*Viraj*

"Eww! Mai? Aur teri girlfriend. Chee" Megha says and makes a gagging face. I glare at her.

She is my best friend. My neighbour in Mumbai and also a really good businesswoman. She has a line of her own skincare products and runs her own company. She doesn't take any crap from anyone, especially not me. She hates cricket and sabse jaruri baat.. has a boyfriend.

I look at him. Mayur. He is sitting on the couch and playing some game on my laptop.

He looks at me and just shrugs to which we both roll our eyes. He is one of my best friend too and is a professor at a university. They both live-in together and are are polar opposites but they are so much in love.

Mayur said that he has no problem with my plan. In fact, I feel like he's enjoying it.

"I told you just for tomorrow" I say.

"Mujhe kya milega badle me?" she asks.

"Khushi?"

"Pagal samjh ke rakha hai kya?"

"Kya chahiye tujhe meri maa?" I ask her joining my hands.

"Mere product ki free me ad kar de" she smirks.

"Chal nikal tu. Ja wapas Mumbai" I say and turn away. She doesn't stop me. Kya ladki hai. I turn back again to look at her.

"Tujhe pata bhi hai mai kitna charge karta hu ads ke liye?" I ask.

"Ha pata hai. Isliye toh boli free me kar de" she says and sits on the couch, flipping her hair.

Bitch.

"Half rate. Take it or leave it. Ladkiya meri girlfriend banne ke liye ulta mujhe paise dengi" I tell her.

She thinks for a while. "Done" she says and shakes my hand. Pehle se hi plan kar ke rakhi thi ye jaroor.

"Tu mere baare me almost sab jaanti hai so kuch mushkil nahi hogi" I say. Mayur puts her hair behind her ear and kisses her temple to which she blushes.

Megha never smiles. She's never soft to anyone. Except this geek here.

"Fine. Toh kal hai cocktail party. For god's sake behave nicely towards me. Peena bilkul nahi. Make our act believable" I say and she huffs.

"Ya whatever. Me and Mayur are going now to explore Goa. Chaabi de tere gaadi ki" she says and I give her the keys. Do din iska ghulaam bann ke rehna padega.

I give Mayur a kaise-jhelta-hai-isse look and he nods in sympathy. They leave and I sit on my couch and nibble on the cold pizza.

Pari came today early morning before these two arrived and dragged Aslesha with her for preparations. I miss her food. I miss her.

Mayur and Megha are the only people who know about my past. How she cheated on me and shit. I remember that drunk night when I blabbered my whole history geography to them. They just listened quietly without giving any of their opinions and stuff. From that day onwards they became by best friends.

~•~•~•~•~•~•

*Aslesha*

I look at myself in the mirror and then turn around to look at me back. It's completely open. Completely. I don't know why I selected this dress. It's not my style at all. But I just felt like I had to wear it today. Especially with this open back.

And it has nothing to do with Viraj.

I take my clutch and go downstairs. I got ready here itself in the resort which they have booked till the wedding and didn't go home. All the ceremonies are going to be here. It's a small, intimate but beautiful resort by the sea shore.

The party is in full swing and everyone looks.. dazzling. Pari and Rudra look the best. They're with some of his cousins. The dance floor is not filled up right now. Sab peene khaane me busy hai. Ek baar chadh jaayegi fir sab ke andar se Govinda niklega.

I see many familiar faces but I don't feel like talking to anyone. I feel like drinking. I go to the bar where I have small talk with some familiar faces and get myself a drink.

"Surprise surprise" I hear a voice behind me and a big smile forms on my face when I look back. Neel!

"Chaddha! Kaminey mujhe laga tu direct shaadi ke liye aayega" I say and jump in his arms and hug him tightly.

"Seems like you missed me a lot Aashi" he says and I hug him more tightly.

Over the years he became one of my really close friends. He works in New York and we meet just once a year. Obviously I missed him.

He's one of those friends who I don't regularly talk with but when we need each other, we're always there. And even if we meet after years, there's no uncomfortableness or awkwardness.

