I stared at myself in the mirror, adjusting the tie on my classic black tuxedo. I should've felt confident, but all I could feel was this nagging irritation.

I was going to the party with Yamuna-a perfectly nice girl-but it wasn't her I wanted by my side tonight.

I wanted Shehnaaz.

She'd always been my date for Valentine's Day, even when we told ourselves it was just for fun. But this time, she chose Rohan.

That fucking Rohan.

I just hate him.

The thought of them together made my blood boil.

"Why am I so mad?" I was confused.

I was hurt, jealous and definitely possessive for Shehnaaz.

But, how can I feel all these?

Jealousy? Really?

She is my best friend. Damnit!

I had no idea what was going on in my life anymore.

But one thing was clear: I hate Rohan, and I don't like his closeness with Shehnaaz.

Then the memory hit me. That stupid day with Mitali, and then with Shehnaaz and that fucker Rohan.

God! I wanted to punch him. Again.

It was after basketball practice when Mitali cornered me near the bleachers, her face red with nervousness.

"Please, Sidharth! Just help me this one time," Mitali pleaded, clutching my arm. "I'm terrified to ask Pratik myself. What if he rejects me?"

She likes Pratik, one of my teammates. Pratik is a nice guy. Shy and introverted but very good at basketball.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Fine. I'll pretend to be your date, but only for practice. After that, you have to talk to him. Deal?"

She nodded eagerly, and I could already feel the headache coming on.

We were practicing-her pretending to ask me to the party-when I caught a flash of red out of the corner of my eye.

My heart sank.

Shehnaaz was standing there. Her expression was.... heartbreaking.

Her wide, tear-filled eyes locked onto mine, and before I could even explain, she turned and ran away.

"Wait, Shehnaaz!" I called after her, leaving Mitali behind.

But she didn't stop.

I quickened my pace, following her through the hallways. And then I saw him-Rohan. He was running toward her, concerned etched on his face.

"Don't you dare-" I muttered under my breath as I saw him following her into the girls' washroom. And then, to my utter disbelief, he locked the door behind him. I froze outside the door, fists clenched at my sides.

"What the hell does he think he's doing?" I growled under my breath.

My mind raced.

Is he hugging her? Kissing her? Or, consoling her? I tried to convince myself it was the last one, but it didn't stop the anger coursing through me.

That should've been me.

She's my best friend. Not his.

I thought about going in and checking on her, but then I stopped. Some students are coming this way. I got alerted standing a few feet away from the washroom area.

"Thank God," to my relief the students went upstairs.

But, my anger grew on Rohan. How can he act so immaturely? No one will put a finger on him, but definitely on Shehnaaz.

"Fucking idiot, Rohan."

And, Shehnaaz? How did she allow him inside? How did she allow it when he locked them inside? If I didn't come, someone else would have come and seen them coming out from the washroom together.

I was mad at Shehnaaz too.

But, she was crying right? She might haven't noticed or realized Rohan locked the door. Yes. She won't allow it. Never. My Shehnaaz is not like that.

"I should call them out."

As I made my way to the door, the door opened, and Rohan walked out with Shehnaaz by his side, smiling.

Seriously? Smiling?

I stared at them, my stomach twisting into knots. Shehnaaz's smile died the second she saw me. But, I did notice her red face and eyes. She cried, because of me. And, I felt guilty.

"What are you doing here, Sidharth?" she asked, her tone sharp.

"I was looking for you," I admitted, ignoring the smug look on Rohan's face. I wanted to punch his face. "I wanted to ask if you will be my date for the party."

Shehnaaz crossed her arms, her jaw tightening. "No. I already have a date. Rohan."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. "Rohan?" I repeated, trying to keep my voice steady. "You're going with him?"

"Yes. I don't need charity. I heard you're going with Mitali. Go with her. Congratulations." Her tone was icy, and before I could explain, she turned on her heel and walked away-dragging Rohan with her.

I stood there, rooted to the spot, my fists clenching and unclenching. My heart was racing, and I felt like screaming.

"Shehnaaz deserves better than him," I muttered to myself, watching them disappear around the corner.

But deep down, a small voice whispered something I wasn't ready to admit.

This isn't about Rohan. This is about me.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. That misunderstanding had spiraled out of control. Shehnaaz thought I was going with Mitali, and now she was going with Rohan. The thought made my jaw clench. Grabbing the car keys, I left for the party.

"Wow! So beautiful," Yamuna chatted beside me as we entered the party, but I wasn't listening.

My eyes scanned the room, searching for the one person I wanted to see. And, then I saw her.

Shehnaaz, was in a red dress that hugged her curves perfectly, her hair falling in soft waves around her shoulders. She was breathtaking. But my admiration turned to anger as I noticed who was with her.

Rohan.

He was leaning in close, whispering something in her ear. She fucking blushed and smiled, and my blood boiled in anger and chest tightened, jealousy simmering in my veins.

