“Surkh wala, soz wala, faiz wala love, Hota hai jo love se jyada, waise wala love. Ishq wala love.” Jay sang into Veeranshu’s ears who was busy admiring a certain someone. Hearing someone singing into his ears out of the blue, Veeranshu flinched.
“What the hell, Jay?!” He exclaimed in disbelief.
“Oh, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb you, I was just playing some background music to enhance the beauty of this moment. Anyway, you continue admiring your ishq wala love!” Jay replied, rolling his eyes, a teasing smile playing on his lips.
“Jay, shut up!” Veeranshu snapped, but it did not stop the blush from creeping up on his face.
“Oh yeah, now that she’s in front of you and you’re busy looking at her, I should shut up and let you continue, right?” Jay asked dramatically, to which Veeranshu just rolled his eyes and turned his gaze back to her.
“Why don’t you confess, bro? How long are you planning to continue this?” Jay asked once she was out of sight. “Just tell her already!”
“No, Jay, no way. She should never know that.” Veer said sternly, “I’ve talked to her enough to know that there’s no possibility of us ever happening. It’s just not possible. And I couldn’t keep up the friendship by making it seem like I liked her only as a friend and nothing more. I couldn’t lie to her. And if I kept talking, I would fall more in love with her.”
“But you seem to actually fall in love for the first time, bro!” Jay said, hoping to change his resolve. “This doesn’t seem like your stupid crushes in the past.”
“It doesn’t matter, I don’t deserve her, dude, she’s too good for me. Besides, we’re poles apart, you think she can ever stay in my world?”
“Then what exactly is your intention trying to squeeze information from Neil about her?” Jay asked, folding his arms across his chest.
Veeranshu looked at him embarrassed for having been caught, “That…I…was just…”
Jay shook his head in disappointment, knowing full well that his friend wouldn’t confess.
“Why do you even think she would give me a chance when she hasn’t given to anyone in the college?” Veer finally asked.
“Because you are you.” Jay answered in a matter of fact tone. And because he had no other answer.
“And how does that even matter?”
“I don’t know. I just think it does.” Jay replied with a shrug.
“Then she would’ve tried to speak.” Veer protested.
“She can speak only if she feels the other person shows an interest in the conversation, especially when she’s already an introvert. There’s a limit to how long she can single handedly carry forward a conversation. You didn’t even seem to show interest in her, Veer!” Jay reminded him in exasperation.
“But..”
“Now don’t start again.” Jay said in frustration, “You know what? I’m gonna go tell her myself about this.”
“No, Jay, you can’t!” Veer retorted.
“And why exactly can’t I?”
“Because…” Veer having no other choice, decided to lie, “Because she already loves someone.”
“What?! Who!? When!?” Jay asked in utter shock.
“Neil!” Veer blurted out, having found no other name while his friend stared at him in horror.
“Everyone knows they’re just best friends!” Jay protested. “Infact he’s the one who guys approach to ask about her.”
“She confessed it to me during one of our chats. Even Neil doesn’t know it. She promised me not to tell anyone.” Veer said, covering up his own lie.
“Show me.”
“What?”
“The message!”
“Message?” Why was his friend such a good detective. He was needed at the FBI or CBI, not in this college! Veer thought to himself. “I deleted the chats…because I kept going back to read them..”
“You’re lying!” Jay accused him.
“I swear, I’m not.” Veer said, acting all innocent.
Jay walked away, rolling his eyes at his friend while Veeranshu just gave him a sheepish smile. Once Jay was out of sight, he remembered his conversation with Neil.
***
“What exactly is your intention, bro?” Neil asked with a chuckle.
“Intention? What intention?” Veeranshu asked nervously.
“Don’t try to befool me. I’ve seen plenty like you. And let me tell you, she’s not someone who’s here to play around.” Neil said in a firm tone.
“Listen, Neil, it’s nothing like that. Come on, me and Bani? Seriously? You know me, I’m not into all that.”
“Aha, then why are you concerned about her?” Neil asked with a teasing smile playing on his lips.
“It’s nothing like that-“
“Don’t give me that, stop beating around the bush and tell me.” Neil said.
“What Bush? I’m as straight as her hair.” Veer replied.
“You’re as straight as a dog’s tail at this point. You like her, don’t you?” Neil asked. “If you don’t, then why do you ask me about her every day?”
“Ok, fine, I do. But don’t tell her, please. And I promise you I won’t trouble her with my feelings.” Veer said.
“She’s a really heartstopper, isn’t she?” Neil asked in surprise.
“Huh? What do you mean?” Veeranshu asked with a frown. Was Neil in love with her, too? No, no, how could it be? It was clear he had a thing for Avni.
“I mean, she blew you away too? The Veeranshu Singhania? Damn, all the girls in the college will be heartbroken.”
“Well, I’ve never met anyone like her.” Veeranshu said with a dreamy smile.
“But dude, you know she’s not into all this, right? She wouldn’t-“
“I know! And that’s exactly why I don’t want her to know about my feelings.” Veeranshu said.
***
Veeranshu sighed as he thought of his conversation with Neil about her. About Bani.
***
“Neil, can I talk to you for a minute?” Jay asked Neil, who had been talking to someone in the canteen during lunch break.
“Sure.”
“Not here, come with me.” Jay said, dragging him out of the canteen to the garden. Once they reached, Jay took in a deep breath and asked, “Do you love Bani?”
“Of course I love her! She’s my best friend dude, why would I not love her?” Neil asked in surprise. “And why did you drag me? I was coming anyway, right?”
Jay facepalmed, hearing his reply, “I mean, you know love, like love love.”
“Huh??” Neil asked in confusion. “I just told you I love her!”
“Neil, I mean in a romantic way. Do you love her in a romantic way?” Jay asked at his wits end.
“What!?” Neil exclaimed scandalized by the question.
“So you don’t.” Jay decoded from the horrified expression on his face.
“Why would you think that!?”
“Because she loves you!” Jay said.
“Wait, WHAT!?” Neil exclaimed in utter shock, his eyes ready to bulge out of his sockets.
“She loves you.”
“WHO TOLD YOU THIS!?” Neil almost screamed in shock.
“Calm down, bro, others would hear you!” Jay said.
“You expect me to calm down after what you just said?!” Neil asked in disbelief.
“See, someone trusted told me. Anyway I’ve to go now. I got my answer. Bye, see you later!” Jay said and was about to go when Neil stopped him.
“Wait! No! That’s not possible!” Neil said, “See bro, this ain’t gonna work on me. I would’ve considered it if it was someone else, but Bani? Are you kidding me? This prank won’t work on me.”
“I wish it was a prank. But this is the information I received, and it’s from a trusted source. But please do confirm it with her dude. Anyway, I have to go now. I need to see Professor Mehta for the upcoming tour details.” Jay said before walking away, leaving a completely stupefied Neil behind.
~To be continued~
So, how was this chapter? Did you all like it? Now, it’s pretty clear that both Veeranshu and Bani are in love with eachother. Yet their feelings remain unspoken. Will they confess? Or will their feelings stay hidden within themselves?
Do let me know your views!
Thanks for reading!
~Stay safe!~