"Nahi Vidhi, tu aaj school nahi aa rahi hai" Aayush said, as he was packing his bag, holding phone from one hand.

(No Vidhi, you won't go to school today)

A frustrated frown came on his brows. "Acha baba, sadi si shakal mat bana" Vidhi spoke weakly, when Aayush looked here and there.

(Okay, now don't make grumpy faces)

"Idhar udhar kya dekh raha hai? Apne ghar se baat kar rahi hu" Vidhi said chuckling.

(What are you watching here and there? I'm at my home)

"Tujhe kaise pata?" Aayush asked as he fixed his specs, still looking at his surroundings carefully.

(How do you know?)

"Teri best friend hu, aur bachpan se saath mein rehte hai hum, tujhe kuch bolne ki zarurat hai kya?" Vidhi asked, when Aayush slightly chuckled at her.

(I'm your best friend! And we stay together since childhood, do you really think you need to say something?)

"To tujhe lagta hai ki mujhe tere baare mein kuch nahi pata? Tu kya koi secret rakh raha hai mujhse?" She asked, when Aayush turned silent. His mind drifting to his real feelings.

(So how do you think that you can keep a secret from me?)

"Bahut si baate hoti hai Vidhi, jaise ki mujhe tere baare mein kya hi pata hai" Aayush tried to change the topic, but as he notices the time, he rushes. "Main school jaata hu, late ho raha hai"

(There are many things I don't know about you, okay, I'm going to school, it's getting late)

"Aaram se jaiyo" Vidhi instructed, when he hung the call. She'd a whole day to spend at her home, but didn't knew how she will. At the times of her break after boards, she used to study the whole day, but at this time, she wasn't in the mood to study.

(Go carefully)

She lays on her bed, as she opened Netflix, she loved watching series and reading novels beside studying.

Lost in the imaginary world of her own, she was too engrossed with reading the novel. She tried to wake up for a long, but didn't even knew when she dozed off.

**

Aayush sat on the last bench, when his classmates teased him on Vidhi's name,

"Bhai, please abhi bas ho gaya, kya auntiyo ki tarah piche pade hue ho" He said, scribbling the last page of his book with a little, cute smirk.

(Enough now, why're you asking like some aunties?)

"Bhai hume bhi bata na, tu usko date kar raha hai na" Vividh asked, when Aayush sighed.

(Tell us, you're dating her?)

"Tumne uska kanyadan karna hai pata karke? Ladka aur ladki kabhi kabhi sirf ache dost bhi hote hai, bekar soch" he said, standing up, as he clenched his jaws.

(Do you know that you have to give her away in marriage someday? Sometimes, a boy and girl can just be good friends, don't think unnecessarily.)

As they were talking, a boy came and asked Aayush if the seat next to him was empty.

(A/n: no love triangle)

"May I sit here?" The boy asked, indicating the empty seat next to Aayush. The boy had sharp masculine features, his eyes piercing brown that seemed to see right through Aayush. His chiseled jawline and strong nose gave him a confident air, and his messy black hair added to his charm.

Aayush nodded curtly, still irritated from the teasing. "Yeah, it's empty."

The boy smiled and sat down, his eyes scanning the classroom before focusing on Aayush. "I'm Rehaan , by the way."

Aayush raised an eyebrow, as he said. "Aayush."

"So what were they talking about?" Rehaan casually asked, when Aayush looked at him.

"Kuch khas nahi" he said, giving a small smile, his eyes focused on the board. For a brief minute, he looked at his book, when Rehaan tried to converse with Aayush.

(Nothing much)

"Bata na bhai, main bore ho raha hu" He continued, when Aayush looked at him.

(Tell please, I'm getting bored)

"Yaha padne aaye ho, ya timepass jo bore ho rahe ho?" Aayush said, as he rolled his eyes.

(So you came here to study or timepass?)

Rehaan stretches his shoulders, giving him a side eye.

"Timepass" he said.

"Vah" Aayush said when the teacher calls out his name.

(Wow)

"Last bench" the teacher shouted at him, while he rolled his eyes.

"Yes mam" he said in a slow, disobedient voice.

"You've been talking since long" the teacher said.

