It's funny how one person, one song, one picture can bring back all the memories.

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Aarushi's POV

The person standing in front of me was none other than Ayaan.  AYAAN Freaking KAPOOR !

God, am I hallucinating again?

My doubts were proved wrong the next moment as Sid spoke," Ah! Aarushi's here. Aaru, remember Ayaan Kapoor, our batchmate ?"

Of course I do remember him...is he someone who could be forgotten so easily?

I nodded a bit. So no Aarushi, you aren't hallucinating. He is here.

All past memories began playing like a film reel in my head.

Meeting him,
Becoming friends,
Becoming best friends,
Helping each other,
Teasing each other,
Having fun with each other......

I saw him advancing towards me and an uncontrollable smile adorned my lips. I looked down.

God Ayaan, why do you still affect me!

"Aarushi?" I heard him say. He had his charismatic smile on. I looked up at him and lost myself in his dark brown orbs. We both were staring each other, not speaking a word.

Almost instantly, I felt tears forming at the corner of my eye.
No Aarushi, you can't fall weak now. At least not in front of him.

Thinking this, I averted my gaze.

"Hi Aarushi," he said, opening his arms to hug me. I mumbled a 'Hello' and brought my hand forward for a handshake.

Do I even need to mention how awkward it was?

He was a bit dejected, but quickly gained his composure and shook my hand. Six years had gone by, but still his touch sent tingles down my body.

"How are you?" He asked, trying to ease out the awkwardness.

"Good." I need to get out of here. "Umm...excuse me everyone, I'm feeling a bit tired. I think I'll join you'll later. It was nice meeting you Ayaan, bye."

Seriously? That had to be the lamest excuse ever.
In my defence, my thoughts were clouded.

I took the room keys from Kavya and headed towards the room. Upon entering inside, I closed the door and heaved a sigh of relief.

He is here, for real.

As much as I wanted to hug him, I did not. I knew that if I'd done that, I would've cried, and I couldn't be weak.

Mixed feelings were developing inside me. A part of me was ecstatic for seeing him after so long, while another was damn angry.

I sat on the bed and groaned," Why the heck is all this happening to me!?"

"Calm down Aarushi," Kavya said, sitting beside me. Wait! Kavya? When did she enter?
Probably when you were debating with yourself.

"How can I calm down Kavya! He's here, how can everything be alright?" I said, hyperventilating.

"For God's sake he's not some dangerous person Rushu ! It's just Ayaan! Why are you freaking out so much!" Kavya said irritated. This girl gets irritated too damn fast.

"Well yeah, 'Just Ayaan'," I said sarcastically. My tone was getting high pitched by every sentence . "The guy who was my best friend, the guy who left without any explanation, the guy who hasn't spoken to me in six long years! He..., he comes and stands in front of me, behaving ever so normally, and you are asking me why am I freaking out? Seriously Kavya? As if you don't know!" I was on the verge of crying, my voice nearly breaking.

I think she understood me as she sighed and pulled me in for a hug.

That was it, I couldn't hold it any longer. Tears welled up in my eyes, some traitorous ones making their way down. Hearing my faint sobs, Kavya tightened her hold around me.

"Shh, everything's fine. We all are here with you right? What happened was past, don't recall it. We are here to enjoy ourselves and we'll have a rocking time yaar! Hey, remember our decision of getting drunk? We'll fulfil it this time! It will be so crazy!" Kavya exclaimed with a gleam in her eyes.

It seemed to calm me down a bit. I chuckled and said," Woh sab toh thik hai madam par tujhe uske baad sambhalega koun?"

"Obviously Tanay," she said in a 'duh' tone," Let him bear my tantrums for once."

I laughed and she joined me. This girl surely knows how to lift my mood.

When our laughter died down, she remembered something and said,"Oye! Get ready. We are supposed to meet the others in some time. We're going to the beach."

"No yaar, you guys carry on. I'm feeling sleepy so I'll just doze off now," I replied sulking.

"Thapar marungi," she said with mock anger,"Don't you dare do this drama in front of me! I'm not falling for it."

"You're coming and that's final," she said adamantly.

"No!"

Kavya was about to say something when there was a knock on the door.

"Open the door ladies."

Kavya went to open it while I tried to make myself a bit presentable.

