MAANYA POV

I woke up with a dull thudding in my head, I slowly rubbed my head to release some pain, but it isn't working.

I can smell Arhaan's scent on the pillow beside me and all the happenings of Yesterday came rushing back.

"Oh, God! What did I do?" I mumble to myself and instantly retrieved my phone from the bedside table to see it is around noon presently and then checked if I got a usual morning text from Arhaan or not.

I felt disappointment ripple through me when there was no text from Arhaan.

"It was good while it lasted," I whispered to myself, and a lone tear trickle down my face, Which I instantly wiped off.

"No Maanya, Don't cry, you always knew this was going to happen, you can't blame the guy. Just be thankful that he showed you that you deserve to be loved. He made you a woman with confidence and self-worth." I announce to make myself understand.

Honestly, It hurts a lot. Seeing the man you love leaving, it isn't his fault that my past is so shady. He deserves a woman who isn't tainted or broken. And for sure it isn't me.

I took a deep breath and decided to face my friends.

I stepped outside my door to see afternoon light brightening Aditi's face while she is watching television, Paakhi was nowhere to be seen but the sound of utensils rattling indicated her presence in Kitchen.

I walked inside the Kitchen to see her cleaning dishes.
I loudly stepped past her to grab a glass and gain her attention, but she didn't look up.

After drinking a sip of water I loudly put the glass down but still no reaction from her.

I even fake coughed but no, nothing, she's mad at me.
Then only I see Adi walking in, she saw me leaning on the counter and Paakhi cleaning dishes.

"Umm...Maanu? How are you?" She asks me.

"I'm fine just a little headache," I replied and rubbed my head.

"Have something then I'll get you medicine." She said and walked off.

Have something? What something? There is nothing on the counter and the only one who can cook other than me is angry with me.

"Are you mad at me?" I inquire her.
No reply, "Paakhi please."
I begged.

She turns towards me and for the first time, I saw her looking at me with disappointment and pain.
I'm taken aback by its intensity, "What do you want me to say Maanya?" She inquires dejectedly.

Her Calling me Maanya and not Maanu itself indicates her anguish.

"Something, Anything, I want to know that you are still here." I croaked out. Afraid to lose one more person from my life.

"I'm here. Now if you'll please excuse me." She said and moved aside to walk off.

Before she could leave the kitchen, I voiced out something I was always afraid of, I prayed daily that this day should never come, but here it is.
"I knew  a day will come when you'll be aggravated by my presence."

"Really? You think I'm aggravated by your presence! No Maanya, No, I'm disappointed in myself that I never noticed that you were suffering, I'm asking myself again and again that why didn't you call me when you were condoning ." She said whimpering.

"Oh God, Paakhi, I don't remember what happened, it is just one moment I was okay, and then instantly I started remembering my past," I confessed honestly.

"But why that cliff and not home?" She asks curiously.

"I don't know, I was feeling overwhelmed and the only place I thought about was that cliff where I went with Arhaan," I answer remembering the feeling of hope when I thought about that cliff. My and Arhaan's 'getaway'.

"We were worried Maanu. Aditi and I looked everywhere for you. We thought maybe he's back or something." She said walking towards me and we hugged.

Thinking about that Man from my past doesn't hurt as much as it uses to. Maybe because I acknowledged my past and now moving on. But the reason for my acceptance is not with me anymore...

"Hey, Why wasn't I invited for a group hug?" Aditi said hopping on us. Her impact caused us to lose balance and in one second we are on the floor laughing and grunting in pain.

"Adiiii, that hurts," Paakhi said from her position on the floor near the fridge.
"Serves you right for Hugging without me." She replies while squatting on the floor.

I couldn't help and smile, knowing that whatever happens in life, I always have my best friends with me.

"Are you hungry?"

I look up to see Paakhi dusting off her clothes and asking me.

"Ya, In fact, I'm starving," I reply while standing up.

"Okay then, you go change, till then I'll whip you something." She said and pushed me out of the kitchen.

"Why are you kicking me out?" I yell out.

