Swarnima went ahead and made herself comfortable on one of the charpai when Arya jumped and sat next to her making her jump on the other side.

Hahahaha

The boys laughed and Swarnima joined them seconds later.  Arya sat next to Swarnima and pulled her towards himself.
Abhedya on the other hand was not liking the scene he was witnessing so he also went and sat on the same charpai. Maan smiled inwardly thinking the trio had not changed a bit. Swarnima however, felt awkward.

"So what do you guys want to have?" Maan asked forwarding them a paper printed menu card.

"Maan sir, after so many days? Where is Tara bhabhi?" a young boy waiter asked.

"Bhabhi???" Arya repeated.

"Oh ho!! So Mr Maan gets his 'lady' here for a date. Away from the city... secluded... wow!! Maan" Abhedya teased.

"Well! We don't get much time to 'date' and all but whenever we do, we used to go to regular cafe and restaurants until Nim suggested me to take her to a place which is different and where we could talk and understand each other. That's when I found this place and now it's our favourite hangout." Maan explained to the boys.

"Nim suggested? I thought she has zero experience in all this." Arya remarked.

"Arya, you are right. Nim has no personal experience... but she is an 'incurable romantic'... she is in love with the idea of love," Maan discoled to the boys.

Abhedya had goosebumps on hearing what Maan just said about Swarnima. 'His girl' was certainly romantic and if she could create such beautiful moments for others as she did for his parents and Maan what would she do for her love.

"I would like a masala tea," Swarnima ordered.
"Make that two" Arya said.
"Make that three," Maan said.
"I will have black coffee with no sugar," Abhedya ordered.

"It's celebration time Abhey at least order something nice. Why so bitter man?" Arya found it amusing.

"I don't drink tea and I don't know how will be the coffee here, so yeah, I guess black coffee is a safe choice," Abhedya answered curtly. Arya's arm which was still around Swarnima was bothering him a bit 'too much.'

"It's his choice, Arya. yeah that's the order and get those cookies." Maan told the boy who was waiting for the order and gestured him something from his eyes and the boy left smiling.

"What was that exchange through the eyes Maan?" Swarnima enquired immediately.

"Why so sharp Nim.? These two here could not even guess. Just five minutes and you shall know." Maan was impressed.

Arya came and sat in front of Abhedya now and Abhedya felt relieved. Why? He couldn't figure it out but he just was not liking the closeness between his friend and his girl.
'Oh! Stop now Abhey. She is not your girl. You have asked her to maintain distance and she is keeping it very well but you are the one who is breaching your own words.
Oh! She has and will always be his girl. No one can ever claim her and she only belongs to him. Words said in anger hold no meaning and importance. Besides, he can always apologise to her for his rudeness.'
Abhedya's mind and heart again started their debates when the boy who took their order brought two slices of bread with a candle on the side and kept them in front of Swarnima.
Maan said thank you to him and asked the boys to get up.
"Maan, what's this?" Questioned Swarnima.

"It's not your birthday and this is not a cake. So, don't deny cutting it. You do not want anyone wishing you on your birthday, you do not accept gifts from us, you do not want us to visit you on your birthday even. Nim, what happened with your parents on your birthday was not in your hands and how much we want to share the day and be with you, you keep pushing us away. I respect your decision because I know there is no point arguing but this is the least we can do. So, my dear sister please cut this bread with Nutella. We will consider this as cake." Maan spoke his heart out.

Swarnima didn't say anything closed her eyes for a few seconds, no, not for a birthday wish because there was only one thing she wanted from her life... Abhedya's wellness. But she closed her eyes remembering her parents and her brother. She blew the candle and cut the bread into four slices. She took the plate in her hands and offered the boys a piece each. Maan and Arya took the slice but Abhedya opened his mouth for her to feed him.

"What?? Have you forgotten the birthday cake has to be fed by the birthday girl/boy?" Abhedya explained in a joyful tone to lighten the heavy atmosphere.

Swarnima was startled by his words. A few hours back when she fed him he accused her of fake concern and now he wanted to eat with her hands, again. But not wanting the other two boys to know about their rift she quietly put the slice in his mouth.
Abhedya picked the last slice from the plate and brought it in front of Swarnima's mouth. 'I am definitely dreaming or this boy bipolar?' Swarnima thought. Nevertheless,  she opened her mouth to eat looking at Abhedya continuously but he could not meet her eye.
He was feeling guilty. The reasons he was yet to analyse.

"Okay settle down guys. Tea has arrived and time for some beautiful music." Maan told the trio.

They sat down sipping their drinks when a girl on the mic said, " hello friends. I just got my heartbroken."

"Ohhhhh" hooted the crowd of few people present there.

"Yeah... sad ain't it? But I am happy! Very very very happy! Nope, I am not covering up with this smile of mine. I had known him since forever and from the time I remember I loved him but, things didn't work for us and he was an A-class jerk." The crowd laughed at the last part.
Abhedya felt as if the girl was Nim and was talking about him. Coz their story stands like this in today's scenario.

"So the song goes like...

————————————————————————
Song: somebody that I used to know by Gotye

Song: Darya from the movie Manmarziyaan.

