Dedicated to KathaM14 for helping me write this chapter!

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Long friendships are like jewels, polished over time to become beautiful and enduring.

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3rd Person's POV

They all decided to go Cafe Coffee Day. Tanay and Kavya have already left on his bike. Siddhant is going to take his car when Nikhil stops him.

"Sid ! Listen........who all are going with you?"

"Arnav, Ruhi, you and me . And Shanaya is going with Aaru . Why ?"

"Just like that,"Nikhil said. Siddhant shrugged his shoulder said 'Ok' and turned around.

"Sid wait !" Nikhil sprinted towards Siddhant and said,"Take Shanaya with you . I'll go with Aarushi."

"But why? It's just a matter of 10 mins. Does it matter who you go with?" Siddhant asked.

"Why are you interrogating so much? Shanaya is going with you," Nikhil said irritated and texted Shanaya to come near Sid's car. He made her go with the three of them. They left and Aarushi came towards where Nikhil was standing.

"Come Shan- Nikhil ? Where's Shanaya?" Aarushi asked Nikhil, not expecting him to be there.

"Shanaya went with Sid. They told me to wait here. Wait! Does that mean I have to go with you?" Nikhil asked, feigning a surprise expression.

"Of course duffer," Aarushi said rolling her eyes. Nikhil decided to play with her a bit.

"No way I'm coming with you!" He said adamantly.

"Ugh Nikhil just sit! Others have already left. We'll be the last ones to reach," she said in an annoyed tone.

"Mai nahi aa raha. Kya pata tu mujhe marva de?" He said suspiciously. Her expression changed from irritation to anger.

"Mr. Nikhil Arora are you doubting my driving skills?" She demanded narrowing her eyes.

"Maybe," he replied shrugging his shoulders.

"Fine then. Be here. I'm going!" Aarushi declared and was about to zoom off when Nikhil stopped her. " Arrey wait! I'm coming."
"Better," Aarushi muttered before leaving with him.

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At CCD, Ruhika, Arnav, Siddhant and Shanaya were waiting for the other four to arrive. Ruhika, being the most impatient, commented," I swear the others will get an earful if they don't come in the next t-"

She was interrupted by Siddhant. "No need for that Ruhi. Look Aarushi and Nikhil are here."

"Sorry guys. This drama queen wasn't ready to come." Aarushi said settling beside Shanaya.

"Oye! Who are you calling a drama queen," Nikhil said getting offended.

"Stop guys. No fights!" Arnav said, glaring at Nikhil.

"You both are here but where are those lovebirds? They were the first ones to leave," Shanaya enquired.

Tanay's POV 

(at Tanay's house before they leave.)

I was waiting for Kavya so that we could leave, but she was busy gossiping with the girls. "Kavya!" I shouted.
She turned around and mouthed 'what'. I signaled her to come near me. She said something to them and walked towards where I was standing.

"What Tanay! I was talking to them na," she said frowning. I sighed. Man seriously, can't these girls quit talking for a while.

"You and your talks. Madam you can talk to them as much as you want in CCD . Now can we please leave?"

"Hmm. Okay," she said and sat behind me on the bike.

"Chale?"

"Hmm.....," she slurred and wrapped her arms around my torso, resting her head on my back. It felt so good like that.

After a couple of minutes, she jerked up, realising that I had taken another route. "Tanay where are we going? This isn't the way for CCD," she asked .

"Nah. I don't feel like going there," I said nonchalantly. Actually, I had something in my mind.

She told me to stop the bike and did so. As soon as the bike came to a halt, she got off. I did the same. We were on a nearly deserted road, with an ice cream vendor on a side. Kavya placed her hands on her waist and demanded," You tell me mister, what exactly are your intentions?"

I simply went closer to her and pulling her towards me, said," Let me think , my intentions? Ah! To spend time with this lovely lady in front of me." Saying this, I kissed her knuckles.

She blushed and hit my chest. She looks more beautiful while blushing. "Stop that Tanay ! Let's go please, others must be waiting for us," she said looking down. Then looking into my eyes, she continued,"And yes, we really have to go."

"Okay, we'll go. But wait a sec. I'm coming." I went to the guy selling ice creams and bought one.

"Ice cream?" Kavya asked, her eyes twinkling. I nodded my head and she happily took it from me.
We were leaning against my bike and sharing the ice cream. After a few bites, I let her have it. I knew she liked ice creams very much and seeing the right time, asked her," Ask what you want Kavya."  She scrunched her eyebrows in confusion.

"I know you want to ask me something. Go on," I said as a matter-of-factly.

"No. It's nothing like that," she answered and continued eating her ice cream.

"Kavya." I knew she wouldn't come off easily.

"Okay fine. But promise me you won't get mad," she said, holding out her free hand.

"Promise. Now tell me." I smiled and placed my hand on top of hers. I thought she was going to ask something silly, but her question totally caught me off-guard and my smile disappeared. 'Tanay, why do you care so much for Aarushi?' She had asked, fear evident in her eyes.

I went blank and her body tensed up visibly. There was dead-silence before I burst into laughter. My Kavya is getting insecure, I thought. Pinching her cheeks, I voiced out my thoughts.
"Tanay I'm not joking," she said with a serious look on her face.

"Oh-oh-okay. You're probably getting me wrong baby," I started and held her in my arms from behind. "You know how Aarushi was like after that incident right?" She nodded her head and I continued," I don't want her to go through something like that again. I'm worried for her. She doesn't let her emotions out, which scares me. I genuinely care for her...........like a brother? Hmm," I kissed her cheeks.

