Kiara's POV:

"If she is going to play, I'm leaving." Ritik stated once Sakshi called me. Sakshi asked him to behave, even slapped his arm however it didn't had any effect on that angry bird.

"It's fine Sakshi. We will play some other day." I said giving her a small smile. It pained to see Ritik hate me so much.

"No. More the people, more the fun. You should definitely play." Shriya said as she took hold of my hand and made me sit beside her. Ritik was going to oppose again however Sakshi stopped him and like a good boy he obeyed her and sat quietly.

Basically they wanted to play 'Never have I ever'. The game never scared me but today there was a ill feeling in my heart like something bad was going to happen.

"Let's start." Shriya said excitedly. There were more two of her friends, Sakshi, Ritik, Ajay and me. Viraj was not present here which made me wonder about his whereabouts. Yesterday what he did for me, means a lot to me. Even though we are not so good friends, he was there for me until I opened my heart.

(Flashback)

"Ritik made you cry, didn't he?" Viraj asked once we settled on a bench in the near by garden. He did, but I guess, I deserve it.

"Why would you think like that?"

"Sakshi told me." He replied. I gave him a questioning look and came to know that the call which he recieved few minutes ago was from Sakshi and she told him that something happened between Ritik and me. I immediately realised that I did wrong by calling him with me because he was there was Sakshi and it was because of me that he told her to come along with Ritik.

"I'm extremely sorry. You were there for sakshi and yet I asked..."

"Shh. Stop being so formal. I agree Sakshi seems pretty much bratty but ok, I know my girlfriend is very understanding." Viraj said. I smiled a little at his statement. He and Sakshi are truly goals. They fight a lot but still they are going strong.

"Anyway, You tell me what that idiot did?"

"He didn't do anything. I'm at fault. I don't know what I want exactly. All these things are suffocating me now." I said. I know I was blabbering around instead of getting on the point however Viraj didn't complained, he was a good listener.

"You asked me why I said that I can't be with Ritik, Today I want to answer that question. If possible, I would also like to hear a suggestion from you but if you don't give one, it will be completely fine. I just want to get this out of my heart now." I said and saw him nod.

"I can't promise to give a proper suggestion but I promise, I will do whatever is possible from my side." He assured.

Ok Kiara, let's do it.

"We girls have this thing in us, We get attracted so easily. I was no exception in it. Ritik always had a special place in my heart. Growing up with him felt like a blessing. Seeing him everyday when he used to play with Sameer, talking to him or just thinking about him became a habit. I didn't realised when this habit turned into imagining my future with him. I used to hate on every girl he talked with but my anger never lasted long, as Ritik always used to make up for it. Somewhere I started feeling that our feelings are mutual."

"I was arrogant. I always used to think that a boy should initiate such things and so I was waiting for Ritik to confess his feelings but one day, Nia came to my house. We were not best friends but we did share some secrets with eachother. One such secret she shared with me was about her first love. I was excited to hear it but once I heard Ritik's name...I was shocked. I was stuck between love and friendship."

"By the time she told me this my attraction for Ritik was turned into love. I wanted to tell the same to Nia but how was I supposed to do that? Loving your best friend's crush is equal to sin, right? I knew it would have been wrong to tell her about my feelings so I faked everything. I masked my emotions. Purposely did things to hurt Ritik. Even though I knew he was telling me the right thing, I used to argue with him thinking that like they show in movies, he will understand me and come back to me even after so many arguments. I was foolish to think that, When I can't be the same with a person after a little argument how did I expected him to come back? Even he had emotions and I was hurting him." I said and felt more tears slipped down my eyes.

"I never imagined something like this. So you can't be with Ritik because you don't want to hurt Nia. Damn, this love and friendship is truly complicated." Viraj said.

"But if you felt that Ritik had the same feelings for you, you should have told him the truth." He said further.

"I thought to do it but I was afraid to face Nia after that. Moreover, After I stopped talking to Ritik, he and Nia always used to be together. So I started thinking that all this while..I was wrong." I replied.

"You never told about this to anyone?"

"Only one person but it was long time ago. Even she told me to tell everything to Ritik but I wanted to be a sacrificing queen."

"Whom?" Viraj asked.

"Misha aunty." I replied. I knew he doesn't know her so I told him that she is friend of my parents.

"I sacrificed my love and now I'm regretting every single second of it. I want Ritik all to myself but then what about Nia?" I cried again.

"I think you should tell everything to Nia, I'm sure she will understand because as far as I know Ritik, he won't be able to love her."

"I know but I'm confused." I replied.

"It's ok to be confused sometimes but think wisely. Once you have made a mistake, don't do it now." Viraj suggested.

(Flashback ends)

"Kiara, your turn to answer." Shriya said.
I recalled the question. 'Never have I ever slapped someone.'

"I have." I replied. Slapping someone is also a bad memory I hold but I'm glad that I slapped him.

