I know you guys are waiting for the same🤗

Thank you for showing all the love and support for my fanfiction❤️❤

Happy reading!!🤗🤗

Devika and Vikram sat in silence after he comforted her. Devika was thinking about how she is going to tell Anuj about the whole thing while Vikram was sitting quietly trying to take in all the information he just got.

The sound of the waves brought them out of their reverie.

Vikram :- Devu...

Devika :- Hmm...

Vikram :- Tujhe pata hai na ki hme yeh baat Anuj ko batani hogi...

Devika :- Mai whi soch rhi thi...ki Anuj ko kaise bataungi mai...pata nhi wo kaise react karega...kuch samaj nhi aa rha...

Vikram :- Batana to padega....aakhir tu kab tak use avoid karegi...ya fir kab tak mai usse yeh baat chupaunga...mujhse nhi ho payega Devu...

Devika:- Aisa kuch nhi karna padega Bunty....aab wakt aa gya hai ki mai use sab bata du....pehle Anu ke liye nhi bataya aur fir Anuj ke liye....lekin aab dono theek hai...sambhal gaye hai....to aab mai aur der nhi karungi...

She paused a bit.

Devika :- Mai Anuj ko kal hi phone karke sab kuch bata dungi.....fir chahe wo daante gussa kare...naraz ho jaye...kuch bhi ho....mai use bata dungi...

Vikram was lost in thoughts thinking how Anuj is gonna react and what if the truth breaks him.

Vikram :- Devu...mai soch rha tha...

Devika :- Hmm ?

Vikram :- Ki I don't think so yeh baat use phone pe batana theek hoga....

Devika:- Tu kehna kya chahta h.... tujhe pata hai na wo India kbhi nhi aayega....

Vikram :- Aur agar wo aa gaya to....

Devika :- But kaise.....

Vikram :- 3 mahine baad....Manish uncle(Anuj's dad) ka dream project complete hone wala hai....what if hm use inauguration ke liye convince kar le ki wo India aa jaye....

Devika :- Tujhe lagta hai wo manega ?

Vikram:- Sach kahu to pata nhi.....lekin Shayad GK and Donna bhi manaye....to possible ho sakta hai....

Devika :- Lekin Vikram....agar use khi aur se yeh sab pata chl gaya to...

Vikram :- Usse tune ek saal tak yeh baat chupayi hai....thode din aur chupa lenge....

He sighed not liking the fact that he might have to hide something from his bestfriend.

Vikram :- Mai janta hu yeh galat hai lekin...itne saalo se use lagta aa rha hai ki Anupama apni life me khush hai...lekin jab use pata chlega ki sach kya hai...to uska dil tut jayega yrr....aur mai use bahut acche se jaanta hoo....GK pareshan na ho isiliye wo apna sara dard apne andar hi chupa lega hmesha ki tarah....

Devika :- Tu sahi keh rha yrr...hm use sambhal lenge.....kam se kam hmare sath hoga to kuch bol to payega...apne aap ko express to kar payega....nhi to akele ghutata hi rehega...

Vikram :- Mai Donna se baat karta hu is bare me....

Devika :- Theek hai...

Vikram saw Devika massaging her temples with her forefinger and thumb.

Vikram:- Sur dard ho rha...?

He asked.

Devika :- Haan yrr thoda sa...aaj kafi hectic day tha office me...

Vikram :- Tu ruk mai ek aur chai leke aata hoo hum dono ke liye...

He stood up and went to the nearby stall to bring some chai for them.

Devika(to herself) :- Bunty ne aise react kiya h to pata nhi Anuj kaise karega.....maine sab kuch itna uljha diya hai ki aab sb mujhe hi sort out karna hoga...

Vikram came back with two kulhads in his hand.

Vikram:- Yeh le teri chai....

Devika :- Thank you...

Vikram looking here and there asked....

Vikram:- Tu mujhe thank you bol rhi hai?

He said acting surprised...

