The evening had started turning darker as the lights all around the shopping complex brightened for the welcome of cheerful families, groups of friends and couples.

But never had she thought that life would give her this beautiful moment again, this chance of walking freely and lazily by his side again, listening to him taking small breaths and nothing else.

Sakshi was satisfied that whatever assumptions she had made about him lusting for his best friend's wife were wrong. Though, she couldn't deny feeling heartbroken at seeing his eyes full of uncertainty and pain.

Gone was the time when she would react being all caring and loving towards him. But all those pledges and promises to herself, were weakening when his hard voice would be full of regret and hurt.

She couldn't speak a word since they had left the cafe. It was her idea to get out and have some walk and talk, avoiding being seated right in front of him and bawling her eyes out embarrassingly. When at the moment, she couldn't even call herself his friend or anything.

She was there for him, maybe as a human or a well wisher. A sigh escaped her mouth in defeat. Why was she even fooling herself? She perfectly was realizing that she was here because she still loved him.

The Shrey she had met today was different from the one she had been in love with years ago. The boy turned into man was now soft spoken and calm. She never knew he could be this expressive with the way he was so open to her in words and through those light brown eyes.

"You feel better, now?"

Her eyebrows raised in a subtle surprise. "Yeah. And you?"

She watched him shrugging his shoulders, giving her a tight-lipped smile. "I am okay."

"Is the lawyer trying his best? I mean all the proofs and. . ."

He shook his head, staring far at the people enjoying foods and each other's company. "All the proofs are against me."

Sakshi turned her head at him in shock. "What?"

"It's getting difficult to prove my innocence." He stared at her, his eyes showing honesty. Catching a public seat nearby, he gestured for her to sit and sat down beside her.

"It's hard. The woman told the police how the money was given to her husband so I can have cozy nights with her. I was keen on having that despite him being so protective as the husband he was. At last, my frustration broke down when even after sending money, I didn't get what I want. So, I attacked her at the flat that night," he explained, ended up chuckling humorlessly when Sakshi gave him a baffled look.

Her jaws clenched at seeing him so hopeless. "But there might be something else. . ."

Shrey scoffed, "Nothing, Sakshi. She is a woman and with great acting skills, words and proofs. I am nothing but a loser. A stupid guy who ruined his reputation, his family's image and his future. Everything."

He looked away from her, feeling too expressive all of a sudden. Gulping slightly, Shrey took a long breathe. "I am sorry. I kind of lost it. I have become a loser these days. I actually am one."

Her lips parted as she kept staring at him in shock. What happened to the confident, so-full-of-himself kind of guy? What happened to the guy who was so high-spirited all the time? Who had so many dreams, so many things to do further in life and never sit back?

Here he was now, behaving like a lost soul. Sakshi felt like she had done the most stupid mistake of her life by letting him enter her life again. While mapping her dreams, she had planned to have her head high all the time. Be with the people who would make her happy, not let down and always inspire her to move ahead.

But staring at Shrey looking like that, she was trembling inside. Yes, she had performed a very big mistake. Knowingly.

"Enough of my case." He looked back at her and gave her a genuine smile with those eyes still glistening. "C'mon, tell me more about your life."

Sakshi smiled nervously, biting her lip and lowering her eyes. "Like I told you, University and friends. Family is as supportive as it always have been," her smile faded remembering how this time, they weren't being understanding at all.

"Back in home, Bhai and Bhabhi are great. They have a son, now." She giggled at him smiling when her eyes had lightened up. "Riaan. He is three-years-old. Oh, he is such a cutie. I was actually very jealous when he kind of stole the youngest member of the family tag."

"But he is my refuge, you know."

Shrey smiled at her.

"Whenever I am so stressed or have a bad day, his toothy smile changes it all," she chirped with a chuckle.

"But you didn't like kids at all, the more I remember." His eyes narrowed at her.

