Few weeks later, Aashi decided to stay back and attend Rishabh's football match against the rivals. Even though he hadn't asked her to, unlike always. She sat in the first row hoping he sees her. But he didn't. Her smile faded when she saw him smile at Laila who waved back. She also blew him a flying kiss, he pretended to catch it. Tears filled Aashi's eyes as she saw the sight which pained her. She had known him all her life and now this new girl has come out of nowhere and they have become strangers. It is true what they say, it hurts like hell when best friends turn strangers. Aashi glared at Rishabh as he played, he seemed oblivious that she even existed. No, this is not her Rishabh, this is someone else. Aashi thought bitterly. And then she added sadly, her Rishabh is lost, lost forever.

The Referee blew the whistle for time out and like always Aashi climbed down and walked towards the players. She clenched the water bottle tightly in her hand. But before she could reach Rishabh, she saw Laila with him. He drank water from her water bottle and they talked something. Finally, Laila kissed his cheek and he smiled at her. Before she could turn, Aashi turned quickly and hurried towards the seat.

Soon, the match started again. In the end, their team won. Aashi saw Laila and Rishabh pass flying kisses at each other. Aashi smiled sadly, even though he might now consider Laila has his lucky charm, Aashi knew that it was she who was the Lucky charm for him in this match, like always.

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

A few months later,

'Aashi, is everything all right?' Suchitra asked as the two worked on their assignment. Aashi nodded, but her baggy eyes and swollen lips said another story.

'Are you sure?' Suchitra asked cautiously.

'I said yes.' Aashi snapped. Suchitra is taken back. Aashi sighed and got back to her work. Suchitra isn't liking this, Aashi was once a chirpy happy girl and now she looks like a zombie and behaves like a scorn cat.

'Aashi, I know why are you upset,' - Suchitra ignored Aashi clenching the pencil tightly and continued, - 'You are in love with Rishabh.'

'What?'

'This is just isn't friendship. If it were you would have been with him by his side.'

Aashi scoffed, - 'And be ignored. It is better where I am now.'

'Aren't you being ignored now?' Suchitra said. Aashi looked at her, she smiled

'Aashi, go talk to him, share your feelings. I am sure he will understand.'

'No.'

'That is not Aashi speaking, that is your ego.' Suchitra said.

Next day, taking Suchitra's advice Aashi went in search of Rishabh to talk to him. Nowadays he hardly hangs out with his gang, it is only Laila and him. How blind can anyone be in love? Can't he see that she has isolated him from almost everyone?

Aashi walked towards the corridor leading to the storeroom, Rishi, one of Rishabh's gang member said he had seen Rishabh go to the storeroom. Aashi frowned when she heard some sounds coming from the storeroom. Her heart jumped into her throat as a wild thought crossed her mind. She twisted the knob to open the door but it seemed locked. Aashi felt her palm sweating. She looked around and found a small stool. She carried it and placed it in front of the door. Carefully, she stood on it and tiptoed. Through the window above the door, she peeped in.

Her eyes widened as her worst fear came true. Rishabh and Laila were making out behind the locked door of the same Storeroom they had met for the first time last year. Aashi was already broken, if all that wasn't enough, this sight shattered her. She stood there numb like a statue as she stared at the two wide-eyed. As the stool shook little, she came to reality. Cautiously, Aashi climbed down. That time, she wished she had never come here in the first place. This sight will haunt her forever.

As she walked away from the room, she thought to herself, why is she so bothered? Even Jagan and Saket have girlfriends, then what is different about Rishabh. Is it because she knew Rishabh for longer than she knew Jagan and Saket? Or is it that she has actually fallen in love with Rishabh. If it was former, she should be happy that Rishabh has a girlfriend in his life, she would have fought with him for not giving her attention and teased him after catching him getting intimate with Laila. But no, she felt cheated, hurt, broken, and shattered.

Aashi locked herself in one of the cubicles of the ladies bathroom and fell on the floor, she leaned her head against the door and began to cry.

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

'Aashi, Aashi, look who is here to see you.' Mrs. Verma called from downstairs. Aashi sighed.

'Ask them to come up.' Aashi said not looking from her book. She frowned as she got the answer wrong again, she scratched it angrily.

'Woah, Aashi Calm down.' Aashi froze on hearing his voice. Slowly, she looked up at him. He stood at the door dressed in a checked shirt and Denim jeans, his hair ruffled. Again, he had been riding his bike without his helmet, was the first thing Aashi thought on seeing his hair.

'So, finally, you remembered me.' Aashi looked away angrily.

'Yaar, I am sorry...' – Rishabh walked towards her study table, - 'I had gotten into a relationship recently, so was just exploring it...sorry.' He sat beside Aashi who shifted little away from him. Rishabh smiled shaking his head.

'I know why you are here? You want today's notes right, Finals are coming.' She said dryly.

Aashi didn't bother looking at him as she raised her hand and took out her notebook. She turned and looked at him. He looked hurt.

'What?' Aashi shrugged, - 'You want another no-'

'You have hurt me, Aashi.' He said.

She stopped speaking, he looked at her seriously and said, - 'I have come here to meet my best friend and you think I am so selfish to come to you for notes.' He sounded very hurt.

And you have been hurting me since past few months, what about that Rishabh? Aashi thought sadly.

'After so many months you remembered me. Why? Laila got another boyfriend?' Aashi said sarcastically.

'Aashi.' Rishabh said sternly, he stood up angrily. Aashi doesn't flinch, she stared at him.

'What is wrong with you? I have come here to meet you, make up for the loss time-'

'I don't need your charity Rishabh. I am very happy without and you seem happy without me too.' She felt tears in her eyes as she recollected him and Laila in the storeroom.

Rishabh clenched his fists tightly.

'You know I was feeling guilty for staying away from you. All these months I wanted to spend time with you, but Laila wanted us to be with each other more, so we could know each other better. And now when that is settled I came here to meet you. Like a fool, I was missing you badly, but you seem to not miss me.' He said angrily. Aashi looked away, she stared at her notebook.

'And you know what the interesting part is, Laila has sent me here. She knew I was missing you badly and so for my happiness she has sent me here.'

'Wow.' Aashi stood up too, Rishabh is taken aback.

'Just look at you, Rishabh. You have become a puppet in her hands. Now, she gets to decide who you should meet and when. This is not love Rishabh, this is Pathetic. Love is selfless. Like how even though I hate Laila I helped you because I can't see you miserable, that is love.' Aashi bit her tongue as she said the last line. Rishabh blinked at her.

'I mean - as a friend - love as a friend.' Aashi corrected herself.

There is silence between them, both simply stared at each other. Aashi couldn't help but smile at their condition, she had thought their bond was unbreakable and now look at them, fighting because of a girl. Aashi realized then that the cracks in their relationship were deeper than she had thought it to be.

'You are just jealous of her, Aashi.' Rishabh said when he had nothing else to say. Aashi's mouth dropped open. She glared at him as Rishabh turned and walked out furiously.