Pari and Rudra are busy these days, I desperately needed a friend with all of this shit happening in my life. I feel tears form in my eyes but I blink them away and break the hug.

"You're really here, Chaddha. I missed you" I say holding his hand. He kisses my cheek and smiles. "I missed you too. And please stop calling me Chaddha!" he scolds and I laugh.

I feel like someone is staring at me from a distance so I look in that direction but see no one.

Ek hi drink se chadhne lag gayi. Neel wants to meet the to-be bride and groom so we both go to talk to them.

"Aa gaya tu saale" Rudra says and hugs him.

"You look hot Pari" Neel says looking at her from head to toe. She does. She's wearing a gorgeous long party gown. And she does look hot. Like a princess. Actually no. A queen.

Pari giggles and wraps her arms around him to hug him.

After a few minutes, the both of them are again surrounded by some of their friends and relatives and we get away.

Then I literally squeal in excitement when I see the others. Sid, Tej, Joel and Shabnam have just arrived and I feel like jumping and hugging them all and that's what I do.

The first thing I say is, "I hope tum sab ne Viraj ko bataya nahi hai" I say and for the first time I see five people rolling their eyes at once.

"Tune hum sab ko dhamki di hai ke you'd never talk to us. Kaise bataayenge" Shabnam says.

"Waise mai soch raha hu bata hi du" Joel says and I punch him in the stomach.

"Arre bataa do yaar Aslesha. Tum aaj itni hot lag rahi ho ke tumhare pairo me girr jaaye vo" Sid says pouting and coming near me like to kiss me.

"Go away idiot" I push him away laughing.

"Waise mai bhi achha kamaa leta hu aur handsome bhi hu. Blue lenses lagaa du toh Viraj ko peeche chhod du" Sid says and I shake my head, still smiling.

"Mujhe bhuk lagi hai yaar" Tej says.

"Bhukkad!" Shabnam says and we all get seated and decide to have food.

"Waise who is Viraj engaged to? That super-model Shikha who has long legs and big boobs?" Neel asks.

"Is that all you look in girls?" I ask.

"Yes" all the guys say in unison.

"I don't know who he's dating" I inform them.

"He's dating me" I hear a female voice behind me and I turn to look at a very beautiful, confident woman.

Viraj comes and stands beside her putting his hand on her waist. My heart drops to my stomach.

Oh.

"This is my love, Megha" he introduces her to us and kisses her cheek to which she slightly pushes him away.

So she's shy too.

"These are my college friends" he says.

We all introduce ourselves and Viraj and Megha sit on the chairs in front of me.

"So tum ho Viraj ki fiancee. Kaise mile tum dono?" Joel asks.

"We are neighbours" they both say together.

I just look here and there. Awkward awkward awkward.

We start having small talk about our careers and stuff and I get to know that Megha is the CEO of one of the biggest skincare brand in India.

I look at Megha again. She's gorgeous. No doubt. And she is really confident and prim and proper. There is not one thing out of place in her. She has this aura around her which screams boss. Perfect for Viraj.

Dono boss boss.

"So are you liking it here in Goa?" Neel asks and I see Viraj glare at him.

"I'm loving Goa. It's beautiful. Jyada explore nahi karne mila. I'm leaving tomorrow" she says sadly.

"Kyu? Shaadi tak ruk jaao na" I say. And I genuinely mean it. She seems like a nice girl.

"Mumbai me bahot kaam hai. Viraj mujhe bahot miss kar raha tha isliye aa gayi bass. Waise mera jaane ka mann nahi hai" she says.

"Yaha se kisi ka bhi jaane ka mann nahi hota. Fir bhi log chale jaate hai" I say and then bite my tongue when I realise what I said.

An unsettling silence surrounds us and I don't look at Viraj. I'm trying not to look at him at all. Especially because he is staring at me since the time he saw me.

One by one everyone starts leaving the table. Purposely. I wish I was an octopus so that I could slap all of these so-called friends of mine at once!

