"So..."

"So... what?" Vaish stared nervously at his fuming best friend who in turn glared intently at both Vaish and Abhi. Basant and Mallika stood helplessly between the three of them.

"So, would you two mind telling me why you two are an hour late? You two know what this get together was for, right?" Sumedh glared at them once more.

"We are really sorry. We got caught up in the traffic. But we are finally here, aren't we?" Abhi tried to reason with his best friend.

"You two were supposed to be picking up our special guest from Airport which you two didn't. He arrived all alone. And then you two turn up at a time when everyone else is about to leave?" Sumedh asked enraged.

"Calm down Sumu, they didn't do it on purpose." Mallika said trying to cool him down.

"Yes Sumedh, let them in. I am sure they would make it up to you." Basant smiled as Sumedh finally seemed to let go.

"Okay, come in." Sumedh gave up as he let them in.

The five entered to see four people already sitting down talking.

Abhi and Vaish smiled as they walked up to hug them all.

"Faisal, Roshni. So nice to see you two yaar." Abhi said as he embraced them each.

"And what are we? Invisible?" Abhi turned to see Jannat and Tunisha standing with smiles on their faces. Abhi went up to hug them too as Vaish hugged Fais and Rosh. Sumedh, Mallika and Basant were back on their seats.

"We all were waiting for you two." Fais said as Abhi sat beside him.

"Sorry yaar, got caught up in traffic." Abhi apologised.

"Right, Mumbai traffic." Jannat sighed, "But seriously, it's so good to see you all."

"Says the girl who wanted to leave five minutes ago." Sumedh smirked.

"What? You guys were leaving?" Vaishnavi asked turning to them.

"Mumbai traffic, you know na." Faisal smiled apologetically, "But we decided to say and meet you guys."

"That was one reason but the other reason is Tunu here has some announcement. And she was adamant not to do it until you two were here." Roshni smiled.

"Announcement? What is it?"

"It's something really special. So I wanted you all to be here." Tunisha smiled.

"Well yeah, we are hearing that for a long time, now are you going to tell or what?" Basant asked impatiently.

"Okay okay, I am telling. So..."

"Wait a min." Abhi interrupted suddenly.

"What's wrong Abhi? We were waiting for the announcement for so long." Faisal said making a face at him.

"Where is Rimi?" Abhi asked looking around.

"She had an event today so she couldn't attend." Mallika replied.

"But don't worry, she already knows." Tunisha smiled.

"Of course she does, you two are inseparable." Roshni laughed.

"Alright, enough of it. Come on Tunu, what's the surprise?" Jannat whined.

But instead of replying Tunu just held up her hand. The girls stared open mouthed while the boys looked a bit confused at first until they too understood where the girls were looking at.

"Is that... is that..." Mika failed to form her words.

"Yep, Shivin proposed." Tunisha gave a face splitting grin as the girls squealed in delight.

"Oh my god Tunu, I am so happy for you." Vaish got up to hug Tunisha.

"So, our Tunu is finally becoming Mrs Narang?" Faisal asked smirking.

"Shut up Fais." Jannat gave him a playful glare, "Don't ruin the moment."

"Sooo you are really getting married?" Sumedh asked as everyone finished congratulating Tunu.

"Seems like it." Tunu smiled.

"I can't believe how fast the time is going, it just seems like yesterday we first met you." Abhi sighed dramatically.

"Leave those for my bidai." Tunu said shaking her head at Abhi.

"Well bidai reminds us that we gotta leave." Faisal said getting up.

"Come on, just stay a bit more." Mallika requested.

"Sorry Mika, you know how the traffic is. Tell Adi Bhai that we left." Roshni said sadly.

"Adi bhai?" Abhi frowned.

"He has gone to freshen up. He arrived a bit early you know and since you two bailed on him..."

"It's alright Sumu." Mallika hushed him.

"Okay bye guys, but be sure to call back once you reach." Vaish called out as Tunisha, Faisal, Jannat and Roshni left.

"They left?"

Abhi and Vaish turned around to see Aditya Rathod standing in front of them.

"Yeah Bhai." Sumedh replied as they walked back in.

"Oh no, I missed it." Adi sighed but then his eyes fell upon the two who were staring at him.

"So, finally you two got time to arrive huh?" Aditya asked jokingly.

"Adi Bhai." Vaish exclaimed as both she and Abhi ran to embrace him.

"Okay, now leave me. I don't want to die by suffocation." Adi laughed as they finally let go.

" Bhai, how are you?" Abhi asked as Adi took his seat in front of him.

"I am super fine. I have just got a new project here so I'll be staying here for a while." Adi said.

"That's amazing." Vaish smiled.

"That's alright but the real question is how are YOU?" Adi asked turning to Abhi.

"Me? What will happen to me?" Abhi stared confused.

"Yeah right, thanks for reminding bhai. Well Abhi, what's it that I am hearing?" Basant prodded.

"I really have no idea what you guys are talking about. Vaish, what's going on?"

"Don't ask us Abhi, we are really mad at you. How could you hide such a huge thing from me?"

"Me?" Sumedh raised his eyebrows.

"Us." Vaish rectified.

"But guys, I really don't know anything." Abhi tried again, "What are you all talking about?"

"Mika tell him." Adi gestured for Mallika to speak.

"So Abhi, when were you planning on telling us that you have a girlfriend?" Mika asked with raised eyebrows.

"Gi-girl- Girlfriend?" Abhi stared at them blankly.

"Yes, girlfriend." Adi remarked, "We wouldn't even have known if Vaish hadn't told us."

Abhi's head turned at lightning speed towards Vaish. The only thing going on in his head was if she had seen Pranali in the kitchen or not.

"Ho-how did you?" Abhi asked Vaish.

"Vibha aunty called me yesterday." Vaish replied.