Devika :- Just shut up yrr...

Vikram chuckled....

Vikram:- So aab Anupama tere sath rehti hai....tera college ke baad apni bestie ke sath rehne ka sapna finally sach ho hi gaya....

Devika:- Yes...finally.....but hua bhi to aise....

Devika sighed.

Vikram:- Kya kar sakte hai....jo jaise hona hota h waise hi hota hai....

He paused...

Vikram:- Waise ek baat bata yeh Vanraj karta kya hai...?

Devika :- Pata nhi yrr....last time suna tha to Goenka group me kisi project ka head tha....

Vikram:- Okay...

He said sipping his tea.

Devika:- Kya hua...tu kyu puch rha hai?

Vikram :- Nhi mujhe laga Shayad mai use janta hoo....leave it....he might be a different Vanraj.

Devika :- Accha....Waise tu Anu se mila kya....aur kaise....wo tere sath hi kaam kar rhi kya?

Vikram :- Mila to tha....kar nhi rhi thi but aab karegi...

Devika :- Mtlb ?

Vikram:- Are kuch nhi bas office me ek chota sa scene ho gya tha yrr.....

Devika :- Kya....kaisa scene aur yeh Anu ne mujhe bataya kyu nhi...?

Vikram:- Are shaant meri maa...shaant...itna bhi kuch bada nhi hua tha....bas Anupama ki superior usse thoda misbehave kar rhi thi because Anu use ek better marketing plan suggest kar rhi thi....u know how this office politics works....

He told Devika trying not to make it seem a big deal.

Devika:- Haan yrr...kuch log hote hai....jinhe unke subordinates ka unse aage badhna accha nhi lagta....

Vikram :- Exactly....isiliye....I asked Anupama to make a suggestion then and there....and turns out it was a brilliant idea...

Devika:- Really...?

Devika exclaimed sounding proud of her best friend.....

Vikram:- Haan....infact mai bhi thoda surprised tha ki she has no experience....yet...uske pass 10-20 saal ke experience wale logo se bhi better ideas h....itne kam time me itna kuch seekhna..that too with so many obstacles.....I mean hats off to her yrr...

Devika:- Meri Anu hai hi rockstar....

Devika cheered...

Vikram :- Isiliye tere aur Anuj ki rockstar ko maine meri Marketing team me job offer ki hai and usne accept bhi kar li....

Vikram exclaimed....

Devika:- Oh my God..... really....thankyou thankyou thankyou....thankyou so much Bunty....

She hugged him in excitement...

Vikram hugged her back...

Vikram:- Bas bas ho gaya....

Saying this he broke the hug...

Devika :- Iska mtlb ki tum dono ki baat hui hai.....wait usne tujhe pehchana ya nhi....kuch kaha usne?

Vikram:- Baat to hui....lekin usne mujhe pehchana nhi shayad...agar pehchana hota to definitely kuch kha hota...

Devika:- What....but use kaise yaad nhi ho skta...use pta h ki Bunty mera best friend h....usne tujhe dekha bhi to h college me...

Vikram :- Are dumbo... college ko kitna time ho gya...plus Bunty mujhe sirf tu aur Anuj bulate ho...baaki duniya ke liye mai Vikram Mehra hoo...stupid...

Devika:- Yeh bhi theek hai...

Vikram :- Aur sun...tu use overexcitement me bta mtt dena ki mai Bunty hoo...let her get comfortable working with me....fir dekhenge...

Devika :- Haan haan pta h mujhe....

Suddenly Vikram's phone rang....

It was his wife's call.

Vikram:- Tere chakkar me mai Rittika ko inform hi karna bhul gaya...aab mujhe gaaliya padengi....

Saying this he picked up the call.

Rittika:- Hi baby....kha ho tum?

Vikram :- Sorry jaan....wo mai Devika se milne aa gya tha office ke baad.....

Rittika:- Haan but bata to dete....I was waiting for you over dinner....

