Everyone was out vacationing, while Shubman lay sulking in his bed, fixated on the blurry image he had seen two days ago. Ghazal had tried to persuade him to go out with her and have fun, but eventually, she got tired of his reluctance and went out with her friends and colleagues. Shubman made up excuses about not feeling well from all the travelling and his injuries not being fully healed.

Shubman let out a small cry as he pulled his hair in frustration, his eyes red from trying to figure out why the image and Noor's design felt so familiar. He wondered why he always found his way back to Noor, even with a girlfriend waiting for him. Just then, his phone rang, interrupting his thoughts. He knew it was Noor who called him every hour, without fail. Why didn't she get tired and move on like everyone else? Why did she always hold on?

Picking up his phone angrily, he shouted, "Don't you get tired of trying every time? Just leave me alone!"

The line went silent, and the call ended abruptly. Shubman tossed his phone aside, feeling the sting of regret mingling with his frustration, and started to sob. He thought the only person who hadn't given up on him had finally done so. But how wrong he was.

Not a second later, the door burst open, and there stood Noor, her eyes blazing with anger. "You think it's okay to sulk in here and make your health worse?" she demanded, her voice sharp and unwavering.

Shubman looked up, startled, his tears momentarily forgotten. Noor stood there, a force of nature, refusing to let him drown in his despair. Her presence filled the room, challenging him to confront his feelings rather than hide from them.

Shubman was taken aback, his mouth opening and closing as he struggled to find words.

Noor banged her hands against the walls, her voice echoing through the room. "Speak up, will you!" she demanded, her frustration palpable. She knew that subtlety wouldn't work with Shubman; he needed someone to push him to express what was truly on his mind.

Shubman took a deep breath, his eyes locked on hers, and finally spoke. "Noor, I'm scared. I don't understand what's happening to me. These images, these feelings-they're like shadows I can't grasp. And it's messing with everything I know."

Noor took a deep breath, trying to steady her voice even though she knew what Shubman was going to say. "What are those images, Kaake? I need you to tell me exactly."

Shubman hesitated, his fingers nervously fiddling with the edge of the blanket. He stuttered, "I saw a blurry image of... you and me, kissing in a café. It's so unclear, but it feels so familiar, and I can't shake it."

Noor's heart raced, but she remained calm. "A café? Can you remember anything else? Anything at all?"

Shubman shook his head, frustration evident in his eyes. "No, just that image. It's like a fleeting memory, but it's haunting me."

Noor's voice wavered as she asked, "Why is it haunting you, Kaake? Why is the idea of you and me troubling you so much?" Her eyes began to fill with tears, betraying her struggle to maintain control.

Shubman looked out the window, avoiding Noor's gaze as he struggled to articulate his feelings. "Because you're my best friend, that's it. And I love my girl, Ghazal. These images make me feel so weird like I'm cheating on her, and I don't want that."

Noor gulped, her tears barely contained. "Fair enough. I think I should give you some space. I'll take a leave."

Shubman's face turned pale with fear as he saw her moving toward the door. He didn't want to be left alone with his thoughts again, overwhelmed by confusion and regret. "Noor, wait!" he called out, his voice strained. "Please, don't go.

Noor paused, looking back with a mixture of sadness and concern. "What is it, Kaake?"

Shubman took a deep breath, struggling to steady his emotions. "I... I don't want to be alone right now. I need to figure this out, but I don't want to do it by myself."

Noor looked at him wearily, her voice tinged with exhaustion. "It won't look good for Ghazal if she finds me here with her boyfriend."

Shubman looked confused. "Why would she feel weird about seeing her boyfriend with her best friend? It's not like we're doing anything."

Noor sighed, shaking her head at her clueless best friend. "Are you sure your injury didn't affect your brain that bad? No woman would be okay with her boyfriend seeking comfort from his best friend instead of her. It's just not right."

Shubman whined, tears streaming down his face. "But I don't want to be alone, Noori. Please, don't leave me."

Noor looked at Shubman, her heart softening despite her frustration. "Fine, get up. We'll go to my room."