"Because we are getting late," Aditi replies from her position on the sofa.

" late for what? Where are you guys going?" I ask her.

I waited for her reply, but she's so engrossed in the television that she is avoiding me. So I did the only thing possible. I walked towards the television and stood in front of it.

"You bitch! They were about to kiss..." Aditi shrieked and stroll towards me.

"You can't ignore me," I said in triumph.

"I didn't ignore you, I just stall
You for a minute, I was waiting for them to kiss." She wailed like a kid.

"Whatever, now answer my question," I ask her again.

"Because we are going to the clinic." She said wearily.

"You were not supposed to tell her. " Paakhi shouted from the kitchen.

"She's irritating me, I had to." Aditi fired back.

"Hey, firstly, I'm not irritating you, and secondly, I'm fine, so I'm not going to the clinic," I announce.

"I agree, she's back to her normal irritating self, So why waste money?" Aditi replies.

I hit her shoulder and she hits me back. I'm about to throw a pillow at her when Paakhi walks out of the kitchen with a spatula in her hand and yells "Stop before I hit you both with this hot spatula."

Both of us stepped back and said sorry.

"Maanu it's just a routine checkup. And Aditi you shut up before I ask you to clean your cupboard." She scolds Aditi.

Yea, I know it sounds like our mom is shouting at us. But Paakhi is someone in this house who both Aditi and I respect from the bottom of our hearts.
She is a real definition of a best friend because a best friend is someone who will love you like your mother, protect you like your father, speak to you like a sister and argue with you like a brother.

"Now both of you go get ready." She said and walked back inside the kitchen.

I walked into my room to grab a fresh pair of clothes.

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"Shh...Everything will be okay!" Paakhi says when she notices my labored breathing and twitching hands.

I nodded my head at her but deep inside I'm afraid to be here. These off-white walls with health posters everywhere remind me of my days here. I was a mess at that time. Flinching on mere footsteps.

I have come a long way And now I can't let my past destroy me.

"Ms. Gill, you are next. " The assistant announced from her seat behind the reception desk.

I breathed in and walked towards Dr. Sinha's cabin.

I knocked on his door and walked inside to see the familiar cabin and the familiar beaming face of the Doctor.

"Maanya Dear, good to see you." he cheered.

Seeing his smile, I returned his enthusiastic greeting.

"How are you feeling?" He asks switching to his doctor mode instantly.

"I'm fine, just a little headache," I confess.

"Hmm...it might be due to your brain overworking."
He said and noted something in his pad.

"Maanya I want you to be honest with me. Okay?" He asks inquisitively.

I nodded my head and waited for his questions. His questions are always harsh and make me recall my past.

"But before that let me call Paakhi in. I want you both to confide in each other. And last time you told me She's the only person you trust." He said and called his assistant.

After a few seconds Paakhi walked in and sat beside me.

"So Maanya, tell me what made you recall your past to the extent that you lost control."

"I-I don't know..." I don't know what happened yesterday.

"Is there something that has been bothering you for a long time?" He asks again.

I think but him asking these questions is making me dizzy.

"I-I" nothing is coming out of my mouth except a high pitch wail.

Instantly Paakhi held my hand and squeezed it.

"I know the answer to that question," Paakhi announces.

Dr.Sinha nodded his head for her to elaborate.
"From the last few weeks, she's been thinking about her relationship. She was contradicting her feelings and beliefs," she explained.

Dr.Sinha looked towards me to continue.
"I was afraid to tell him about my past. I didn't want him to leave me. I was contemplating my thoughts every second of every minute." I confessed.

I was afraid to tell Arhaan everything about my past. I didn't want him to leave me but now my worst nightmare has turned into reality. He left me.

"So you were worried about telling Arhaan about your past and therefore that triggered your brain to remember those instances from the past..."
Did he mention Arhaan? But I never told him about his name.

I looked towards Paakhi to see her eyes wide and a look of panic on her face. Did she inform him about Arhaan?

"How do you know Aarhaan?" I inquire.

