Karan: Yaar ek baat bata.. tune koi cameras laga rakhe hai hamari room mein ke jab bhi hamara koi moment hone wala hota hai tu ya to khud aa jati hai ya to call kar deti hai? Kisi ne tujhe duty pe rakha hai kya hame dur rakhne ki?

Khushi: mai kisi duty pe nahi hu.. bass aaj kal meri entry pata nahi kyu badi wrong time pe ho rahi hai.. jo bhi hai.. mai bass Brutus ko apne kamre mein le jaane aayi thi uski basket ke saath aur dinner ke liye chalo.. wapas aake jitna romance karna hai kar lena.. I promise bilkul disturb nahi karungi..

Karan: Okk.. tum dono jao, mujhe ek important call karna hai.. mai bass abhi aata hu

Kriti: ok..
(Khushi and Kriti takes Brutus and they go to her room. They tuck him in)
Jaan yaar tera bhai din bhar aas paas tha.. puchne ka mauka hi nahi mila.. hua kya aakhir tumhare aur Shiv ke beech?

Khushi: we are.. dating.. he loves me too

Kriti: Seriously?? Yess I knew itt.. aur Sweetie?

Khushi: another jealousy game.. they are just friends..

Kriti: Yes yes yess.. I am sooo happy for you Jaaaan (she hugs her tightly)

Khushi: I love you toooo.. agar tu nahi hoti to mai kabhi usase iss baare mein baat karne ki himmat nahi juta paati.. thaank youuu

Kriti: chup.. pagal.. mai hameshaa hu, ok?

Khushi: I knoww.. Yash ki bhi batana haii

Kriti: aur Jannu di aur tera bhai?

Khushi: Karan ko to sich samajh ke aaram se batayenge.. Jannu di ko bata diya..

Kriti: she is ok with it?

Khushi: yaa I mean.. she is ok but she freaked out about Karan's reaction..

Kriti: Oh.. trust me I am freaked out about that too..

Khushi: hmm.. par chhod.. we will figure it out baadme.. filhaal bohot bhook lagi hai

Kriti: mujhe bhi.. chal.. (they go to the dining room where Shiv and Jannu were sitting on one side and Yash on other. Khushi sits besides Shiv and Karan takes seat next to Kriti)

Shiv: (whispers to Khushi) you look beautiful today

Khushi: (whispers back) Aur roz kaisi lagti hu?

Shiv: (whispers) Beautiful.. as always.. par aaj kuch jyada hi charm hai iss chehre par

Khushi: (whispers) higa kaise nahi? Aaj mujhe apna sab kuch jo mil gaya (winks at him)

Shiv: Accha?

Karan: Kya accha?

Khushi: (laughs in mind) Exactly.. kya accha? Khaana ya kya?

Shiv: haa.. wo khaana re.. accha hai, nahi?

Janvi: (laughs in mind) hmm bohot accha hai..

Karan: Seriously guys? Phir I don't know why mujhe dal mein namak jyada lag raha hai.. khatti se lag rahi hai.. (Kriti chuckles understanding the situation) kya hua?

Kriti: ku.. kuch nahi.. mujhe to khatti nahi lag rahi dal.. food is tasty..

Karan: Ohh.. Ok.. shayad meri wali mein upar se gir gaya hoga alag se or something..

Janvi: hmm may be.. (Yash is observing everyone and is trying to figure out but couldn't exactly point out what's happening)

(Khushi holds Shiv's right hand under the table so he couldn't eat. Karan looks at him sitting idle for a while)

Karan: Shiv.. Kya hua? Kha kyu nahi raha?

Shiv: woo.. kuch nahi.. bass.. (he starts eating with his left hand and Karan's attention is lost)

Shiv: (whispers to Khushi) Yaar kya kar rahi hoo? Haath chhodo pleasee..

