AVANTHI
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'I dont know Avanthi...I still can't accept that she sent this message to me. It...It doesn't look like...it's her!!! You know the style of writing and the formalities of how she addressed me...It just doesn't fit. I...I don't know buddy!!! And I don't know why but my heart says even if she says it's our last conversation my heart says...we will meet again!!!' he kept going on and on about the message Haasini sent him. He was excited, worried and hopeful.

Although she sent a message about their final breakup. She had reached him after a whole 8 months. And he was excited, thrilled and hopeful. I had called him up to ask him for help but before I could even begin, he started speaking about Haasini and I didn't even get a chance to breathe in this chaos.

'Avanthi...Are you there???' Ava...' and I was suddenly out of my thoughts as I whispered 'Yyyes!!! Yes Abhi...I'm here. It's just that...I was shocked!!!' I said and he chuckled saying 'You don't even know her and you are shocked, think about me. Knowing her on and off for so many years, then...we get drunk and kiss passionately and then she goes invisible... one sudden day she runs back to her country...you can never understand what a man could go through Avanthi.' he says and suddenly my thoughts go back to the darkest night of my life. The night I lost my virginity to that demon of lust whom I fell in love with. He's right...I don't understand how it feels when you run away from your emotions. Because I don't want to feel it.

'She left me hanging to a thread and now I get a message saying I've to forget her. Naaaaa...not happening. I know my Haasini too much to believe this sham!!! This is why I have decided to take charge of the situation!!!' he sounded determined.

'What are you planning to do?' I asked and he chuckled saying 'I dont plan much Avanthi. I'm not a smart worker like you but I'm a hard worker. I may not be the best she may find but I'm determined to be so good... such that she cannot run away from me. I will win her back and that's why I'm coming to India.' he broke the bomb and my heart dropped.

Fuck!!! What the hell!

'And I'm going to stay with my Ava in her apartment!!! Howzzattt!!!' he said and I gulped nervously.

'Johnson thinks you will take longer there. And he wants me to lend you a hand!!!' he said and I was speechless.

'Avanthi...aren't you happy?' he asked and I said 'Its not...not that Abhi... it's just-'

'If you are thinking about the investors let me tell you. We don't need to go to pitch for investors because we have already found an investor who had approached us personally 2 days ago. I wanted to surprise you. She's agreed for lesser equity than we planned. We don't even need angel investors!!! Can you believe it?' and I was shocked.

'And you didn't even think of informing me?' I asked and he chuckled saying 'Sorry bud wanted to surprise you but...looks like life gives your buddy lemons every time!!! But forgot that your buddy's balls are a size bigger than those!!!' and I cringe with an 'Eww I don't want details!!!' and he chuckles saying 'See you soon sweetheart and I miss you!!! I'll be in front of you in the next 24 hours' he says sweetly and I am left tongue tied. I was thinking of talking to him and introducing him as my boyfriend who cannot come to India because of work commitments but looks like life also believes in giving me lemons. Or in my case I would rather call it a full fledged lemon pickle. Pungent, spicy and ready to give you acidity. Fuck!!!

'Heyy cutiepie...I said I miss youuu' he stressed upon it and I chuckled saying 'I miss you too Abhi!!! Come soon' saying I smiled. It's not his fault. It's the mess I have created and now I have to manage as well. Post disconnecting the call I heard Pranay saying

'Ohhhhh I miss you... kiss you and all ahhhh!!! Akka I never expected this from you...Hmmmmm' he started teasing me and I rolled my eyes. If only he knew the bundle of lies I have been telling him and dad. He offered me coffee and just when I took a sip he asked

'So when is Abhijit Bhavaji coming?'. Listening to him address Abhijit as Bhavaji I almost spat the coffee. I looked at him wide eyed and then cleared my throat saying 'Soon!!!'. That's when Dad said 'Great..Then we are announcing yours and Abhijit's engagement on the same day as Smruthi and Pranay!'. And my eyes widened in shock. 'Dad but...I mean...' but I really couldn't find a reason to say anything. I had already lied that he's an orphan so what other reasons would I give now. Shit!!! I'm screwed.

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'Ahhhh this is so good. I don't know after how many years I've come to Mangalore and heyyy your apartment looks good. Beach facing one haaan!!! Noiiiice!!!' he said and I smiled hesitantly. We reached our floor when I heard Anita Aunty's voice 'Heyyyy Avanthi...the cookies you made were so delicious. My Karthik almost licked the plate!!!' she said and I smiled when I heard Karthik say 'It was the best set of cookies I everrr-' and his voice died the moment he saw Abhijit along my side. He simply walked towards him pushing me slightly aside saying

'Excuse me Mister? Who are you? How did you come upstairs? Which house are you looking for?' Abhijit was confused as he looked at me but before I could explain Karthik jumped in again saying

'What are you looking at that lady there? Talk to me...who are you looking for?' his tempo raised when I chipped in saying 'Mr Karthik...He...he is with me!!!' and his eyes widened then narrowed when he said 'Ohhhh...your ummm brother?' when Abhijit laughed saying 'This psycho's brother. I wouldn't want to take such heavy duty risks in next life as well. Heard of the things she did to her younger brother from dying his hair to making him bath in ink. I'm good being a friend. She's a little less cruel!!!' he said and Karthik's lips parted but he smiled.

'He is my colleague... he's here for a few days... he's staying with me!!!' he said and Karthik although looked skeptical and gave us judgemental looks he nodded. We both were about to go to my house when Karthik said 'Ummm Abhijit...are you...ummm single?' and I was shocked. I shot him a look when he said 'I am the society representative. Needed details about the guest. You see
..basic details!!!' he said and I raised my eyebrow.

