She moved back, gently removing his hands from around her waist, her expression one of disappointment. "So, you wanted to use me as a rebound?" she questioned, her tone heavy with hurt and confusion.

Shubman's eyes widened in shock as he heard his best friend utter those words. Quickly, he pulled her closer, panic evident in his voice. "No, no, no, please don't say that," he pleaded, his heart racing as he sought to reassure her.

Noor, hurt and frustrated, continued, "Then what exactly do you call it when you break up with your girlfriend and quickly jump into a new relationship?"

Shubman's heart sank as he realized the weight of his actions. He searched for the right words, struggling to explain himself. "Noor, I... I wasn't thinking clearly," he admitted, his voice tinged with regret. "I never meant to hurt you. I just... I needed someone, and you've always been there for me." He reached out, hoping to convey his sincerity, but Noor remained silent, her expression unreadable.

Noor still tried to maintain her distance, but Shubman wasn't letting her off his arms. "Right, I have always been there since we were in nappies," she retorted, her tone tinged with bitterness. "But that doesn't mean you can use me for something as big as marriage just because you were heartbroken."

Shubman's grip tightened slightly, a mixture of frustration and desperation evident in his eyes. "Noor, please, just listen to me," he pleaded, his voice cracking with emotion. "I know I messed up, but I swear, I didn't mean to hurt you. I... I love you, Noor."

Noor chuckled bitterly and asked, "Love you as what?"

Shubman gulped nervously, his gaze shifting towards the door. He knew he couldn't lie to his Noori. Summoning his courage, he looked into her eyes before taking a deep breath and answering, "As best friends."

Noor pushed him away, her voice rising with anger. "Then how dare you question with so much confidence whether I should marry you or not?" she exclaimed, her eyes flashing with hurt and indignation.

Shubman's frustration bubbled up as his best friend refused to listen. "So what if our parents had forced us and we had to marry, then what?" he shouted back, his voice tinged with frustration and desperation.

Clicking her fingers, Noor threw back, "Don't blame it on our parents. I know they're trying to convince us, but we could have found our way out. But you asking me with so much confidence after you said you love someone else is not right." Her voice was filled with a mix of disappointment and disbelief.

Shubman shouted back, his frustration evident in his voice. "Okay, I agree what I did was wrong. But if we had to marry, what would you do then, Noor?" He posed the question, seeking an answer to the hypothetical scenario they were facing.

Noor laughed sarcastically. "Well, let me throw a question back at you. Let's agree we are married. I said yes, and so did you. But will you be able to love me? And not just as a best friend, but as a wife, as the mother of your child?" She challenged him, her tone cutting and filled with bitterness.

Shubman opened his mouth to retaliate, but he found himself speechless, unable to form a coherent response. Noor scoffed seeing his inability to answer. "Well, that's what I wanted to prove," she remarked dryly. "Marriage is not a puppet show. Just because you're heartbroken, you don't make such decisions lightly."

Shubman bit his lip, struggling to control his tears. The weight of his recent breakup, coupled with his Noori's reproachful words, overwhelmed him. Avoiding her gaze, he wiped his nose and looked at his best friend. She appeared hurt and disappointed by his actions.

"Well, Noori," Shubman began, his voice wavering slightly. "You never answered... would you love me as your husband and as the father of your child if we were to get married?" He posed the question, his vulnerability shining through despite his attempts to appear composed.

Noor froze at his question, her throat suddenly dry. Shubman noticed her change in demeanour but pressed on. "You don't have a boyfriend and never had one as far as I know," he continued. "So tell me, would you be able to love me as the father of your child or as a husband?" He waited, his own emotions raw and exposed.

Noor's gaze shifted downwards, feeling the weight of Shubman's question. The man whom she had loved her whole life was now asking her this, after rejecting countless boys. She had never mustered the courage to love anyone else; Shubman had always been enough for her. She remembered how girls in school would go gaga over him, jealous of her being his best friend. But what they didn't know was that she was just restricted to that title; nothing more. He had never been serious about love until he found Ghazal. She recognized the change in him, especially in the way he talked about Ghazal. His newfound interest in romantic movies, despite once despising them, suddenly made sense.

He loved someone else, and if she answered right now that she loved him, she knew it would be foolish. It would never be reciprocated, and she would only end up more heartbroken. So, taking a deep breath, she looked towards the window because she couldn't bear to lie while looking into his eyes. "I can try and adjust," she finally answered softly.

Looking into her eyes with a sense of numbness, Shubman responded softly, "Then I can try too."

Noor sighed deeply, her eyes closing as she shook her head gently. "I fear that even if we proceed with the sacred bond of marriage, your heart would still belong to Ghazal. That, to me, would feel like cheating, and cheating is something I can't tolerate. Please, don't make me hate you. Let's just cherish our friendship, because I don't want to lose that."

Shubman looked at Noor, his eyes brimming with emotion, almost on the verge of tears. He gathered his thoughts and gently put forward his point. "Noor, I understand your fears, and I won't deny that Ghazal will linger in my heart for a while. But can we give this a chance? Now that we've started down this path, let's not back out. I truly want to explore this, to see where it leads us."

Noor's gaze pierced Shubman's soul, revealing a side of her he hadn't seen before. "A year," she said sharply, her voice resolute. "Let's give us a year to see if we can make this work. And if at any point I feel like it's not working..." She choked on her words, struggling to continue. Shubman, swallowing hard, asked, "Then what?" Gathering her courage, Noor replied firmly, "Then we go back to being just friends."

*******

ᴄʜᴀᴘʟɪɴ ꜱᴘᴇᴀᴋꜱ

Hey there! Thanks for reading "Year of Exploration." I hope you enjoyed diving into Noor and Shubman's journey as much as I enjoyed writing it. I'm curious: what did you like most about their story? Was it the tension between their emotions, the depth of their friendship, or something else entirely? Let me know in the comments below! And if you feel inclined, please don't forget to vote and drop a casual comment. Your feedback means the world to me. Happy reading!

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