"Tum aur Viraj ek dusre ko kab se jaante ho?" She asks.

"Bachpan se" I tell her.

"Fir bhi bahot kuch jaanna baaki hai" Viraj says and this time my eyes automatically move towards his.

And it's like the room disappears. I didn't see him properly before but now..

Holy moly..

He is in this dashing navy blue suit and is wearing a white dress shirt under it with the top few buttons undone.

He looks so so so good. This is the first time I'm seeing him in a suit. And the wait was worth it. I feel like clicking his picture and sticking it on my bedroom wall.

Each time I see him, he looks better than before. He looks splendid. Breathtaking.

"Hey" I hear a voice and turn to look who it is. I don't know this guy.

"Heyy" Megha smiles at him.

"This is Mayur. My friend. Our friend" Viraj says.

We talk for a little while. It's mostly them talking and me nodding. Viraj is not talking much too. Does he feel awkward that his ex and present girlfriend are sitting on the same table with him.

I'm on my 3rd glass of champagne. Or is it 4th? Ab bass karna hoga warna kuch nikal na jaaye mere muh se. I notice that Viraj is not drinking at all. Last time ke scene se ab tak pachta raha hai kya?

The crowd is fully on the dance floor now. "Chalo let's dance" Mayur says.

"Ha chalo" Megha answers and starts pulling Viraj.

Viraj looks at me questioningly. "I don't dance" I say and step back. "Tum log jaao".

Before Viraj asks me anything, his friends take him away and they disappear in the crowd. I sigh. So he is engaged.

I stopped dancing since the operation. I just don't feel like it. I wanted so badly to perform in Paro's sangeet. But I just.. I'm not able to. I can't.

"Aashi" Paro says and comes and sit on my lap.

I wrap my hand around her waist and put my head on her shoulder. We're away from the crowd in a corner.

I don't know how she escaped. And I don't know how she found me. But she always has. She always does.

"Tu aunty banne wali hai" I say and she pinches my arm and I swat her away.

"Sahi me. Shadi kar ke ladkiya officially aunty bann jaati hai" I say and she laughs.

"Teri bhi jald hi hogi. Fir tu bhi aunty" she says and I roll my eyes.

"I don't think so. I'm gonna die a virgin" I say and we both start giggling.

"I guess Viraj still likes you. The whole evening he has not stopped looking at you" she says and my eyes land on the crowd where her gaze is and I see a pair of blue eyes looking at me.

He looks away immediately.

"He's brought his fiancee here. Achhi hai. Dono ki jodi achhi lag rahi hai" I tell her with my voice thick with emotions.

"Kya? Dhoni ko laane boli thi usse aur kisi ko bhi uthaa ke le aaya. Nikaal du kya usse bol?" she asks looking at me and my eyes fill with tears.

"Nahi. Bass tu mujhe chhod ke mat jaana. Ab teri shadi hogi, fir bachhe. Sab ko sambhalte sambhalte apne forever alone dost ko bhul mat jaana" I tell her and she kisses my hair.

"Tu meri jaan hai Aashi" she says and hugs me. I hug her back. "I'm so happy for you Paro. Not at all jealous" I say and she laughs loudly.

"Of course you're not jealous" she says and Rudra comes into view.

"So Pari is sitting on your lap and is kissing you. I'm not at all jealous" he says and we both laugh.

"Paro is secretly a lesbian but family aur society ke pressure ke wajah se she's marrying you. She loves me more though" I tell him.

"I have no doubt in that" he says. I push Paro on his lap.

"Mere bladder pe wajan daali tu aur ab mujhe zor ki susu lagi hai" I say and get up.

I hear them both laughing as I rush towards the washroom. There's a long line there. Shit!

I go upstairs. Men's washroom se kaam chalana padega.

I peek inside and it's completely empty. Thank God! I barge inside.

"ARREE AYEE!" I see Viraj as he zips his pants quickly.

Before he says anything else I go inside the washroom and pee.