"Are you okay?" Yamuna asked, wincing as I accidentally tightened my grip on her hand.

"Yeah. Sorry," I muttered, letting her go.

She ran towards her friends and I made my way to the bar, grabbing a cold drink to calm my nerves. But it didn't help. My eyes kept drifting to Shehnaaz and that fucker Rohan.

The room buzzed with music and laughter, but I couldn't hear any of it. My eyes were glued to one person- Shehnaaz.

She was dancing with Rohan. The way he held her hand, the way she smiled at him, it all burned like acid in my veins.

"Why him?" I muttered to myself, gripping the glass in my hand.

My chest felt tight, my jaw clenched so hard it hurt. I didn't understand why this bothered me so much. Shehnaaz was my best friend. Then, why was I acting like a jealous boyfriend?

God! Everything is so messed up.

I took another sip of my drink, trying to focus on anything else. But my eyes kept darting back to them. Her laughter was like a dagger to my heart.

"She's happy," I told myself. "That's all that matters."

But it wasn't.

Every time Rohan leaned closer to her, every time she looked at him with those sparkling eyes, it felt like someone was twisting a knife in my chest.

"Dude, you okay?" Pratik, nudged me.

The guy, Mitali likes.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I lied, forcing a smile.

"Doesn't look like it. You've been glaring at Rohan like he stole your car."

Stole my car? No, he stole something much more important.

I laughed it off, brushing him aside. "It's nothing."

But it wasn't nothing.

"Alright then, enjoy the night." he said, eyeing Mitali with that lovey-dovey eyes.

If it was some other time, I would have cringed and rolled my eyes and mock him, but today I was feeling something else.

Jealousy.

Jealous that what he has, I don't.

My Shehnaaz.

"Good for you," I said, smiling at him.

"Thanks, Man. For you, we're together now." he blushed.

This time I didn't stop myself from rolling my eyes. "Men don't blush!" I mocked him.

"I don't agree. They do, only when they talk about their love." He said smiling.

"You love her?" I was shocked. I didn't know that.

"Yeah, man." There comes his stupid blush.

"Anyways, I'm happy for you both."

"Thanks man." Giving a side hug, he left.

Then I saw, Rohan swirling her. Her laughter rang out, and for a moment, I thought she looked at me. But she didn't. She was looking at him.

That was it.

Before I could think, I was moving across the room, shoving past couples, ignoring the surprised looks. I grabbed her wrist and pulled her away from Rohan.

"Sidharth!" Shehnaaz exclaimed, startled. "What are you doing?"

"We need to talk." My voice was gruff, my grip firm but not enough to hurt her.

"What the hell, man?" Rohan stepped forward, glaring at me.

"Stay out of this," I snapped, shooting him a look that could kill.

"Shehnaaz-"

"Rohan, it's fine," Shehnaaz interrupted, her voice soft but firm. "I'll be back in a minute."

She let me pull her outside into the cool night air. The music and chatter faded, replaced by the sound of my heavy breathing and the faint rustle of leaves.

"Sidharth, what's going on?" she asked, crossing her arms. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips slightly parted.

God, she looked beautiful. And, I wanted to kiss her.

Fuck! What am I thinking?

"Sidharth?"

"You shouldn't be with him," I said finally, my voice was sharper than I intended.

She frowned. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me. Rohan isn't good for you."

"And you are?" she shot back, her eyes blazing. "What's your problem, Sidharth? Why do you even care?"

"Because-" I stopped, the words caught in my throat.

Because I love you.

The thought hit me like a freight train.

I love her?

She stepped closer, her eyes searching for mine. "Because what?"

"Because I don't want to see you with him!" I burst out. My voice was raw, desperate. "I can't stand it, Shehnaaz. The way he looks at you, the way you smile at him. It drives me crazy."

Her eyes widened. "Why?"

"Because I want that for me. I want you damn it. You're mine!" The words escaped before I could stop them.

Her lips parted, her expression shifting from shock to something softer. "Yours?"

I ran a hand through my hair, pacing. "Yes, damn it. I've been so blind, Shehnaaz. All this time, I thought you were just my best friend. But you're not. You're so much more. And seeing you with him... it made me realize I can't lose you."

She took a step closer, her voice trembling. "Do you even know how long I've waited to hear that?"

I froze, my eyes snapping to hers. "What?"

"I've loved you forever, Sidharth," she admitted, tears glistening in her eyes. "I was just waiting for you to catch up."

My heart felt like it would burst. "You... love me?"

She nodded, a small, watery smile on her lips.

I cupped her cheek, my thumb brushing away a tear. "I'm such an idiot."

"Yes, you are," she laughed softly, leaning into my touch.

"I don't deserve you," I whispered.

She shook her head. "You deserve everything, Sidharth. And I want to be the one to give it to you."

I couldn't hold back anymore. Slowly, I leaned in, giving her enough time to pull away if she wanted to. But she didn't.