"Never have I ever kissed in rain." Shriya's friend said.

"I have." Ritik was the first one to answer. Damn! My heart started hammering against my chest. I avoided to look at him but failed miserably.

"When?" Sakshi asked immediately. When looked at her, I saw her looking at Ritik with wide eyes.

"Last week." Ritik replied looking straight into my eyes which made Sakshi to look at me as well. She still had those wide eyes but once our eyes met, a smile crept her lips, like she figured Ritik was talking about us.

"Well, I have never." Shriya answered. Sakshi and Viraj said yes so now there was only one person left to answer and that was me.

"I have never." I replied and avoided looking at everyone.

"Never have I ever loved someone so deeply?" Sakshi asked.

"I have." Viraj and Shriya said at the same time. Ritik didn't looked like he was going to answer so I did.

"I have." I replied looking at him however once I said that, he made the most uninterested face.

"Have you ever lied in this game?" Ritik questioned. I knew it was directed towards me only so I was not looking at him however I felt his gaze on me.

"No." I replied after everyone answered.

"Didn't you just lie?" Ritik asked. God, why is he doing this?

"About?"

"Loving someone so deeply. I doubt on that." He said and once again I felt tears forming in my eyes.

"No. I didn't. I truly do love someone."

"Chuck it." He said and went away from there.

***

"You are looking fine now." Anika said as she came and greeted me with a hug. I was not fine because of whatever happened outside but like always I masked my emotions.

"I missed you." I said and hugged her back. As Anika said, if I look fine now, it was only because of Viraj. I was actually feeling so relaxed. I was very happy with Viraj because he was there for me when my close ones were not.

"I missed you too. So you aren't hurt anymore, right?" She asked. Now I was more hurt but I decided to let go of it.

"I don't know exactly but I'm fine." I said and smiled at her.

"Anyway, Did you talk with Akshay? He was asking about you this morning." Anika said further. I don't care!

"No. I didn't and I don't want to." I stated and sat on a empty bench.

"Why not? Don't tell me, you didn't sort out the things between you?"

"Yes we didn't and now I don't even want to do that." I stated and as expected Anika asked me the reason for the same.

"My mom always says, If a person values his ego more than your tears, he isn't the person for you. Likewise, my dad always says if a person can't be with you in your worst times...you are with the wrong person."

"What do you mean?" She asked giving me a confused look so I narrated yesterday's incident to her. As far as I know about myself, even if my biggest enemy cries, I feel bad and will always be forward to help. I considered Akshay as my one of the best friend, he knew I was crying but not even once he felt the need to ask me.

"I don't blame him. I expected way too much from him so I got hurt. However, it's ok. I'm fine now."

"At least don't say this." I heard a voice from behind us. Akshay.

"I'm sorry." He said as he came and stood next to me. I hate my traitor heart for being so emotional and my eyes for crying immediately.

"I'm not angry." I said and started walking before I start crying more.

"Kiara, I'm sorry. I know I was wrong yesterday. I was even wrong that day but I refused to accept it. What I did yesterday is not justified...so I'm here to say sorry. Please forgive me." He said and I melted immediately.

"Do you even know how hurt I was yesterday to see you ignore me? Don't you consider me as your friend? How can you let your friend cry in front of you? I will never forget what you did you me yesterday." I stated.

"Ok. Don't forget it but at least forgive me."

"Shut up." I said and pushed him aside. Here I was being serious and he wanted to make fun of that also.

"I'm sorry. I promise I won't ever do this." He said holding his ear. I'm not someone who forgets things easily. I knew even if I forgive him now it will take some time for me to be normal with him but still I knew I was going to forgive him.

"It's ok." I replied.

"You sure?" He asked giving a cheeky smile so I just gave him a nod.

"Let's sit. We have so much to talk about." He said as he took hold of my hand and made me sit on a chair.

"What happened between you and Ritik?" Was the first question he asked. I didn't knew what I was supposed to reply so I just shook my head.

"You are still angry, aren't you?" Akshay asked and this time even I replied him with the truth.

"I don't forget things easily. Even if I keep aside what you did yesterday, how will I forget how you behaved with me that day. You didn't even knew if I was wrong or not.

"You never said." He Stated.

"You never asked. I know you won't believe me but I always thought you will be the person with whom I will share everything."

"It's ok. I understand I was wrong and maybe you were not but what about Ritik? Was he not wrong when he was giving her false hopes?" Akshay asked. He was making me angry again. How does he knows if Ritik gave her false hopes?

"Listen...."

"I'm glad that he realised he was mistaken and made things transparent now." Akshay said cutting my sentence.

"What do you mean?"

"Ritik told the truth to Nia." Akshay answered as if it was no big deal and on the other hand I felt like my heart will pop out of my chest now.

"What?" I asked again just to make sure I didn't heard anything wrong.

"You heard me. Yesterday he told everything to Nia."

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