Clothes, bills, medicines, reports, control over media—all was in check.

But emotions?

Shrey's heart had become a bubble. He felt as if it would burst any moment. What could he even do? It was Sakshi who had filled it with so much love and care. He was overwhelmed.

All that frustration burning in his chest had now melted away. He was dazzled. By her beauty, her innocence, her smartness and wisdom. Only he knew, how hard it was for him to leave that parking lot without asking her everything.

But as if she was the only good thing in his life. Just as he had walked away, Rishabh had called him. The cousin had reached downstairs after completing all the procedures and formalities. Shrey showed up at his car, and caught him waiting there. Standing with arms crossed across his chest, with his signature poker face on.

Shrey couldn't help but roll his eyes immediately. Though, he controlled not saying anything and got in the car. Now, when he was finally going home, all memories of that case was coming back.

The circumstances were again settling around him, making him realize that he was still trapped in this web of lies. The woman who had accused him was roaming freely. The best friend whom he had helped, was celebrating. While he was still the same loser.

"Do you feel okay?"

Shrey couldn't describe how awkward it was to sit with Rishabh in the same car. He was behaving like the elder brother now, which was unrealistic after not believing him days ago.

"I feel great realizing that I am still trapped in this rape case. Do you, sitting with a shame of a cousin in the same car?" Shrey sneered while observing his face.

Rishabh's jaw ticked but his response was settling again. "I was wrong. But now is not the time to taunt each other. The date of decision is coming closer and you need to be as healthy as you can be for all our research. You need to be alive to save yourself."

Shrey scoffed, chuckled humorlessly. "I was saving myself. Only if you hadn't brought me to the hospital. But what was the better chance than this to behave like a true brother?"

Rishabh's knuckles turned white as he held the staring tighter. Shrey could observe it all but he had lost it. He won't give a bit of relaxation to his brother that everything was fine. He never believed his innocence. He had to give up his life to make him believe.

Or maybe, Rishabh was now acting so he won't try to do that again. Shrey shook his head. Everyone was acting these days. Your own people might give you hell. No was trustable. Your own family could distrust you then who would you expect from.

Sakshi

The little sensation in his stomach made him realize that it was settled in his mind. His conscience was accepting the entrance of Sakshi in his life. His heart said that when no one was believing and caring, someone else did.

Enough to enter the hospital, restricted ward and write motivating words for him. His heart cried for such care.

She was seriously sobbing in front of him. The girl whom he had left behind. He had ditched her, dumped her so ruthlessly. He was a big jerk to her even than she cared.

How it was even possible for her to have such a big heart? Just because she knew him, didn't mean that she had to care if he was alive or not. But she did.

Shrey was confused at the moment. He didn't know why all of a sudden she seemed like an angel to him. Years ago, he had closed that chapter thinking that she was a spoilt brat and was needed to face for his cousin. Even if he was guilty for hurting her, he was civil and helpful in the end.

He fought with those local goons to save her and it had costed him badly. He was injured badly. He had internal pains for days. Still he had left that phase of life, concluding that she was as stubborn as her brother. Or she didn't care or maybe, her brother never allowed her to talk to them.

But she could have contacted him. Though, how could he even think about that. He had still used her, played with her heart. He didn't deserve that at all.

Now, when the whole universe had stopped doors for him. The only one left was to die, he had remembered hurting her in his last moments. He had remembered all his mistakes of life in those deadly moments. He had wished to rectify them if he had ever gotten the chances.

Now, Sakshi was that one chance. He had to apologize to her properly.

Maybe, by these little things he could melt that God for saving from such controversial court case.

________

"Why would you be so happy after meeting a friend who almost committed suicide?"

Because that friend had hugged her—three times. Because that special had given her so much attention which she had craved all the time. Because that special friend was still able to make her heart flutter wildly. Because that special friend brought back all those feelings which she had locked somewhere deep in her heart.

Sakshi had so many answers to Aarush's question. But each one expressed her eternal love for him. If this was any other day, Sakshi wouldn't even have allowed Aarush to stay for the night at their flat. He and Aditi would talk and not sleep the whole night, which irritated her so much because she liked reading before sleeping and sleeping on time.

But right now, she didn't care. Her mind was all filled with those moments of the parking lot. She couldn't forget how his face seemed well-defined after being so matured. The lessons of life had brought such maturity on his face. His better health had cheered up her spirits.

Him saying that her words had affected him positively, had amazed her. He looked different, better than when he was unconscious on the bed. His smile was brighter at seeing her.

