Chapter 5
"...Aarti spit it out, come on now, whats going on?"..."Wh..What?...I dont understand, what are you talking about Mansi?"..."You and Aman, thats what I am talking about..are you "together" "? Mansi asked all animated.
Aarti's eyes widened..."Mansi..what???? You are thinking like that? You too? That really hurts Mansi" she turned away started to leave. "Aarti! wait! Listen to me. Wait!" Tears were flowing from Aarti's eyes. Mansi felt hurt since Aarti doesnt usually cry, in the couple of years she had known her, she hardly has seen her cry...even at the hardest of times she would do her best to stay positive...she really must have misunderstood her best friend..."Aarti, I am so sorry..did I really hurt your feelings..? please talk to me..."
"Mansi, you know everything about me...dont you?" she looked at Mansi with questioning eyes...and still?
"Really sorry Aarti! I am idiot. I better talk to Aman then...it just sometimes the way he says things...I thought...
"...You guys, you thought what???" Aman and Akash had come back to join them.
Aman slowly went to Aarti whose back was towards them...
"Huh? Whaaat? what are you guys saying...Seriously, I dont have any such feeling towards Aarti ok? I never thought about her in "that" way. She is a good... no, a VERY good friend to me. I dont want to give our relationship any name other than that, ok? Can a boy and girl not be just friends? Should it be a brother/sister or a boyfriend/girlfriend only? I am close to her as a friend and I am sure thats how she feels about me. I can be myself with her. There is no pretence or no pleasing I need to do with her. To me, when I am with Aarti, its like she is one of the guys and I can hang out and have fun with her like any of my other friends. Thats all. We will always be like that!"
"Aarti...did I say anything wrong?"
Aarti wiped off her tears, smiled at Aman. He lifted her spirits. Yes, it was true. Aman and Aarti had become such thick friends. They never had any pretence in their minds. It was pure friendship...and she said "Whatever you said is all true Aman. I love you very much as my friend"
"There! Happy you two?" he looked at Aakash and Mansi.
"Sorry guys!" both said in unison. "Really sorry Aarti!" Mansi hugged her friend again "will you please forgive me?"
"Dont be silly, I know you were thinking for my well being. What will I do bring angry on you. After all, you are the only family I have left...all 3 of you." she said.
Aakash who was silent until then, came to Aarti and apologized again. "I am sorry Aarti..and Aman."
That was a best evening for the four friends. They hung out at their favorite chaat place and had a lot of fun...
After a week, one evening,
"Yash bhaiyya"...heard Yash as he picked up his cell phone..."yes bhabhi? everything ok? did you want something?" he could sense a bit of anxiety in Vidhi's voice. "yeah, actually the driver went home sick...and Pankaj is not picking up his phone. I need to pick up the kids."
"Oh, sure, dont worry bhabhi...I can go and pick them up if you want me to..."
"No no Yash, if you can just tell me where your brother is..."
"Bhaiyya is in a client meeting Bhabhi...he will be in there for another hour. The kids have to be picked up by then right? I can do it."
"Thanks Yash bhaiyya...I'll see you guys at home then".
Yash left to pick up the kids. He parked his car and waited at the entrance of the school for them to come out.
"CHAACHU...!!!" he heard them and smiled. His lovely nieces - Payal and Palak came running to him and almost made him lose his balance as they showered him with hugs and kisses.
"Hello beta, how are my princesses today" he asked as he picked up younger Palak and held onto Payal's hand.
"Chaachu, what a nice surprise you gave us. You know, today my teacher praised me for the essay I wrote. Remember the one..." Payal started off with her usual chit chatting with her uncle.
"Chaachu, can we have ice cream? asked the little Palak with doe eyes"...Yash couldnt say no, he called home and informed Vidhi that they will stop by an ice cream parlor and then come home. After getting ice cream, Yash put the kids in the car, and as he was sitting getting in himself, he saw a girl crossing the road and a jeep was coming in the same direction with fullspeed. It seemed the girl did not notice that...everything was happening fast...for a split second Yash quickly ran and grabbed the girl by her elbow and pulled her back...she lost balance and fell backwards on Yash making him eventually fall to the ground...her hair covered Yash's face...his arms were still encircled around her waist...there was a breeze which played with her hair even more and long beautiful hair danced on his face...
Chapter 6 - on Monday...who is the girl?
