The next few days were painful for Aashi as well as Rishabh. They had stopped talking again, and this time for a week. Every time Aashi saw him running behind Laila, she felt a strong pang in her heart.

Once she had heard that Laila's boyfriend, Prakash had beaten Rishabh to a pulp and he was admitted to the medical ward.

Aashi couldn't stop herself and secretly went to see him. She wanted to take care of him, but she saw Laila there, bandaging his wounds and her heart broke. The way Rishabh looked at Laila. Aashi felt like she had been stabbed.

Nevertheless, when Rishabh was asleep in the medical room and Laila wasn't there Aashi came to him.

She sat beside him and looked at him. His handsome face was bruised. She moved her hand and lightly caressed his hair, tears pooling in her eyes. And when the teardrops fell, she didn't stop them.

'Aa-Aashi...' Rishabh murmured in his sleep. And for the first time in the whole day that day Aashi smiled.

'Look what you have done to yourself-' she said, her voice cracked. She bit her lower-lip trying hard to not sob. As she caressed his hair, she noticed him smile in his sleep. She smiled too.

***********************************

'At times, one must learn the hard way, Aashi.' Suchitra said suddenly.

'Huh!' Aashi looked up from her notes. Aashi, Kajal, and Suchitra, the three were doing group studies at Aashi's place. They were seriously immersed in studies when Suchitra spoke these philosophical lines out of blue. Kajal looked up from her book too.

'I am talking about Rishabh.' She cleared. Aashi frowned and looked back at her notes. Suchitra pressed her lips tightly watching her flip a page.

'Rishabh needs to get hurt to learn, Aashi. If Laila is indeed trouble, then he must get into it to come out of it. At times, getting hurt once can save you from a lifetime of misery.'

Aashi doesn't respond, but she knew what Suchitra said was true. Besides, Rishabh himself wants to hit his legs with an axe, what can she do?

'Yes, Aashi, she is right.' Kajal said thoughtfully. Aashi recollected Rishabh's sad face when he was trying to stay away from Laila, maybe the girls are right, Aashi thought sadly.

'Aashi.' Suchitra placed her palm on her shoulder and Aashi looked at her.

'You don't like Rishabh with Laila because you are just concerned about him or is it something else?' She asked seriously.

'Yeah, Aashi,' - Kajal interrupted, - 'Do you fear that what you think of Laila is wrong and they might end up together and you will lose your friend or someone special.' Kajal smirked towards the end.

Aashi felt blank, she kept blinking at both the girls.

Suchitra sighed and leaned forward capturing Aashi's gaze with hers, - 'Do you love Rishabh?'

One simple Question and Aashi is blown away.

Do I love Rishabh? Aashi wondered.

Anyone who didn't know about Aashi and Rishabh usually mistakes them to be lovers and when they point that out both used to feel disgusted.

Yuck, they would say in unison. But not today, now when Suchitra asked Aashi if she loves Rishabh she didn't feel disgusted, rather she felt confused.

That night, she kept asking herself the same question and fell asleep without an answer. A restless sleep.

*****************************

Next day was Sunday, Aashi arrived at Rishabh's house in the evening, around 6. She debated with herself half a day today and now she was here.

'Aashi, good you came.' Mrs. Khurana welcomed her. She felt guilty when Mrs. Khurana said she had been expecting her before when Rishabh was badly hurt. Aashi made up some excuse but she herself wasn't convinced of it.

'Rishabh, look who is here.' Mrs. Khurana said brightly. Rishabh looked up from his video game, he had been sitting in a yellow and red Beanbag. His smile faded when he saw Aashi. She noticed his left eye still slightly blue, and his lips bruised as well. There is bandage in his left hand. Mrs. Khurana left them alone saying she is going to get some snacks and tea. Aashi kept looking at Rishabh while he looked away as his mother left closing the door behind her.

There was silence in the room.

As Rishabh leaned forward to grab the video game jockey, Aashi called his name. He froze. Slowly, he looked up at her.

'Came here to see if I am alive.' He said sarcastically. His tone brought instant tears to Aashi's eyes.

I am sorry, I didn't come to see you, but I had come albeit secretly, I am sorry. She thought, biting her lower-lip but didn't say anything aloud. Rishabh scoffed and got back to playing.

Aashi blinked back her tears and walked towards him, he ignored her as she stood beside him, and ignored her again as she sat beside him.

'Rishabh-' She said in a hoarse voice. This made Rishabh turn his head sharply. He looked at her concerned and Aashi smiled a little.

'I am truly ashamed of the way I was behaving with you. I became selfish.' She said with her head lowered. Rishabh dropped the video game jockey and turned to face her. He placed his palm on her shoulder. Aashi began crying now.

'Hey, hey...don't cry please.' Rishabh said hugging her from the side. She rested her head on his shoulder and began to cry while he caressed her arm, coaxing her.

'You are my best friend, I didn't want to lose you...I became selfish.' She sobbed.

'Shh...' Rishabh made her sit straight. He cupped her face and wiped tears with his thumb.

'Silly girl.' He slapped her forehead playfully. Aashi sniffed.

'Arey, you don't have to be so insecure,' - Rishabh wiped more tears that fell from her eyes, - 'You were and are and will always be my top priority. You are special, and no one can take your place.'

'Really?' Aashi sniffed wiping her nose with the back of her palm.

'Yes, Silly.' - Rishabh wrapped his free arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer, - 'I love Laila,' - Aashi felt the same sinking feeling in her heart again, - 'but I love you too,' Aashi felt her heart skip a beat, - 'I love both of you, but in different ways. You both have a special place in my heart.' He said.

But why can't I have the same place as Laila? Aashi thought sadly.

The two chatted for a while until snacks and tea came. They had a lot of catching up to do. After snacks, they played little video game, and in every game, Aashi lost badly.

'Take a bow, for I am the master.' Rishabh said with pride, his chest puffed up.

'Abey, you are already broken. One blow and you will fly.' Aashi smirked. Rishabh frowned at her as she giggled. Watching her laugh he smiled too.

'Yaar, with you around I didn't even feel like I am hurt. Thanks for coming.' Rishabh said as the two stood by the door.

Aashi nodded, - 'Take care of yourself and if that b****...I mean Laila means so much to you, then don't worry I will hook you up with her.' She said. Only she knew how difficult it was for her to say this. But she must. Placing a boulder on her chest, she said it. She kept constantly reminding herself that at times one needs to make mistake to realize, one must fall to rise.

'Wow, thanks, Aashi. You made me the happiest person on the planet.' Rishabh gushed and hugged her tight with his free arm. For a boy beaten to a pulp he had an immense strength or is it because of Laila, Aashi thought sadly.

Slowly, she wrapped her arms around him and whispered, - 'What are friends for?' A small sad smile appearing on her lips.