Push yourself, because no one else is going to do it for you!

- Sam (@ _starflies_)

Sunsets are proof that every ending is beautiful. 

- Anushka (@ SamainaStoryBooth )

A/N : For me, they both are strong in their own way. Read the chapter and tell what your thoughts are. 

Going to be 2500+ words long. 

Dedicated to Nakuul_is_love (Di, I swear your comments! I can't express in words how much they made an impact on me!)

Third Person's POV

Both came out of the library and sat at their regular bench. 

They both looked at each other and just smiled. No words. Comfortable silence. Cheery smiles. Another sunset. A beautiful bond called friendship. 

"What's your story?" Anurag's sudden question made Prerna startle. She wasn't expecting this at the moment. 

"Share only if you feel comfortable," he smiled and looked at the sun. 

She smiled and began, "My story is just like yours, completely mad in love with him. He used to be my life! There was no day when his name wasn't mentioned from my lips. Normal dates like other couples, my life was 'perfect', but I began to have blind trust in him. And that's when he took this opportunity - leaving me. If only I was a little smart back then, I could have tackled this bouncer called 'Breakup' or 'Heart-break'." 

She smiled sarcastically at last and looked at him. 

"You are strong Prerna, at least you have moved on, going on dates-" 

"Who said I moved on? I'm still finding someone like Vikrant! You can't say this is moving on. I'm also stuck with the past, I don't show it," she stopped for a while and again continued, "Actually you are strong!" 

"What rubbish! Just ask my family and friends, they will always say, 'Anu is the weakest'." 

"Don't be too harsh on yourself, you are strong, aren't you? Where did you guys break all the ties?" 

"In my room." 

"And where do you sleep at night in Kolkata?" 

"My room, obviously!" 

"See!! How strong you are! Here I'm in Mussoorie, trying to forget his memories, far away from the place where we broke up. And you - still at that place where you had spent everything." 

"Where did you break up?" 

"At my place, my favourite terrace. Now that flowers make me frown and cry," she chuckled and wiped a lone tear, which escaped from her eyes. 

"Hey you are crying," Anurag tried to wipe her tears, but she held his hands. 

"Let them flow, let me cry, crying doesn't depict your weakness. And not crying doesn't show you are strong. I like to cry because it shows that I have beared enough and this is my limit." 

Her words stunned him. How mature she is! 

"Don't be shocked so much, I was also very immature back then, when life gives you lemons, you need to dodge them or fight with them but most importantly - learn something from them." 

"You taught me so much today, now should I?" 

"Yeah sure." 

"Says the one who is still with the past but, aren't you finding someone who is like Vikrant?" 

"Yes I'm." 

"Then how did you find me interesting?" 

"'Cause you are different from him!" 

"And there's when you are going wrong, every human is different from the other, even I thought every woman is like Mishka, but then I saw you. Stop finding Vikrant in every boy but find someone in whom you will be interested." 

"It's easy to say but difficult to follow on-" 

"Didn't you also give me advice? I'm also gonna follow them, yeah difficult, but let's just try!?" 

"Okay deal done! Kirti, my friend, will get married in two years, in Kolkata I guess, let's see how changed we will be." 

"Like a challenge?" 

"You can say so."

"Challenge accepted, what about you?"

"Challenge accepted." 

They smiled and laughed at no point but how life is. 

"Your smile - it's killer," he complimented and for the first time in these years, she smiled whole heartedly. 

"Will you forget me?" she asked. 

"Maybe yes, maybe no," he grinned; while she gave an annoyed look and turned her face away. 

"What was that thing which you have that Mishka gave?" 

"A pen, as it was my first day in office. And you?" 

"Vikrant took everything but I saved a bracelet. He didn't want me to remember him, which was right of him, but I guess he didn't have any idea how much I loved him," she sighed and continued, "Anyways, it's getting late, shall we go?" 

"Yeah of course." 

Both stood up from the bench, and Anurag glanced at the sun one last time. One last time - if destiny permits he would run to meet her. 

Prerna, too, looked at the sun and him, for the last time she would be seeing the sun together with him. Maybe they will meet again but the situations will change. 

******

Next day.

"I have something for you," Prerna whispered in Anurag's ears and took him to a corner. 

She removed a bracelet from her pocket and handed him, "The proof that I'm starting to move on." 

She smiled at last; he was stunned but recovered soon and took out a pen from his jeans pocket. 

"My proof." 

"Can we hug?" Anurag asked, hesitantly. 

Prerna smiled at him and hugged him. 

"Goodbye Mr Chubby Anurag Basu. If we ever meet again, I hope to see you changed." 