Sakshi's heart picked it's pace all of a sudden. What? She had mentioned this once when they were having a night chat. Did he remember all other things she had shared too? Or was it just his way of melting her again?

She was puzzled but decided to give him a reply anyhow. "It's different when one baby comes in your home. It's different with nieces or nephews. When Rishabh will have one, you will get to feel the same."

It didn't take long for his smile to fade. He had almost snorted as the cruel words his cousin had said before his suicidal attempt filled his mind. He didn't want to look like a cry baby to her. He knew that it was ruining the impression to start a friendship he wanted to gain from Sakshi.

Still the dark humor didn't escape his mind as he whispered out, "If I get to live in the home, not the jail."

Sakshi stiffened, feeling uncomfortable at his behavior. Yet she couldn't blame him. He had tried to give up his life and now, suffering the same world hat he wanted to leave, she could understand very well how he wasn't mentally sorted.

"I am sorry."

Startled, she glanced at him.

Shrey was looking at her only. "I know, it's not easy to forget everything and take out time for a nobody like me. Not just time, you gave your precious tears, your beautiful words and thoughtful prayers. Even if you haven't forgotten what I did years ago, I want to tell you that you are a great human being, Sakshi."

She was frozen to the core. Thousands of emotions were prickling her skin when those words reached her heart. Did he just truly said that?

"It's not easy or even real to be so empathetic. You don't know how much overwhelmed I was, I am when I recall your words written in those chits. When the nurse told me that it was one of my ex-girlfriends, it didn't take long for me to conclude that it was you."

She raised her eyebrows when he chuckled nervously.

"It has always been hook-ups. That even in abroad or during school, college. No girl can claim me as her ex-boyfriend except for you. You know why," he spoke softly, observing her swallowing.

"I didn't know if you were right or not. I just know that killing yourself is not an answer, not a justification. I would never wish someone to be so torn enough to give up their life," she told him determinedly. "Not even the people I hate." And you were the one I love so much.

He looked away immediately as if knowing what she wanted to say. Sakshi roamed her eyes on her surroundings and to her surprise, she suddenly realized how the sky had turned darker.

"Hey, it's getting late. I must leave. . ." She trailed off while checking the time.

Shrey swallowed while looking around. "Well, okay." They slowly got up from the seat. "I can drop you if you don't mind. . ." He gulped.

Sakshi let out a nervous chuckle. She really wasn't ready to be in a car with him when most of the memories of her love story had been made in a car only. It would be such a disaster to get all nostalgic and then, end up realizing that it was all a facade.

Even the culprit was suffering now, she still won't be able to control her breaths. She would get suffocated being in such close proximity with him.

"It's okay. I will just call my best friend or hire a cab."

Shrey wanted to insist but he didn't have the guts to do that. There were many reasons. Him being framed as a rapist. Her being heartbroken by him. He didn't want to look like a flirt by any means. He didn't even want to give her the wrong idea especially when this time, he truly was wishing a genuine bonding with her with no wrong intention.

"Then, you must inform him or her. We can walk to the road slowly until your friend or the cab arrives," he suggested smoothly.

Sakshi shrugged her shoulders, giving in as she immediately called Aarush. Laughing out loud, she glanced at Shrey when the first words she heard from Mr. Khanna were, "Give me the dirty details."

"Can you come at our coffee spot to receive me?" She asked ignoring all of his questions that were being lined up impatiently.

After a sigh, Aarush finally replied, "Okay. Don't let him go until I am there."

She smiled in awe which didn't go unnoticed by Shrey who seemed curious to see this best friend.

"Is he coming?"

Sakshi nodded proudly. Shrey blinked while walking by her side. After five minutes of complete silence when they had almost reached the side of the road, he told her, "I am glad to see you, Sakshi. I had never expected to meet you again, that even when I am so wrecked. Thanks for coming."

What happened next wasn't something he had expected. A hand covered his and squeezed it slowly.

"I will be glad too if I see you not worry so much the next time."