Sakshi had never felt so much shyness before. She was shocked. She couldn't even get the idea of how fastly he had changed clothes and had gotten downstairs. Maybe, he had recognized her on that floor only and had taken the advantage of the time when she was talking to her brother.

She bit her lip while smiling shyly, until the voice came again. "Okay now, ladies and gentlemen. The girl is blushing."

Her eyes widened and stomach churned immediately. Blinking furiously, she narrowed her eyes at him. "What do you want, Aarush? I am trying to study here."

Aarush gave her a stern look. "Study? Yeah, right. Smiling to yourself, blushing repeatedly, not even remembering that I had asked you a question and the fact that your brother had been calling from past minute because you were so into thinking about that friend, is studying."

Pulling her cheeks from inside, she ignored his rant and picked up her phone. Her heart jumped up to her throat at seeing the video call.

"He is video calling." She glanced worriedly at Aarush who only stared at her in silence. Gulping, she swiped to the green while straightening her arm out and appeared the most adorable woman on this planet according to her.

Her smile couldn't get any wider. This was her magic. "Bhabhi," chirped Sakshi excitedly.

Aarush's eyebrows furrowed immediately. Curiosity risen in his heart to the top at knowing that the brother was out of the picture now. Well, screen.

"How's the princess right there?" Came the sweet voice and Aarush smirked to himself which didn't go unnoticed by Sakshi.

"Amazing. Now, now why do you look so dressed up? My favorite couple going out on a secret date again," teased Sakshi and Aarush was amazed. Though, he was glad that finally, after days Sakshi seemed like herself.

A cute chuckle was heard and a clearing of throat. "Actually, yes." Sakshi hooted while Pihu rolled her eyes. "But your brother here is suggesting that we also attend the Bhatia's party. You know, I don't want to waste my evening in between all the ladies. Give some scolding to your brother."

Sakshi giggled. "Is he there?"

Pihu shook her head. "He's in the bathroom. Must be coming in two minutes. Listen, how's everything there?"

Sakshi shrugged her shoulders. "Everything awesome."

Pihu nodded. "Your friends?"

Sakshi glanced at Aarush and smiled. "Yeah, stupid. But friends." She watched as Pihu blinked repeatedly. "Nice earrings."

Pihu blushed. "Thanks. Your brother bought them last week. Green gems. He really adores them. Um, Sakshi? I heard that Mihir is in the same University as yours?"

Aarush's eyes stoned at Sakshi who too had glanced at him. He was shocked and blank. "Yeah," replied Sakshi. "Bhai told me, he is Mrs. Bhatia's son. If there's a party there, why didn't Mihir leave? I just saw him today."

Pihu shook her head. "Maybe, he'll come on Diwali directly like you. Don't accept it in front of mummy. Okay? She'll get so positive about it and would start pasting your name with him. I am only saying because your brother-"

"I know, he had called for that only in the morning. He has warned me. I understand. I will take care of it."

Pihu couldn't decide how to ask her about Shrey's incident. She was really curious and worried for her but if she would ask about it directly, it might create problems. But she had to know about Sakshi's knowledge of the incident because she knew how she still had feelings for him.

Pihu had observed it and knew that if Sakshi knew about it, she would be so disturbed. She smiled nervously, "Take care of yourself, Sakshi. Delhi is a big city. Anything can happen anytime if we are not alert. Many incidents are happening daily."

Aarush made a face at Sakshi to which she too was agreeing since Pihu was suddenly talking so serious. "We daily hear the news. Someone is shot, looted. Someone is depressed. Someone committed suicide. . ."

Sakshi could feel her heart starting pounding loudly all of a sudden. The first thought that came to her mind was that Pihu maybe, knew about Shrey's incident.

Why won't they be aware of it? It was all over the local media and being the Business man, her brother must be aware of every single report.

The realisation was clearly shown on her face and Aarush was dumbfounded. Could it be serious that her sister-in-law was taunting about Shrey's Malhotra? Awesome, he commented mentally.

Pihu waited for any sign on Sakshi's face through which she could understand that she knew about it. But she only seems confused about it which clearly was concluding her unawareness. Pihu sighed and decided to change the topic.

"Take care of your friends too." This made Sakshi smiling at her softly.

"I do, Bhabhi."

Aarush frowned immediately. Everything was forgotten and now, all his focus was to say, "Liar," in his manly voice.

Sakshi was about to glare at him playfully when the sudden movement in the camera and came the another familiar voice in the perfect dangerous tone.

