Part 5
As we entered the institute, I heard prem's friends giggling & it seemed as if they were teasing prem or something. But then what I saw just shocked me. Prem slapped the guy whom he had introduced to me- was vaibhav his name?
"Don't u dare utter a word more, vaibhav."
"Calm down dude! Itna hyper hone ki to koi baat nahi hai yar."
"Tere liye nahi hogi, but it is for me. U cant talk like that abt her. I told u she's not interested. I just wanna be her best friend. That's what I dream of, & not what filth u think of."
Vaibhav stared at me & that made it very clear that they were talking abt me. I felt a chill run through me as I realized that it was me whom prem was protecting from his own friends. His words affected me deeply.
"Prem, u are fighting with me for that girl. That girl who doesn't give a damn abt u & after whom u are running like a fool. U know u are seriously a sucker, man!" Vaibhav's voice was pretty loud by now.
I watched prem stand there without uttering a word, so I thought perhaps it was time I step between them.
"Excuse me, u cant talk like that abt my best friend. If he has that much dignity as to not slap u again that doesn't means he wont do that if u cross ur limits."
Vaibhav stared me dumbstruck & so did prem.
"Prem, I think we should get going before we get anymore late for the class. Please."
He didn't moved, so I took a deep breath & then after gathering all my courage held his hand.
"Chalein?"
As we left from there I heard vaibhav mutter something which seemed like 'bloody orphan'. I shuddered at the mere possibility. Plz babaji, let it not be what I heard.
As we were abt to go our separate ways for our classes, he held my hand & stopped me.
"Geet' tumne waha pe... I mean what u said... I don't understand... why would u do that...?"
"I realized u really wanted my friendship. So I just did what I should have done. And now if it isn't much for u to take in just in one day, can we be friends?" I put my hand forward.
"Geet..?"
I reached for his hand & then put it into my hand.
"Prem' Maybe i cant be ur best friend, but today I promise u I'll be ur friend forever."
"Geet' this is' its so new. I... I don't know what to say'"
"U don't have to say anything. Except promising me the same that I promised u."
"Geet' I don't know if I can' I mean if I'd be able to' I never thought u will agree' I thought maybe if I behave really coolly with u' like introducing u to my friends & behaving as if nothing happened between us' then u would some day start liking me' at least itna ki u'd be able to call me ur friend' & now this' I'"
"Shh' I don't need to hear anything more, prem. But there's one thing that I would like to ask."
"Anything. Just say it once."
"Why me? Why did u want me to be ur friend so badly, even when I refused for a relationship? Why u still wanted to be with me, even if that means staying as just a friend?"
"That's difficult. Can't I get something easy?"
"Its not that difficult. Can't u try?"
After a brief silence, he spoke up.
"Geet' I' when I saw u first I was able to relate to u' U were always so quiet' without any friend' so simple u were' except when u were on phone talking to ur friends, I suppose' At that time u were so lively' like a squirrel' it fascinated me. That's what I am' its very rare that I laugh from my heart' except when I'm with my best friend. So I thought maybe we could be good friends, and I will get what I want or rather need."
"And who's ur best friend?"
Again silence.
"C'mon prem, now that's actually easy."
"Actually no one. But'"
"But'?"
"My ma."
"That's so sweet. What was there in this to hesitate abt? Paagal ho aap."
He sighed.
"My ma is a star now. She's no more."
"Oh' I' I'm really sorry prem' I didn't knew'"
"No geet' Don't be sorry. Today u gave me for what I cried helplessly in front of Ma, what I really needed. U gave me a friend. A true friend."
"Hey, yeh mat sochna ki I did this for u. This was for me so that I can get a true friend!"
He laughed. I smiled warmly at him.
"So my true friend, I guess we should go our separate ways right now. I'll meet u as soon as the class finishes. 'kay?"
"Hmm' okay bye. See u."
"Bye."
"Wait geet'"
"Bolo'"
"Wo' thanx'"
"Prem, don't u know friendship mein no thanx & no sorry!"
He smiled & I felt a surge of pride run through me as I realized how I made him forget his pain. Pain reminded me of maan- no one's pain could be compared to the pain in his life. My heart missed a beat at his mere name. As I made my way through the class, I felt my heart thudding loudly & blood rushing to my cheeks. And this was just by thinking of maan. I wanted to run & go to home & just talk to him the whole night. But life isn't that simple. I had a person added to my life- Prem. And his happiness depended on me. Sometimes its better to think of others' happiness before trying to accomplish ur own dreams. Afterall at the end of the day, I will be alone. And at that point of time I can do what I want to do. And what I want to do lies in being with maan.
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Okay guys, i know no maaneet this time too! But just bear with me a little... all this is necessary to set the base of the story properly..!!
Btw.. Just a few days ago i became a goldie.. thanx so much guys for ur love and support.. I just love yuhh guys..
Mahima
Real Estate
201