She nodded her head in understanding and said," Hmm. Anyway, my best friend won't do this. I'm such a fool." She smiled.
I just said,"Moreover Kavya, I love you and only you."
She blushed and said 'I love you too Tanay' before crashing her lips on mine. We've been dating since about six years and whenever we kiss, I fall more in love with her.

Pulling away, she said," Come onnow, let's leave. Others must be really worried."

I nodded in agreement and said," And sorry you had to lie to Aarushi before. I know you hate lying, especially to her."
She said it was okay and then we left for CCD.

As we entered the café, I saw that the others were laughing a lot, except Sid.

"What's so funny guys?" I asked taking a seat beside him.

"Nothing, just one of Sid's antics," Ruhi replied. From the corner of my eye, I saw that Aaru had already started her usual bout of teasing Kavya about us.

"What did you do now, huh?" I asked Siddhant.

"I'll tell you Tanay. This great guy here recently flirted with a lady in his office," Shanaya said and burst laughing.

"And?" I asked. Certainly just flirting didn't account for so much laughter.

"She turned out to be .......his boss's fiancée," she continued between laughs.

"Wow! You'll never change, will you Sid?" Kavya asked him.

"Chuck it guys! It isn't funny," Sid growled.

"Yeah it isn't, but would have been if we had seen you doing that," Nikhil said and I high-fived him , cracking up.

We talked for a while and then Arnav spoke," Guys let us leave now. It's getting late for the girls."

"Yes, and we also have to start packing. One week for going to Goa!" Aarushi said excitedly. I hope that this excitement of hers is constant throughout our trip.

All of us said our byes and left for our own homes.

3rd Person's POV

After reaching home, Aarushi received a text from Arnav.
'Meet me in the park near your house at 5 tomorrow. Something important.' It said.

The next day, Aarushi came to the park and saw Arnav sitting on a bench, anxiously playing with his fingers. He stood up seeing Aarushi . They both greeted each other and Aarushi was the first one to speak. "Arnav why did you call me here today?"

"Why Aarushi, can't I call my friend to meet her?" Arnav said jokingly.

"No, no. You always can Arnav!  I mean we met yesterday only, that's why," Aarushi replied.

"I wanted to speak to you. Alone. It's important."
She was confused as to what he possibly wanted to talk about and replied," Uh-okay. Go on, I'm all ears."

Arnav hesitated a bit before finally telling," Aarushi  I um, ... there's this girl I really like. I ne -"

He was cut off by Aarushi's high-pitched squeal. "Oh-My-God !!! Are you serious Arnav ? Who's the lucky girl? Is it Ruhi?" She asked all excited.

"Umm.....you won't tell anyone right?" Arnav asked first.

"No I won't but at least tell me !!"

"Ruhi," he replied looking down.

Aarushi's eyes widened after hearing Arnav's confession.  " I was so right !! I knew you like her!! Did you tell her ?"

"Yes, you were and no. You're the first one to know. I don't know how to tell it to her. I want it to be special. You know her better so I thought you could help me."

"Of course I'll help you Arnav ! You need not even ask me. Okay....something special? Let me think," Aarushi said and thought of a possible way to help Arnav. After thinking for a while, she shouted," I found it !!!"

"Found what ?" Arnav asked, confused by Aarushi's outburst.

"The perfect plan. Are you fine if our group is there?" Aarushi asked.

Arnav shrugged his shoulders and answered," Yeah, I guess."

Aarushi then told Arnav her plan. After listening to it, Arnav was really happy. "God, you're a genius Aaru! Your plan is awesome! I love it. Thanks for helping me yaar."

"I know I'm a genius. No need to thank me, after all, what are friends for?"

Aarushi decided to finally ask the question going around in her mind. "By the way Arnav, don't get me wrong, but why did you tell all this to me instead of the guys?" The reason Aarushi was more surprised was that Arnav was shy when it came to talking to the opposite gender.

"Ah..yes Aarushi. About that, first of all I wanted a girl's advice and second, if I told Tanay, he would tell Kavya and then the cat would've been out of the bag. Also, you've been through similar feelings so I thought you would help the best." Arnav put his points before her.

"Hmmm," was her reply. Her mind drifted towards the guy she once had strong feelings for.

"Thanks again for helping me." Arnav got up and hugged Aarushi. As they were leaving, he asked her something. "Do you still like him Aarushi?"

Aarushi's head snapped towards Arnav's direction. He had totally caught her off-guard. But to him, she calmly replied," Who?"

"You know who Aarushi," he said.

"Uh- bye Arnav, I have to go now. See you in Goa." She replied before leaving.

'You'll have to answer it sometime Aarushi.' Was the reply she received. Aarushi sighed. She knew she couldn't run away from that question.

At home, she lay in her bed, pondering over Arnav's question.

'Do I still like him?' She asked to herself.
'Yes' says her heart,
'No' is the answer she receives from her brain.

"Arnav, I would've answered you, if I had the answer to it. Honestly, even I don't know if I still like him. People often ask me do I like him but I just keep quiet because I don't know. I wonder when will I finally answer you."
She sighed and let sleep consume her.

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Hey guys !
A long chapter.... 2140 words to be exact.
This chapter was important to establish the relation between Aarushi and her friends. Hope you guys liked it.

A cute moment between Tanay and Kavya.

What incident was Tanay talking about? What did Kavya lie to Aarushi about?
Arnav likes Ruhika! What is the plan ?
And Aarushi liked some guy before! Who was he and does she still like him?
So many questions, only time will answer them.

Quick question for you all:- What is the best memory you have of your friends?

Vote/comment if you liked the chapter.

~ Manasi ❤️