"Mom?"

"Yeah, and thank god she did. Or we wouldn't have got to know anything." Mallika said glaring at Abhi.

"So Abhi, tell us. Who is this lucky lady? Do we know her?" Adi asked.

"Actually... we just met a few days ago so..." Abhi trailed off unable to explain.

"So you can introduce her to your mother but not to us?" Basant asked wide eyed.

"Meeting mom wasn't my choice." Abhi sighed.

"And this isn't your choice either. We don't care how long you two are dating. You have to bring her to meet us or we will go ourselves to search her out." Mika said threateningly.

"So that's it, you are bringing her to us. Right Sumu?" Vaish asked as she turned towards Sumedh who looked kinda lost. "Sumu? Sumedh? What's wrong?"

Sumedh broke his trance to look at his friend, "What? Oh... yeah, right. Bring her to meet us."

"Sumu, what are you thinking about?" Vaish asked frowning.

"Nothing, you guys talk. I'll bring you all some snacks." Saying this Sumu proceeded towards the kitchen.

"I'll go and see." Mallika said as she too ran behind him.

"Okay, what was that?" Basant asked once the two were out of sight.

"No idea." Abhi shrugged.

"Vaish, do you have any idea?" Adi turned towards a frowning Vaishnavi.

"Well, I am not sure but..."

"But what?"

"Do you guys think it's because of Tunu?" Vaishnavi asked as she looked up at them.

"Tunisha? You mean... her engagement?" Adi asked.

"That's rubbish." Abhi spoke up, "They are friends, he is happy for her."

"But Abhi if he still has any kind of feelings for her... I mean that was his first relationship. Aren't first relationships supposed to be a thing..." Vaishnavi trailed off.

"They are when its true love. Sumedh and Tunisha are better off as friends." Abhi exclaimed, "What do you think Basant?"

"Truthfully speaking, I really have no idea what you all are talking about. I am really bad at reading signs so I understand things better when they happen in front of me." Basant replied.

"You are right. And besides, I think there's something between Sumu and Mika." Abhi said thoughtfully.

"Mallika?" Adi asked wide eyed.

"But even if what Abhi is saying is true, then also those two are nowhere near confessing." Vaish replied.

"Whoa, Sumedh and Mallika? That's kinda unexpected." Basant replied shrugging.

"Speaking of them, where the hell are those two. Are they manufacturing snacks?" Abhi asked looking towards the direction of the kitchen.

"You guys talk, I'll go and check." Basant said getting up.

Elsewhere –

"Sumu? What's wrong? You are getting distracted every time." Mallika said as Sumedh accidentally dropped the jar of biscuits.

"It's nothing Mika." Sumedh said while picking it up.

"If it's about Tunu I understand." Mallika said turning her back on him.

"You think I am upset because Tunu got engaged?" Sumedh asked turning to Mika but seeing her not responding Sumedh spoke up again, "Speak up Mallika."

"Look I get it that it's your personal matter but..."

"But what Mallika? You think I still have feelings for her?" Sumedh frowned.

"Well, if you do there's nothing wrong with that." Mallika said hastily.

"So you do think that I still like her." Sumedh prodded, "I know that I am distracted and I won't lie to you by saying that it's not because of Tunu cause it is. But that's not because I still bear feelings for her.... it's just.... Tunisha.....she's one of my earliest friends. We met when we were really young, seeing her engaged it's so surreal." Sumedh breathed out.

"And then there's Abhi, it's not long before he too would..." Sumedh looked straight into Mallika's eyes, "And as for me and Tunu, we aren't much different than you and Abhi." He said moving close to Mallika, "Tell me Mika, do you still have feelings for Abhi?" Sumedh asked as he cornered Mallika on to the wall.

"I... I..."

Mallika's world was going bizarre. She couldn't even think straight with him so close to her. She fumbled over her words as she searched for an answer.

"You what Mika?" Sumedh asked, his breath hot on her face.

"No. We... we are just friends." Mallika finally spoke up.

"Well, that's the same with us." Sumedh said as he leaned down further. Leaned down? But why would he be leaning down? Is he really leaning down or was it just her illusion. Mallika's eyes were locked with Sumedh. Nobody knows what would have happened if Basant hadn't cleared his throat at that very moment.

Their eye lock broke as the saw Basant in the doorway, he was looking away from them awkwardly.

"Everyone's waiting." He said as the two flung back, "I just came to inform." He said before disappearing as fast as he arrived.

~~~~~~

Everyone knew something was wrong the moment Basant sat down.

"I think Abhi is right." Basant spoke up finally, "They were inches apart when I entered."

"Shit, you interrupted a moment." Abhi spoke.

Adi and Vaish just smiled. No more talk happened on this topic cause the two in question entered soon after.

"So how's your sister Mika?" Adi asked changing the topic.

"You know how she is. Just work and work." Mallika replied.

"Typical Preesha." Adi laughed.

"Why don't you come to meet her? Maybe make her loosen up a bit. I bet seeing old friends would help." Mika suggested.

"No, I don't wanna be a burden. And anyway, she's so busy always."

"Come on Adi Bhai. You know what? Your Jaan misses you too."

"Jaan?" Sumedh asked with raised eyebrows, back to is normal self.

"She's my sister you idiot." Adi said smacking Sumu, "Tell her I miss her too. And I will be meeting her soon." Adi said smiling.

"Right, this Jaan. Your sister. We gotta meet her too." Sumedh said thoughtfully.

"First ask your best friend to introduce his girlfriend, there will be a lot of time to meet my sister." Adi smirked.

"Right. So Abhi, when are you bringing her?" Basant asked.

"Let me at least tell her about it." Abhi sighed.

"No need to make that face, inform us when you have talked to her." Sumedh said with a grin before they could leave for their respective houses.