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The moment I realized how close I was standing of her, I don't know why I didn't feel like moving back at the exact time? Whenever my eyes get locked with hers, I don't understand which internal power obstructs me to tear away my gaze. The way her orbs gazed into mine, the way her breath entangled with mine, the way I felt her rhythmic heartbeats. I just couldn't gather enough courage to push myself away!

You need to apply breaks, Sanam!

I should not feel such way, right? It's wrong. I am admiring a girl for whom my best friend has intense feelings?

Still, this feeling is unstoppable!

My eyes slipped down from her intimidating orbs to her delicate lips which were trembling, may be struggling to utter something.

Was my closeness affecting her?

The track of my thoughts split when I heard Keshu squealing with enthusiasm as the level got completed. I quickly moved back to my seat, taking out my mobile from pocket I acted as if I was busy with my cell phone before he could notice what was happening beside him.

What's wrong with me? I should try to find ways to bring Keshu and her close but instead my destiny is playing some other game. This is not good. Don't forget your limits, Sanam. Keshav loves her!

What if he just likes her and assuming it as love? Know the difference!

But he told me about his feelings!

And what about hers? Do she feel for him? Do she even have any other feeling for him than friendship?

I must try to find out her feelings.

There my brain and heart were debating on a topic unknown when I saw Keshu hugging her out of excitement. I adjusted my gaze back to my mobile screen, not wanting to see that again.

Stop watching them secretly like a thief!

I scolded myself. "Well played budder!" I heard Keshu complimenting me with a huge grin on his face.

How come he know?

Arpita ne bataya hoga na duffer!

I shoved back my cell inside my Pajama's pocket as I delivered a dramatic dialogue from a movie to him making her laugh loudly. I couldn't help but smile secretively . When she got a grip on herself and glanced at me shyly, I plastered a neutral expression on my face, followed by Keshu. I found her cheeks tinting pink due to embarrassment which was actually kinda cute. I looked at Keshu and same he did that's when we both burst out laughing really hard. Our manly laughter ecohed in the room, soon her soft giggles mixed with it.

After a good laughing session Keshu got a call from his trainer so he had to leave. I hopped on the couch after we bid him bye and grabbed the controllers as I asked her if she would like to play some more to which she agreed.

Khushi, your gamer has returned and she brought him back!

End of POV.

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"Just playing isn't fun. Let's make a bet...." He said casually which didn't sound casual at all to me. Shifting my gaze from the screen to him I asked, "Bet?" My face clearly showcasing my confusion and so does my tone. "Yeah.." He punched few keys of his gaming pad, not caring to look at me .

"Elaborate?.." Lifting up my eyebrows together and crossing my arms over my chest, I turned my head giving him a curious look and demanding for an explanation. He pressed a button once and then finally turned his head to me. "It's simple.." He smiled before continuing, "I'm changing the game from the military one to a bike racing one."

That baffled me, "What? Why?"

He chuckled before replying, "Relax Arpita, I know you just got friendly to this game but challenges are fun, aren't they?"

Oh yes they are!

After he completed his words and I listened to him silently, I saw a different spark in his eyes. A kind of spark which was lost so far, a spark which remids me of that old Sanam who was always chirpy and active. A spark which used to shine on his face when he used to play video games.

My path of bringing him back from that gloominess was accomplishing slowly, I felt. A short smile spread on my lips, knowing he was gaining back his previous personality.

The personality which made me admire him since my college days.

"Fine. Bring it on!" I replied confidently. He grinned and changed the game,"There will be two players in this game, player one is me so undoubtedly second one is you.. Game is simple, the one who will cross the finishing line first will be the winner. Now the bet is..." He took a proper pause building up suspense, "The one who loses will have to reveal one secret!" His lips curved up into a mischievous smirk as he explained me the T&C of the game. He seemed so enthusiastic just like a little kid who will be eating his favorite dish after ages!

Hold on!

Reveal one secret?

I was pretty lost in my thoughts when he waved his hand in front of my eyes as I snapped back to reality, "Earth to.. Miss. Day Dreamer!" He chuckled. My cheeks tinted pink as I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear shyly, which seems to be my habit now a days! *sigh*

Idea!

"But I have a condition." I said with a childish pout.

When will my habits change? Urgh!

"What?" He asked being confused.

"The first round will be a trial. So no judgements will be made on its basis, even if one lose it won't be considered, agree?"

His lips curved up in amusement as if he didn't expect such smart move from my side.

Why do people always underestimate me?

"Smart trick! I agree to your conditions Dr. Psycho." He smiled goofily. I bite my inner cheeks trying to prevent them from turning into a darker shade of red, I grabbed the controller with excitement.

Wait baby, excited for what?

Losing?

Hell no!

Umm.. May be yes? The idea of winning from him itself is stupid!

But girl, you cannot give up so easily.. And secret? What will you tell him huh?

"If you kept debating about winning and losing and don't focus on the game then surely you gonna lose, Dr. Psycho." Kicking out all my thoughts I dragged myself back to the real world as I heard him giggling.

Damn, the game is on!

I settled attentively on the couch, folding my legs and focused on the large LED screen. Even though it was just a trial but I had to get a grip on it as quick as possible!

The trial was pretty good. I gave him good competition but he defeated me. Now, it was time for the final game. My heart was racing with extreme speed even faster than the bike in the video game.

Com'on, you can do it Aaru!

Com'on!

Oh no no no..

Yes yes yes...

Oh goody!

I felt as if I will get a heart attack any second as we were reaching closer to the finishing line. Sometimes I used to overtake him and sometimes he. I gave my two hundred percent to the game. Even he has to agree that I gave him a tough competition. Now there was just a minute gap between us and the finishing line, our bikes were in full speed.