"Sorry mam" he said, not to fuel the talk any further.

"You should be"

"I'm, already"

Sitting back, he looked at Rehaan. "Pata nahi konsi personal pareshani hai"

(I don't understand what is her personal problem with me?)

"Tujhe akal hai? Book ke peche apna sar rakh aur kar le baate kisiko kuch nahin pata lagta" he said gesturing the pose.

(Do you have any sense? Talk while keeping your book in front of you)

"Meri best friend baate nahi karne deti hai, to mujhe kya pata hoga" he said, when Rehaan chuckled at his cluelessness.

(My best friend doesn't let me talk, so how do I know)

"Haas kya raha hai?" Aayush asked, but Rehaan shook his head negatively.

(Why're you laughing?)

"Tu teri best friend ke hisaab se hi chalta hai kya?" Rehaan asked

(Do you live the way your best friend asks you to?)

"Nahi, hum dono ek dusre ke hisab se chalte hai" Aayush said, slightly in a curt sound, sensing that he'd badmouthed his best friend. "Aur meri best friend is the best, vo kisi pe control nahi karti" he added.

(No we live with looking how the other one is doing. And my best friend is the best, she never controlled anyone)

"Acha chal bhai, I can understand, Itna offend mat ho" Rehaan said chuckling, trying to settle the palpable tension.

(Okay bro, I understand, don't get offended)

***

On the other side, Simran, Aayush's mother took a day off today, so she called Vidhi at their home in the morning.

"Acha Vidhi, aaj Aayu tere bina school kaise chala gaya?" Simran asked as she sat with oil in her hands.

(Vidhi, how come Aayu went to school without you?)

"Pata nahi, maine usse pucha ki tu jaega, to kehta haa haan jarur, aur chala bhi gaya"

(I don't know aunty, I asked if he was willing to go, so he said why not)

"Acha hai vaise to, ghar pe hota to das nakhre dekhata" Simran said.

(That's great, or else if he'd have been at home, he'd have threw tantrums)

As the door opened, Aayush came home with Rehaan, as the teacher asked him to help Rehaan.

As they entered, Vidhi's eyes widened looking at Aayush with another friend.

As they were talking, Aayush threw his ID card on the couch as he rolled his sleeves up.

"Aayu, yeh kon hai?" Vidhi asked as she looked at Rehaan.

(Aayu, who's it?)

"Tu yaha kyu aayi?" Aayush asked, raising a frown.

(Why're you here?)

"Mera ghar meri marzi, yeh kon hai Aayu" Vidhi asked.

(My home, my choice)

"Vidhi yaar mam ne kaha tha ki isse padha dena, isne kal ki class skip ki hai aur isse aaj bhi confusion thi isliye" Aayush explained himself, when Vidhi chuckled, a hint of anger in her voice.

(Vidhi, Mam asked me to teach him, that's why)

"Great, ab isse hi apna dost bana liyo" Vidhi said.

(Great, now make him your only friend)

"Tu aise act kar rahi hai jaise teri soutan le aaya hu main" Aayush chuckled when Vidhi crisscrossed her hands.

(You're acting like I've brought home a second wife)

"Hi Vidhi" Rehaan said forwarding a hand, when Vidhi rolled her eyes off him.

"Aaj kon ban raha hai baby girl?" Aayush teased her.

(Who's being a baby girl today?)

"Zyada bakwaas mat mar" Vidhi said, looking at Aayush.

(Don't talk nonsense)

"Bakwaas ko maru na to jeb mein rakhu?" Aayush said, "kuch khana hai? Banau?"

"Nahi, meri mummy enough hai uske liye" she said pointing Simran.

(No , mom is okay for it)

"Tu thik hai na? Fever to nahi aaya na subah se?" Aayush asked when Vidhi shook her head negatively. "Aur vomiting?"

(Are you fine? Got fever, vomiting?)

"Main thik hu ab, par gussa hu chala jaa yaha se" Vidhi said, as she soon made a straight face when she looked her best friend with someone else.

(I'm okay, but angry, just go from here)

Aayush had a wavering concern for her, which he couldn't shook off even if he wanted to think that she was absolutely fine and had no problem.

