My eyes teared up again, listening to the words. The pain behind my best friend's voice so evident. I don't have to see her face to know she was at her worst when she was singing this. Suhana always had a melodious voice, like her grandfather. But unlike her grandfather, she never used that melodious voice.

I laid curled up in a ball on the floor. It was still early in the morning. I received this audio an hour ago and I was yet to find the strength to get out of the room and face my best friend. My heart clenched, I gasped to breathe through the tears, my clogged nose and throat.

There were light taps on the door, I turned the music down. "You coming, Ahaa?" Bhai said from the other side.

I gulped down and sniffed in the pillow trying to clear out my voice. "I pulled all nighter with Suh... I am sleepy. No work for me." I called out trying to sound as sleepy and normal as possible.

"You sure? You... don't sound so good? Are you down with cold again?" He said again and I bit down on my lower lips to stop myself from crying out loud, why do they care about me so much?

"Go away, big brother. You don't wanna mess with the sleepy me." I said after a beat of silence, he chuckled lightly, a smile stretched over my lips too. "Okay. Sleep. I'll let Mumma know to not disturb you." I heard his footsteps fading away. The sudden silence around me too hard to handle.

I pushed myself up from the floor and got under the covers on the bed. Playing the audio again, I put it beside my head on the pillow. My eyes closed... the tears in my eyes stopped falling after some time but the pain in my heart... didn't stop hurting.

The next time I woke up that morning was by light rustling from the other side of the door, and the way my heart fluttered a bit, I knew who it was. I waited for something from him. But I got nothing. I looked down to see the shadow of him still there.

Quietly, I got down the bed making as little sound as possible. I walked closer to the door and sat down there, my back touched the door. My eyes welled up with happy tears as I saw the little paper come beside me from the other side.

Get ready... I'll drive you to work.

I chuckled softly reading the words on the chit. He will not say 'sorry' directly. I stood up from my spot and found a pen and notepad. Going back to the place, I settled down again.

Leave me alone.

I wrote down and slid the paper back to him. I heard him shuffling around for a second and then the chit was pushed to me.

Stop crying and I will. --HIM

I'm not crying. I never do. --AHAANA

You cry... a lot! You cried when I passed 10th grade. --HIM

It was a miracle! Everyone cried that day. --AHAANA

I rolled my eyes after sending the chit. I felt my back heating up for some reason... maybe his back was touching the exact place from the other side? Or maybe it was the silence and little laughter with him after so long? Whatever it was, it calmed the raging turmoil in me.

His nails scrapping against the door pulled me away from my thoughts, I looked at the closed door. "Hmm?" I murmured softly, my head leaned back to the door and eyes on the ceiling.

"I have never wanted to loose any challenge this desperately. Win me back... please. It hurts being so close to you yet so far. " The oxygen in my lungs... left.. me. The moment I heard his husky voice murmur those words to me, everything in me... stilled.

"Don't give up on us. Not again." He continued after some moments of silence. I didn't say anything in return, I didn't have to. It was him giving me all the strength I needed to keep up with his arsehole-ness.

"Then why are we fighting? Why are you fighting me? If I am what you want, hm? Don't make it this hard yaar. " I mumbled closer to the door, making sure my voice was reaching him.

"I am fighting my own battle. My heart and mind are at war. It's not so easy for me to give my all to you again, this easily." His voice trailed off, I didn't have anything to say to that because I understood him. I knew what he was feeling because for three years I have felt almost the same thing. We had lived in a bubble all our lives and suddenly that bubble was popped so harshly that everything shattered with it. I knew after being... left, after feeling the sudden pain of being alone or abandoned, people need that assurance. They need their subconscious mind to believe that this actually is the truth. The reality. I was all up to provide him that assurance, remove all his negative thoughts, mend his broken self.

If he wants a battle, I am going to give him bloody war.

I heard some more shuffling and I knew he stood up from the floor, I too hoisted up my feet. His footsteps walked away from my door. I gulped my emotions down and softly unlatched the door. I peeked out from the little space. His back turned to me, slowly, he turned to face me. Our eyes met and it was as if everything... just.... stopped. It was as if we were the only ones existing in the whole wide world.