A/N:
You can listen to both the songs and choose the one you find fit for the above situation.
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The crowd was mesmerised by the song when suddenly the girl couldn't hold her tears and stopped singing.
Swarnima got up from her seat, picked up the girl's guitar, put her arm on her shoulder giving her the courage she required and gestured her to sing. The girl whipped her tears and sang her heart out with Swarnima playing for her.
The song ended and the crowd clapped for the girl loudly.

Swarnima came back to her seat when the girl came to her and wished, "thank you so much. I thought I was strong enough and will pull off the song but... anyways, I am sure you have been through a similar situation or having a tough time in your relationship because of the way you played, those emotions only someone deeply hurt in love could exhibit."

"Sorry! Miss, she has not had a broken relation nor is she facing troubles in her relationship. And god forbid even if she did she will never give up on her love, no matter how toxic the relation becomes. With  due respect to you, I know Nim can turn toxic to atoxic." Maan declared with pride in his eyes.

"That's good then. She surely is precious and the owner of this 'diamond' should take utmost care of her because every person has a limit to tolerate and at  saturation point is even the mountains give way when the magma erupts." The girl patted Swarnima's shoulder and left.

"What was that bro? Such a happy celebration was going on and she just... anyways I am getting bored let's do something fun." Arya suggested.

"What do you suggest Arya tell us. But please no silly ideas." Maan warned him.

Abhedya was unusually quiet and zoned out. He was sinking in what the girl just said. Swarnima was the calmest person he had known and if she ever gets angry he sure will not be able to bear it. If she ever gives up on their relation and leaves him he would die the second. But did they have any relation? Now?

"Abhey? Where are you lost? Suggest something fun dude.." Arya said in an excited tone.

"I think it's very late now Arya. Let's take some rest. We have our college tomorrow and I am sure you have to. So let's call it a night and catch up soon with Tara this time." Swarnima who herself was all worn out with the day's activity requested.

"Okay! but we are crashing at your place then. No ifs and buts and to hell with those mandates." Arya declared.

"Uhhhhh!! You will surely get me in trouble Arya."  Swarnima remarked.

"Why only Abhey has the right to spend the night with you?" Arya said without thinking and immediately corrected himself saying, " uh!! Haha!! Sorry sorry I didn't mean it that way I meant staying at your place."

The other three just got up ignoring the laughing Arya. Arya came from behind and put  his hand around Abhedya and whispered, "I hope you didn't start to imagine the naughty stuff."

Before Abhedya could react he ran and sat in the car still laughing but Abhedya had a smile on his face too. The mere thought of spending a night with Swarnima beside him, even without any physicality would be bliss.

Swarnima was going to the third-row seat when Abhedya told her to sit here, pointing at the middle row seat. Swarnima was confused with the sudden change but keeping her doubts aside she sat where she was instructed.

Maan turned the ignition on and Arya commented, "thank God, Nim you are sitting in the same row as Abhey. Previously poor boy had to keep looking behind to see his eye candy."

"Arya stop now okay! Enough!" Abhedya gave him a warning and a don't mess further message through his eyes.

"I was not looking again and again okay. Just once I glanced to check on you that you don't fall while sleeping" Abhedya clarified his actions.

"You don't need to clarify. I know Arya pretty well." Swarnima told him looking out of the window.

Abhedya did not like that she was ignoring him. He so wanted to see her beautiful eyes.

Maan put songs on the radio. Soft romantic songs were playing and Abhedya was continuously staring at Swarnima. The way the wind blew her hair, the calmness on her face, the way she crossed her arms, the way she was humming the lyrics without any sound, the way she was breathing. He was observing each and every aspect of the girl sitting beside him. But, Abhedya had no idea that there was one person in the car who was observing him.

Swarnima could feel a continuous gaze on her but she dared not to look in the direction else her poor heart will again fall in the puddle of love. Coz the joy you feel when you look into the direction of your love only to find him already looking at you is inexpressible.
But her heart had plans to play in the puddle and even with clear instructions from the brain to not look in the right she did... and BAMMMMM!!

Maan took a sharp right turn and Swarnima lost her balance and for the second time in the night banged in Abhedya. Who involuntarily put his hand behind Swarnima to avoid her from falling and she clutched his T-shirt as a reflex?

Arya whistled his famous whistle at the romantic movie going on the backseat.

Swarnima shifted back to place. Her heart was racing but there was another person who was about to have a heart attack. Abhedya's heart must be beating at 140 beats per minute or even more. The encounter might have lasted for only a few seconds but the impact was massive.

"Maan drive carefully dude." Arya scolded Maan in a tone laced with a tease.

When they reached Swarnima's building and entered the secret elevator Arya said, "this is so much fun. I remember when I first came to meet Nim 2 years back and used this elevator I was so amazed."

"You met her 2 years back?" Abhedya questioned with surprise.

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Dear Readers
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Word Meaning:
Bhabhi: brother's wife (at times friend's wife is also addressed as bhabhi)
Masala tea: tea mixed with special spices to enhance its taste.
————————————————————————
Catching up with old friends is bliss. Every group has a guy who is mature like Maan, goofy like Arya, pure like Swarnima and all shades of drama like Abhedya.
What will be Abhedya's reaction to the newfound information that Arya knew Swarnima for two years, find out in the next update?
Stay hooked!
Lots of love