"Gussa mat ho, hum teeno dost ban jaate hai, aur vaise bhi ek aur-" Aayush was speaking when Vidhi makes a frustrated face.

(Don't be so angry we three can be friends)

"Tu chala ja yaha se, maine bol diya hai" Vidhi said, not even looking at him.

(Get lost from here, I told right?)

"Gusail dadi amma, man ja na" Aayush said, when a small smile came on Vidhi's face listening to the nickname.

(Angry grandma get convinced)

"Dadi amma dadi amma man jao na,
Jaldi se tum ek paise dedo tum kanjusi chood do" Rehaan sang the childhood poem to ease the palpable tension in the room.

"Are you expecting us to laugh? Secondly it's nani maa" Vidhi said, as she looked at Aayush.

"Tu bechari ki sautan le aaya and you expect her to be convinced? Haww Aayu, so bad of you" Simran said, as she teased the kids.

(You took her co wife and expecting her to be convinced ?)

"Sautan?" Rehaan repeated. "Vidhi, dekh your best friend listens to your talks enough that he ignores everyone, but that doesn't means ki this is right, ab kya pata by any chance tum dono ka alag college mein admission ho gaya, to? Ya fir tumne super specialty ki degree alag alag li to? Should you guys not make even one more friend? Nahi na. So accept this" Rehaan explained Vidhi, when her eyes softened.

"Thik hai, par agar aap Aayu ke saath jyada chipke" she said with glaring eyes.

(Okay, but dare you get clumsier with Aayu)

"Nahi meri maa, bas" Aayush said in a teasing manner, when Vidhi glanced him over.

(No, my mother)

^_^

***

It was evening when Rehaan went back his home, and Vidhi was studying, along with Vartika.

"Tujhe ghar nahi jaana?" Aayush asked as he sat along her

(Don't you want to go back?)

"Naya dost ban gaya hai to mujhe nikalne ki soch raha hai?" Vidhi taunted without even looking at him.

(Now if you made new friends, so you're thinking to take me off)

"Vidhiii" Aayush said again, when Vidhi rests on the chair.

"Nani ne phone kar diya tha papa ko, ki jab tak main properly thik nahi ho jaati tab tak mujhe Simran aunty hi dekhenge" Vidhi explained.

(Grandma had called Papa and told him that until I'm completely fine, Simran Aunty will take care of me.)

"Acha" Aayush said, a wide grin came on his face, when Vidhi opened her hairs to tie them again.

"Ruk, main karta hu, comb tere bag mein hogi" Aayush said, as Vidhi gives her comb to him.

(Wait, I'll comb your hairs)

Aayush gently took the comb from Vidhi's hand, his fingers brushing against hers. He smiled softly as he began to detangle her long, dark hair, working out the knots with a gentle patience.

Vidhi closed her eyes, relaxing into the sensation of Aayush's fingers in her hair. Aayush carefully puts a finger between the two sections of her hairs, cautiously trying to avoid a slight uncomfortable feeling, or any pain at the time of detangling.

As Aayush combed through her hair, Vidhi's thoughts began to drift. She felt a sense of peace wash over her, a sense of being taken care of. It was a feeling she'd grown accustomed to with Aayush by her side.

Aayush, too, was lost in the moment. He loved the feel of Vidhi's hair beneath his fingers, the way it cascaded down her back like a dark waterfall. He loved the way she trusted him, the way she let him take care of her.

As he worked out the last of the tangles, Aayush's gaze drifted to Vidhi's face. Her eyes were still closed, her features relaxed. He smiled softly, feeling a deep affection for his best friend.

He puts the rubber band on her hairs,

"Done," he whispered, his breath barely audible.

Vidhi's eyes fluttered open, and she smiled up at Aayush.

"Itna single feel karvate ho na aap log" Vartika commented looking at them, when Aayush smacked on her forehead.

(You guys make me feel so single)

"Iss age mein aur kuch feel karne ke jarurat hai bhi nahi, kahi se pakad liya na yeh sab karte hue fir dekh liyo" Aayush warned Vartika, who makes a big face and sits rolling her eyes.

(This is not your age to do these things either, if I get you then think about the consequences)

"Acha kaise lagi sautan?" Aayush chuckled when Vidhi gave him a death glare.