"Ring Hood up if you want to come to Mehr." He said sliding his car keys on the drawer table beside the front door, before I could reply, he was out of my house with the door closing behind him.

I stood there for god knows how long, looking at the same spot, he once stood at. Thinking back to the last 10 minutes. Did it really happen? Or was I imagining all that? The car keys are there so it did happen... right?

The door opened again and as soon as my eyes met Yug's, my lips turned down and I started full on ugly crying. The lyrics coming back to me in full force. He quickly walked to me and pulled me in his chest. "Kya kar raha hai baba? Shaant yaar." He murmured kissing my head a few times as I cried into his chest.

"I--hurt... I--hurt her so bad." I cried loudly. My voice coming out muffled.

"That's why I wasn't sending you that video. Why did I did that stupid pinky promise to you all those years ago?" He pulled me out of his chest, his palms cupping my cheeks as I met his eyes still crying like a little baby.

"Because you my partner in crime. And you love me?" I said between my tears making him chuckle.

"You are. You are my partner in crime. and I love you but your bestie will have my fucking ass tonight." He shook his head in worry, his fingers wiping away my tears.

"Wanna binge watch that video and see me crying?" I asked softly, he looked at me in bewilderment.

"Fuck no!" He shouted lightly smacking my head, I chuckled pulling away from him.

"Go sneak into Sahdev's and find me her guitar." I turned away from him and started walking to my room.

"Why me, woman? I am already serving her my arse on silver platter what more do you want me to do? She'll kill me if I go through her stuff, she hates that!" He cried in exaggeration behind me.

"I know that, that's why you're doing it." I turned around giving him a smile, he made a puppy face. I am the head of this department, so I threw one right back at him. Adding bit of "I am so sad' look as well. He scoffed and turned around walking away the same path he came from.

Heaving a loud breath, I played the audio one last time. It was shot on the terrace without her knowledge, by Sahil, it started with Suhana sitting on the floor with her laptop in lap and guitar beside her. On the laptop screen, a picture of Ellie and I side hugging, laughing brightly, was wide open. She smiled at the picture and then put the laptop down, picking up the guitar in her lap now. She started strumming it with her eyes still on the laptop.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

And I get it
Friends forever doesn't always mean for life
(Oh-woah, oh-woah, oh-woah)

I don't wanna hold you back (oh)
I just want the old you back (oh-oh)
Secretly, I'm hoping that (oh-ooh)
The real you's still there
Underneath those new clothes and new kicks
And sad jokes with the cool kids
Chasing new that and new this
Switching old posts for new pics

You got new bands on your t-shirts
New plans but stopped calling me first
People say people don't change
But they do when (but they do when)
Old friends get new friends (old friends get new friends)
Old friends get new friends (old friends get new friends)

The video ends with something falling down and Suhana looking towards the camera, tears trailing down her face. The video ends before she starts to say something.

"As if it's so easy to get rid of me, silly girl." I mumble softly. My lips stretching in a smile when I think of how she's gonna react when she sees my mind blowing performance.

"Whatcha we doing?" Yug asked strolling inside the room with the guitar, I turn around and pinpoint him with a look.

"We? There's no we here, Yug. You shoo off to whatever that you do this time of day and I'll do what I need to do." I reply pushing him out of my bedroom, he was still in a daze because he let me manhandle his huge body.

"You best friends are so weird and rude! That fiancée of mine has been leaving me on read and you're shooing me away like I am some unwanted thing after you get what you want." He glares, I lean up and kiss his cheeks lightly.

"Please Yug, I wanna do something for my bestie." I hug him. He exhales loudly.

"Finnnne... if that's what you want. I'll just go and shove you kissing me in a certain someone's face." His evil smirk pulled up on his face, I rolled my eyes.

I recently got to know that Yug finally has comeback for Sahil. Sahil have always been tough on Yug after Suhana, and he started dating. Sahil says Yug was supposed to be his best friend, but he took a glance at his baby sister during our lunch in school and boom, he's her fiancé now. He says Yug broke the bro code. But Yug had nothing for him other than hearing his taunts day and night... until I left.

Yug started calling him names like 'petty little bish' because he didn't man up enough to confess whatever he felt or didn't follow me to the end of world. Apparently Yug was the only one who repeatedly told him to come to me in London because we needed to talk, but Sahil never listened to him and Yug got angry on him saying he drove me away and didn't even try to make it right.

