Bhumi's POV:

Aryamann didn't even come back before leaving for Bangalore.

Ha! He didn't even leave a text message, let alone coming home.

I had packed an overnight bag and came over to the apartment I used to share with Arohi and Bani. As it is a Saturday, I would spend it here and tomorrow is my usual orphanage visit.

"It's been so long since we had a girls' night," Bani said sadly.

"Yeah. It used to be so fun when we three used to sit and talk for hours and hours," Arohi said nostalgically.

"Yeah. I understand. There is no fun without Bhumi, right?" I asked smugly, earning an eye roll from them both.

"This is what we actually missed, you know. You, praising yourself and making us laugh," Bani said with a laugh.

"Hey, I am not praising myself. I am simply stating the truth," I argued playfully.

"Yeah, yeah, we know," Arohi said with a dismissive wave of her hand.

"So, what plans tonight?" I asked.

"Let's order pizza and binge-watch something on Netflix," Bani said.

"Okay. Let's watch Originals," I said excitedly, making them both groan.

"Not again, Bhumi," Arohi groaned.

"Why not?" I asked, feeling offended on behalf of myself and Joseph Morgan.

"Because we have watched it a hundred times already. Let's watch something new," Bani said, and I nodded reluctantly.

Arohi quickly placed an order for three pizzas, with extra cheese, of course. Bani began browsing through Netflix, searching for some catchy blurbs.

"So?" Bani asked, looking at me.

I frowned at her.

"What?" I asked in confusion.

"What is happening between you and Aryamann?" Bani asked, and I saw Roohi abandoning the television remote and turning to look at me.

"What? We have a contract, and we are carrying it out," I said with a casual shrug.

"Bhumi, we might not have known you for a very long time. But we know you," Arohi said softly.

"What do you mean? There is nothing," I said without looking at them.

"Oh darling. You did it, didn't you?" Bani asked, placing a comforting hand around my shoulder. Arohi took the cue and sat on my other side.

I let out a sad chuckle.

"I am a fool, aren't I?" I asked.

"No, you are not. It is natural, sweetie," Bani said.

"Yes. But our relationship is not natural, and I should have kept that in my mind. I shouldn't have let my heart take over," I said, as beads of tears started flowing down my cheeks. Roohi and Bani hugged me from either side.

"Let it all out, Bhumi. Don't hold it in," Bani said.

"I don't know how it happened? One minute I was loathing him and the next minute I was falling head over heels. How is that even possible?" I asked, still not understanding how I fell in love with him.

"It happens, dear. What do they say? Yes, there is a fine line between love and hate," Bani said.

"Yes, I have read it in many books. I actually loved reading enemy-turned-lover types of books. But I never thought it could happen in real life too," I chuckled through my tears.

"It's okay. We are here for you, darling. And I think Aryamann feels the same too," Bani said.

I laughed at that.

"Don't say such things just for my benefit, Bani. I know he doesn't," I said.

"He cares for you a lot, Bhumi. We had seen him when you were kidnapped. He was so worried for you," Roohi said.

"He was worried about his asset. I am an asset to him. He has built up a story around me, and he couldn't risk losing me before the one year is up," I said.

"Maybe you were an asset in the beginning and you might be more than that now," Bani said optimistically, but her words were strained. I looked at her and saw the pained expression on her face. It confused me.

"Bani? You alright?" I asked anxiously.

"Yes, yes. It is that stupid headache again," she said, dismissing it again.

It has been a few months since Bani started having these terrible headaches. Some sort of migraine, I guess.

"What did the doctor say?" Roohi asked, and the guilty look on Bani's face made it clear that she didn't consult with any doctor.

"Bani. You were the most responsible one out of the three of us. How can you be irresponsible now and ignore your health?" I scolded her softly.

"I will book an appointment on Monday. Don't worry," she said with a soft smile.

"Do you want me to accompany you? Anyways, I am out of work now," I said.

"No. It's okay, Bhumi. I will manage."

Thus, the topic shifted from my one-sided love, and I was thankful for that. Tomorrow, I will be visiting the orphanage and the kids, and that would help me keep the thoughts of Aryamann at bay.

Aryamann's POV:

"Will you stop sulking?" Daksh asked in exasperation.

"I am not," I said, rolling my eyes grumpily. We are at our apartment in Bangalore. It is a weekend evening. We came here yesterday for the meeting along with that Ekansh F**king Mittal.

"Ekansh left for Pune after yesterday's meeting. Not to Mumbai," Gaurav said for the hundredth time.

"I don't care," I said.

"Oh! I thought you were worried that he left to meet Bhumi," Gaurav said with an annoying smirk on his face.

"And why would that bother me? They are childhood friends, and she definitely wants to spend time with him. So let them be. It is none of my business," I said through clenched teeth.

"And that won't make you jealous?" Gaurav asked, raising his eyebrows.

"Why the hell would I be jealous?" I asked, not liking the direction of this talk.