"Who's that guy, there?" The phone was in Raghav's hand and Sakshi was close to cut the call in embarrassment. She nervously shrugged.

"Aditi."

Aarush covered his mouth while pointing at her, controlling his laughter as all the blood was drained from Sakshi's face. He could swear, she had all her goosebumps raised. She wasn't moving.

"No. It's a man laughing behind you."

Sakshi could feel the veins in her neck shrinking and clocking her food pipe. Her throat dried out as she could very well see an irritated Pihu trying to snatch the phone from Raghav's hold playfully.

"Raghav, we are getting late for-"

"Is that the guy who topped in the marketing project in your graduation?" asked Raghav while Sakshi nodded with a sigh.

"My great friend, Bhai. It's Aarush." She shifted beside Aarush who was now sitting straight and alert. Sakshi made sure to maintain the distance as to not give her brother any ideas. She turned the camera to him.

"Hello, Sir." Aarush smiled while still feeling embarrassed to be caught by her brother. Yet it felt like an item from his bucket list coming true.

Meeting the well-known possessive brother

The phone was about to be snatched by Pihu again when she suddenly stopped in to screen. "Oh! Hi! Is it Aarush? The best friend."

Sakshi chuckled while nodding but gulped when Raghav was staring at them keenly. Aarush nodded with a smile, he couldn't help but admit how radiant the lady looked.

"Sakshi has told me that you make delicious pasta," she chirped. "Come to Chandigarh, someday. Okay. And please take care that Sakshi studies well like you. We had personally gone through your projects' PDFs from the graduation, that Sakshi had showed us. They were amazing. You are brilliant "

"Thank you." Aarush smiled awkwardly, feeling shy all of a sudden. Especially when Raghav was almost glaring at him. "I am glad you liked them."

"Of course, Raghav was so impressed." Sakshi and Aarush exchanged shocked glances.

Raghav nodded sternly. "Keep doing good work. Both of you, studying now?"

Both of them nodded immediately. Aarush even showed the notebook hurriedly. "Yes. Um, Aditi is also here. She has gone to bring other books." Aarush made sure to not let them create any doubt.

Raghav nodded while Sakshi swallowed. "You come home soon, okay. And you? Visit sometime."

Aarush smiled while Sakshi was shocked to the core. The couple cut the call after hurried byes since Riaan had entered the room crying because of his unties lace of the shoe.

"That was shocking."

Aarush stretched while looking at her. "About what?"

Sakshi shook her head. "My brother being impressed by you. He never was a nerd. Why would he like you?"

Aarush closed his eyes while smirking. "That's the charm of mine, Miss Khanna is unable to observe these days.

Sakshi ignored him and was putting her phone away when Aarush spoke again, "Though, I am shocked too about one thing."

Before Sakshi could even ask, he replied, "Your sister-in-law giving sign towards Shrey Malhotra's suicide case."

Aarush observed how her face changed immediately. She lowered her eyes and blinked repeatedly. Without giving him a glance, she answered, "No. She was genuinely making me understand about the self-safety."

Aarush clicked his tongue. "She was trying to know if you are aware of your old friend's suicide attempt. Shrey Malhotra's suicide attempt."

Sakshi stared at him wide-eyed. He had mentioned her exact thoughts. How did he know? Sakshi was baffled.

"Isn't it? Sakshi? Your brother and I know about this suicide attempt. But the difference is that I know more."

Aarush smiled at her knowingly.

"You were friends with Shrey Malhotra and you like him. Wait-" he cut his own words. " You love him."

His exclamation was simple, but exact. Sakshi was troubled by his smartness. How the hell he got to know all about this? But then she realized that she was the one who had given him the details so carelessly.

A mastermind and curious person like Aarush would go to any dimension for his friends. She couldn't hide it now. But a new fear was forming in her heart.

Fear of losing her reputation that she had maintained in these years. But Aarush was her best friend.

He would understand.

Won't he?

_______

"What do you think?"

Please vote and comment.

Guys, I am so sorry for being so late. I was travelling and now am very sick with high fever and bad, bad cold. I hate winters, seriously. There's so much body pain, I cannot concentrate on my studies, on writing. Even Soldier of Sins is now due to update. I am on bed rest now and sneezing, coughing, not even able to gulp down anything because my throat is so sore. Anyways, As soon as I get well, I will be fair to you guys and give more updates.

Thank you for understanding.

I love you, guys. Please have faith in me.

___