Khushi: (whispers) aise kaise chhod du? Chhodne ke liye thodi pakda hai

Shiv: (whispers) yaaar left hand se khaya nahi jaa rahaa.. pleaseee.. Karan saamne hai.. (Yash notices something unusual and he deliberately makes hi spoon fall down. He goes down to pick it up and see Khushi holding Shiv's hand and quickly figures out what's going on)

Khushi: (whispers) then show me how smart you are.. Karan ko pata nahi chalna chahiye.. l

Shiv: (whispers) Seriously now?

Khushi: (whispers) yeah..

(Shiv starts eating with left hand)

Yash: Shiv.. ye tu left hand se kyu khaa raha hai? (In mind: Mujhe bataya bhi nahi na bacchu.. ab thodi der sahi par mai bhi maze lunga)

Karan: Shiv.. tu itna.. unusually.. stupid kyu behave kar raha hai kab se?

Janvi: exactly.. unusually stupid! Perfect definition dude..

Kriti: (in mind: ye log kyu itma tang kar rahe hai yaar.. Karan ka dhyaan divert karna padega..)

Shiv: Aree.. mujhe right haat pe thodi chot lagi hai.. isliye left hand se..

(At the same time, Kriti holds Karan's hand under the table)
Karan: What thee.. (he looks at it, then at others and composes himself and whispers to her) ye.. aap kya kar rahi ho?

Kriti: (whispers back) romance..

Karan: (whispers back) accha?
(He takes his hand out of her grip and holds her hand)

Kriti (whispers back) ye kya tha?
(He makes patterns on her hand) kyaa? Kuch samajh nahi raha.. (he puts more pressure and she tries to guess) I L O V E Y O U

Karan: (whispers back) Samjhi aap?

Kriti: (whispers back) nahi.. pehle aap mujhse normal baat kijiye

Karan: (whispers back) Mai to normal hi baat kar raha hu.. maine kaunsi abnormal baat keh di?

Kriti: (whispers back) mujhe aap aap kehna band kijiye.. Bohot ajeeb lagta hai..

Karan: (whispers back) trust me, mujhe bhi bohot ajeeb lagta hai.. par tum kaha meri baat maanti ho?

Kriti: (whispers back) phir wahi baat? Aapko jo karna hai kariye.. (she rolle her eyes and focuses on food)

(After dinner, they all go to their rooms, pack their bags and go to sleep. Next morning, they take their bags and meet by cars)

Shiv: Jaise aaye waise hi jayenge ya kaise baithna hai ab?

Yash: Mai Karan aur Kriti ke saath jaunga...

Karan: Chalo bhai phir.. yaha privacy ki kadar kisi ko hai hi nahi..

Kriti: Airport tak to koi problem nahi par Pune se Mumbai jaate vaqt Yash please unki gaadi mein chala ja..

Khushi: Yaar Kriti tu itni romantic kab se ho gayi?

Kriti: Shut up! Romance ke liye nahi bol rahi.. tere paas license nahi hai, Shiv ke haat mein gaadi nahi de sakte.. for like.. obvious reasons.. aur Di is not comfortable driving such long distances... She might get dizzy and need a back up.. besides, tumhare jhagde roz ki baat hai yaar.. come on.. nothing new.. so jhagadne ka matlab ye to nahi hai ki you will stop helping each other...

Janvi: Nahi Kriti.. that's fine... mujhe kuch laga to hum break le lenge.. Bandar ko aane do tumhare saath

Yash: Koi jaroorat nahi hai.. thike Krits.. Pune to Mumbai unke saath aata hu mai

Karan: Ok then, chale?

All: Yess.. (they go to airport, take flight, land at Pune and as planned, travel back to Mumbai)

(In Karan's car)
Karan: Kaisi thi hamari 1st trip?

Kriti: 1st kaha thi? Hum Bachpan mein bhi saath mein trips pe gaye hai

Karan: haa.. par.. as a couple... I mean Khushi ki bestfriend aur Khushi ke bhai ke aage chalke as Karan and Kriti to 1st trip thi na?

Kriti: Hmmm.. true.. (sticking her back to the seat and turning her head towards him) and it will alwaysss be one of the most amazing experience of my life

Karan: (looking at the road with a blushful smile) mine too..

