(A/N: Here you go with a new update. I hope you guys vote and comment. It really makes my day. Love you loads guys and thanks for the amazing response. When I say I love you guys, I really mean it. Thanks.)

Status : Edited

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Someone knocked our main door. My mother opened it and found a couple in their mid-40s, well dressed. They looked like they belonged to upper class in the social hierarchy.

"Umm... Hello Ma'am. Are you the Murthy's?" My parents looked at each other and nodded nervously.

"Hello. We are the trustees of S.P.A.C.E. Academy, Rakesh and Nyonika Malhotra." Nyonika introduced and my parents were a little surprised. Without a second thought, my parents welcomed them warmly after the brief introduction.

"Oh please, come inside. Sorry. I am Nandkishore Murthy and this is my wife, Malini." Appa said as they entered the house. Amma joined her hands in greeting and Nyonika smiled.

"It's nice to meet you both, and this meet is for informal reasons." Rakesh informed and smiled.

"Do have a seat. I'll get something to eat." Appa led them to the couch while Amma went to get something for them. There was a minute of awkward silence.

"So tell me, Mr. Malhotra, what could we do for you?" Appa initiated the talk.

"Umm... Actually, our son, we wanted him to get married. He studies in the same college, final year." Rakesh said and Nyonika wrapped her hand around his arm affectionately. Sometimes, older couples defined goals when they did such things.

"Oh." Appa said in relief. Honestly, he never got a complaint against me, ever and he was scared whether that meeting was because of an issue.

"We own a family business too, but he sings and wants to pursue it." Nyonika added and smiled warmly. She was a very jovial and friendly woman.

"Above all, he loves your daughter, Nandini. This is our son." My parents were quite impressed with their behavior. The Malhotra's had shown them a picture of Manik on their phone. Manik undeniably was handsome.

"We just wanted to talk this out, as responsible parents." They added. Amma came with coffee and biscuits for them.

"Yeah, even Nandu was going to tell us about this last night I suppose." My mother said as she recollected some events from the previous night.

"Oh, that's nice." Appa said and again, looked at them.

"We heard they were in a secret relationship, so we thought we'll keep this matter also confidential from them." Rakesh chuckled playfully and my parents smiled. They were indeed a welcoming family with lots of love to spread.

"Sure. Since you say they love each other, we think it's all the more better, hai na Malini?" Appa suggested and Amma nodded. She sat next to Appa and supported him.

"So if it is okay with the two of you, can we fix the marriage? You can take your time. We're just hoping that both our families, as parents, believe in our children's happiness more than our decisions so what say?"

"Nandini is a smart and a responsible girl. We trust her and believe her decisions will be right. We would be glad to send our daughter to a new, loving family." My parents said.

"So, is it a yes?" My parents agreed and it was pretty surprising at first.

"Honestly, we never thought we'd agree. Our wedding was arranged and we always believed that love will eventually happen, like how we are now." Rakesh and Nyonika said and my parents, too, made their statement.

"We also had an arranged marriage but eventually fell in love." They talked about moments in their lives when they realized how important arranged marriages were. It would've seemed like a wonderful conversation to the outside adult world.

"Okay, so we'll leave now? We will discuss further details sometime soon." Nyonika and Rakesh stood up and bid goodbye with a gentle hug and handshakes.

"Sure thanks. It was nice meeting you." My parents led them outside, after offering them some customary items as a token of appreciation for their time and company.

"Thanks to you too."

"Pleasure is ours." Amma and Appa shut the door after the guests left our compound and smiled at each other.

***

I came home after a long and eventful day. I walked into the house and walked straight into my room. I heard Amma call me but I just hummed to myself as I headed upstairs.

After my conversation with Madhyam in the morning, we didn't speak the whole day. Navya tried talking to him twice but he didn't really respond right.

Somehow, I felt that relationships between friends only breaks them. It was true to a great extent. When a friend loves a friend, the latter can't reject exactly if they accept the feelings and is in a way, bound to accept the proposal too.

Navya's feelings for Madhyam broke my friendship with him. Yes, I loved him, bht Navya was my friend. She never fell in love before and she truly loved him since school-that was what she said. I had to do that, for Navya at least. I never thought I would lose Madhyam. I hadn't lost him exactly, but the bond we shared just broke.

Maddy: Nandini, we need to talk. Please. Upstairs now.

I walked to the terrace. Usually, our terrace moments were filled with joy and spontaneous meetings. Loads of memories were made there. Lately, it was only a place to talk, and talk complicated stuff. Yes, that was it.

"Nandu..." He hugged me as tight as he could as soon as he saw me and I burst out crying. This awkward distance between us was killing me. I hugged him tighter and sobbed into his chest.

"Nandu, I am sorry. I..."

"Shh... Madhyam, I understand. Tum confused the. You didn't know what to say. I understand. Tumhe kuch bolne ki zarurat nahi hai. Hum friends hai na? Best friends hai na?" (Shh... Madhyam, I understand. You were confused. You didn't know what to say. I understand. You don't have to explain anything. We're friends, right? We're best friends, right?) I nodded my head to every word with tears in my eyes. I cupped his face and smiled.

"Nandini, I am in love with you." He confessed and I felt my heart flutter momentarily. I was overwhelmed. A mixture of emotions filled me. On one hand, he loved me which meant my feelings were reciprocated. On the other hand, my best friend loved him and I needed to let go, if I was a good friend.

In the midst of my dilemma, I didn't realize when he cupped my face and claimed my lips softly. I didn't really respond, but I didn't push him away. I accepted it.

There was one person watching all this. Navya. She couldn't bear it. Her love loved me. God knew if love was the right word for any of us after all. She felt heartbroken. She covered her mouth and ran as fast as she could. I hardly realized her presence. She left even before I even knew.

"Madhyam, I love you." I murmured against his lips as we broke apart. He opened his eyes slowly and looked at my face. I was crying, in happiness or pain, I couldn't tell. He smiled.

"This is what I wanted to hear. Now since the truth is out, I hate you. I hate you because you loved me, yet you ditched me for your best friend. I hate you Nandini Murthy. You and I, it's over." He said and walked away indifferently. My heart suddenly felt bombed. I didn't know how to react. I felt betrayed, angry, and deeply hurt. Did he just play with my emotions like that? Was I a toy for him? How could he just walk away?

I immediately dialed Navya's number. She was the only one who could console me or at least hear me out, but she loves Madhyam.

"So what? Voh meri bhi friend hai na?" (So what? She's my friend too, right?) I said to myself and looked at the sky. She rejected the call twice. The next time, it was switched off. Perhaps she was in a bad mood too. I wiped my tears and spoke to Aiyappa, the God I prayed to.

"Aiyappa, I have only one wish. Mere saath chahe jo bhi ho, I just want you to bless both my friends and help them move on in their lives. Please help them Ayyappa. Please." (God, I have only one wish. No matter what happens with me, I just want you to bless both my friends and help them move on in their lives.) I said and cried again. I fell to the floor as I felt helpless. My only support system, my friends, weren't with me. That was when I realized something.

Even the closest of friends could betray,
but family would always stay.

That realization changed my life.

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