He looked at her in surprise. "Will there be a next time?"

She left his hand and was about to reply, if he wanted it to be. But to her shock, the answer came in a familiar voice.

"Of course. This is our favorite coffee spot. You can hang out with us anytime. We come here every third day."

Sakshi's mouth opened in shock as Aarush offered his hand for Shrey to shake who did it with a slight raise of eyebrows and amusement completely written on his face.

"Shrey Malhotra."

Sakshi couldn't help but notice how unsurely, Shrey had spoken his name. Yet she smiled when he glanced at her for assurance.

"And I am the friend-zoned guy, Aarush Mehra."

Shrey chuckled and glanced at Sakshi. Someone needed to dig a hole for her. Only Aarush could embarrass her within some seconds. The creepy smile on his face completely showed how he was trying the read the truth from Shrey's face by being welcoming as his true nature was.

Though, he was genuinely excited to know the guy who had played with his best friend years ago.

Sakshi elbowed him immediately, muttering, "How the hell did you reach so fast?"

Shrey had noticed the change in her tone and it broke a part of his heart how she was never so comfortable in front of him or with him. For the first time, he felt how it wasn't always cool to make a girl nervous he knew, loved him. Comfort matters.

"I was right behind the mall, checking some watches with a friend."

Sakshi made a face that clearly spoke, Aarush was lying. He must be eveready to pick her or must be spying on them, who knew.

"Aditi," she narrowed her eyes, smiling tauntingly. The twitch in his jaw satisfied her so much, she ended up chuckling.

"Nope," Aarush glanced at Shrey, smirking knowingly. "Kabir."

"Kabir Nair."

Sakshi's blank expression were priceless as Aarush burst out laughing. He watched Shrey scratching his forehead in awkwardness being completely unaware of the secret joke.

"Um, Shrey. It's her crush, you know. Our professor," told Aarush while staggering back as Sakshi had started walking towards him with a tight slap ready.

Shrey snickered in surprise, "What! I thought I was the only one of hers."

Sakshi shook her head in embarrassment with her mouth fully open and her cheeks warming up. "C'mon, now you too. . ."

Aarush squeezed his eyes shut, biting his lower lip to not snicker like a total creep. He was already liking the guy.

"Okay, then." Shrey forwarded his arms to lean for a hug and chuckled when this time, it wasn't something awkward or emotional. It was the lively hug, he had expected from her true-self. It killed him.

He could feel the arrow stabbing his heart.

She wasn't taking him as a rapist, he was confirmed. It was strange how the girl he had played with wasn't playing with his emotions, when she had the perfect chance.

Sakshi breathed in closely and patted his back. "Keep me updating how the case is progressing, okay."

He closed his eyes. "I will." He whispered in her shoulder, "Thank you."

Pulling away, Sakshi smiled at him. He had thanked him not for just coming here and giving him, her precious time. This thank you was for everything. His eyes were explaining clearly.

Aarush watched the exchange keenly and was highly stunned. Sakshi looked completely whipped for him. The strange thing was that this Malhotra guy looked too troubled to be with high-spirited girl like Sakshi.

He smiled and shook hands again with him. Seeing the sincerity in his eyes, he remembered how he had tried to encourage his joke and had laughed as if it was costing him to even smile.

"Nice meeting you, bro."

Sakshi too gave Shrey a last glance. "Thanks for the coffee. Take care."

Shrey nodded and kept watching them as both best friends walked towards the parked car, still hitting each other with words and elbows.

It reminded him of his friends from school and college. Mostly, the ones who had spoiled his life. Having such bad experience had stoned him enough to not even wish for any friends again.

But seeing the guy laughing crazily at what Sakshi just told him, he wished he could be part of her life again. He too wanted to laugh.

If she could made him smile from so far, how much he would be happy to have her close to him. Again.

He couldn't wait to know the answer and it scared him how he really wanted to know it.

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Happy International Women's Day 👸