Seeing his best friend kneeling down in front of him, Ishan was dumbstruck. The day he finally decided to acknowledge his feelings hiding deep inside his heart, he is now struck in this dillema.

Turning back to look at Mayank, he was not there. That was the moment he realised he had always loved that boy, his bandar, his childhood best friend.

"Ishu! Please look at me Ishh. I know it was so sudden for you but if I didn't say it now, I don't think I'll be able to say it ever. Ishu I think I really lo-" but Shubman was interrupted by Ishan.

"Shubi let's talk upstairs in my room. I don't want to say anything in pressure." Ishan said, controlling every feeling he was getting at this moment.

Before anyone could say anything, Ishan grabbed Shubman from his arms and took him in the room.

"Ish I am sorry if I hurt you in any way. But I don't want to pretend to be your best friend anymore. I have been controlling myself from holding and kissing you because I know if I cross this line I might lose you forever. Yet, today I decided to take this risk and here I am, standing in front of you and confessing my love. Ishu, I can assure you that even if you don't reciprocate my feelings, I will never let you go. I am going to hold onto our friendship forever." By this time, Shubman was breathless. He had said everything he wanted to.

Ishan, still processing everything, was silent. His old bestfriend on whom he had a crush on and his new bestfriend who didn't wanted to be his best friend. It was not his usual self as the 'pocket dynamo' and Shubman knew this fact.

Finally, breaking the bubble of silence, Ishan spoke, "Shubi, thankyou so much for liking me and taking care of me all this time when I was craving for his presence. Deep inside you might know I can never reciprocate your feelings but you decided to be brave unlike me. Today I want to tell you the truth. And if you decide you don't even want to be my friend after this, then I won't stop you. Just know that I really love you as my best friend."

Shubman knew what was coming and he had already decided he's going to hold Ishan's hand as a best friend and help him in any way. He won't say but the mention of a he has shocked him. With an encouraging nod from Shubman, Ishan continued.

"You might think why am I telling you the story of my failed love. Because I believe you Shub. And our situation is the same. Listen to my story first and then you can decide or judge me or whatever....

So this story goes back to my 2nd grade. He used to be an introvert and shy kid and I was the new student. He was getting bullied, I intervened and saved him, he felt nice around me and we became best friends. Pretty simple right?

Soon I started developing feelings for him. He was my bandar, he was my partner-in-crime, he was everything for me after my family.

And me...I was his sweetie.

The way he cared for me, how could I not fall for him.

Then one day I decided I will confess to him today. And that moment never came. He ran away...

Mayank ran away Shubi.

He initiated a kiss and just before I was about to tell him, he ran away.

At that moment I decided I will never be like him. That I will forget him for ever. That I would never tell anyone how much I loved him.

Yet I am here telling you about this.

Shubi I don't want to leave you without the closure that I was deprived of.

And believe me, I can't love anyone else beside him.

I love him so much that even if he leaves me again, I will keep chasing through the wall of time and bring him back to me.

I can't love anyone else in this lifetime. Call me anything you want but this is my heart's truth....."

Amidst the emotional turmoil Shubman and Ishan were going through, there was someone else present there, listening to the confessions Ishan just made.

"ISHU.!!"

*end of chapter*

*just kidding*

*let's continue*

30 minutes ago

Mayank saw Shubman proposing to Ishan and his heart literally broke into millions of pieces. He wanted to run away from everyone. But he still remembered the day he ran away last time. So he decided to stay there and support his childhood bestfriend in whatever decision he makes.

But this heart....

Despite trying to be brave and stand there for Ishan, he could not.

He fled from there and locked himself inside the bathroom of his and Ishan's shared room.

He felt like everything, the mirror, the shower, the walls, everything is mocking him.

When he thought he will pack his bags and run away from Ishan, again, he heard someone entering the room.

Shubman and Ishan, whatever the talked about, he heard each and every word. The way Ishan was telling their story, the way he said he can never love anyone ever, he was out of words. He unlocked the bathroom door and....

"ISHU.!!"

Watching the tear stained face of the two friends, Shubman stood up and left the room so that they could sort out whatever they felt not before saying, "You have my back Ishu. Do whatever you want to. I will always be your best friend."

"Mayank you heard everything I said?" Ishan asked Mayank.

"Sweetie I'm so sorry. I know I should not have left that day. But I was scared of the change of dynamics between us. I too loved you since forever but what if you didn't felt the same. I was scared of this thought."

"Why was it so hard to talk to me again that you didn't think of doing it for three years? Those years when I was all alone. Your apology couldn't change anything. You blocked me in your phone as well as in your life." now Ishan was on the verge of tears.

"You might think of it as an excuse but I lost my phone and didn't remember any number.

Ishu just this chance and I promise you I won't lose you. I will be by your side in ever thick and thin. I promise by my heart."

Till now Ishan was melting. The sincerity in Mayank's voice was telling him to believe in his friend, his love again.

"Okay just one chance. And I swear if you do something like that again, I myself will forget you." and Ishan took Mayank in his embrace.

A flick in the forehead made Ishan wake up and there stood Mayank, ready for a chase game.

"Ruk ja tu bandar!! Warna mai chala."

"Ab kaha jayega Sweetie. Puri life is bandar ko jhelna hi padega."

And they continued their chase, with a different ending this time. Every road leading them to each other.

Forever...

THE END💙