Chapter 18

Moment of togetherness is what I would ponder throughout my life…

“What is this?”

A gift you jerk?” I replied hitting him and taking a chance to move my hands around his silky soft hair.

“Oh!!! I thought it a new version of a pack of tampons.” He said flipping the box in his hands.

“You wish. Why don’t you open it you moron?” I said resisting my urge to hit him again.

He had gunned guards at the door. Assaulting him was not safe. I chuckled to myself.

 "Oh it is lovely." he said as he unwrapped it to see a blue and silver windshrime crinkling as he untangled it. There was a girl and a boy sitting on the swing in the centre surrounded with jingling bells of silver and hollow pipes of shining blue. The pipes had further holes on it randomly so that when light passes trough it, it divides and flows reflecting balls of light on the floor. It could be hung by a hook which was attached with a circular frame. BESTFRIENDS was embossed there. There were two another rings hanging on which Joshan could stick his and some one else's picture.

He extended and hung it near the couch where one of the lamps was hung. He removed the lamp to place it on a side table, not spoiling the rhytmn of the interior and looking beautiful at the same

“beautiful” he murmured hugging me tightly.

I hummed to his words feeling extremely comfortable in his embrace.

“nay something is missing.” He said as he looked dejectedly at the hanging ringlets.

“What?” I asked confused.

“Pictures. The pictures are missing.” He said.

“So whose pictures would you like other than yours?” I asked.

“Hmm let me think. Maybe either of my girlfriends.” He gave a thinking pose.

“Moron!!!! No whore on my gift” I shouted “how about Jennifer Lawrence?” I suggested.

“Naaaay” he rejected and pulled ou his mobile to click a picture “Yours” he said smiling.

“No!” I shouted. I wasn’t confident about my close up pictures. "So let me click a picture of “yours. Only my bestie deserves to be in the pic besides me” saying so he focused his mobile camera on my face taking an extreme close up picture of mine which I was very bad at. I have a feeling that my close up pictures don't come out that good so I placed my palm on the screen of his mobile.

But the blush was plastered on my face because of his sweet words.

When he continued focusing his mobile on my face “No Josh please I look horrible in my close up pics” I retorted.

"Who cares' I would laugh at it after some time if it is funny or ugly" he started running and I followed him to block his screen so that he cannot take the picture.

Soon we were  running after each other till he dropped landed on the couch and I smashed over him landing on top of him our bodies pressed to each other and faces inches apart. We could listen to each others fastened heartbeats and I could  smell his minty breaths and his after shave cologne as we were breathing heavily due to our sprint. We were kind of caught in the moment when his intercom buzzed and we came out of our dizzy mode. He carefully and decently lifted me above from him. I felt so flushed that I kept mum.

I could hear his murmur but my heart was beating so loudly that i couldn't grasp a bit of it. "Come we are going to Jules" Joshan said as he pulled me from my wrist."

"But you never wanted to go " I said.

Oh my god what did I do? Did he get wrong signal or shall I apologise. I want to be his friend. His friendship was way too precious for me and I ruined it.

"Come Pearly its 8 and if you hurry, we can reach by 8:30. It’s not far away.” He pulled me to drag me out to leave for Jule’s.

"Wait joshan" Out of courage I made eye contact with him "You did not want to go then?"

"See Pearly I know you were quite excited to meet Stacie and Cairo and I cannot take that from you. We spent an hour together and also it was a deal by Stacie to bring you to the party if she shared which two places would you be when you were upset. He was back to his normal cool self.

”Did she tell you the other place too?” I asked not wanting to share that place with him.

“Not needed to know. I found you at the first one.” He said proud of tracing me from the library.

I took a deep breath.

‘Now get ready” he commanded.

“Ready?’ I asked.

He is nuts, an official one.

“I am not dressed for the big bash and am not going. Please drop me home.” I said.

"That is taken care off"  he said as he led me to one of the dressing rooms of the huge mansion.

There was a huge dressing table with a wall sized mirror like the one from Snowwhite fairy tale diaries and neccessary make up stuff like lipgloss, mascara and few more stuff that I rarely use.

A pretty sky blue dress hanging on the standing hanger which was ankle length from front and a little longer from behind. It was sleeveless with sparklers starting from left shoulder and ending to the waist.

“Stunning” was the word that escaped my mouth. wow this boy has a choice!!!

“Do you like t?’ he asked as it was the most important answer he was waiting for.

“Its gorgeous” I said beaming as I move my hands around the soft fabric of the dress.

“But you shouldn’t have…..” I said but he stopped me mid sentence.

“Arent you delighted?” he asked looking at me intently.

“Yeah I am delighted . my best friend is a multi millionaire.” I teased.

“I do not like wher the conversation is going.” He said sternly irritated.

“Okay I am sorry.” I said. Probably this was the reason he didn’t like to get his friends hoem. They’d drool over his economical status and with Deren this was not a problem. I understood why he kept his home elusive from his friends.

“But when did you get this dress?” I asked a I remembered seeing it at the display. I liked it so much rhat I was almost drooling over it.

“Hot dog break… remember” he said smirking.

‘You are such a liar.” I nodded my head disbelievingly. Never would I have thought that he took so much time because he was getting a dress for me.

I got dressed quickly teaming up with a pair of stilettos that he arranged for me. Bless his thoughtfulness.

I put on only a mascara and a bit of lipgloss. Half the products in the dresser I did not know how to use..