Vikram:- Give me half an hour...mai pahuchta hoo saath me dinner karenge....

Devika was enjoying how Vikram turns into a puppy dog before Rittika.

Rittika :- okay...jaldi aana....bhook lagi hai mujhe....and btw Devika tumahre sath h kya...?

Vikram :- Haan sath me hi h...kyu?

Rittika:- Ask her if the plan for tomorrow is still on...

Vikram :- Tum hi puch lo...

Saying this he put the phone on speaker....

Devika:- Hi Ritu....wassup babes?

Vikram was looking at her baffled.

Rittika:- All good....tu kal shopping ke liye chal rhi hai na?

Devika :- Haan haan....sham ko office ke baad pakka...

Vikram :- Yeh kb plan kiya tum logo ne....wo bhi mere bina....yeh kaun si meeting hai jha mujhe nhi bulate....

Rittika :- You hate shopping...

Vikram:- Still puch to sakte the na...

Devika:- Ritu...ek kaam karte hai ise bhi le chalte h...afterall bags pakadne ke liye bhi to koi chaiye...

Vikram:- What....no way...I am out...tum hi log jao....

Devika and Ritu chuckled....

Devika :- Sorry Ritu...aaj is Bunty ka itna sara time le liya....ise bas abhi laat maar ke bhagati hooo tere pass...

Vikram :- Oyee....

Rittika- Are chill....no biggie...

Vikram:- Okay....mai aata hoo thodi der me...

Rittika:- Okay...bye

Saying this she cut the call.

Vikram:- Devu chal mai niklta hoo....kaafi late ho gya h....

Devika:- haan...chal bye...

Saying they both hugged each other goodbye and left.

Ding dong....

The bell rang.

Anupama opened the door in anger.

It was Devika.

As soon as she saw her, Anu shot...

Anu:- Devika yeh koi time hai ghar aane ka....raat ke 10 baj rhe h....

Devika was still standing at the door.

Devika :- Anu yrr....pehle andr to aane de...

Anu :- Nhi aane dungi....pehle bata itna time kha lga tujhe...

Devika barged in saying....

Devika:- Yrr tu yeh mummy ki tarah sawal kyu puch rhi hai...

She spoke annoyed...

Anu:- Ek to tu late aa rhi hai...upr se call na koi text....phone bhi nhi uthaya mera...aur aab puch rhi hoo to mummy bol rhi mujhe...

Devika:- Are meri jaan...mai bas ek dost se milne gayi thi....aur mummy nhi bolu to kya bolu...tu daant aise rhi h jaise meri maa ho....

Devika said realising Anu was angry but Anu was in no mood to listen....

Anu:- Teri maa nhi hoo to kya hua....dost to hu na....tujhe pta h mujhe teri kitni chinta ho rhi thi....itna late ho gya tha...nd na tu phone utha rhi thi na msg ke jawab de rhi thi...tujhe pta h mere man me kitne bure bure khayal aa rhe the....Devu mujhe koi problem nhi h tu bahar jaa...dosto se milne....ya kuch bhi krne....jitni raat tak chahe utni raat tak ruk.....teri marzi....lekin kmsekm ek msg hi bhej de ki tu theek hai ya late aayegi....tujhe pta hai meri jaan nikli jaa rhi thi....

Devika teared up.....

Anu looked at her thinking she might have gone a little overboard with her anger.

Anu:- Devu....tu ro kyu rahi hai.... sorry....sorry....sorry....maine zaada daant diya kya....

Devika hugged her tightly.....

Anu:- sorry devudi....wo mujhe baccho ko daatne ki aadat ho gayi h....to tujhe bhi aise daat diya....plzzz ro mat....

Devika broke the hug and wiped her tears....

Devika:- Mai isiliye nhi to rhi thi ki tune mujhe daanta....

Devika said still sobbing...

Anu:- To kyu ro rhi thi....bata na Devu...kya hua...

She said wiping Devika's tears trying to comfort her...