"Don't. He was in a good mood this morning. Don't play with his temper." I point my forefinger at him, he laughs shrugging.

"Aww! So caring, Shea." He flicked my nose before walking away leaving me alone in the room.

"This man has a death wish." I shake my head, before starting to work on my plan.

"Zia..." My brother poked me, yet again. I shrugged his hand away.

"Let me go! I have work to do." I groaned looking up at the ceiling, frustration running through my veins in full force. I wanna bang his stupid head on this stupid table.

"Just talk to me and I'll let you." He begged from behind me, I brushed his words off. He deserves this. He makes me so fucking mad, I wanna punch him in the face and then punch him again.

"I can't believe you're choosing her over me!" He mumbled pathetically, I rolled my eyes and put my head down on the table. Why am I surrounded with these dramatic af people?

"Sahil... it's 6'o clock, let's just go home. I haven't had a blink of sleep all night and I am seriously drained out." I said with my face still down on the table, my voice coming out muffled. His hand rubbed my hairs and I let out a deep breath.

"I talked to her this morning."

"Did you tell her sorry?"

"Fuck no!" I groaned out. Like literally groaned out so loud, he chuckled. Bastard has some audacity.

"Sahil, I am so fucking done with you hurting her over and over. I don't wanna be mean to you, but seriously, whatever happened wasn't all her fault. I knew you went through a lot, but you went through all that because it was your fucking decision to wait for her. Wait for her to come to you. But you are so fucking rude and mean to her all the damn time, and she is taking whatever you are throwing at her without any complaints, but everyone has their fucking limits." I stood up from my seat and met his eyes, his blazing eyes that my best friend loves oh so dearly. I don't know what that stupidito sees in this stupidito.

"If she can go and start afresh at eight-fucking-teen years old, when she was at her lowest, believe me big brother... she can own this fucking world at twenty four." I breathe harshly after finishing my rant.

"Glad you got that off your chest. Feel light yet?" Oh My Fucking God! Why is this man so fucking... urgh! He smirked. He fucking smirked. What rock is he made of?

"Bhai, I am serious. Stop being so harsh on her. I'll tell Dad what you're doing and he'll have your fucking ass." I threatened the hard headed man. He rolled his eyes. Who am I even kidding? This man was only scared to let down Dadu, with him went my brother's fears.

"You remember why this alliance happened and not Advik and mine?" I tried a different approach to put some sense in him. "Because Advik looked at me like I stole his favorite candy as soon as I came into this world and you... you looked at her like she was it, she was the one for you when you were just three, Bhai. I have never heard something like that till date. That one look changed Dadu's decision and you both were decided."

"You regretting that, Zia? Want Advik and you to have that alliance after all?" He teased making me chuckle.

"God! No!" Advik and I as prank planners? Oooh yes. Life partners? Hell to the fucking no. "Don't even say this in front of him, he'll run for hills." We both laughed, he walked a step closer and hugged me, his lips brushing my head.

"You know what, Sahil?" He hummed, I continued. "Roll back to your five year back version. The version where you hated talking about her with us. Go back to you being very, very private of that part of life. You hated it when she'd share things with me because you wanted your things to be just your own. We never knew what you both did when you were on terrace, stairs or your runs. So be that Sahil and stop pulling us into your things. Don't put any of us from either families to choose one out of you two, we can't do that."

"You both are so important to me yaar. So important to all of us. Goad each other. Kill each other. Play those tom and jerry games you both always loved playing. Do whatever the hell you want but keep it between you guys. Just don't hurt each other to point of no return. You were hurt but so was she, bhai. You were alone here and so was she." He pulled away from me, I stopped talking. He looked at me one more time before sidestepping and going to walk away, I stopped him with my fingers on his wrist.

"You may not have said the words, but you didn't even need to. She saw what you felt for her. We saw what you both felt each other. She was the only one for you the moment she came into existence." I stood in front of him, he averted his eyes, never looking at my face. I didn't need that contact to know my brother's feeling. I never did.