'Are you the security guard here? Why do you need so much details?' I asked when he hesitantly smiled saying 'Duties!!!' and then looked at Abhijit who said 'Ummm it's... it's complicated!!!' and before Karthik asks him more doubts, I dragged him inside the apartment and shut the door close. I didn't have time for his dumb detective skill practice. I had important things to tell him. Or let's say...break the bomb. Ouch!!!

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'I am WHAT???' Abhijit sat dumbfounded after I finished narrating my series of lies when he gulped nervously and said

'You kidding right? You know I love Haasini. And I'm here to win her back no matter what. I can't do this!! Infact I think I must go-' but before he could go I pushed him back on the couch as I said

'You are not going anywhere Abhi!!! And what do you think I'm in love with you? You know love and me...we are Poles apart. Never gonna happen!!! This is just a small lie that I said and you just have to help me out.'I said when Abhijit frowned asking 'Small lie? Your family wants me to get engaged to you... Over my dead body Ava...You are my buddy!!! Your family is thinking about us like Anjali and Rahul in Kuch Kuch Hota hai where as in reality we are like the Joey to my Chandler...I mean the Monica to my Rachel...We are like Doraemon and Nobita!!! Fuckkkk I mean-'

'I got it Abhi!!! But you also please try to understand Buddy. I just...I can't rely upon anyone. Look.... it's just a meaningless ring exchange Abhi...No one will know. It's a private affair. Just family and friends. Please Abhi...Come on..Say yes!!! Look post the engagement...you just say that...you have a office emergency...and you leave!!!'

'Well then why can't I leave now? I mean...I'll just say that I have to go... let's say the same reason. I'll just meet your father and then I'll shooooo -' he wiggled his eyebrows when I took a bite of my sandwich and said 'Not happening!!! Dad wants to believe I have settled down in life. He needs to accept it Abhi. Hence the engagement ceremony... Please Abhi..I promise I'll help you find your Haasini as well..please buddy!!!' I begged him when he helplessly said a 'Tch... Fine!!!' and I squealed and hugged him tightly.

Phewww!!! Tension relieved!!!

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'This is a joke right Avanthi??? You told me family and friends...' to which I smiled saying 'These are family and friends Abhi!!!' to which he gulped and grabbed me by my waist pulling me closer and whispered in my ears 'If this is family annnnd friends then I wonder if half the Mangalore city is related to each other. I am getting scared Avanthi...What if Haasini gets to know about this stupid engagement?' Abhi was extremely nervous when I smiled and played along with his Sherwani buttons faking a sweet smile saying

'No one will know Abhi. It's a private affair. And stop overthinking so much. I mean it's not a big deal. People get engaged then breakup. Relationships are a sham!!!Just chill' I said and he nervously looked elsewhere when I noticed Nayaks had arrived. Mukta Vanni and Prarthana hugged me and wished me. Rudra Bhavaji and Omkar Anna smiled and blessed me. Their parents couldn't come as they were on a world tour. Sharada Aunty who had accompanied them didn't say anything but blessed me and Abhijit. She is not so bad.

Pakku and Kedar Bhavaji wished us when Pakku hugged me and asked 'What nonsense is all this? Abhijit is just your friend right?' I asked and I cleared my throat saying 'Yes he is... why ummm... people who are friends can't fall in love?' I counter questioned her to which she said 'People can... Avanthi Kamath cannot!!! What is it Ava?' she asked challenging me when I escaped her eyes and said 'You are overthinking this Pakku...We are good friends and have been single for years...so we decided to date each other... what's wrong with that?' I asked and she looked at both me and Abhi together and asked 'How long have you been dating?' to which we said '3 months' '6 months'. Shit!!! Pakku smirked while I said 'We mean 3 to 6 months...right baby?' and Abhijit chuckled and nodded.

Pakku's fierce gaze kept bothering me throughout the function when I tried to smile and escape this when I noticed there was one more gaze that was ready to burn the stage alive. The Asmodeus in my life. Neil Nayak. Sitting in the front row of the hall he kept staring dead in my eyes making me nervous while even Abhi asked me about him. He was making it quite obvious. But all I did was give a damn. He's a nobody and I don't care what he thinks or does. Doesn't bother me. I don't care.

Hesitantly Abhi and I completed the ring ceremony. Abhi still looked extremely guilty and upset however faked a smile when I showed all my 32 teeth to please my father who looked extremely happy and emotional at the same time. Post the engagement ceremony Abhi suddenly excused himself and went somewhere. I was feeling extremely irritated with the saree. I looked at Smruthi and regretted not wearing a lehenga choli when Pranay insisted upon it. I wanted to make my father happy. Although I hated wearing saree I tolerated it but now I'm irritated with it.

The function had almost got over and mostly everyone was going for dinner so I decided to go and change into something comfortable. I walked towards the changing room when suddenly someone grabbed my wrist and I was dragged into a dark room and before I could scream I was pushed against a wall near the window and my mouth was palmed. The room was dark so I couldn't see who it was however the wood fragrance...the intoxicating woow fragrance made my breath hitch already. I already knew who it was and then I saw the screen next to the window was undone and the party lights fell on his perfectly handsome face but it was his eyes that shone brightly.

Those...cat eyes!!! Those greens... those blues... enough to make my core clench. He leaned closer to my face only for me to realise he had pinned me against the wall near the window and was hovering upon me. His eyes were burning with a different rage tonight and I was...scared.