Devika:- Itne saal akele reh ke....wo feeling hi bhul gayi thi mai ki kaisa lagta hai jab ghar pe tumahra koi intezaar karta h.... kisiko tumahri fikr hoti hai....aaj jab tune mujhe itne hak se daanta.....to realise hua ki finally koi hai meri life me jise mai ghar der se aao to fark padta hai....meri chinta hoti hai....

Anu pulled her into a tight hug.

Anu:- Devudi....aab se hmesha koi hoga ghar pe tera wait karta hua....promise....

Anu said breaking the hug.

She realised that she has been alone only for a year but in her own misery and loneliness....she forgot that Devika has been alone for years... having no one by her side.

Anu wiped Devika's tears and said trying to lighten her mood...

Anu:- Aur aab se tu zra sa bhi late aayi na ya fir mera phone nhi uthaya....to mai tujhe bilkul isi tarah daatungi hmeshaa....samjhi maadi Devudi....

Devika chuckled...

Anu:- Chal aab fresh ho jaa jaake mai khana lagati hoo.....

Devika:- okay.....

Saying this Devika went to her room to change.

Over Dinner....

Anu was laying the dinner on the dining table when Devika entered....

Anu :- Devu aa jaaa baith......

She said pulling a chair for her.....

Devika:- Aaj dinner me kya h?

She came rubbing her hands and sat next to Anu...

Anu :- Guess kar....

Devika:- Umm....daal khichdi...

Anu:- Nahi...

Devika:- Dhokla...

Anu:- Ji nahi...

Devika:- Bata na Anu...bahut bhook lagi hai....

She complained like a kid.

Anu:- Tere favourite malai kofte and garlic naan....

Anu said lifting the lids of the casserole.

Devika :- O my God Anu....

She instantly took a spoon and tasted the malai kofta....

Devika:- Wo bhi mere favourite Restaurant se.......

She jumped in excitement....

Anu:- Devu aaram se....plate me leke kha ne....

Anu served her in a plate....

Devika:- Yrr Anu...mza hi aa gya...

Devika said taking the first bite....

Anu was happy seeing her dismal mood change into a happy one....

Devika :- Waise meri paise bachane wali Anu ne aaj bahar se dinner kaise mangwaya...huh?

Devika said raising her eyebrows...

Anu :- Umm....pehle to tere chehre pe yeh baccho jaisii khushi dekhne ke liye aur dusri...

Devika :- Dusri..?

Anu:- Dusri kyuki ek good news hai....

Devika :- Hawww....Anu tune bataya nhi tu kabse itni modern ho gayi.......waise kaun hai wo ladka....

Devika face palmed.

It took a minute Anu to realise what Devika said.

Anu :- Devikaaaa......mai teri jaan le lungi....

She slapped Devika's arm.

Devika :- Ouch....Accha chal bata na kya good news hai...

Anu nodded in a negative pretending that she doesn't want to tell anymore.

Devika :- Anu bata na....

Devika insisted.

Anu :- Wo mujhe....umm..mujhe na meri company ne ek job offer ki hai marketing team me.....aur maine accept kar li...

Anu said in excitement.

Devika already knew about it but she can't let her know....

Devika :- Really Anu.....I am so happy for you yrrr.....

She stood up from her seat and went to Anu to give her a back hug.

Devika :- Congratulations meri jaan..

And she kissed her face...

Anu:- Are bas bas thank youuuu....aab chod mujhe....aur khana kha..

Devika released her and went back to finishing her dinner.

Devika:- Waise Anu...tu kiske sath kaam kar rhi....

She enquired trying to find out if Anu remembers Bunty....

Anu :- Pata nhi Devu.....abhi kal pata chlega jane pe ki marketing head kaun hai....

She said trying to avoid mentioning Vikram.

Devika(to herself) :- Shayad ise yaad nhi hoga....nhi to zarur bolti....

Anu:- Kha kho gayi...?