Better.

I come outside and wash my hands without looking at Viraj. The whole while he's glaring at me.

I walk outside and he follows me.

"Agar yaha koi faaltu ladke hote toh. You've become so fucking careless. You can't just barge into-"

I put my hand on his mouth and push him against the wall.

"Stop shouting at me. Stop ordering me around. And stop... Stop.. just stop!" I say and remove my hand and start walking away.

"So you've stopped dancing" he says suddenly which makes me stop in my tracks.

"Yes I have. Kya kar loge?" I say putting my hands on my hips.

"Last time yaad hai na kya kiya tha?" He asks smirking at me.

"You have a girlfriend. Fiancee. Go with your crap to her. I don't have time for your nonsense" I shout angrily.

"I'm your boss!" He says in a dangerous low voice.

"Ghar pe" I say and start walking away.

He pulls me back and puts his hand on my back and the other on my face.

"You're so frustrating" he says and slides his long finger down my cheek. I gulp. "This long slender neck of yours is frustrating" he says as his hand moves down the length on my neck and I close my eyes as goosebumps rise on my skin.

This is wrong.

"This back of yours is very frustrating" he says and runs his long rough fingers lightly down the length of my spine. I shiver.

"And these legs" he says with his eyes raw and hungry.

He puts his hand on my thigh and glides it up as my dress inches up with it. I feel weak in my knees and I let out a breath in pleasure.

I don't want this. I want it more. I need it.

"No" I state and push him away. "You're engaged for god's sake Viraj. Behave" I say and straighten up my dress and lean on the wall for support. I still feel weak.

"Tumne toh kaha tha tumhe mujhse fark nahi padta. Ab jo hua usse aisa laga toh nahi" he says as his whole demeanor changes.

"I love Megha. Not you. I'll never ever love you" he says and walks away. Leaving me standing there in need, confusion and hurt.

I decide to go out to get some fresh air.

Nobody is here. I sit near the pool and rub my eyes feeling tired.

"Fucking stupid makeup" I mutter when I see that my fingers have turned black. I'm sure I look like a baboon now.

I remove some wet wipes from my clutch and start wiping my face.

I suddenly see Megha going behind one of the trees. Arre ye waha kyu ja rahi hai?

Without thinking, I follow her and see that she's with Mayur.

Oh.

And then they start kissing.

Oh fuckity fucking fuck!

"MEGHA!" I scream in anger and they jump apart in alarm. "How could you? How can you? Oh my god".

"Tum jaisa samajh rahi-"

"Shut up!" I yell when Mayur starts speaking.

"Megha why? Viraj is such an amazing guy. He's successful and smart and handsome and rich and sabse main... Loves you! How could you do this?" I say and run my hands through my hair.

Viraj is gonna be so hurt. Oh no.

"Tumne bhi toh yahi kiya tha" she says angrily and it's like she has slapped me tightly.

Ouch.

"I'm telling Viraj" I say.

I go inside and she doesn't even try to stop me or anything. Seriously? Oh my god this is so messed up. I feel so sorry for him. She seemed like a nice girl.

I see Shabnam and Joel dancing together and I ask them where Viraj is. They tell me that they saw him leaving the hall a few minutes ago.

I rush outside and see him near the gate.

"Viraj!" I scream and start running towards him. He doesn't hear me. These heels ugh! I remove them.

"VIRAJ" I call out again and he stops and looks back at me. I slow down and completely stop when I'm a few steps behind him.

"Kya hai?" He asks angrily.

"Vo maine.. vo waha maine.."

"Speak up!" He says getting impatient.

"Maine Megha ko waha-"

Before I say something else, a hard heavy thing hits my head and my vision goes blank.

~•~•~•~•~•~•

Hello mere babu log! I missed you'll so so much! I hope everyone is maze me. So how did you like this chapter? The whole gang is back! I loved writing this one. It was a rollercoaster. And the cliffhanger?? *Laughs evilly*. Don't forget to vote and comment... Ily :)