Kriti: Accha let go romance now.. bohot kar liya pichle 3 4 dino mein..

Karan: Sachme? Meri behen to har baaar romance kharab kar rahi thi.. Bewakoof ladkii..

Kriti: (giggles) uske bawajood bohot ho gaya.. but tell me things about yourself naa.. I mean.. how much do we even know each other?

Karan: I believe.. pretty much..

Kriti: and why do you believe so?

Karan: I mean.. over the years khaane peene mein tumhari saari favourites mujhe pata thi because it was always my responsibility to bring you guys whatever you wanted, I pretty much know your favourite movie, song, career ko lekar tum jyada sorted to ho nahi to mujhe pata hone ka sawal hi nahi.. marks vagare bhi har saal pata chal hi jaate the tumhare.. ab bacha kya hai exactly?

Kriti: dreams, fantasies, expectations, past... Relationships, crushes, family, lots of things left actually.. matlab things jo job interview mein kisi kaam ke nahi par life partner ko matter karte hai.. you know?

Karan: hmm.. so why don't you start.. tell me things about yourself that I don't know..
(They start talking and have fun discussing memories and different things about each other)

(In Janvi's car, Yash was sitting next to Janvi and Shiv and Khushi were on the backseat)
Shiv: yaar.. hamesha privacy un dono ko hi kyu milti hai?

Janvi: Kyukiii... Kriti apne bhai se aur Karan apne bestfriend se unka affair chhupa nahi rahe jo apparently ek hi insaan hai..

Shiv: tu bass mujhe guilt deti reh ab.. matlab mai romance bhi nahi kar sakta..

Khushi: kyu? Di se sharmate ho ya Yash se?

Yash: Khushiiii noooo!! Tum dono na please jo karna hai silent romance karo.. baadme jab mere Jiju mujhse puchenge I don't wanna lie to him.. better I know the leastttt of whatever is going on..

Janvi: hate to admit, but very true! Karan se baat karne ke baad jo chahiye karna par tab tak please let me know the least.. mai Karan se jhooth nahi bol paungi ek limit ke baad.. aur koshish ki to bhi you know wo pakad leta hai..

Shiv: iss duniya ke sabse unsupportive friends mujhe hi milne thee...

Yash: tumhe pyaar karne ke liye tumhare bestfriend ki behen hi mili thi? Apparantly jo sirf tumhara nahi iss Chudail ka bhi bestfriend hai, aur mera jiju jiski behen meri bhi bestfriend hai.. now please elaborate how exactly are we supposed to be "supportive" here? (Laughs)

Shiv: we are in a pretty messed up situation, aren't we?

Khushi: Indeed! (Rolls her eyes and her head falls on his arm. He adjusts resting her on his chest and holds her in his arms) Ye sab baadme soch lengee.. I'll be fine taking a nap here.. (all giggle, Shiv kisses her forehead and sit holding her close to him until he went to sleep too)

Yash: mai karu drive?

Janvi: nahi.. I am fine..

Yash: you look tired

Janvi: I am not.. mai bata dungi if I feel like..

Yash: fine.. (he puts on earphones and listens to songs. After a few more kms Janvi stops the car) kya hua?

Janvi: Drive.. (gets off the driving seat but he keeps sitting on his seat. She comes around to take his seat but he won't come out) jao... Drive..

Yash: (pulls window down) par tumne to kaha you are not tired

Janvi: ab bol rahi hu na? Goo...

Yash: Bol raha tha let me drive.. par nahi.. akad dikhani hai naa (gets off the seat and goes to driving seat and she takes his seat) mere paas permanent license nahii hai abhi tak.. learning license hai.. I am not allowed to drive without supervision..

Janvi: to ab mai tumhe supervise karu?

Yash: Just.. don't go to sleep.. police vagare hue aage to kehna padega I am driving under your supervision..

Janvi: wow.. so bhi nahi sakti.. awesomeee.. chalo ab.. (He starts driving and after a few miles, talks out of nowhere)

Yash: Kya mila mujhe itna kuch kehke?