"Why else would someone visit Amritsar on her birthday, hm? Why would someone pray for her if he wasn't desperately waiting for her? Why would someone sit by the bar alone when he can have almost all the girls of the club? Why stay loyal to her when she wasn't even here? What about that peony tattoo on your heart?" I brushed his chest where I know the tattoo is underneath his clothes. An evil smile starting to pull on his lips, I just knew he'll say something that'd royally make me roll my eyes.

"Yeah, you know me... not better than my best friend but you do. Want that runner up prize?" I did what I said, rolled my eyes... and I also had to take a deep breath to keep my calm. He'll do anything to keep his arseholish image. He has been this way since the beginning. There's a reason everyone knows him as broody, straight forwarded angry arsehole.

But, we, his family also knows a different side of him. The side of Sahil which believes in assessing and reading everyone around him. The Sahil who believes on his intuitions more then anything. Sahil who paints and loves cooking. The man who wants to live alone but don't have it in him to say that to his mother, not because he's scared but only because he doesn't want to hurt her.

Sahil who loves playing chess with his father and basketball with his best friends. The sane one out of all of us. The one who pulls us out of messes and saves our sorry asses. The man who handles his father business as his heir but who also has degree in law. Sahil who helps his mother clean the kitchen every night because that is the only time, he'll have her all to himself. He's silent because he has been this way always, he loves the silence. He loves reading people from their eyes and not from what they say. One who hates lies and catches a lie immediately.

Sahil or Shai, who learned cooking because a certain someone had the worst eating habits and he wanted her to just fucking eat. Shai who works out only four days a week and that too light because someone hates heavy masculine veiny bodies. Shai who holds a grudge against Rudra Uncle for using Ahaana's name to blackmail him. Shai who has dogs because he wanted to fill the silence in his head after she left. Shai who has boarded three London flights in the last five years but never stopped foot out of London airport because he... just.. couldn't.

"Stop crying." I didn't even know I was until he brushed tears away from my cheeks.

"Don't break her Bhai. You know how her mind plays her. The only mind games she knows to play are with her own self. She's so fucking great at self-tormenting. I hate it when she overthinks and hurts herself. This entire mess is only because of that thing." He pulled me in his chest as more tears trailed down my eyes.

"I won't. I know her limits, Zia. I know who I am dealing with. I just want... I just want to believe that she actually is here, you know. I know it's stupid but my heart... I just don' believe it. I think I'll wake up one day and she won't be here. I know.. it's stupid to think so.. it's her home.. her family but I just... I just can't bring myself to trust her again." He whispered over my head and my heart broke more for him. I know that. I know him. I have seen him deal with all this.

I know it's hard for them both and I wish everything falls back into place as soon as possible, I can't see them fighting their own inner battles like this.

"It's not stupid Bhai. You were in pain after she left. You didn't know what to do, how to do. You had a life planned out with her and in mere hours you had nothing. You had to start all over again from point zero and this time without anyone with you in this journey. You lost your belief, you lost your hope... you lost your love in hours. It's not stupid, it's supposed to be happening this way. Of course you're doubting everything, it's just your head trying to help you not get hurt again." I looked up meeting his eyes, my hands on his cheek. "I am just saying.. to also understand her feelings... her situations... her doubts. She went through all this too, bhai. Even more.. you had us but she was alone bhai and she was hurt, she thought you were cheating on her. Think about her too bhai." I leaned up and placed a light kiss on his cheeks, he gave a slight nod and I smiled.

"And don't you ever put me in last night's position, I will kick your ass." I slapped his chest, he chuckled. I shook my head pulling away from him.

"Main bhi hoon baby. I was ignored by my fiancée the whole day, I am hurt too. Please kiss my boo boo better, princess." A voice said from the door, I bit down on my lower lip and looked up at my brother to see him rolling eyes. I moved around to face him, my brother's hold tightened on my shoulders.

"Yeah, keep her attached to you, par kab tak?" Yug then turned his eyes to me. "I have no hopes for him to get married, I am talking to your father and getting married to you as soon as possible. I am waiting no more." Yug said, his arms crossed on his chest. My smile vanished as soon as I remembered something.

"You sent her the video, didn't you?" I asked looking around for something to throw at him. I could feel my brother's happiness when he realised what will happen now.