(Did you like you co wife)

"Aaya mummy, aaj kadhai paneer banate hai" Aayush said, as he runs out of the room.

Coming mom, let's make kadhai paneer today)

His mom haven't called him but he'd no option.

After they had their dinner, they went to walk in his backyard. They had a big backyard,

As they strolled through the backyard, the evening air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers and the soft chirping of crickets. The sky above was painted with hues of orange, pink, and purple, as the sunset just took place.

Vidhi walked beside Aayush, her hands clasped behind her back, her eyes cast downward at the grass beneath her feet. Aayush knew that she loved walking like that, in her own tunes.

The backyard was elaborate, with a large lawn, a small pond, and a variety of flowers and trees. Aayush's family had lived in this house for generations, and the backyard had been lovingly tended to by his mother, Simran.

After a while, they reached a small bench tucked away beneath a large tree. Aayush gestured for Vidhi to sit, and she did, her eyes gazing out at the pond.

Aayush sat down beside her, his arm brushing against hers. They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, watching the stars begin to twinkle in the night sky.

As they sat on the bench, Aayush began to tell Vidhi stories about his childhood adventures in the backyard. Vidhi listened patiently, a knowing glint in her eye.

Aayush, oblivious to the fact that he had told her these stories multiple times before, spoke with enthusiasm, using exaggerated gestures to bring the tales to life.

Vidhi couldn't help but smile as she listened, her eyes sparkling with amusement. She had heard these stories at least a dozen times before, but she never tired of seeing Aayush's animated expressions.

As Aayush launched into the tale of how he had once caught a giant frog in the pond, Vidhi playfully rolled her eyes. "Aayu, maine yeh story suni hai," (Aayu, I've heard this story before) she teased, trying to stifle a giggle.

Aayush, undeterred, grinned mischievously. "Arre, par yeh toh sabse interesting part hai!" (But this is the most interesting part!) he protested, continuing the story with renewed vigor.

Vidhi chuckled, shaking her head in affectionate exasperation. She leaned back against the bench, enjoying the familiar comfort of Aayush's company, and the silly stories that always made her smile.

"Aayu" Vidhi spoke, seriousness filled in her voice.

"Hm" Aayush suddenly got quiet as he looked at his best friend. "Kya hua? Koi baat hai?" He asked.

(What happened? Is there something?)

"Tujhe main thodi si pagal lagti hongi na, choti choti baat pr gussa karne lag jaati hu, haina?" Vidhi asked, when their eyes met, the silence remained in between them,

(Don't you think that I'm a bit lunatic, getting angry on small things)

"Lagne ki kya baat hai, vo to tu hai hi" Aayush mocked, when Vidhi stood up and he started running and laughing.

(There is no question of seeming, you simply are)

"Chappal kaha hai meri" she said, as she quickly tried to take off her slippers.

(Where are my slippers?)

As they were running, Vartika came in the garden and Aayush tried to hide beside his sister,

"Jao jao, main nahi bachane vali apko" Vartika said, as she went away.

(Go away, I'm not going to save you)

"Kaise bhen hai tu, apne bhai ko protect nahi kar sakti, dusht aurat" Aayush said, when Vartika punches at his stomach.

(What kind of sister are you, can't you save your brother, wicked woman)

"Dusht aurat? Thik hai bhai, thik hai" Vartika said, when Vidhi hits Aayush.

(Wicked woman? Okay brother, no problem)

"Bhai, Vidhi ab tune hi to kaha tha, to ab main tujhe jhuthi tasalli bhi kyu du? To sach bol diya" Aayush said.

(Vidhi, you asked me, and I didn't wanted to give you a fake consolidation)

"Main na domestic violence ka case kar raha hu, purush helpline" he shouted, when the girls laughed

(I'm filing for domestic violence, male helpline)

"Aayu, report in baby girl helpline, it'll help you more" Vidhi laughed, as they sat on the ground.

As he looked her smile, a smile came on his face unknowingly.

-Shut up, you dimwit. You're his best friend and have no right to become a hopeless loser in love. She needs you, don't let your love foreshadow your friendship.

Aayush thought, taking a glimpse of her.

:)

Tbc!

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