She woke up to the sound of her alarm clock.

She knew from today it won't be the same as before.

She knew it won't be the same as before with HIM.

"Why? Why did it happened? Why did he helped me and his help had turned into hot news by everyone around her?" she thought in frustration.

She felt helpless despite being in a position where she could shut people's mouth.

"Maybe even for me the news I have been hearing sounds right. Deep inside my heart, I do wish the news I am hearing about US to be true." she thought and mentally slapped herself for thinking wrongly early in the morning.

Meanwhile, Abhi was walking to and fro in his room. He was already awake and felt remorseful for being the cause of the news about THEM.

"Why did I do such a stupid thing without thinking of the consequences!" he told himself.

"What if Pragya knows about this! If she knows then she will definitely be mad at me. Or worse, she would kill me!" he thought and looks horrified thinking of Pragya killing him.

"There's a limit to your playfulness and pranks. It's good that you saved her life when she was stuck in the cold room. But what was the need to leak the footage of mouth to mouth resuscitation that you did to her to the media people? And now she wants as soon as possible to wrap up the deal and the work pertaining to it. She can leave from here and ask her subordinates to take care of the work. But no, she wants to complete it then leave from here." he sighed thinking of how things have turned out because of his foolishness.

Back at Pragya's House, she was being advised by her father on not to be affected by the chaos around her.

Her family understands that whatever news that has been published and showed in media are false.

They have immense faith towards Abhi and Pragya's bond with each other.

They know that Abhi and Pragya are best working partners and best friends.

Pragya was now with her dad and asked, "Papa, I want to know... I just want to know out of curiosity.... What will be your reaction if the news had been true? I mean like really the news of Abhi is in love with me and he did that out of love...."

Her father, Ram gave a disbelief look and said," I can only take him serious for his work with you. Apart from that all of us know how playful and mischievous he is at all other things in life. If he is really in love with you then his reaction would have been different towards the media. He would have come forward and tell the world that he never did anything wrong by doing that. You tell me Pragya, do you think he would remain silent when the person he loves is being in trouble?"

Pragya shook his head as no.

Ram," Exactly! Whatever it is Pragya, I can never take him serious when it comes to love and relationships."

He says and then tells Pragya not to confuse herself.

Pragya realises that her dad is right. Abhi can never be serious towards love and relationships in his life.

At that moment, she receives a call from Abhi to her phone.

Pragya,"Ya Abhi... "

Abhi, "Ya Abhi? I never said anything yet for you to say Ya Abhi!"

Pragya, "Ignore that. Why did you call now?"

Abhi, "I called to ask how are you?"

He asks that with hesitation.

Pragya, "Fine."

Abhi, "Okay. I just want to say don't think too much. Over time the buzz on us will get over."

Pragya, "I know. When another hot news comes around ours will be outdated."

Abhi,"Yes you're right. For now it is very important for us to complete our deal. It involves both our families reputation."

Pragya, "I know Abhi. I will be coming to office today. We have to work and finish it as soon as possible."

Abhi, "Sure!"

Pragya, "Okay then bye!"

She said and ends the call abruptly before Abhi could say anything to her.

Abhi sighs and thinks things have changed now.

"Pragya is in a hurry to end everything between us!" he thought and feels upset about it.

A few hours later,

Pragya reaches Abhi's office but with a difference.

Abhi was in his cabin when he received a call from the receptionist.

"Hello Sir, Pragya mam is here but...", Tina hesitated.

Abhi, "But what Tina? Did she come alone?"

Tina, "No Sir. She is not with her usual group of staff."

Abhi,"Oh. Maybe she would have changed them after the buzz around us."

Tina,"No Sir. There is only one man with her."

Abhi,"One man? Who is he?"

Tina, "I don't know sir. But he looks very handsome and Pragya mam is very friendly with him."

Abhi,"Oh...I will see who is it when they come here."

Abhi ends the phone call and wonders who could be the MAN with Pragya.

He gets impatient as still Pragya and the MAN haven't reached his cabin yet. It usually doesn't take very long to come up to his cabin from the reception area.

Unable to wait further he opens the door to leave, only to find Pragya and the MAN standing outside his cabin.

Abhi was taken aback to see them and realized who was the MAN.

"What the hell!" Abhi shrieked.

Pragya, "Excuse me? Why did you use the word hell now?"

Abhi, "First you tell me why is he with you?"

Pragya, "That's none of your business. First let me come in."

She says as he was blocking her way to enter his cabin.

Abhi stepped aside and saw the MAN to be coming in as well.

Abhi, "Why is he coming in?"

Pragya, "Because he works for me and I need his help so he is coming in."

Abhi,"Huh? Pragya, are you out of your mind? How can he work for you when he is my ENEMY?"

Pragya, "He is your ENEMY but not mine. So I am fine with him."

Abhi sees the MAN smiling and that made him angry.

Abhi, "Ok Pragya, where is your team then?"

Pragya, "They are at office. From now onwards, he will be here to help me out."

Abhi lets a deep sigh and felt like punching his ENEMY now but he can't do that in front of Pragya.