Our lips met in a kiss that was soft yet intense, filled with all the emotions we'd been holding back. Her hands slid up to my chest, gripping the fabric of my shirt as I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her close.

The world faded away. There was no party, no Rohan, no jealousy - just us.

When we finally pulled apart, we were both breathless.

"I love you, Shehnaaz," I said, my voice steady for the first time that night.

"I love you, Sidharth," she replied, her smile brighter than I'd ever seen it.

We stood there for a while, wrapped in each other's arms, for the first time in days, I felt at peace. She was mine. And I wasn't letting her go.

"Let's go back to the party?" She said, pouting.

I kissed her lips again.

God! I'm already addicted to her lips.

"As you say, Baby." I winked.

"Baby, huh?" She blushed.

"Yes, my baby," I held her hand in mine and kissed her forehead.

The music shifted to a soft, romantic tune as we stepped back into the party. Shehnaaz was still in my arms, her cheeks flushed and her lips curved into the most beautiful smile I'd ever seen. The crowd parted slightly, some of them noticing the change in our dynamic.

The DJ announced, "Alright, couples, time to hit the dance floor!"

I turned to Shehnaaz, my hand still firmly holding hers. "Dance with me," I said, my voice was softer now, but there was no question in it.

Her lips parted in surprise. "Sidharth-"

"No arguments," I interrupted, pulling her toward the center of the dance floor.

The lights dimmed, casting a warm glow over the room. As the music started, I placed one hand on her waist, the other still holding hers. She hesitated for a moment before resting her free hand on my shoulder, her eyes meeting mine.

"You've really changed everything tonight," I whispered, my thumb brushing her waist gently, trying to remove the fingerprints of Rohan.

Shehnaaz understood what I was doing, and her cheeks deepened in color. "And here I thought I was the one waiting for you to figure things out."

I chuckled, colouring her lightly before pulling her close again. "Better late than never."

"Of course,"

Our movements were slow, in sync, as if we'd done this a thousand times before. The crowd faded into the background again; all I could see, hear, and feel was her. She smiled shyly, her confidence from earlier replaced by something softer, more vulnerable.

"Stop staring," she murmured, looking away.

"Can't help it," I admitted, leaning closer. "You're stunning."

Her eyes darted back to mine, widening slightly before her lips curved into a smile.

As the music built toward its crescendo, I couldn't resist anymore. Before I knew it, I leaned down, my lips capturing hers in a kiss that was anything but subtle. It was passionate, claiming, filled with everything I hadn't said before.

A few gasps echoed around us, followed by scattered applause and cheers. I didn't care. I wanted everyone to know - especially Rohan - that Shehnaaz was mine.

When we finally broke apart, Shehnaaz's face was bright red. She buried her face in my chest, her laughter muffled against my shirt.

"Everyone's watching," she whispered, her voice tinged with embarrassment.

"Let them," I said with a grin, holding her tighter. "They need to know who you belong to."

She looked up at me, rolling her eyes but unable to hide her smile. "You're impossible."

"And you love it."

Our moment was interrupted by a familiar voice.

"Well, I'll be damned," Rohan said, walking up to us. His expression was unreadable, but there was a flicker of something - teasing, maybe?

I tensed slightly, but before I could say anything, Rohan raised his hands in a mock surrender. "Relax, Romeo. I'm just here to congratulate you two."

I frowned. "What's your angle here, Rohan?"

He rolled his eyes. "No angle, man. Shehnaaz told me everything before we put on our little act. She planned to get you to realize your feelings."

My jaw dropped, and I looked down at Shehnaaz, who bit her lip nervously.

"You planned this?" I asked, incredulous.

Her eyes darted between me and Rohan before she nodded sheepishly. "I... I had to do something. You're too stubborn to admit your feelings on your own."

Rohan smirked, clearly enjoying my shock. "Don't worry, Sidharth. We're just friends. Always have been, always will be." He patted my shoulder. "She's all yours."

I glanced at Shehnaaz, who looked like she wanted the ground to swallow her whole. My annoyance melted away, replaced by a mix of amusement and affection. "You're something else, you know that?"

She smiled hesitantly. "You're not mad?"

"How could I be?" I said, pulling her closer. "You played me perfectly."

Before she could respond, another voice joined the conversation.

"Well, well, if it isn't the couple of the night!" Yamuna's cheerful tone cut through the moment.

Shehnaaz groaned, hiding her face in my chest again. "Why is everyone here to embarrass me tonight?"

"Because it's fun," Yamuna teased, winking at Rohan. "Don't you think so, Rohan?"

"Absolutely," Rohan replied with a grin. "You should've seen her earlier. She was really selling it."

Yamuna laughed, and I couldn't help but join in. Shehnaaz, however, looked mortified.

"Alright, that's enough," I said, wrapping my arm around her protectively. "I think I've had my fill of you two tonight."

"Fine, fine," Yamuna said, waving us off. "But don't think you're off the hook, Shehnaaz. I want all the details later."

••

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