Shubman, his tears now dried, managed a small smile as he slipped on his flip-flops. He followed Noor down the hall, looking like a lost kid in need of guidance.

Shubman sank into the bed, enveloped by the lingering scent of Noor's perfume. As he watched her, he noticed how her laptop screencast a soft glow on her face, accentuating her focused expression. Noor sat on the couch, her posture relaxed yet intense, her eyes locked onto the screen as if it held the answers to all her questions.

Her hair tumbled in a cascade of dark curls around her shoulders, catching the light in a gentle sheen. The lines of concentration on her forehead and the occasional bite of her lower lip revealed a depth of commitment and thoughtfulness.

Shubman found himself gulping as he watched her, feeling a disconcerting pang of attraction. He quickly turned his gaze away, reminding himself that Noor was his best friend. It felt wrong to entertain these thoughts, especially given his current turmoil.

Noor glanced at her WhatsApp notifications and saw Ishan's message. She looked up at Shubman, her expression softening. "Ishan is texting to check how you're feeling now. How are you holding up?"

Shubman nodded, giving a tired smile. "Just tell Ishan I'm okay and not to worry," he said.Noor agreed and typed a quick message. "Shubman says he's fine and not to worry. Thanks for checking in." She sent the message reading out loud while typing away on her laptop.

Shubman stared at the ceiling for what felt like an eternity, the constant vibrating sound next to him breaking his focus. He turned to see Noor smiling as she typed away on her laptop. Curious about who she was talking to, he glanced at her phone on the bedside table.

Without thinking, he picked it up and unlocked it with the password he knew-his nickname. As he scrolled through her messages, his eyes widened in surprise. Noor was texting Lucky, Pammi Aunty's son.

Shubman was taken aback. Out of all the people in the world, Noor was texting Lucky. He would have been less surprised if she was chatting with someone from Tinder or a random date.

Shubman pulled the blanket up to hide his face, peeking at the phone to read the messages. Noor was deeply engrossed in her chatting and didn't notice his subtle scrutiny.

Noor: "Hey Lucky, have you started watching that new web series everyone's talking about?"

Lucky: "Hey Noor! Yes, I just started 'City Lights.' It's gripping so far. What about you?"

Noor: "I'm a few episodes in. It's such a rollercoaster! I'm on edge every time I watch it."

Lucky: "Totally! I can't get over the plot twists. Have you reached the part where-"

Noor: Not yet, don't spoil it for me! I'm looking forward to it. Any predictions on what'll happen next?"

Lucky: "I have a theory, but I don't want to jinx it. Let's chat more once you're caught up. Maybe we can watch the next episode together?"

Noor: "Sounds good! I'll try to binge a few more episodes tonight. I'll text you once I'm done."

Shubman jumped as Noor's voice cut through his thoughts. "Shubman!" she exclaimed, catching him red-handed. He quickly scrambled, trying to hide the phone, but Noor was already pulling the blanket away.

"Noor, I-" Shubman stammered, caught off guard.

Noor's eyes were sharp with irritation. "What were you doing with my phone?"

Shubman stood up and handed her the phone, his voice tinged with annoyance. "Well, I was watching you text our school bully."

Noor huffed, taking the phone back. "He's not the same person he was back then. People change, and we all did stupid things when we were kids."

Shubman's frustration was evident. "But why him? Out of everyone, why text him?"

Noor sighed, her expression softening. "We've become friends over the month."

Shubman's frustration boiled over. "No, Noor, you can't just become friends with him. He was our school bully."

Noor, her patience wearing thin, shot back, "Well, you don't get to tell me who I can or can't be friends with. You do what you want, and I'll do what I want."

Shubman stood up, his face set in anger. "Fine, do what you want, and I'll do what I want. Just wait and see. I'll see you at the New Year's party tomorrow." He stormed out, leaving Noor puzzled and frustrated.

"Wait, what does that mean?" Noor shouted after him, but Shubman was already gone, leaving her to wonder about the implications of his words.