Janvi: hn?

Yash: kya mila mujhe itna kuch bhala bura keh ke?

Janvi: you mean.. tumhe tumhara sach batake?

Yash: come on Chudail.. both of us know you didn't mean any of it..

Janvi: I did mean what I said Bandar... Ab tu denial mein hoga to I can't help..

Yash: hmm.. par problem ye hai ki mai tujhe thodaa sa behtar jaanta hu.. agar tu mujhse sachme gussa hoti to mujhe thappad lagati, laat maarti, jhagadti, kuch bhi karti par.. jis ladki ko, uski story ko tu jaanti bhi nahi hai use.. matter of fact, hamare bhi past ko kabhi beechme nahi laati.. and about my capability to care, I never found it is important to tell if I care or not for them.. if I care for someone, they know it.. and you know it.. so stop throwing that shit on my face..

Janvi: Bandar agar tujhe aisa lagta hai ye sab keh ke tu..

Yash: mujhe kya lagta hai kya nahi doesn't matter chudail.. sach tu bhi jaanti hai aur mai bhi, so cut the crap short.. tu mujhse gussa thi hi nahi.. you wanted to hurt me so that mai apni nak iss mamle se dur rakhu.. and you did it quite well.. tu nahi batana chahti na to mat bata.. mai wapas puchne bhi nahi wala.. par mai pata to karke rahuga.. (he gives her a strong glare and she sighs)

Janvi: agar jaanta hai mai chahti hu tu iss mamle mein nak na ghusaye to kyu ghusani hai tujhe? Stay out of it.. koi pahad nahi tuta hai.. I can handle things myself.. but I don't want you to get involved in anyway..

Yash: to problem bata aur baat khatam kar na..

Janvi: tune bataya uss ladki ke baare mein kabhi?

Yash: taki tu uska naam bhi mere khilaaf argument mein use kare?

(She turns away)
Janvi: Exactly... Mai bhi nahi chahti meri problems kisi argument mein mere khilaaf use ho.. we are even then

Yash: I won't ever do that Chudail..

Janvi: I did it.. aur jo cheez mai kar sakti hu wo mere saath bhi ho sakti hai..

Yash: I don't know why I am saying this but I still trust you Janvi.. I mean.. you literally don't know anything about her.. and I can bet my life on the fact that you would have never ever done that if you actually knew her story.. ok, how about a deal? I'll tell you about Diva and you tell me about whatever the fuck is going on..

Janvi: Diva.. that's her name?

Yash: hmm..

Janvi: phir bhi yaar Bandar.. I don't want you to get any more involved in it..

Yash: Any more? Matlab? Am I involved already by any means?

Janvi: kind of.. so its better you stay away

Yash: Diva.. Divya naam tha uska.. hamare school mein nahi thi par classes mein thi... Mai Kriti, Khushi, Diva.. we used to be besttt friends..

Janvi: Yash... I am not going to tell you..

Yash: kaafi hadd tak wo bhi ekdum tere jaisi thi.. akdu, gussail, jhagadne ke liye hameshaa tayar.. strong headed thi.. apne opinions aasani se banati nahi thi par ek baar bana liya to tass se mass nahi hogi.. ambitious thi.. political analyst banana chahti thi.. bohot acche articles bhi likhti thi jinme se kuch to magazine ke editorials mein bhi chhapte the.. She knew I was in love wih her.. I was in love with her ambitions too.. I respected her for them.. I knew she loved me.. par hamne kabhi ek dusre se kaha hi nahi.. at least.. jab tak keh sakte the.. mai use propose karne wala tha uske birthday ke din.. bohot tayariya ki thi.. Nani ne mujhe unki ring bhi di thi use propose karne ke liye... she was Nani's favouritee.. mere aur Kriti se jyada uske laad the Nani ke.. partly because she knew I loved her and she was more than happy to accept Diva in our family.. par mai use propose kar paata usase pehle... she... She died..

To be continued...