Ashi blinked. ''Me?'' She looked away, and undid her seatbelt. ''Kabir, Yuvi does not love me. He does NOT. This was all fake. Just .. let it be.'' She opened the door, but stopped midway, and looked back at him.
''Kabir, will you do me a favour? Please. A last one.'' She asked. ''I know I don't deserve it. I broke your heart. And I dragged you into all of this mess. But you are the only one who understands me right now-''
''Okay okay'' Kabir smiled. ''You know how I feel about you Ashi, and I can't help it.'' He looked away. ''I will stand by you no matter what, Ashi. The whole world can be against you, but I am always there for you. Always.''
Ashi smiled. This was the first genuine smile in these three weeks. ''Duh uh! Sonia Ray ke saath rehte rehte itni cheesy lines bolne lag gaye?''
Kabir grinned back. But, then, his voice turned serious. ''You know I love you Ashi, and I will do whatever you say. As long as it keeps you happy.''
''I wish I loved you, Kabir. But you will always be special to me. Always.'' She smiled and handed the letter to Kabir. ''Please give this to Jasmine. I need to go talk to Yuvi.''
Kabir's smile faltered as he heard Yuvi's name, but he made up for it quickly. A sad smile spread over his lips as he took the letter and nodded. ''Okay.''
''Bye, Kabir.'' She waved and got out of the car. Kabir just looked at her with a sad smile on his face until she was out of view. He just sighed and looked at the letter. ''You love him, Ashi. But the question still remains ''' He traced his finger over the word 'friend' in the letter. ''-Does he love you too?''
--
Ashi stomped in the cafeteria. ''Not in the room. Not in the pool room.'' She looked around in the cafeteria. ''And certainly not in the cafe. Ab ye Yuvi kahaan gaya!?'' She muttered to herself.
''Erm, Ashi?'' Meher walked up to her.
''Duh uh. Nahi mera bhoot! What's up?''
''Erm, are you looking for Yuvi?''
''Yup.'' She nodded grimly. ''Have you seen him?''
''I saw him going towards the shed, and he looked-'' She bit her lips.
''What? Hurry up bimbo! I haven't got much time.''
''He was crying, Ashi. I saw it. Tears in his eyes. I am really worried, Ashi. Please. Please do something.''
Ashi muttered a thanks, and ran for the shed.
--
Yuvi was sitting in the shed, fidgeting with the pen in his hands.
That unknown unrationalised unjustified feeling was creeping him again. ''Damn it.'' He threw the pen away in frustration. ''It has been more than 10 hours since I came back. And she hasn't even met me. Even once.'' He remembered Ashi and Kabir going together in his car. ''Oh.'' He sighed. ''Must be out partying with Kabir. Why do I care? Why?''
He knew he cared. He even admitted his feelings to jasmine in the field trip. He told her how he feels about ashi. How she is the only one that has supported him, cared for him, laughed with him, cried with him till date. How her craziness and insanity annoys him at times, but then, he sees her laugh, and he forgets everything else. How her one touch can make him feel like a thousand electric bolt shocks can't. How the glow on her face is so much better than a thousand fireflies. How he had hated her in the beginning, hated her guts, her indifference towards him, her like-i-care attitude, her in-your-face straightforwardness. How all of those qualities he hated had taken him over in all these past months. How she had taught him to live again, to follow his heart. She made him feel like no one else could. She made him feel .. himself.
He sighed. He hated to admit it, but what he felt for her .. was more than a crush. A infactuation. Maybe it was what people call 'love'. It pained him to admit it, since she loved someone else. Since she loved Kabir.
''Yuvi.'' He heard her voice. He turned around and saw her. Tell, slender, her face covered in red streaks, her face uplifted, eyebrows raised, mouth curved in a frown. He saw her, and he felt this insane urge to hug her, since it was the first time he was admitting his feelings in front of her. All that he had felt for her, all that he had begun to feel when he left her, he was admitting it. He loved her. And she was in front of him, standing right in front of him.
Her eyes were sparkling with genuine concern and worry and -. He hated to read too much into it now. He knew she loved someone else and he needed to get a grip.
''Are you alright?'' She placed a hand on his shoulder, and he looked up at her. He looked in her eyes, and he forgot everything else. No Jasmine. No Kabir. It had been them. Them, since forever. He tore his gaze away. ''Yeah, yeah I am fine.'' He looked away, facing the wall instead of her. He was worried she would see the pain in them, the heartbreak.
''I know everything, Yuvi.'' She whispered calmly. ''I know about the letter.'' She stood in front of him. ''Did you love her, Yuvi? You loved Jasmine?''
Yuvi looked up at her eyes. For a moment, he froze, 'cause it felt like she is gonna cry. He could see tears forming in her eyes. Was she-? No. no. He shook his head. ''I did not love her. I do not.'' He answered.
He knew she wanted to ask him more. Maybe she wanted to ask him about the 'friend' he mentioned. The 'friend' he has feelings for. Could he tell her? No. He knew he won't even be able to lie to her. She could see it ' she would see it right through him.
''I gotta go.'' He hurried on, before she could ask him any more questions about who he loves. He couldn't risk that. He couldn't risk losing her. Right now, her friendship was all he had. Her friendship was all he needed to be satisfied with, he told himself sadly. And he hurried out of the shed. He could hear ashi calling him behind him. ''Not now, Ashi.'' He closed his eyes and muttered an apology as he went to his room. ''I won't lose you ' never. Never.''
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
