I went to my room, turned on the music and danced in my sadness. Music and Dance were my solace since dad died, I expressed all my emotions through dancing and since I chose my profession as dance tutor, mom never found out when I was angry or sad.

After dancing for an hour and half I changed my sweaty clothes to a fresh pair of baggy tee-shirt and sweatpants. When I came out of my room everyone went to their rooms, I went to the kitchen to get the ice-cream tub and took it to terrace. I sat there on the bench and looked at stars as I ate ice-cream with silent tears escaping my eyes. I was busy remembering dad looking at stars and eating ice-cream when I felt an arm around my shoulder. That's when I realized someone is sitting close to me on the bench.

I looked in the direction and found Jeet sitting there with his arm around my shoulder.

"Hey what happened? Why are you crying?" HE asked looking at me gently.

"Umm.. nothing. Just like that. Leave it. What are you doing here?" I tried to change the topic as I tried to wipe my tears, however my eyes were not stopping and tears kept flowing.

"Please don't try to change the topic. What happened? I can feel something is bothering you since you came from Leena's home." He asked again and wiped few tears away from my face.

"There is nothing like that, in-fact I am very happy for both of them." I said still trying to control my tears but failing miserably.

"Please don't lie Trisha. We might have not met each other for more than ten years but we were very good friends for ten years before the unfortunate incident. I know you this much that I can tell something is wrong with you or not." He said and I was touched.

"I miss him Jeet. I miss Dad almost everyday but I learnt to live with the reality, its just that some days I just feel life would be so much easy and fun with him around. Why God played that cruel joke on us? Why we had to suffer so much after he was gone? Why mom had to be alone in all her worries and pains?" I said as I broke into more tears.

He hugged me and stoke my hair gently while his other hand rubbed my back.

"Shhh Shhh Trisha, Its okay. Worst time is gone, you are there as a strong pillar for Auntie, I don't think she needs anyone else when you are there with her. I know what you are going through. I dealt with the same pain for a long time but then I learnt it will only hurt them when they see us crying or miserable." He said in his soft voice trying to coax me.

"You know when you and Auntie were there I was all strong for you and both of them, actually when you left I found out you were my strength. Remember how we used to wipe each other's tears and try to make each other laugh. Once you and Auntie left Amritsar, I was all alone and I felt too weak. I cried for hours everyday for almost three months and then slowly I learnt to live without Dad and you. But I promised myself to find you someday and I just started search for you and Auntie a few months back when Mom told me she is in contact with Auntie for all these years and never told me because she thought I am angry with you." He said and I looked at him in surprise.

We were really good friends but never knew he valued me so much. It was very difficult for me to adjust in Delhi after we left Amritsar, although I missed him a few times but I was too busy and angry at my life that with time I forgot him. I felt guilty hearing him.

"Why did you guys leave Amritsar? I remember you and Auntie left to live with your uncle here but I got to know from mom that you and Auntie has been living alone since you left from Amritsar." He asked and I shivered remembering the reason for it. But he cared for me and I know he is the only friend I can confide in to.

"After we left Amritsar we came to my uncle living here in Punjabi Bagh, In the first week he told mom she will have to work too since education and survival here is not easy. He helped mom to get a job here as a Teacher, pay was decent and he asked us to live with his family for a while he will search a close by place for us on low rent to give us privacy. He was very good with us, treating us nicely, being Dad's brother he said it was his responsibility to take care of us. Then one evening when his family went to some family function and Mom was busy taking home tuitions to two students in the same building, he called me into his room as asked to put some balm on his head as he was having headache. Being a good daughter I took the balm from him and started massaging his head, then suddenly he held both my hands and kissed them. I felt inappropriate and I tried to free my hands from his hold but he tightened his grip, his eyes were red with some sort of hunger in them. He tried to force himself on me but thanks to Almighty, mom came home as the students family had to go somewhere. She caught him red handed and the same evening we left his house. We stayed in a hotel for that night and next day when mom went to school to work, she was given a two weeks notice to leave the school. My uncle got her fired.

Thankfully I made a couple friends in school one of which was Leena, I told her we are in need of a place to stay and her parents helped us by giving us a room at their house. WE stayed with them for five years till I joined college, Mom used to pay them rent but they never let her pay for anything else saying I am their second daughter. Her parents celebrated my birthdays the way they used to celebrate hers since they knew our financial situation wasn't too good. Besides I never cared about celebrations but they made sure me and Mom are always included in celebrating all festivals or if there is any occasion in their family. Once I started college, I started Trista with Leena in our college. We talked with our college canteen owner and he gave us some space there to conduct dance classes since it brought business to his canteen too. Since then its been seven years, we worked hard together to take Trista Classes where it is today. I bought this house two years back and the car last year. I asked mom to retire once I was able to buy the house without taking a lone.

I am Sorry Jeet, I never contacted you. After what happened at my uncle's house, I was shattered for a while, confused and lost and when I came back to my senses I saw my mom struggling so hard for our survival. If it was not for Leena's family we don't know how we would have ended up. I was determined to make mom's life easier that I totally forgot about you when you still remembered me. I am Sorry, I am the worst friend ever." I said still crying and he hugged me again.

"Its alright sweetheart. I can't imagine what you have gone through and its alright if you didn't contact me. See fate is on our side and that's why our moms found each other even though we too moved from our old address to a new one in Amritsar." He said making me smile.

"I guess you are right. We are destined to stay friends and I am glad I got my oldest friend back." I said smiling and wiping my tears.

"Me too. Lets celebrate." He said and started dragging me with him down the stairs.

"Celebrate? How?" I asked him still following him.

"By going on a long drive and eating falooda." He said and I looked at my watch.

"Jeet its already 11:00PM, we are in Delhi, not in Amritsar. Its not safe here to roam around this late, don't you read newspaper or hear news about the crime in Delhi?" I asked him and he smiled at me.

"Don't you trust your friend here? Don't worry I wont let anything happen to us." He said and dragged me out of the house towards the car.

Before I could counter he pushed me inside the car in passenger seat while he took the driver seat. As we started he called Shreyas and Leena to join us too. Interestingly Leena's parents agreed for her to go this late as they heard Shreyas's name.

We had a great time roaming around and eating ice-cream at India-Gate. I teased Leena and Shreyas a lot. They told me how their parents are eager to get them married this month but the priest gave the date after four months. Four months they will get married in the middle of the show and I will have to handle everything single handedly. But who am I kidding, I will gladly handle everything if its for her happiness. I was very happy for both of them that I decided to treat both of them tomorrow after work.

When we reached home after dropping Shreyas and Leena it was already 1:00AM. We bade each other good night and went to our rooms. I slept a peaceful sleep that night with a smile on my face.