I felt underdressed when I saw an extremely good looking guy in his black tux and gelled hair centered most of them and flat from both the sides. He’s going to have girls all over him. I thought to myself.

“Lets leave pear….” And he stopped as he stared at me, his mouth hanging open.

 I stepped out of the changing room feeling nervous all of a sudden as I bit my lower lip.

“You look beautiful” he murmured and added “I definitely have a good choice with girls” he smirked.

“was that a compliment?” I asked uncomfortably conscious.

“It indeed is.” He said . I could see honesty in his eyes.

I blushed.

“You too are going to give tough time to your girls” I daid working on his collar which was straight and I flattened it giving it a perfect look.

He gave me his hand which I took walking elegantly with the most handsome man to the friendship day bash.

After we were seated in his car I remembered something and shouted "my friendship bands"

"What??" he asked shocked

"Friendship bands that you tie on friendship day" I explained tying an imaginary band on my wrist.

"Where do we get it now?"

"My home. I bought them especially for today. Pleassseeeeeeeeeee." i pouted my lips giving a kindergarten kid face that he couldn't resist

So like a good bestie he drove to my home before heading to Jules. He's such a sweetheart and pampers me so much.

We spent almost an hour together. An hour of fun An hour of intimacy An hour of love An hour of togetherness An hour with best of a friend And i treasure every inch and ell Of a second spent For there's nothing better Than a true friend All the worldly pleasures  All the riches Are nothing but miniscule when simply being together is so content. Thanks to all my friends You being on my side World never ends. 

We reached the venue at 9:30. The party was at full swing as we could hear the loud music even at a distance before the car park. The party was organised at Jules basement parking which was big enough for six vehicles.

Although it was a big place it was jam packed as he had invited a lot of friends. The renowned event manager, his sister who would only work for celebrities and Hollywood buddies had really   justified her name as the place was changed into a fantasy land. FRIENDS ARE WE was written in shimmering bold letters and decorated with silver and purple balloons. All the walls were also covered with glittery silver paper and teamed up with balloons of purple. There were balls of light above at the ceiling with crystals hanging giving a beautiful effect. There were dim lights added with the blinking disco ones and the music system was one among the best.

The party jockey was a very young pretty girl in her early twenties. She was full of life and dancing and jumping to the beats of the music. She introduced herself as Kattie. She did have the power to pull the crowd. Guys actually were not a problem as her beautiful occean blue eyes with golden locks falling on her shoulders and hour glass figure which looked perfect with her tight fit jeans and tank top with silver short shrug over it accentuating her beauty. So was her voice pretty enough to demand attention.

We greeted each other and tied bands to each other too. I had got personalized friendship bands for all my close friends including Jules and Kin too.

Jules and kin seemed to be very much into each other. I could see Jules was not able to keep his eyes off Kin who looked very pretty in he short red middie.

We danced till we were stopped by Kattie who had some other plans for the evening. She had organised her set of games to be played to add some fun. This being something different we all supported her enthusiastically. "Listen friends we are all in the naughtiest mood so is the party going to get naughty as it progresses and so are the games that would start with fun and get naughtier with the evening."

Everybody started whistling and shouting swaying with the thrills of the party.

"So friends today being friendship day let us all stand in pairs for the first game of the evening. “Joining hands and heart.”

Every pair is supposed to join hands holding a heart balloon and dance with the beats. The couple loosing, bursting or dropping the balloon looses. The last pair surviving wins."

The music started with Shots by Lmfoa and ended with Noah and Jacquline as winners. "Well guys i appreciate the spirits. keep up with your enthu in the next game in which one partner has to blindfold and find the other one dancing in the crowd. play honest no helpings please." The party was reaching new perks.

Jules won with Kin, credit given to being tallest and easy to be located. I give the entire credit to their love which both of them are ignorant but is visible in their eyes.

Next game was  Questionnaire in which friends or pairs were asked questions to check their compatibility. This game was won by me and Joshan with 10 on 10 as we knew each other better than ourselves.

"Last but not least is the naughtiest game" exclaimed Kattie to which all wooed.

"You guys are rocking. I am sure you are going to love it. This is a game of ball dance. Every girl and boy is gonna dance in four step ball and change their partner. When the music stops they would stick to their partner. If you get the same partner in second round, you get a peck. Then there is third round of dance and if your dance ends with same partner you get a kiss.

"So you guys ready?" Kattie asked smirking. She knew this was naughty.

There were lots of ooohs and aaahs echoing throughout the hall.

"So to begin with don't pick same partners. Select random ones and form a circle." Kattie instructed and the enthusiastic crowd followed the instructions. They were having fun of their lifetime.

The music began and I got Joshan as my first partner. He was my second partner too and he quickly pecked me.

Everybody was so thrilled and excited that nobody noticed.

 However in the third round I mentally prayed not to get Joshan as my partner. I had never kissed or never been kissed by anybody and to kiss your best friend was a little too odd. But destiny had something else stored for me as the final words of the number Heartbeat feel your heartbeat. I felt my heartbeats fasten as I saw a smirking Joshan standing in front of me.

I was scared. I was nervous. I was not ready. I looked into his deep brown eyes pleadingly. He gave me an "I understand" gesture and slightly pecked on my forehead. He was aware that I haven't been kissed by anyone.

Everybody felt this was only our second encounter and also we already had a winner. Deren and Essme were lost kissing that we all booed at them and they came back to their senses blushing  crimson red.