The saddest yet the best part of time is it never stops. It stops for no one, no moment stands still. No matter, how much you wish for time to stand still, it doesn't.  Neither it fasten it's pace when you want a moment to go away. No time neither flies away nor it stands still. It moves in it's own accord, uncaring of emotions and plight. It's keeps on moving, it keep on going forward, it keeps on making present-history and future-present. It doesn't care about anything but it's own movement.

It doesn't care about the life lost. It doesn't grieve. It doesn't stops, ever. How many epidemics, pandemics, disasters, destruction and creation it has witnessed? The creation of universe, galaxies, planets, atmosphere, life. When did it actually start and when will it finally stop. No one knows, No one will ever know but the cycle goes on.

Dawn to dusk and Dusk to dawn, days passes, seasons change and years goes by and people forgets. Everything becomes a story from past. A boring History lesson.

And who knows it better than her, a life she once lived had become just a story. A story that leaves ashes and blood on her lips. A story that makes her throat clench and head throb. A story that she wants to remember yet forget. A story she wants to clear away. A clean slate. A slate, she won't ever get in this life. 

So, she knows perfectly well why the discussion of last night, should stay just that. A late night discussion that should never witness the sunshine. A discussion never to be uttered about again. The feelings, the brokenness, the doubts, uncertainties a figure of past to never be uttered in present again. They were someone else then and now, they are what the worlds demands to be.

The happy souls, living and loving themselves and the luxury that their hard work brought them. Right now she is content being a sick grumpy woman- sneezing her guts out- watery eyes and an abdomen killing her. And cursing her best friend to the depths of hell and lamenting over her cruel fate. God, why do women needs to go through the hell called periods every month? And on top of that why did she have to acquire a cold on top of this?

God, she hates her life and she can't even blame anyone else for her condition. Well, she can. Mr. I'm hotter than sun Kundra but again it was her who went in search of him in the middle of night and on top of that had a late night heart to heart under the open cold sky, instead of dragging him back to the warmth of her condo. Stupid her. And now she is suffering, all thanks to her stupidity.

Okay one quick advise from her to everyone in public welfare, "Don't be an idiot and lie in a foggy stadium stargazing in winter scarcely clothed, If you do, you'll sneezing your life out like me" she thought highly annoyed, if only Viaan hadn't gone to the stadium. Stupid people. She is surrounded by stupid people.

And you know what's the worst part of all this is?? The worst part is that certain cricketer didn't catch a cold like her. So, right now she is sitting in his room all gloomy and cursing him. Yups, as his best friend and arranged Fiance, she has all the rights to take out her anger on him. After all, that idiot is reason of her cold.

She was mentally murdering him when he announced his presence in his own room, dramatically placing the soup in front of her. Aaina who was sitting with a blanket wrapped around her like a cocoon. Singing happily, "Here comes, Viaan special hot soup for your cold" 

And as much as she was happy to see him back in his chirpy mood. She was kind of hating the whole world right now. She wanted everyone to disappear and even the slightest things were annoying her too much. So without any qualms she stated grumpily: "I still hate you btw," 

Her hairs were totally, undoubtedly looking like a birds nest, her nose is running uncontrollably and the skin in that area is all sore and red, her body is aching badly and this guy is roaming around her perfectly happy, humming songs looking all hot and sexy.

God, was he too hot for the wintry chilly winds too???????

"Hahahaha, yes Aaina baby...I'm too much hot for the wintry winds too" And there he goes laughing at her all amused and why the hell is she thinking out loud?This cold is messing up her mind. It's the only valid reason for her condition.

"I don't wanna talk to you, go away" Aaina huffed, why was she surrounded with such mean people??

"You know this is my room, right??" Viaan asked her flabbergasted while personally he thought she looked all cute in her this grumpy mood.

"Yes and I've kind of hijacked it. So, get lost" Aaina tried to shoo him away. But Viaan just laughed as he settled himself happily beside her on the bed merrily stating he was fine there. Irritating her more.

"Isn't the soup yum, dear??"Viaan teased Aaina watching her slurp the soup happily. Aaina snarled annoyed glaring at him heatedly. Stupid, irritating, people. Viaan grinned all too innocently at her direction as he spoke all too cheerily. 

"Alright Sweetheart, You can thank me later btw," Viaan cheeked, making himself comfortable beside her and fetching out his phone for time-pass. She snatched away his phone from him immediately. The breakdown wasn't mentioned or talked about didn't mean it was forgotten. So, she kept the awful world of social networking away from him. Giving her half-finished soup bowl to him to keep aside. She rested her head on his shoulder and asked him to tell her a story almost pitifully. 

Complying her wish rather grumpily. Viaan started telling her about a funny incident that happened on the field with him. The way Ro and he collided while trying to catch the ball and different player's reaction to that incident. Specially Savvy, he still now teases them mercilessly on that incident. She smiled hearing about their antics. Why didn't she had even a little problem in believing that Savvy stole Viaan's clothes as prank?