Suddenly out of no where, I sneezed.

What a timing! Can anyone clap for me? Duh!

"Yes, I won!" He punched his fist in air on his victory. "This is not fair! I sneezed that's why I lost the control." I whined, dropping the controller beside me as I folded my arms over my chest and stared the screen with an angry pouty face which beams, Congratulations player 1, you won!

"Whatever the reason is Miss. Arora but you lost and that's the reality. Embrace it." Folding his arms over his chest he too stared at the screen but with a smirk on his lips as he rested his back on the backrest of couch.

He called me Miss. Arora for the first time!

I smiled inwardly on the thought but not letting him know. "Embrace it." I mimicked his tone sarcastically. "Aye bade! Baba Sanam Puri.. Huh.. I wouldn't have lost if I didn't sneeze! Embrace it." I said confidently to which he laughed. I pout childishly again as he continued to laugh some more.

Watching him giggling is really as blissful as watching a rose bud blooming into a bright flower.

I can never get tired of admiring them both.

A soft smile appears on my lips as I adored the purest soul laughing his heart out. Finally he controlled himself, "Okay devi ji... I agree that you were a tough competitor.." He managed saying between his laughs.. "But also you have to agree that you lost!" He laughed again. I plastered an innocent pout and blinked my eyelashes.

"Nice try... But it won't work.." He plastered a cute smile.

Cute stubborn.

"Fine." I sighed. "Good girl Dr. Psycho.. Now reveal a secret.." The eagerness was clear on his face as he turned his body to me, resting his right arm over the headrest.

Now what should I reveal? Hold on, a secret is something hidden from the other person. Oh yes! Tell him that you have a crush on him since college times.

But sweetheart are you really so courageous to disclose to him?

Do I have any other option?

Telling about my past would be the worst idea! He is already dealing with his own past, putting forward my dark one would be really stupid!

Okay Aaru, relax. Breath in. Breath out. Better? It's not as hard as climbing Everest. Just say it!

"Okay so.. Umm.. Actually I.. Uhh.." I was failing miserably at constructing proper words. "I.. Uhh.. Umm.. Is that your secret Dr. Psycho?" He imitated me. "You are my celebrity crush since my college days!" I said in one go with tightly shut eyes.

Wooh!

I opened my left eye first to check his expressions followed by second one. His look clearly explained that he was stunned, not expecting something like that coming from me.

Shit! Why did you say it Aaru?

"Wh-what?" He asked in disbelief.

"See.. I can explain it to you.. Actually.. That time the band was newly formed plus I genuinely loved the idea of independent music.. On the top of it, you were such an innocent person with such mesmerizing voice! I could help but adore.." I babbled not looking at him. "I was innocent? You mean I'm not innocent now?" He questioned. My eyes popped out, "N-no no.. I mean.. You are innocent! Matlab.. Ahh!" For the first time, I didn't know how to make him understand. I heaved and shut my eyes again.

When I opened them to rechecked his expressions, they were different. He chuckled softly while shaking his head which made me blush. "I don't know about myself but you are innocent indeed." I bite my cheeks inwardly as they were tinting pink again.

Did he call me innocent?

Eeeeeeeeeee!!!

"So, that was your sweet lil secret.." He says while relaxing his back on backrest again. I nodded shyly, "It was.." I could see a mild smile on the corner of his lips. The room felt quite for next few minutes but the quietness wasn't suffocating instead, it was peaceful. I felt relaxed and calm.

"Uhh..You still have crush on me?" He suddenly asked poking the bubble of tranquility. "Yes." Don't know form I got this courage but I admitted it. He is the only person on whom I have been crushing badly since 6 years! In any problem and in any agony, his songs are my only medicine to overcome through them. His voice has always healed my soul.

"Anyone else in the band?" He asked again. I narrowed my eyes giving a suspicious look to him, "The dare was to disclose one secret, not to play a rapid fire round.. That too without a cup of coffee?"

Wow Aaru! Kaha se aai itni himmat?

"Not bad Dr. Psycho.. Seems like you have finally accepted me as your friend." He said with a light smirk. "Its just the beginning Mr. Puri.. Abhi apne asli dhamake jhele kaha hai?" I replied with a style.

We both were giggling and laughing on our friendly conversations. That time we didn't care about our social positions. He wasn't a celebrity and I wasn't his consultant. Just two friends, having an open conversation and laughing at each others lame jokes.

My celebrity crush is now my good friend. I hope this boat of our friendship never submerged.

End.

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I fetch Amaya from her school at 3 pm and returned back home. She was tired so she directly ran inside her room. On the way behind her, suddenly my feet paused when I heard sounds of giggles and laughter. Strangely, it came from the gaming room.

My eyes literally jumped out when I saw who was sitting there.

Sanam! I pinched myself to check whether I was dreaming or it was actually the reality. "You are not dreaming hubby.. It is the reality.. Our player puri is back!" Soumya slowly whispered in my ear as she wrapped her hands around my upper arm and rested her head on my shoulder with a smile while we watched the two new kids of our house, Sanam & Arpita.

"He is coming, Samar.. Our Sanam.. Is returning back to us.. To his life.." She said softly as her eyes turned glassy. I caressed her cheek by gently stroking it with my thumb and pulled her in a hug. "It's the happiest day of my life." I told her in a calmed tone. "Mine too." She accepted. "It's all because of Aaru." She added. I smiled and hummed in agreement. We broke the hug and turned to them again, "He is again laughing heartily, Somu! This is the smile which was lost. This is the laughter our ears were craving for." My heart was filled with contentment as I watched my brother guffawing with Arpita.