Swarnima was just standing at the door holding it for support. She didn't react or answer to Abhedya's question.

"Come on Nim! answer me...your silence is killing me. Can we give one more chance to our friendship?" Abhedya was nervous, anxious and desperate for an answer.

"So, you are still the same? Making friends for gifts? I thought you were grown up now." Swarnima tried her best to let the proposal pass in fun.

Abhedya stood in front of Swarnima and shut the door behind. He asked in a serious tone looking straight into her eyes, "it's not the gifts. It's not because of sympathy as you might think. It's not out of obligation and it's definitely not out of peer pressure. I just realised what I was missing and it was you, it was us. I want to recreate us. Nim please, let's give us a chance."

After thinking for several seconds Swarnima answered NO! "I don't think we can be friends again. Not yet. I am a very secretive person and you are very impulsive. We will end up fighting now and then, ultimately hurting each other. I think we are good with what we are now." Swarnima cursed herself bad luck for breaking Abhedya's hope. It was the first time he was asking her something and she was outrightly rejecting it.

Abhedya let out a small laugh, moved back and said, "challenge accepted Miss Swarnima. I am staying at your place for two days until the exams start. If we get through without holding each other's neck... you have to give us a chance and if we end up fighting I will make myself understand that we are not meant to be... friends?"

Swarnima kept looking at him without blinking. Never did she imagine Abhedya would one day fight for them. He was serious about their relationship and wanted to make it work.
"I have just asked you to be my 'friend' not my 'girlfriend'. Stop staring! I know I am drooling worthy." Abhedya put one hand on the door behind and stooped towards Swarnima.

Swarnima pushed him a little behind and said, "if that would happen, trust me I will get one  reason to be happy that I survived."
A little tear was stopped before it could come out of her eye and Abhedya took it on his finger and declared, "I swear! Every moment of your existence will be worth living and you will thank your stars every day for this life."

"Swearing with salty water?" Swarnima asked and smiled with blurry eyes. Abhedya bit his lower lip and smiled, "dramatic much?"
"Too much," Swarnima agreed and suggested, "come let's get done with the project. It's urgent."

"Aye aye captain!" Abhedya replied and they both went to Swarnima's room. Abhedya jumped on the bed.

"Umm... we should work in the living room. It's better there and why don't you get your laptop. You must also tell masi that you are here and might get late." Swarnima told Abhedya picking up the files.

"Get late in reaching home? I am not going home." Abhedya declared.

Swarnima dropped the files and said, "why?"

"I am not missing a moment till the deadline. So, I am calling mom and telling her I am staying here and we are going to my place for diner and I will get my books and other necessary stuff." Abhedya said in one go.

"Mom, hi! Nim and I are coming for diner... you know what she eats... yeah I will stay at her place for a few days. We will let you know in the evening." Abhedya cut the phone and grinned, like a monkey, that is how Swarnima felt.

"At least, you should have asked me? First, you stay at my place, then you plan a diner and you don't feel like discussing with me." Swarnima questioned him.

"Friends make plans and tell. They don't 'discuss'."Abhedya took one of the files and started scrutinising it.

Swarnima was standing there like a statue. She could not believe what Abhedya just did. He made plans for them. 'Wait! He will stay with you? No! No! That can't happen.' Swarnima's brain reminded her.

"You... you... can't stay here! They won't allow it. It's against the rules." Swarnima reasoned.

"Your fucking rules can go fuck themselves. I decide what happens in my life, now sit and work. I know you have done more than your part but still designing is left." Abhedya was serious now.

Swarnima knew there was no point arguing, there was never one. So, she picked up the files she dropped and sat. The problem was, there was only one laptop and both of them needed it.
Swarnima got a call from Nandini and she answered, "hi masi. Yeah, even I was updated just now. No!! I had no clue. He self-invited himself. I don't know. Anything for you Masi. Yes!  I love you too Masi!!"

Abhedya's attention shifted to hearing 'love you too' from Swarnima. The last he heard was around 12 or 13 years back. His prayer was answered today. He always wished to hear 'love you too' once again from Swarnima. She didn't say it to him but she said it and it was a blessing. Abhedya closed his eyes to cherish the moment.
'More such moments are making their way Abhey, brace yourself.' Abhedya's heart and mind were both in accordance.

Swarnima started reading a file and Abhedya was busy test running the programmes. It was around eight in the evening that Abhedya's phone rang, "yes dad! No working... Oh! Didn't realise... will be there in fifteen. Bye."
"Get up Nim. Mom dad is waiting." Abhedya told her and closed all the running programmes.

"Oh! Ohk... I will just change and come." Swarnima put the files and went to change her clothes.
Swarnima came out and said, "let's go".

When Abhedya turned around, he exclaimed, 'Why! Why on earth is she so cute. That knee-length black jumpsuit makes her look wow!' Abhedya's heart was slipping away.

"What happened? Is there a problem?" Swarnima questioned looking at herself.

Abhedya turned around and said, "no! Come!" He couldn't just tell her how cute she looked.

Swarnima locked her house and both of them reached downstairs.
"Wow! Nim! You look sooo cute. This boy, who is your student's brother... does have something to do with your glow. His presence makes you shine." The lady on the ground floor commented.

"You have the eyes aunty! I always tell her, keep me in your life and we will shine together." Abhedya played along with the lady.

"You, my boy, are a charmer. My old man was just like you. Nim I am suggesting you, he is a keeper, don't let him go." The lady said patting Abhedya's hand.