Her heart broken gang. And to think about it, where are the other non-official permanent resident of this house? They should be here by now. Savvy badgering them like always, Ro trying to deal with all of them patiently and calmly and Ranvi looking at them with that highly amused look of his. Like he is their guardian angel looking over them? Plus, Ranvi was also supposed to bring her paperwork from office. The work she has to skip because of a certain cricketer.

Curious, she asked Viaan about the missing members of their little family. Her chosen family. For whom the little things do matter.

"They're about to reach here. Savvy said something with Khushi massi come up. And even now you're thinking about work. What are you made up of girl? Thousand of girls dream about this moment you're getting with me and you're thinking about work?" Viaan questioned her in a wounded tone, teasing and she rolled her eyes at his dramatics. He really should have tried his luck in acting.

"Well, those thousand girl doesn't have to deal with you daily too." She retorted back rolling her eyes as the doorbell rang announcing the arrival of their dear friends.

She watched as Viaan walked out of their room. No doubt to let them in and she could hear the ruckus they created all too clearly. All of them speaking at the same time, making a rather disturbing symphony of words and curses. And as the sounds neared, her mind automatically started playing a background music to them. She spotted Savvy first followed by Ro as Viaan and Ranvit laughed over something in the back and she didn't know why the background music changed from "Brothers" to "Womanizer" in her mind.

"Womanizer" played in her mind merrily as she watched the boys walking towards her looking like they just got out of a fashion magazine.. Ro with his tousled hair white sweat-shirt and washed over jeans, Savvy with his perfectly gelled french crop hairstyle, Viaan's short comb over fade hairstyle and Ranvit with his quiff hairstyle.

And maybe, just maybe the reason behind the sudden buzzing of this song in her mind is the reason of the number of scandalous videos she has subsided and prevented. The viral video of Viaan and that Tollywood actress kissing she got removed from the internet last year is still fresh in her mind and she doesn't even want to think of the number of the scandalous statements, photos and videos of these three she has managed and led the PR team run themselves crazy trying to maintain their perfectly good images.

While she was thinking about this men and their legendary escapades. The men had entered the room and made themselves perfectly at home with Savvy bouncing on her bed and asking "Hey, partner, Kal raat essa kya Kiya tha tune ( What did you do last night)?" 

"I searched for Viaan in Feroz Kotla at 2 am and yeah, of course, drank tea made by him" she drawled out swatting away Savvy's hand trying to touch her forehead with a petulant glare.

"I warned you, didn't I, his teas are very hazardous for health," Savvy stated totally impassively, mean people.

Ro scooted him to one side and settled beside him on the bed and also stopped Savvy's  mad hopping on the bed. She just sulked glaring at him. Savvy chuckled as he made himself more comfortable on the bed, snatching a pillow from Ro. Did she ever mention, she is surrounded by ultra mean people?

"Well, obviously she'll gain a fever after meeting Viaan's friends in Feroz Kotla at the hour of the wolf," Rohan said, shrugging helplessly at her direction. Successfully, drawing the boys attention to him. 

"Which friends?" Both Savvy and Ranvit asked at the same time, highly curious. Though, she doubted Ranvi was just playing around already aware of what happened in the stadium with his little birds being there and all.

"The Ghosts of Kotla are Viaan's Bestest friends and guides, Don't you know?" Rohan deadpanned, there wasn't a single thing giving away whether he really believed that or was playing them on? While Ro, Ranvi and Savvy bickered on the presence and friendship of these ghosts. She rolled her eyes at them.

"And If all of you have forgotten I'm still here and Savvy, see if you get even a drop of tea in my place anymore," Viaan said crossly, putting an end to the bickering of his friends. Ro and Ranvi had the decency to look a little sheepish. Savvy just ignored his friend all together and looked at her with a gaze that screamed trouble.

"You know, what's the best medicine of cold?" Savvy asked her a little too chirpily for anyone's else liking.

"What?"

"A little alcohol and the cold flies away," Savvy sang in a sing-song voice and Aaina totally perked up hearing this. Ah, the good old wine addiction. She'll make do with just beer too. But the faces of the other guys around her shattered her hope quite ruthlessly.

"No, absolutely not" Viaan dismissed the idea immediately

"But," Aaina started only to be cut off by Ranvit.

"Not at all, Anu, Viaan is right," the till now silent Ranvi said seriously cutting off Aaina's any further protests.

Both Aaina and Savvy pouted together.

Viaan and Ro sighed drunk Aaina is a cute disaster and a drunk Savvy is a typhoon. They don't want to deal with anytime soon.

"You know the staff was really breathing quite easily in office today. Relaxed you weren't there" Ranvi informed her laughing though he pitied her condition a little. After all, she is his little sister. Aaina just scowled at his direction muttering "how is that my fault??"