Abhi then closes his eyes and tries to calm himself.

He then says, "Pragya can I talk to you for a minute? I want to talk to you in private."

Pragya, "No Abhi. He will stay here. If you want we can move away from him and then you can talk to me."

Abhi, "What? Why?"

Pragya, "I can't explain everything to you."

Abhi, "Fine. Let's do like you say."

They then moved away from the MAN while he was standing near the door.

Abhi whispered, "What's this Pragya? How can you be WITH A MAN for work with me?"

Pragya, "What do you mean Abhi? Even my previous team had men."

Abhi, "No... I mean..."

Pragya, "Don't be so narrow minded."

Abhi,"No I am not thinking like that. It was a slip of tongue. I am asking how can you work WITH THIS MAN!"

Pragya, "What's wrong with him?"

Abhi, "Pragya, have you forgotten? He is the same MAN who stole my girlfriend, Heera."

Pragya, "She was never your girlfriend."

Abhi, "Not a serious girlfriend but still I went with her on a date. That makes her as my girlfriend for a short period of time."

Pragya sighed and shook her head in denial.

Abhi was about to say something when Pragya told, "Listen Abhi, now the man who is your enemy is the husband of your girlfriend for a short period of time."

Abhi,"I know Pragya! And he is not a good guy!"

Pragya, "How?"

Abhi, "Like how he stole my short period of time girlfriend and make her as his wife, what if he does the same by stealing my friend and make her as his best friend?"

Pragya, "Huh?"

Abhi,"I am referring to you idiot!"

Pragya, "Oh... Acha... So you're feeling insecured."

Abhi,"No! Not at all. I want to be safe. I want to be alert this time."

Pragya smiles and Abhi asks, "Why are you smiling?"

Pragya, "Don't worry. You will always be my friend and I am always your friend."

Abhi, "I know but what if he impresses you?"

Pragya, "Abhi, please.... He is actually working as my bodyguard. It's Dad's arrangement after the news around us. I can't disobey his orders. You know that."

Abhi,"What? Uncle did this? How can he do like this? Doesn't he know how much I am protective of you?"

Pragya, "Yes he does but..."

Abhi, "But what?"

Pragya remembers her dad's words about Abhi and his attitude towards love and relationship.

Abhi, "Pragya!"

Pragya comes out of her thoughts hearing Abhi's voice.

Pragya, "Well Abhi, I don't know what made Papa to make this arrangement. If you want to know the reason, then ask him directly."

Abhi, "Of course I am going to ask him. Right now itself."

He says and walks out of the cabin although Pragya said he can ask him later.

The Man who was seeing all this smiled and asked, "He likes you right?"

Pragya, "Yes but only as a friend."

Man,"Are you sure?"

Pragya, "Yes."

Man,"Well, what's my name?"

Pragya gave a confused look and was about to say his name when he signaled her not to say.

Man, "You call me by my name once I prove you that Abhi likes you more than as a friend."

Pragya, "But why?"

Man, "Because I can see he likes you more than as a friend."

Pragya asks herself, "Should I trust him or not?"

Man, "Trust me. I will definitely prove it just like how I proved to Heera that Abhi can never love her."

Pragya, "Hmm... But how will you prove it?"

Man, "Call me buddy from now onwards and then slowly you will see it."

Pragya, "Buddy ah?"

Man, "Yes buddy is not any way wrong right?"

Pragya, "No but I... I never call anyone as buddy."

Man,"Come on! It's only till I prove he likes you more than a friend."

Pragya thought for a while before saying yes to him.

Sneek peek to next part,

Abhi, "Pragya, this is too much you call him buddy now but he is not your best friend right?"

Pragya, "It's just buddy Abhi."

Abhi fumes in anger and asks, "Just buddy right? Then why you never call me buddy before?"

Pragya, "I never thought of it."

Abhi, "Why?"

Pragya, "Abhi, can we please focus on work now?"

Abhi, "No Pragya, tell me one good reason why am I not called as buddy!"

Pragya sighs and tells, "Because.... Because...."

Abhi, "Because?"

Pragya, "Because...."

She was thinking for a reason when the man came and said, "Because buddies don't need reasons. Am I right Buddy?"

Pragya reluctantly nods her head as yes.

Abhi, "What do you mean by that?"

Man, "What I mean is there is no need to have reasons to be buddies. It happens naturally to call each other as buddies."

Abhi, "Is it true Pragya? Is it true on what he says?"

Man, "Why are you asking her? I already told na. This is the reason."

Abhi, "You shut up! I will only hear it from Pragya."

Man smirks and Pragya frowns at him for making her to be in this plight.

Abhi, "What's all this? You can't call me naturally as buddy. Why is that so? Is it because I am naughty sometimes?"

Pragya hearing that smiles and Abhi asks, "Why are you smiling?"

Man, "Ya why are you smiling buddy?"

Abhi closes his eyes in frustration of hearing him calling her as buddy.

Pragya, "Abhi...."

Abhi, "I don't want to talk to you. I will call Suresh now. He will talk to you on behalf of me."

He said and walks away leaving Pragya to look at the man in anger.

Thank you for reading!