After Office hours, 9pm. Aashi glanced at her wrist watch as she stepped of her cabin. She cursed for getting so late. Still there is work, to do so she must hurry home. She adjusted the sling of her bag and turned around. She saw Rishabh stepping out of his cabin. She walked towards him. He locked the door and turned around when she called him.

Just like her he looked tired too, his coat resting on his free hand with which he held his laptop bag too, few buttons of his shirt were undone, and his tie loosened. He smiled wearying at her.

'Come I will drop you home.' She said as the two walked towards the elevator.

'No, I am Okay.'

'Shut up.' Aashi said sternly. Rishabh sighed.

'Is Himanshu coming too?' He asked and Aashi was stunned with his question.

'Why? Jealous?' Aashi grinned.

'Huh! No. Of course not.' Rishabh covered up. But he didn't meet her gaze and she knew he was lying. Rishabh was jealous of Himanshu, something about it made Aashi feel good.

'Okay, then why did you ask?'

'Aise hi.' Rishabh lied again. Aashi smirked.

They walked silently and sat in the car without uttering a word. As Aashi drove, she looked at Rishabh from the corner of her eyes. She noticed him looking thoughtful.

'What are you thinking?' She asked

'Himanshu.' - Rishabh said mindlessly, he quickly composed himself and said, - 'Nothing, work.' He looked flushed as Aashi laughed.

'Come on, don't lie. I am sure it's not work. Tell.'

'No.

'Tell.'

Aashi kept pestering him to talk, she was enjoying him being annoyed and embarrassed. Rishabh gave up and sighed, - 'Fine.'

'Is there – you – know - are you and Himanshu together?' He asked not meeting Aashi's gaze.

She looked at him briefly and then at the road, - 'He likes me, in fact, he proposed me too.' Aashi looked at Rishabh, she noticed the discomfort on his face, something she had never seen before. Perhaps, before when they were together as friends, Rishabh had been very confident of their friendship but now with a gap of ten years maybe he was insecure. But so much insecurity just for a friend? Aashi shut the thought inside her heart, she doesn't want to get her hopes high.

'I am happy for you.' Rishabh said after a moment of silence.

Aashi looked at him surprised, he forced a smile. Aashi stopped the car, startling him. She looked him amazed, - 'What?' She asked him. He frowned.

She took a moment before laughing. She laughed hard throwing her head back. Rishabh frowned harder, he turned little looked at her, - 'What is so funny?' He asked slightly annoyed and confused.

'He proposed me, but I rejected him.' Aashi said after she had stopped laughing. She noticed his frown turn into relieve.

'Oh.' He said, he looked away and a small smile appeared on his lips.

Aashi frowned, - 'Why are you smiling?'

'I am so stupid.' He said shaking his head, he looked at her and Aashi smiled mischievously at him.

'Admit it, you were jealous?' Aashi said pointing her index finger at him.

'Hey, No.' Rishabh lied again, this time confidently. Aashi's mouth dropped open, it was a plain white lie.

'Come, I don't have all day.' Rishabh patted her shoulder urging her to drive. Aashi kept looking at him with her mouth open. He rolled his eyes and moved his hand and closed her mouth with his palm. He gestured her through his eyes towards the steering wheel and raised an eyebrow asking her to drive.

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

Aashi entered her apartment with a smile on her face. Rishabh looked very cute when jealous. Till the end, he kept denying that he wasn't jealous, but Aashi knew he was and she also knew that he knew she knew.

Aashi locked the door shaking her head. Her smile faded when she realized the house was quiet, too quiet. She looked around, her eyes searched for Suchitra. She called her name but no response.

'Suchitra!' Aashi pushed the door, it opened to an empty room. She got worried and quickly dialed her number. With each passing ring, her heartbeat began increasing. There was no response, for a moment she contemplated calling Rishabh but then she reminded herself that he is tired, and she didn't want to make him tensed.

Aashi kept pacing in the living room, dialing Suchitra's and Himanshu's number. The continuous no response frustrated her. She looked at the wall clock, 11 am. Aashi thought of calling the Police.

'Stop, Aashi, relax.' She told herself.

To clear her head, she walked towards the French window, opened it and stuck her head out. The cool breeze cooled her head.

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

Fifteen to twenty minutes later, the doorbell rang and Aashi jumped on the couch, alarmed. She hurried towards the door and peeped through the peephole. Himanshu stood there holding a passed out Suchitra. She was leaning against him, her arm around his neck. He held her arm tightly and her head lowered.

Aashi opened the door and looked worriedly at them.

'Hey.' Himanshu flashed an embarrassed smile. Aashi glared at him, she held Suchitra hand and tugged her hand. Suchitra fell over her and Aashi nearly stumbled a step back.

'What have you done to her?' She glared at Himanshu.

'Me? No, No, No. She was upset and so I took her to a Disco, she got drunk. I requested her not to drink so much but...Sorry.' Himanshu said apologetically. With his tone, Aashi knew he was sincere. She sighed.

'Seriously, Disco? You shouldn't have taken her there especially knowing she was vulnerable.' Aashi shook her head.

'Sorry.' Himanshu hung his head in shame.

Aashi sighed and shifted little placing Suchitra's head on her shoulder, - 'Now, help me with her. She isn't as light as she looks.' She said.

Himanshu nodded, he held Suchitra's other arm and placed it around his neck. Aashi wrapped her other arm around her neck and the two lead her to her room. Together they tucked her into her bed, Himanshu apologized again.

Aashi asked him to relax and the two-bid goodnight. She closed the door and exhaled loudly leaning against it.