until the next teacher arrived.

But Ananya and I sat there and discussed the things that were taught in the last class.

"Hi, I'm Abhi," he introduced himself while we were discussing.

We had a small talk until the next professor arrived. At the end of the day, we became good friends.

As the days passed by, Abhi started hanging with the two of us often. We became best friends. But I was closer to him than Ananya.

Regardless, we started hanging out together all the time. We sat in class together, and we had lunch together, we went to our dorm together.

The girls' and boys' dorm was on the same campus, so we could meet anyone at any time.

He was so caring, funny, possessive, and sweet. He was also one of the most handsome boys in our batch. Most of the girls in the college tried to get his attention and failed.

They even got jealous because he was hanging out with Ananya and me. Abhi had other male friends, but the three of us kept our group to ourselves.

We acted like no one was allowed in our pack. But although Ananya would talk to others and make friends, I was too shy and introverted. These two people meant the world to me those days.

One day, when we were in college, Ananya didn't feel well. She said she was having a bad headache and went to the dorm to take a rest.

Abhi was with me most of the time, but he sometimes went to talk with his other male friends. I was alone some of the time, but it didn't bother me.

I was about to head to my room after my classes. I messaged Ananya if she needed anything to eat or something.

Ananya texted me back that she didn't need anything and she was feeling better.

"Aadhi," Abhi yelled my name, running toward me. I looked up from my phone and waited for him to come to me.

"What is it?"

"Let's go out. I am bored and I need to buy something from the mall," he said, breathing rapidly from running.

"Okay." I nodded and went with him.

When I came back, Ananya was sleeping. So I didn't disturb her. I forgot to tell her that I went out with Abhi. For the next few days, Ananya didn't hang out with us.

She only spoke to us when needed. She was acting weird and always said she was busy. I even told Abhi about her behaviour but he just brushed it off saying, "Maybe she is just busy."

He didn't even find it weird that she wasn't with us anymore. But I couldn't give it up. So I decided to ask her what her problem was.

When I reached my room, she was already there. I wanted to ask her, but I didn't know how. What if I was imagining things? But it was better to clear the doubt instead of assuming.

"Ananya?"

"Hmm?" she responded without even looking at me.

"I want to ask you something," I said firmly.

"What is it?" she asked nonchalantly.

"Are you angry with us or something? Did we do something wrong?" I asked her hesitantly.

For a moment she was surprised that I asked her, but then she composed her posture and said, "No." Now I knew something was up.

"We missed you. I missed you. Please don't be like this. Tell me what I did wrong and I will explain it to you." I kind of begged her. I really missed her.

Even though Abhi was with me the whole time, I didn't feel whole. Abhi didn't leave my side because he didn't want me to be alone.

"You missed me?" She laughed bitterly. "It's not like you were alone without me," she said, smirking.

"What do you mean? I was only with Ab—"

"That is what I said," she said, interrupting me.

I looked at her confused. I didn't know where she was going with this. Was it weird that I was with Abhi? Who else would I be with? We were inseparable from day one.

It was only weird that she wasn't with us, but what was she talking about?

"Oh, don't pretend like you don't understand." She rolled her eyes.

"I really don't understand. It's always the three of us. What's new?" I said, still confused.

"No, it's always the two of you. I was like a third wheel anyway. I don't want to be like that anymore."

"What are you talking about?" I really didn't get it. Why was she thinking this about herself? We never did anything to make her feel like this.

"It's intolerable how you act like a best friend when clearly you don't think that way and I don't want to witness that by being your third wheel."

What? Me acting?

"Did someone tell you anything about us? You believe them?"

"No one told me anything. I know you like him. He is just too blind to see that. Everyone knows it."

"I don't care about anyone. DO. YOU. BELIEVE. ME?" Now I was angry. For God's sake, she was my best friend. How could she think of me like that?

If I really did like him, then wouldn't she be the first person that I tell about it?

"Yes, I do because I know it," she said in an angry tone.

This shocked me. My best friend doubted me, and I didn't know what to do about it.

"I...I don't like him. I... He is my best friend, that's it. He knows it well, and I don't care about others," I stuttered, trying to hold myself from crying.

"I want to fix this. Tell me what you want me to do so that you will believe me. I don't care about others, but I care about you.

You are my best friend, and I don't want you to be like this with me. Please tell me what to do to go back the way we were," I said, begging.

I really didn't want to lose her. She was my only friend. I didn't have anyone other than her and Abhi.

"So, you would do anything?" she asked, raising her eyebrows.

"Yes. Anything."

"Then stay away from Abhi. Don't linger around him all day long."

I looked at her with wide eyes in shock. I only said I would do anything because I wanted my best friend back. But by doing this, I will lose the other one.

I was going to say no, but then she spoke again.

"Because I like him."

Her answer shocked me. I felt like my world was shaking.

I didn't know why, but I felt bitter inside. I didn't like anything she said, not even a single bit but part of me said, why do you care If she liked him? You are only his BEST FRIEND, right?