Swarnima was feeling shy and embarrassed so she said, "yes aunty! I will make a note of it. Now go inside and take care of yourself. I will come soon." Swarnima asked Abhedya to move who was busy chit chatting with the lady he met just twice.

Abhedya got his car and Swarnima sat inside. They drove and soon reached his house. The peaceful silence was maintained.
Abhedya was liking the feel of a pretty girl sitting beside him who was glowing 'because of him'.
Swarnima was liking the feel of her love driving her to a diner.

Before they could ring the doorbell Nivi came and declared, "I have packed my bags too. I am also staying with you guys."

"Nivi!!!" Rudra and Nandini said at the same time.
"What Nivi? I also want to have my share of fun. Please, Nim you tell them." Nivi pleaded with Swarnima.
"Nivi, you cannot stay, now. We are working and not having fun. But, once we are done with it and our exams are over we will party." Abhedya told Nivi, who showed his tongue and sat grumpily and the chair.
Swarnima commented, 'grumpy faces!' to herself but Abhedya heard it and she bit her tongue.

"Nivi, you just want to stay or you want to have fun?" Swarnima asked him.

"Have fun of course," Nivi answered in a duh tone.

"Then wait for a week. Coz right now, we will not be able to have fun but just be consumed in work and studies. But after a week it will be the whole gang and we can call Nimrit too." Swarnima whispered the last part and Nivi blushed and nodded.

The other three in the room were trying to figure out what did she say to make their grumpy goat agree.

"Uh!! She is a magician just like her father. He also used to cast a spell while convincing for something. Trust me, you can never win if they are trying to convince you." Rudra shared a secret.

"And she can do that without those eyes." Nandini shut her mouth and realised what she said.

Abhedya heard it. He noted this point to go in the list of questions to be answered.

"I am a famished mom!! This girl starved me to death." Abhedya said hugging his mom from behind.

Nandini hit his arm playfully and said, "I know my daughter and her cooking skills and I know my son, who is a top-level foodie who would eat even if the world was collapsing."

Abhedya became a laughter stock and he also sat on the chair with a grumpy face. Swarnima giggled seeing him. Abhedya threw the bowl of rice puffs kept on the table on Swarnima.
Everyone was shocked and before anyone could react he went upstairs to his room and shouted halfway through, "that's for laughing at me. I am not a grumpy face."
The dining room roared with laughter.

"Abhey, your favourite 'laal maas' for diner will be over." Rudra declared and Abhedya came running down and sat on his chair.

Nandini served him and others sat on chairs too. Swarnima sat next to Nivi and Abhedya made a face. He was expecting her to sit next to him like always. Probably the times have changed.

Nandini sat next to Swarnima and declared, "I am feeding you today with my hands."

Swarnima gladly agreed and Nandini made her eat just like she did when she was a child.
Abhedya remembered Swarnima was a fussy eater. She was very choosy when it came to eating. Only Nandini could make her eat. Swarnima was now no longer a fussy eater. She had whatever was available, whatever the taste was.
Nandini was feeding Swarnima when Swarnima made her eat a bite and said, "I am big enough to feed you too masi!!"

The scene was emotional. After eating and feeding was done Abhedya said, "I will go and pack my necessary stuff, Nivi bro, help me."

"Why don't you call your butterflies." Nivi teased.
"Nivi!!!" Nandini warned him and he said, "fine!! Coming."

"Nim! There is something fishy. The council has suddenly eased off the rules. When they were informed of Abhedya's stay at your place, not once they showed any sign of disapproval. It's good if there is no motive but if there is, we need to find out. Maan is doing his bit. But be alert." Rudra shared his doubts.

"Chachu I guess, the date is close and they know when the throne is claimed things will change. The old council will be dissolved and a new one will be formed considering the disagreements with their norms. So, the ease may be. I have my guards on, don't bother Maan. He is already very pressured. Phuphu has assigned him the 'Dass project'." Swarnima informed Rudra.

"I know! Randeep is very stubborn. Anyways, does Abhedya have his doubts?" Rudra questioned.

"That is one thing I am making sure he doesn't. He has his set of doubts and questions but they can be tackled and diverted." Swarnima explained Rudra and Nandini.

Abhedya came with two big bags and said, " let's go!"

The three of them looked at each other. They did not know if Abhedya heard what they were talking about. He was normal, so, probably he did not. Taking that as an answer, Swarnima got up and bid bye to everyone and left with Abhedya.

The car ride was silent.
Swarnima was happy and content.
Abhedya was raging from within. He heard what his parents and Swarnima were talking about. A part of it, the part where Swarnima said ' it's easy to divert his questions and kill his curiosity.' She did just that today. He wanted to know about the photograph and her strange behaviour but she fooled him with the mystery cupboard and he was dumb enough to have fallen into her trap. Abhedya took a sharp turn and Swarnima shouted, "careful!!".

Abhedya mouthed sorry. He hated himself for losing to a girl who looked innocent but was not.
She was smart, clever and manipulative. But, he was no less. If she can play the game he can too. And the game is on... if she had the power to win everything, he had the power to make all the balls pass through the basket.

Abhedya's mind took over his thoughts and he promised himself 'we will become friends Nim and I won't fight with you, for us. I will build the trust and faith you always believed and wished for. I will do everything just the way you like but in Abhedya's style! Let's see how you escape my trap. You broke the bond even before we could build it.'

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Dear Readers
The best combination is that of a male best friend and a female best friend with endless fights, madness and trust.
With Abhedya and Swarnima—
endless fights... ✅
Madness... ✅
Trust.. ????
Hearing a part of the conversation and jumping to conclusions could be dangerous.. how?? Find out soon
Stay hooked!
Lots of love