Love's Strange Ways - Abhay's Realization.

An imaginary incident between Jo and Abhay in which he realizes his feelings.

"Jo, can you just fetch me the purse please?" He shouted at the top of his voice.

"Coming, Abhay!" She shouted back.

Soon, from the small corridor that led to the main door, a girl of about 24 wearing a blue loose t-shirt and a pink tank top jogged towards him with a wallet and gave it to him.

"Here, Abhay," she said, as she handed him his wallet, with her sweet appealing smile.

'How can anyone say no to this smile?' he thought, but immediately his mind shot back, 'You love her, don't you?'

He hated this question. He found it very hard to answer this question. He handed her the two boxes of pizza, that was delivered then.

"Is she your wife?" asked the delivery boy with geek glasses.

Abhay did not look up, but simply answered, "No!"

"Gf? You guys look so cute together," he asked again, out of curiosity.

"She is my friend," Abhay said as he handed over the money to the excited boy.

"Oh..." the boy sighed as he took the money and walked away.

Abhay closed the door and went in to see Jo, his bestie, sitting on the sofa staring at her iPad. He switched on the television and sat near her.

"Hey, how is this girl, man?" she asked him excitedly.

Abhay knew what exactly she was saying and chose to ignore it.

"Abhay tell, na?" she asked again, tugging at his t-shirt.

"No, Jo. Please," he said, dead serious.

"But why?" she chided.

"You know it, Jo!" he said, not looking at her, his eyes fixed on the television show.

"Come on, Abhay! Don't behave like a child. Shrey didn't feel the way you felt for her. So she said it. What is so wrong in it?" she asked. Her eyes showed that she wanted her old bestie, energetic but shy, caring Abhay.

"There was no fault on her side, Jo. I was stupid. She was just perfect. And me.... Urgh! How could I even dream that she would say yes to me?" he said, cursing himself.

"Oh, please.... Why are you blaming yourself? You are just beyond perfect. I love you!"

He glared at her. 'She loves me?' he thought, confused.

"Oh... oh... arey oh Maharaj.... I meant I love you as a friend yaar," she said, pouting.

"Hmm." He sighed. 'Why did I think that she loves me? And why did one part of my mind wish that she had said 'Yes!'? Does this mean something? Am I in love? WITH HER?! MY BEST FRIEND,' he thought, moreover freaked out.

"Ok, leave all that! Can you drop me home? Now?!" she said, staring at her cellphone.

"Why?" he asked seeing something unusual. She never leaves early.

"Actually I have to pack..." she couldn't complete what she was saying because she understood what a big mistake she had committed by spilling the beans she kept from him. She automatically bit her tongue. Now, she was helpless. She said to him that she had planned for a Goa trip, so that he can get over the refusal of his proposal to Shrey, and she had wanted it to be a surprise.

"Aw, that was so sweet of you!" Abhay said, hugging her. 

He felt special, though he had been to Goa a hundred times. But still he loved it. That time when he hugged her, he felt different. He felt some affection in it. Not of a simple friendship.

He had to finally agree it, which he did not want for a few weeks, since Shrey told him that he actually loved Jo, not her. Then he did not believe it. He thought that Shrey was just finding reasons, just to reject him. But now he started to understand, and he was embarrassed too as Shrey had been the first to realize it. She had just seen him for a few days; she understood his feelings but neither did he nor Jo.

Now, he understood. That he was in love. In love with a girl who had been his friend for the past many years, who he had known the most, who he values more than anything else, his first priority, his best friend, true friend, Jo.

***

This one shot was written by SamairaP.. Congratulations, you have won the third prize! Thanks a lot for taking part in this contest.. You can PM me to get your prize.. :)