Devika :- khi nhi....I m so proud of you Anu....bas aise hi mehnat karti reh...dekhna tere sare sapne pure honge....

Anu gave her a warm smile..

Both went back to eating their dinner chit chatting about their day.

While deep down Devika wished that her two best friends Anu and Bunty find friends in each other while working together.....

Vikram and Rittika were having dinner in silence.

Rittika :- Vicky.....tum itne chup chup se kyu ho?

Vikram:- nhi nhi...kuch nhi aise hi...

He said wiping his mouth with a tissue.

Rittika:- Kuch to hua hai...tum jabse Devika se milke aaye ho bahut chup chup se ho....

He stood up trying to avoid eye contact with her and started clearing off the dinner table saying...

Vikram :- Ritu sach me kuch nhi hua....bas office ka thoda bahut stress...

He said and went into the kitchen with the plates. He didn't want to worry her with his problems.

Rittika:- Vikram....you are trying to avoid me....

Saying this she followed him into the kitchen...

Vikram :- Uhh...no...what makes you think that?

Saying this he washed up and went into the living room.

Rittika:- Ughh...this.....you running away from me when I am trying to talk to you.....

Rittika said following him into the living room.

Vikram again tried to escape but Rittika held his hand and made him sit on the couch.

Rittika :- Vikram.....kya baat hai...Devika ke sath kuch hua kya?

Vikram:- Rituu....

He tried to get up.

Rittika :- Don't even try....

Rittika said making him sit back...

Vikram:- okay fine batata hoo...

Vikram sighed in defeat.

Vikram:- You remember....I told you....there was a girl in college who was Devika's best friend with whom Anuj is in love since college....but she was married....

Rittika:- Hmm...

Vikram :- I met her today in office....

Rittika:- Okay but what about her?....did she do something?

Vikram:- No....nothing....she was interning with us..she is very talented....so I offered her a position on my marketing team....

Rittika :- But that's a good thing right?

Rittika asked curiously.

Vikram:- Yeah it is...

He nodded in a yes.

Rittika:- Then what's the issue...I mean tum itne pareshan kyu ho...

Vikram :- Pareshan isiliye hoo kyuki I found out from Devika that she has been divorced for a year and was never happily married to begin with. Her husband abused her and cheated on her and Anuj doesn't know anything about it.....niether the divorce....nor the abuse...he was thinking all through that she is happy...

Rittika :- So what's the big deal baby....Devika didn't tell him...would Anuj want to pursue her after the divorce?

Vikram :- No Ritu....of course it's not about pursuing....you don't understand how much Anuj loves Anupama....he can't see anyone hurt her.....and if he comes to know Devika hid it from him all this time...I have no idea how he is gonna react...

He said frustrated.

Rittika:- Okay fine....then find a way to tell him......

She said a little annoyed.

Vikram sighed realising he did just worry her with his problems which he was trying to avoid.

Vikram:- I am sorry Ritu....I didn't mean to....it's just that all of this is a little bit complicated....

He said hugging her from the side apologizing for being rude.

Rittika entangled her fingers with his and said....

Rittika:- I understand....it's okay.....listen Vikram....this is not at all complicated....but you and Devika are trying to make it by not telling Anuj right away about everything....if you are worried about how he would react....ask Donna for help....but do it ASAP.... because delaying it might make things worse......

Vikram :- Don't worry....I will find a way....thank you for understanding...

He kissed her forehead and Rittika snuggled into him.

Both drifted off to sleep on the couch.

When Rittika started dating Vikram and first came to know about his friendship with Devika and Anuj, initially she was very sceptical. All her life she has weighed relationships in scale of profit or loss. It wasn't that she didn't like Devika and Anuj but she initially didn't understand Vikram's undying love where he would go to any extent for them. She loved him and hence didn't want to loose him over something like this repeating the same mistakes she did in her earlier relationships. So she decided if she can't understand their friendship....atleast she is going to respect it.