"Well, if you kind of didn't fire your secretaries one after one just in a week and didn't give people death glares. They might not be so happy today. You know they were like poor Ranvi sir, how does he bear with that cold hearted witch all day?" And now Ranvi was definitely laughing, amused by the gossip he heard at work.

"Only if they knew who the poor one is among us," Aaina said tsking, as she rolled her eyes.

How can people consider a devil as an innocent being?? So, unfair.

"Btw what happened in work? you said you were bringing files" Aaina asked Ranvi noticing he was without any paperwork

"Well, dear Anu I've dealt with it all. You're sick so take rest today. I'm not that heartless you know," And now this guy is winking at her teasingly. Why do she bears with them anyway? She thought grumpily watching them being totally amused by her expressions?

"Yeah, you should sleep partner. I know this idiot made you stay awake whole night but we will let you sleep now." Savvy announced cheerfully, winking at her direction as Ro and Ranvi both looked at each other and then slapped him upside down.

"yeah, you should rest Princess. We will make sure Viaan doesn't create any new scandal while you're resting." Ro told Aaina in a promising tone as he knows what troubled her the most. And she could hear the unsaid words quite well. They will make sure he doesn't go brooding again.

Anya winked at him while her phone buzzed  with notifications. Groaning, she checked the recent message with wide eyes and asked Viaan to turn on the idiot box and put on the news with a long-suffering look.

And as predicted all the news channel were showing the same breaking news. Viaan Kundra spotted with a girl in stadium late in the night. Is the stadium the perfect dating place for VK? Who is the mysterious girl with him? We will unleash this mystery for you soon.

Almost everyone present in the room groaned simultaneously.

"RO, did you really need to mention scandal now?" Anya asked Ro with a long-suffering sigh as Ro looked at her with an equal amount of sheepishness and gleefulness.

"Ro, couldn't you say something wonderful like Savvy getting the national crush title or Viaan allowing Savvy to ride his precious Ferrari, I'm sure it would have come true this moment." Savvy whined wistfully making everyone around him laugh out loud as they thought about Viaan allowing anyone else to ever lay even a finger on his precious car.

They were still imagining the possibility of that ever happening when the news anchor announced another glam news. Omisha Oberoi singing in the launch of new spring-line clothes of Anjali brand and walking on the ramp with Ornov. Viaan took the remote to change the channel immediately but Aaina stopped him from changing the channel. She watched as a short clip of Ornov and Omisha walking on the ramp. Omisha dresses in the latest design of Anjali.

Once upon a time, it was her dream to wear his design. She was the one who motivated him to choose designing as his career. She was his model and he was her muse.

The face she painted the most and the face that shred her heart apart brutally. When he discarded her acting as if he wasn't her classmate from boarding school. Acting like he wasn't even acquainted with her. It had hurt. She cried a lot.

And she never thought their will be a day, a day his mere appearance won't make her want to bawl her eyes out. His mere appearance won't make her heart flutter and stomach roll with anticipation. A day where the throbbing ache of her heart being split apart will dull to just an ache. An ache she can ignore. Maybe she has really moved on now. Maybe her heart needed 11 years of complete detachment to forget 12 years of school love.

The deafening silence continued even when the news changed and the anchor moved forward on some other juicy gossipy news.

"Well, she is hot to be truthful" Savvy commented offhandedly 

"Savvy" while the other boys screamed totally exasperated at the same time.

"What, she is hot I mean just look at her" Savvy said as if it was self-explanatory, the boys looked at him with various degrees of exasperation.

"Did you really need to say that" Ranvi's expression screamed as he looked at Savvy.

Ro was face palming mumbling "Iska kuch nhi ho skta (nothing can be done with him)"

Viaan's expression was a perfect mixture of Ranvi and Ro while Savvy looked perfectly unaware of the boys plight. Aaina just giggled at Savvy's words totally dissipating the awkward atmosphere around them.

"Can we watch a movie? I'm bored anyway" Aaina asked the boys trying to not think much about the matter. The ache was dull but not non-existent.

"Sure," Viaan agreed readily even when he kind of hated watching movies. The guys surfed though Netflix deciding on which movie to watch. Aaina didn't have any suggestions to give as her school life had left her greatly unaware and uneducated on the subject of pop-culture around her. They couldn't watch a movie in one hour TV time, now could they?

After a rather heated discussion, the boys settled for Ansh's latest horror movie. Well, it was kind of compulsory for them to watch Ansh's movie. Their best-friend and Vi's cousin brother. The only person's movie Viaan watches as otherwise Ansh will make him deaf whining. They are Viaan's words not hers. So, no need to blame her.

The boys made themselves comfortable around her on the bed. Savvy snatching the other half of her blanket to hide behind when the ghosts suddenly appears on the screen. Viaan, Ranvi and Ro looked all ready to scare him more while she pondered whether to accompany Savvy in screaming or hiding? She settled for snuggling in Viaan comfortably and watching the movie. What's a better excuse for hugging someone than a horror movie?

_to be continued_