"We had a deal, I was binded to her with that pinky promise." Yug said taking a step back as I started walking closer to him. I tried to slap his chest but one of his hand threaded our fingers together and the other hand wrapped around my waist pulling me into his chest, my cheeks flared up. This man has a death wish. My brother is standing a step away. The brother who hates him for pursuing me.

"I'd remove that hand if I were you, Oberoi." My brother said from where he was standing. Yug didn't even glance up at him, his eyes solely trained on me.

"You know I can't say no to her." He whispered to me before looking back at my brother. "You'd also have your girl by your side if you were me, Sahdev." oh My God. He does have a death wish.

"Yeah apparently no one can. Work on your will power, fucker." Before I could turn around or react, I was pulled away from his arms to my brothers. "I don't have my car. You're my ride." My brother said to me, handing out my handbag, I took it from him. We three moved out of my cabin and started walking towards the elevators. Bhai looked at Yug after pressing the button for elevator, he rolled his eyes at my fiancé before pulling his hand away from me, at the same time, I felt Yug's fingers lacing with mine. My lips stretched out in a smile looking at my brother now scrolling through his phone.

The elevator door opened. Sahil stepped in first and leaned against the elevator wall. I pressed the button for parking and the gate closed.

"You know I went to see her today." Yug said making my brother look up from his phone,his eyes meeting with Yug's in the mirror wall, waiting for him to continue. "If her hugs were good then her koala hugs are great now. And don't even ask about her lips on my cheeks." I mentally facepalmed.

"Firstly.." Bhai looked at me in the mirror. "You should seriously reconsider getting married to this fucker." He then met my fiance eyes. "Secondly, I'll kill you with bare hands the day my sister gets back in her senses and dumps you." The elevator opened and he stepped out, I held on Yug's biceps, my nails digging in.

"Stop pushing his buttons." I glared at him. He scoffed, leaned down and pecked my lips. "Tell him to stop this bullshit, she was red from crying all night and you know it wasn't only for the video." He murmured over my lips and after another kiss, he walked away to where my brother stood waiting for us.

My brother may show that he hates Yug and all, but he doesn't. Bhai is not easy to talk to, he speaks less, he expresses less. But the only people who know him and understand him better then Sahdev family are Yug and Advik. They are the type of bestfriends you know will have your back no matter what. Yug and Bhai bantering over me is their thing. But playing basketball, working out together, meeting everyday not because they have to but because they want to is also their thing.

I remember someone saying in school that it must be so boring for us to be with each other all the time. No. It's not. I think we are so comfortable with each other that we find it hard to talk to someone else, maybe that's why we have no other friends. We six have been more then enough for each other. And being friends with our respective partners before we were in romantic relationship has worked out great for us. We have amazing understanding as a couple.

I looked at them speaking, leaving them be, I walked to my car and unlocked it. Sliding in, I turned the ignition on and reversed it and waited for them to get in. Yug slid in next to me and Bhai settled down in the backseat. I looked at my fiancé in question.

"I need another one of my Sh—" I quickly give him a look before looking back on the road.
"—Ahaa's koala hug." He rolled his eyes, leaning back into the seat. I groaned out. Where's that idiot Advik when I need him?

"So where's your car? Or Hood?" I ask just as Sahil parts his lips to say something, of course he didn't miss that 'Sh'.

"Oberoi, be very careful of what you're doing, and remember where this can lead you." Bhai said before turning to me. "I had Krishna uncle drop me."

"But where's your car?" I ask again, a second later realisation dawned on me. I smile to myself, my heart fluttering happily. They'll be fine. They'll do just alright. Bhai didn't reply and I didn't need him to.

I looked in the mirror to see my brother leaning against the seat with his eyes closed. I let him be. He needed that silence after the tirade I had put on him. Yug too looked busy in his phone, handling some work. I let the boys be and focused on the road, thinking about how I was gonna talk to my bestfriend.

•

•

"But why?" I asked as Yug started ushering me directly on the terrace. I looked back at my brother to see him already walking towards our house.

Yug didn't say anything, he just handed my handbag to our househelp and with his fingers laced with mine, he walked me upstairs. I stood there in the middle under the sky waiting for my fiancé to say something. He didn't, he just pointed at something behind me. I turned around to see Ahaana standing there with my guitar in her hand.