"Because you love her," Gaurav said simply, and I froze.

"Love?" I asked blankly, and he nodded, and I let out a harsh laugh.

"You think I love her?" I asked again.

"I don't think so. I know," Gaurav said confidently, and Daksh nodded his head, supporting Gaurav.

"Seriously, Daksh? You two damn well know that I don't f**king believe in this nonsense called love. I don't even know what love is," I yelled at them.

"Aryamann, it's time to move on. There is no point in living in the past," Daksh said softly.

"Don't go there, Daksh. I can't and will never forget what happened. And I don't f**king love Bhumi," I said furiously.

"Your mouth says that. Have you seen yourself these days, Aryamann? You have changed. Changed for good. And that's because of Bhumi," Gaurav said.

"I agree. I changed a lot after Bhumi's arrival in my life. Yes, her sunny nature has started rubbing on me. But that doesn't mean I am in love with her. I don't believe in love anymore," I said adamantly.

"Hell! You even started smiling. Do you have any idea how happy that makes us," Daksh said in awe.

"That's not love," I said adamantly.

"Let's not argue on this. Let me do what I did when it was Daksh bhaiyya's time," Gaurav said, with a wicked smile.

"What?" I asked suspiciously.

"Guys, it's the weekend. It's turning ten. Time for RJ RAM's show," he said, hooting in excitement.

"Damn! Don't tell me you are going to discuss my personal life with some stranger," I yelled at him furiously.

"Why, of course. That's the same thing Daksh bhaiyya told me before I presented his case with RAM. Now look at him, blissfully married and happy with his beloved Ishitha," he said with a proud grin on his face.

He switched on the radio and dialled the number which he knew by heart. I mean, she says that every weekend. And we have been listening to that show for quite a while now. So obviously, we know it by heart.

I kept glaring at Gaurav, and he kept on ignoring me.

"🎵Look at the stars, look how they shine for you, and everything you do.🎵 Good evening lovelies. This is RJ RAM, the one and only. If you wish to talk to me, then take your phones and dial 98********."

"So we have our first caller of the night here. Good evening. This is RAM speaking. Who is on the other side?" the girl asked.

"Good evening RJ RAM. I am a very big fan of you and your special show. And I am a fellow Mumbaian, calling for your love advice of course," Gaurav said cheerfully.

"Okay Mr. Fellow Mumbaian, tell me what problem are you facing in your love life?" The radio jockey asked, equally cheerful.

"Well, not my love life exactly. It is my brother's love life," he said, and I glared at him hard.

"Okay. Tell me, what's the problem?" She asked in a serious tone.

"The problem is that he doesn't believe in love," Gaurav said.

"Woah! Why? Is there any particular reason for that?" she asked straight to the point.

"I can't reveal everything now. Because, you know, if looks could kill!! You know what I mean?" He asked, and she laughed out loud at that.

That laughter! Why does that sound so familiar?

"I get it. He is sitting right next to you and planning your murder?" She asked in an amused tone.

"Exactly," Gaurav breathed out.

"But as you know Mr. Brother, I can't help you not knowing what is going on. So My Fellow Mumbaian, please explain things to me," she asked.

"Uh, there was a girl. It was around seven or eight years back. They were in a relationship. She cheated on him. He hates her now, and he lost his belief in love. Cliche, right?" Gaurav said, and how simple it sounds. No one knows the pain and agony that came with this seemingly simple story. He finished saying it in three simple sentences.

"Did you say that he hates her now?" The girl asked.

"Yes," Gaurav said.

"If he hates her now, let me tell you one thing, his love was not genuine," she said, and that got to me.

"How dare you say that?" I growled, snatching the phone from Gaurav.

"Oops, sorry for offending you, Mr. unknown. What I meant is that, you might not have been in love with her. You might have been in love with the idea of being in love," she said.

"What the hell do you mean, woman?" I asked through my clenched teeth.

"What I meant is that, if you had ever loved her, you would never be able to hate her. No matter how much she hurt you. And if you hate her, then it means you never loved her," she said seriously.

I didn't particularly understand that logic.

"That doesn't make any sense, Ms. RAM," I said coldly.

"Maybe not for now. But you will understand soon. Just wait and see. One day, a girl would come. Without her, your heartbeats will stop. Without her, you wouldn't be able to live. You will feel as if you will stop breathing, if she goes away from you. And then you will understand that what you felt for this other woman, seven to eight years back was never love," she said and my breath hitched.

"I don't believe in love," I said in a blank tone.

"You will believe in love when you actually fall in love. So, just wait and see. And yeah, don't forget me when you fall in love. And Mr. fellow Mumbaian, I will be waiting for your call, saying that your brother finally fell in love. So listen to one of my favourite songs next and stay tuned Mumbai," she said and hung up the call.

There was a peaceful silence in the room, which was disturbed by none other than Gaurav.

"Aryamann, you will believe in love, when you finally fall in love," he said, winking at me.

A/N

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