"I met him yesterday, He was present at your apartment." Dr. Sinha replied. I heard a sigh from beside me and glance to see Paakhi heaving a sigh of relief.

I'm about to question her when the door to the Cabin opened and in walked his assistant.

"Sir, there is a call for you, it seems urgent." Dr.Sinha excuses himself, I look towards Paakhi and ask "okay, what is it? "

"Huh?" She asks dumbly.
"I know something is bothering you...So let me know what it is." I ask adamantly.

The best or the worst thing about Paakhi is that she can't lie. You can instantly know when she's lying.

"ArhaanisDr.Sinha'sNephew."
She rambled.

"Slow down miss bolt."
I joked and asked her to repeat.

"Arhaan is Dr.Sinha's Nephew"
I'm stunned, how can this be possible.
Now I know why Arhaan is not talking to me anymore.

"Sorry girls, Let's continue," Dr.Sinha announces and takes his seat.

"What did you tell him?" I ask seething.

"Tell whom?" He asks confused.

"Arhaan, What did you tell him that he left me." I bombard angrily.

"Maanu..."
I yank my hand out of her hand and stood straight.

"Maanya, I'm a doctor, I took an oath to never reveal our confidential talks." He replies calmly.

"Oh really, Now I know why you insisted on sitting through my sessions," I growled.

"I only insisted on sitting through your sessions because of my friend Abhay, he was scared to death about you and wanted me to monitor your condition. Otherwise, I'm a practitioner, I have no reason to sit in your therapy session. "He replied in his same calm voice.

" Then Why did he left me? He said he won't judge me by my past but now, he's nowhere. You must have told him about my attacks and insecurities and he thought that I'm much of baggage than a companion."
I voiced out.

But next second I'm Yanked back and a stinging section is left on my left cheek.
I'm stunned. I glance towards Paakhi to see her crying.

"This ain't you. Bring back my Maanu, she would never talk to someone like this.
But look at you, You are blaming him for something that we asked him to do.
Maanu, if Arhaan doesn't want you then it's not because of you, he's a coward to run away. You have changed, right? Nobody decides your life from no one except you. "
Her words hit me like a bullet. She's right. I decide my life, not my past. Arhaan was a sweet and beautiful part of my life. He taught me to love myself and for that, I will always be thankful to him. But How I behaved a few minutes back was shocking. I'm very soft-spoken and shouting at someone like this is not me. I have to change but for the better not the worst.

"Dr. Sinha...please forgive me. I'm sorry for my behavior and thank you for being there for me." I sincerely apologize.

"No worries dear, Now I know why you trust her so much." He said implying towards Paakhi.

I smiled knowing my best friend is always there to support and Scold me.

After talking about my diet and all, we stood up to leave when Dr.Sinha asked Paakhi to stay back.

I walked outside towards the waiting area where we have left Aditi to see her flirting with a junior Doctor. They are both adorning a flirty smile and their eyes are checking each other out.

We left her for a few minutes and she's flirting.

Typical Aditi behavior.

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PAAKHI POV

"I asked you to stay back because I'm confused." He says scrutinized.

"About What?" I ask knowing well what he's about to ask.

"Yesterday, Arhaan was asking Abhay to officially date Maanya. Then what made him break up with her. Because as much as I know, Arhaan is not a coward you just mentioned him to be." He says accusing me.

"Actually, Yesterday I asked Arhaan to not talk to Maanya for a few days," I answer.

"Why?"  He is now contemplating if I'm mad or not.

"Because I don't want Maanu to become dependent on Arhaan.
Right now she's evolving. But if Arhaan stays in her life right now, she'll again become the damsel in distress.
But I want her to know that She is her strength. She doesn't need anybody. We are their dor her but on her own she's self-sufficient." I say remembering my talk yesterday with Arhaan and how angry he was with me but then too understood my reasoning behind it. I just want Maanu to become independent, she is strong but she needs to know it.

"Nice idea, I'm very happy that Maanu got someone like you to support her. This kinda friendship is hard to find in today's life." He says proudly.