The door opened behind me, I took a side glance to see Falak walking in with Advik. My brother stood leaning against the wall. I just knew I was going to cry with the way everything was happening.

"You both know I am the worst singer. The worst. But I am going to do this for you both." Ahaana said and Falak and I looked at her, the boys stood away from us. Ahaana started strumming the strings and I chuckled softly when she missed one. She started again biting her tongue. Falak walked in closer to me and we both side hugged, waiting to see what was in store for us.

She stopped strumming again. I laughed and the boys as well. "Also, this song is for entirely different thing, you just focus on some lyrics, alright?" Ahaana asked.

"Start woman!" Yug said making us chuckle. Ahaana looked down and started strumming again. The fact that the guitar looked so big in her arms made me laugh again. Why is so small? Like so fucking small?

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

She got me through high school
She'd probably post my bail
She's the one who'd get me drunk
Be next to me in jail
She's my voice of reason
She's my biggest fan
She's who told me, leave the boy
And find yourself a man

She walked and stood infront of me, looking straight at me. I pulled my lower lip out as a tear trailed down my right eye and then left and then they didn't stop. Her eyes moved to my brother as she sang the lyrics, 'She's who told me, leave the boy, And find yourself a man.' I turned to look at him too, his eyes anywhere but on her. I smiled while crying.

If girls run the world
You're why mine keeps spinning
So, I gotta ask you, will you be
My bridesmaids
My ride or dies
My champagne-tipsy kinda tribe
Wild ones, right by my side
Rocking black while I'm wearing white
Sisters I get to choose
Mighta found the one but I need you too
The song's always about the groom
But I just can't say I do
Without my bridesmaids
My bridesmaids

She shook her head in negative as she sang the lines of her asking us to be her bridesmaid and I chuckled. She finished her lyrics and then took a step sideways and stopped in front of Falak, who was already bursting in tears like a baby. I removed my own tears away.

She'll keep the bubbles coming
She'll make sure we're on time
She'll keep my cold feet from running
And hide all the red wine
They'll have tissues ready
When they see mama cry
Yeah, I've been blessed with the best
And let me tell you why, 'cause they're
My bridesmaids
My ride or dies

If I was the bad one, Falak was our goody two shoes. She's the one who has always been like the mother to us. If Sahil saved the boys asses, Falak saved ours. Ahaana sang infront of Falak, both crying, but Ahaana sniffed and continued her words. It was her way of saying sorry, we didn't need that, we had no complaints whatsoever but it was so fucking good to know our Ahaa was still ours. The old Ahaana was there underneath all the layers of strong facade she put out

My champagne-tipsy kinda tribe
Wild ones, right by my side
Rocking black while I'm wearing white
Sisters I get to choose
Mighta found the one but I need you too
The song's always about the groom
But I just can't say I do
Without my bridesmaids
My bridesmaids

Ahaana finished and before she could say something, Falak and I, pulled her in a hug. She mumbled Sorry's in our chest. I kissed her hairs. We didn't want her sorry, we wanted her to be a part of us the way she has always been, these five years without her were hard for both Falak and I. We missed her and we hated not being able to know what was going on with her. We hated it when she pushed us away.

"Where's that 'man' btw? I'd like to meet him." Yug said coming to stand beside us. He pulled her to himself, I chuckled at his question. Advik too stood by Ahaana's other side, she sniffed removing her tears. Her eyes turned to look behind us, we followed her eyes to see my brother still leaning against that same wall with his hands tucked in his pockets. He looked at her, their eyes met and I smiled brightly.

"He'll come around soon." Ahaana whispered loud enough for him to hear. My brother stood straight, made a bored face and turned around to go downstairs. I didn't miss that small smile playing on his lips.

"Hopes. High fucking hopes." My brother said with his back to us, he started descending down and we all chuckled behind him. Advik and Yug followed behind their bestfriend, leaving us three alone. Falak and I squeezed her with our hug and she started laughing and telling us to let her breathe.

If she's here, she'll make it all work out just fine. I know that. I believe that.

Wo naraz hai... nafrat nahi karta. And Ahaana Mehrotra has Masters degree on 'how to pacify Sahil Sahdev.'