"Goodbye Miss Smarty Prerna Sharma, and I hope for the same from your side." 

*******

“Isn't it funny that day by day nothing changes, but when you look back, everything is different...”

– C. S. Lewis. (Came to know by Shraddha @ Shraddha_1D )

******

2 years later, 

"Preu!!!" 

A girl shouted at another one, who was busy doing something on her laptop. 

"Wait Kirti!! I know it's your wedding, but give me a minute." 

"What have you been doing for so long?" Kirti came near her, totally irked. 

"Just the last paragraph of a chapter." 

"How many chapters done?" 

"Eighteen," Prerna answered and slipped on her heels. 

"And how many left?" Anjali came running. 

"Twelve." 

"Oh gosh Preu I can't wait to do proofreading for you!!" Anjali chirped in excitement. 

"Okay my excited besties, even though I'm waiting for the book to get published, failure or success, I don't care. But I'm happy that I took the courage to write a book." 

"We are always proud of you Preu. Kolkata will be so much fun na? You'll meet uncle auntie after so many years!!" Kirti spoke. 

Anjali smirked, "And someone else too!" 

"Who?" Prerna asked, baffled. 

"Don't act smart Pre, open your sling bag and check." 

Prerna did the same, and found a pen from it. 

Of course Prerna remembered him, how could she not? Because of him, she is now really interested in dating. She was just acting around with Anjali. 

"Anurag Basu," she muttered. 

"Pre went to her own land, let's go Kri," Anjali pulled Kirti outside, waiting for Prerna to come outside. 

"Wait, you idiots!! I'm also coming." She quickly kept the pen inside her bag and locked the door after taking everything. 

*******

"You know you were wrong Sid, when you said Mussoorie isn't doing any form of difference in him," Anupam said. 

"Yeah I was, maybe it was that smooth that we couldn't even notice-" Sid exclaimed. 

"Anyways, leave that stuff, he moved on, that's more important. Can't believe we were trying this for many years, but Prerna did it in just four days." 

"Sid, Anupam, c'mon dude, we are getting late," Anurag came into Anupam and Nivi's room. 

Well yes, Anupam and Nivedita are happily married now. He, sometimes, behaves like a crackhead, but she, being a feisty she is - handles him properly. Their fights entertain Anurag and Sid to no extent. Quite like cartoon characters they are. 

And Sid, he found his lady love in a girl namely called Anjali Mukherjee, yes the same Anjali Mukherjee, Prerna's bestie. Though they were connected, Prerna rarely met him or any other person from Kolkata. She was that busy in her life. 

*******

"That's the destination," Kirti mouthed as they came out of the car. They were awestruck at the glory and elegance of the resort, Rohan, Kirti's boyfriend, did for her. 

"This Rohan, I'm not gonna spare him, what was the need of this much decorations-" she paused as Rohan came and hugged her. 

"Finally we will be together, like really together, I was waiting for this week!" 

"Rohan, we need to have a talk." 

"Of course come." 

Kirti sprinted inside the resort. 

"We know your intentions were just to make her happy, but trust me, she doesn't need all these decorations and lots of money to be spent, just your love," Prerna explained to him. 

"I guess I have made a mistake, don't worry I'll handle her." Rohan ran behind Kirti. 

Prerna and Anjali were also going inside, just then they heard a voice - familiar one. 

"Hey Prerna." Came his voice, which made Prerna rooted in her place. Anjali chuckled and went to Sid, who was coming from behind. 

"You both talk Pre, I'll go inside." 

Anurag came near Prerna and turned her around. 

"I can see that you have changed already," Anurag smirked and Prerna just looked into his eyes. 

"You too--" 

"Let's go inside and talk." He held her hand gently and took her indoors. 

*******

Prerna's POV 

It was night now. 

Talking with Anurag felt so comfortable yet different. Like he was completely changed, even for a second I didn't see him gloomy like how he was before - two years back. 

He had to go for a meeting with a client. Did he pursue his favourite occupation, portraitist? I just hope he has done. Fingers crossed Prerna Sharma! 

I walked to Kirti, who is looking happy now. Looks like Rohan is good at apologising. 

"Hey Kri, looks like Jiju made you forget that you have two besties!" I pouted; they both laughed. 

"Nope I didn't, he took more time to make me believe his point of view, that's it." 

"Doesn't matter how much time, but he made his point of view clear, that's good." 

"Preu!!!" Anjali came running to us, behind her was Sid. 

"What's happening? Don't tell me you guys are playing-" 

"She pushed me in the bushes, right there!!" Sid complained. 

"Why so?" Kirti asked. 

"He said I look like a kid-" 

"Madam that means you are innocent!" 