"They are the only ones I have," I said and walked out of his cabin.

Walking towards the reception desk for our payment, I see Maanya looking at a magazine with tears in her eyes. I quickly paid our fees and walked towards her.

"Hey, what happened?" I asked gazing at the page of the magazine.

"I just miss him." She said still looking at the magazine where the Singh Family is illustrated.
The image is from their Janmashtami celebration.

I take it from her hand and tug her to stand.
"We don't need men in our lives," I declare.

"You can't say that for her," Maanu said indicating towards the end of the corridor.
I look where she pointed to see Aditi flirting with a young guy in a medical Coat.

"Ya except her." We both said laughing together.

________________

After waiting for Adi to finish her talk with that Doctor. We left to go have some fun.

"So let's go to a club?" Aditi suggested.

"Club in the afternoon?" Maanya asks.

Aditi just shrugs and adds "you were the one who said let's do something crazy. So I suggest we buy new dresses and go to a club."

"This is shit crazy. And I don't know if I want to go to that place. " Maanu whispered uncertainly.

"Me too" I interject.

"Bro, Who's craziest here?" She asks walking in the opposite direction of where we are supposed to travel.

"You obviously" both Maanu and I declared openly.

"That's an honor" Adi bowed Dramatically, Gaining glances from pedestrians around us.

"So let me take the charge of today. No questions asked!" She offers.

"Why am I doing this crazy stuff?" I ask confuse.

"Because we do everything together." This time they both said simultaneously.

"I don't like this at all. " I mutter to myself entering the Shopping complex with Adi in the lead.

"So girls, welcome to my workplace. " Adi announce entering a very posh boutique. Branded Clothes Aligned on everywhere.

I look around with big eyes as if I have entered an apocalypse with clothes all around.

"Aditi? I thought it is your off today." A lady with pinned grey hair and round glasses asks Aditi.

"Mrs. Moore, I'm here to do some shopping. And I was just telling girls how sweet and considerate Mrs.Moore is. She's the world's best boss." Adi rambles.

" Okay girl, You don't have to sweet talk. Just go to the backroom." Mrs. Moore laughed.

Aditi squealed and yanked us to the backroom.

"Okay girls wait here I'll grab your dresses," she announced and got lost in a heap of clothes.

"Why did you agree with her organizing this so-called party? You know she will make us look like..." I whine, scare of what Aditi will choose for me.

"Girls!!!!!! I found the perfect outfit for us." Aditi squealed from somewhere.

"Oh no!" Is the first thing I uttered when I saw what she is holding.

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Aditi's PoV

The music blasting from the building in front of us and uncertainty on girls' faces is making this a more entertaining experience for me.
"Once again! Why are we wearing these glittery clothes? And where are we?" Maanya groans, I ignore her question and peek at Paakhi and smile in triumph because she's wearing something she would never do, she is donning a short and cute black skirt with the neon tight top and net sleeves jacket.

Whereas Maanu is slaying in her jumpsuit but her broody expression is making it spoiled.

I, ladies and gentlemen as always 'm looking like Fire in my black short dress adorned with long frills on the sleeves. And beads all over the bodycon net.

I have a purpose coming here today, A very important one. I need to talk to Mr.jerk.

I utilized my connections and got to know he is here at this party. So what better way to kill two birds with one stone.
Maanya could party and I will meet this jerk who is ignoring me for god knows what reason.

"Are we going to just stand here or move?" Paakhi grunt.

"Sheesh girls, why so broody, just smile and enjoy the 80's party....." I cheer and open the door wide to view a scene from some '80s disco, It is full of loud colors, extreme fashion, sky-high hair, and forever defining music.

I smile in bliss and make my way towards the bar, a hundred percent sure girls trailing behind me.

I ordered us a martini and pep talked them.
"So this is the moment where you girls shine okay? Grab a guy to kiss, shag, or do anything I would do. What happens here stays here. Unleash your inner vixens and partyyyyy!!!!!!"

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Ty for reading!

Have a great day ahead!