Kavya's POV :-

I opened the door and saw that Nikhil was standing there. He raised his eyebrows to ask me how Aarushi was. I gestured that she was fine now and saw him heave a sigh of relief.

"Did she agree to come?" He whispered.

"No. Help please," I requested and led him inside.

"Oye Moti you're coming with us to the beach, samjhi?" He said sitting beside Aarushi.

"No, I don't wanna come," she said huffing in response.

She is rarely stubborn but when she decides to behave like that, we have a tough time dealing with her.
"You're coming and I'm not leaving until I hear a yes. And why are you sulking so much? You love beaches right," Nikhil enquired.

"It's nothing, just tiredness."

"Sach bata warna......" Nikhil said warning her.

"Warna kya?" She asked teasingly.

"Warna yeh," saying this, he started tickling her.

She fell back on the bed and started rolling in laughter. She managed to say," Nikhil.......St-stop.....Kavya...help me.......pl-please..."

Being the ever so generous friend of hers, I joined Nikhil.

She doubled over in laughter. "I'll come......I'll come...... Now sto-stop."

"Promise?" I asked.

"Promise! Now get your hands off me!" She shouted.

We stopped tickling her and once she gained her composure, Nikhil asked her," Okay, now tell me what's wrong?"

"What's wrong?" She cross-countered raising her eyebrows.

"Tell me or else......" Nikhil threatened, ready to tickle her once again.

"God you're so stubborn!" Aaru complained.

"Look who's talking. Now tell me what's the problem with you. And don't say tiredness because I know you were crying," he stated.

How did he know that she's been crying? Probably her tear tracks.

"Is it something to do with meeting Ayaan?" Nikhil asked seriously.

Aarushi chose to remain quiet. "Aarushi," he pestered her.

"Ugh! Why do you know me so well?" She whined.

"Because I know you since we were in diapers. Now tell me what happened?"

"I don't know Nikhil. I honestly don't know," she said sighing, finally giving in to the constant coaxing.

"Aren't you happy that you finally met him?" He asked.

"Yes...... No.... Maybe. Scrap that! I'm not only happy but sad, shocked, jovial, angry, surprised, hurt, excited;everything. It's like some dish is being prepared and every freaking spice is being added to it. Yes; that's exactly how I'm feeling right now," she said and I stifled a laugh at the way she described her situation.

"Aaru, you're just having mixed feelings now," he concluded,"Maybe that's because you don't trust him after-" He was continuing when I glared at him.

Why does he want to bring that topic up?

I saw that Aaru hadn't heard the second part and heaved a sigh of relief.

"I guess you're right. Why does he have this effect on me Kavya?" She asked innocently.

I had the answer to it but chose not to tell her now. She looked more sad at the moment. I think waiting would be the best option.

While I was busy contemplating my decision, Nikhil had broke into an impromptu jig.

  Kabhi kabhi Aarushi zindagi mein yunhi koi apna lagta hai
Kabhi kabhi Aarushi woh bichhad jaaye to ek sapna lagta hai
Aise mein koi kaise apne aansuon ko behne se roke?
Aur kaise koi soch le everything's gonna be okay?

  Soch zara jaan-e-jaan tujhko hum kitna chahte hain
Rote hain hum bhi agar teri aankhon mein aansoo aate hain
Gaana to aata nahin hai magar phir bhi hum gaate hain

Hey Aarushi Has De Has De Has De Has De Has De Tu Zara
Nahi Toh Bas Thoda Thoda Thoda Thoda Thoda Muskura

As soon as he finished, Aarushi had tears in her eyes and she threw her arms around Nikhil. He smiled and hugged her back.

"You're the best!" She muffled into his shoulder.

I smiled. That's the Nikhil we know. He may bicker and banter with Aarushi all day but in the end, he adores her. He may call her names but he cares for her very much. Inside the playful Nikhil, there is much protectiveness for Aarushi. Their relation is just indescribable.

"Love you bestie," Aarushi said, still in his arms.

"Love you too," he replied.

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Hey guys!

Sorry couldn't update earlier as had to go out at the last moment.

So it's Ayaan. Do you think his entry will affect Aarushi more ?

What do you think of Nikhil as a friend? Isn't he the best?

(The song was Kabhi kabhi Aditi...from Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na. I just modified it a bit.)

Comment your thoughts guys.. they inspire me to write more

Vote/Comment if you liked the chapter.

~ Manasi ❤️