"Sid, did you just call her 'innocent'?" 

"Hehe, I'm not at all innocent, Sid BABY." 

Sid just sighed and looked at her. Looks like he is going to do something . . . 

He came closer to Anjali and pulled her by her waist. 

"Guys guys, get a room for this all!!" Rohan mouthed. 

"Sid leave me-" 

"People, I'm an innocent soul here, I don't do these all, I'm going." I turned around to leave, just then Anurag was coming to us and we collided. 

Ugh his body is like solid rock. Wait which rock is liquid--?

I groaned as my head hit his chin. 

"Can't you see and walk-?" 

"Look who's saying this! You came looking forward, I just turned back." 

"But you could have-" 

"Okay people, you know our wedding can be more good, but you people are," Kirti pouted and I, immediately, stopped. 

"Sorry," we both said together. And this reminded me how we used to say everything together. 

"Let's get to our rooms, it's getting late, and Sid - your own room, dare you sneak into mine!" Anjali shouted and walked to her room. 

And one by one everyone walked off, except Anurag and me. 

"Let's see near the garden, can we?" he suggested. 

"Yeah sure." 

"So how is life going?" he asked, as we sat on the swings. The dim lights were glowing and made his face look more serene. 

"Good, actually great! I have started writing my own book, going to publish it soon." 

"Wow! I would love to read it! What's the name?" 

"Stranger in Mussoorie." 

"Wait what- it's on me?" 

"Yes Mr Chubby Anurag Basu, it's on you." I chuckled seeing his surprised face. 

"What's there to write about on my life?" 

"Many things, don't underestimate yourself, you are more good than you can know." 

"Got a boyfriend?" he asked again. 

"Naah, not like I was searching Vikrant in them, but they wanted me to be their child's mother, and I'm too busy to yes for their marriage proposals! Like why can't we date? What's with marriages? It feels like a cage, what if I won't get to write books!?" 

"Stop my radio!!" 

"Huh- I'm not radio!" 

"Agree or not, but you are!" 

"Fine I agree." 

"I won!!" 

"Ugh, now tell me how's your life?" 

"Same like yours, going great." 

"You became a portraitist?" I almost whispered but he heard me. 

"Come," he pulled me up from the swing and was now heading towards his room. 

As we entered his room, I saw portraits in every corner, and there was a big one, a cloth was covering it.

"Why did you hide this one?" 

He didn't reply but pulled off the cloth from it. As the cloth slipped off the object, I looked at it, completely shocked. 

It was mine- mine portrait. I looked around every other portrait there, but this one had some different beauty in it. Not because it's me, it was like because he made it with extra concern and love. 

"It's me-" 

"Yes you Prerna Sharma, not bragging, but you know I got tonnes of requests for this one. People wanted to buy it, but I didn't. I wanted to have this one close to me." 

"How much do you respect me?" 

"Of course, there's no friendship without mutual respect. Yeah I know friends don't respect each other but they have that respect deep inside their hearts which they don't show." 

I smiled and hugged him.

******

"Anurag what- what are you doing, I can't go there-"

"This is my final check to see that you have moved on or not completely."

"Fine fine! I'll go," I gave in and ran to meet my parents.

"My Preu is looking so healthy now," mom gave me a kiss on my cheek.

"My Preu!" Dad just hugged me tightly and I couldn't help but sob in his arms.

Our moment got interrupted as mom asked, "Who's he, Preu?"

"Ah Namaste auntie and uncle, I'm Prerna's friend, Anurag," Anurag introduced himself, while mumma smiled and dad went to hug him.

"I'll be back in a moment, mom dad." I walked towards my place, my terrace.

It was still the same, they nurtured my flowers with so much care. I walked more ahead, but that irk was replaced by peace now. I looked towards Anurag, he was busy smiling at me.

"The flowers, this place, it's not suffocating me!" I exclaimed with surprise; he came near me and forwarded his hand, for a dance?

He just nodded and I slipped my hand into his. We went on dancing, cracking jokes in between, and so on. I failed to notice that mom dad also came here and were grinning seeing us two.

Finally. We have moved on. And the outcomes are good.

*********

FINALLY! ALL THE CHAPTERS ARE DONE!!

Okay I know there's no sort of love in any chapter, but wait hoomans! I have an epilogue for you all!

And I was extremely shocked by how people wanted them to fall in love this quickly! Already my concept is a cliché and you want me to add love factor to it? Nope sorry not doing it!

And I'm also shocked by how some people wanted it to be non-cliché yet they have to fall in love. Koi sense hai is baat mein?

Do vote + comments please! Inlines are always welcomed!

Kriya.