"Kabira and Abhi..." exclaiming loudly.

"Ab kya ho gaya?" I anxiously asked.

"Pata nahi Ayesha...but kuch toh serious matter hain –

ab jaldi chal" Shreya held my hand – as we rushed to the terrace on the 15th floor of Infosys.

*******************************************************************

In the recent few days, no matter what happened –

But this was the most remarkable moment, although I was not a part of it directly –

But indirectly – "YES".

And some of the statements, which Kabir spoke – actually forced my mind – to re-think about my decision – a decision to choose between the two boys – or rather the GUY and the MAN.

I still remember this day –

The 4th day after that disastrous fight that took place between the estranged best friends –

It was Kabir this time – who decided to sort out the things.

For the next 2 days – on 15th and 16th February – neither of them attended the office.

Abhi – because his mother was not well while Kabir informed Sir that he had suffered a minor accident.

Nevertheless, on 17th February – at 8:00pm – while I and Shreya – had just sat for our dinner – the doorbell rang.

Shreya said that she would see – and got up from her chair for the same.

After a few moments, I could see Kabir Chaudhary a.k.a Kabira – standing right in front of me – just a few inches away.

Startled at first, I stood up and commented –

"Kabir..." I was not sure – whether my tone was sweet enough to greet him or frowning enough to send him back.

"Hi Ayesha" he simply raised his hand.

Since both of us – were unable to speak our words – he continued –

"Ahh...I am really sorry – maine dinner pe disturb kar liya." He looked at our set dining table.

"NO...that's okay!" – Shreya said, as she asked him to have a seat at the table.

While I began to keep the food back in the containers, since I was sure – that our discussion was not going to be an easy and short one.

After 5 minutes of normal talks, Shreya spoke –

"Guys, I will see you later." She got up from the chair, since she understood – that Kabir wanted to talk to me.

"But tu jaa kahan rahi hain?"

"Yahi pe baith na!" I asked her to sit – but she gave some horrible reasons – that she wanted to call her parents and left the room – to go to her own room.

After 60 seconds of awkward silence in the room – with 2 people present in it – Kabir spoke –

"Ayesha...main yahan pe sirf isliye aaya tha – because I wanted to tell you – SORRY" he pleaded.

"What for?" I questioned.

"For everything that happened..." he paused a little and then completed –

"Happened on....ahhh...14th February" I knew what he was talking about.

"So, what are you sorry for?" I purposely taunted.

"Look Ayesha..." taking a deep breath, he conversed –

"I know that my method was not right."

"Shayad mera tareeka galat tha,

But believe me Ayesha,

My feelings were indeed respectful and true.

Main kabhi yeh nahi chahta tha – ki tumhe hurt ho ya tumhe bura lage!" he articulated the words in his heart.

I moved away from my chair, walked towards him and sat beside him.

"Exactly Kabir –

Method tumhari

Tareeka tumhara

Feelings tumhare

Chahat tumhari"

Sab kuch tumhara toh nahi ho sakta na" with a smile on my face, I tried to explain him – while he felt a little embarrassed.

"Hey Kabira" I spoke in a little attractive tone – to lift up his spirits –

"I am not saying that you were wrong. Tumhara tareeka aur tumhari feelings – wakai mein bohat pyaare the."

"But shayad – you deserve somebody – better than me."

He looked up – straight in my eyes – with his eyes, a little dreary.

"One second...one second" I exclaimed excitedly.

"Look who's got a TEAR in his eyes..." I spoke in provoking him to change his gloomy mood.

"THE KABIR CHAUDHARY

A.K.A KABIRA – (I stressed on every single word)

THE JAAN OF THE PARTIES OF INFOSYS,

THE MOST IMPRESSIVE AND THE MOST ATTRACTIVE GUY"

I tried to lift his spirits, when he suddenly answered –

"IMPRESSIVE – aur main!" he taunted.

"Jis ladki ko impress karne ki, sabse zyada koshish ki

Woh khud toh impress hui nahi.

Aur aaj, woh ladki mujhe IMPRESSIVE bol rahi hain"

Just like me, he stressed on every single word.

Looking down, I smiled.

This time, he could understand me, and since I had no reply on his comment, he himself spoke –

"Acha Ayesha... he gave his cute smile

"Do I have the right to assume that you have forgiven me?" that question was very well framed, I guessed.

"Ahhh...not yet." I held his hand and continued –

"Uske liye – tumhe teen cheeze karni hogi –"

He looked at me puzzled, waiting for me to narrate his to-do list.

"Number 1 –

Kabir (I smiled at him)

I think that you deserve someone better than me (he frowned a little, but I still continued)

I am hundred percent sure – that you will find a girl – who will love you the most – in the WAY YOU ARE.

Main sirf itna chahti hoon – ki tum kisi ke liye – apne aap ko change mat karo.

Because, the original KABIRA is indeed special and IMPRESSIVE."

He blushed and I felt indeed happy.

"Number 2 –

Please be my BOY BEST FRIEND or my MALE BEST FRIEND.

Jab se Mumbai mein aayi hoon – jitne bhi ladke mile hain – sab ki sab DEEWANE hain.

Kuch mere peeche dewaane aur

Kuch ke peeche – main deewani.

I blushed as he pulled my cheeks.

Probably for the first time in my life, but I was glad.

"Ouch..." I shouted, a little delightful-irritation, to which he replied –

"Boy Best Friend ko itna toh haq hain na" he smirked.

"Haanji bilkul" this time I pulled his cheeks, harder.

"Aur Number 3 –"

"Please have a talk with Abhimanyu" I requested, as the smile on his face, frowned.

"Kabir –"

"Uss din joh kuch bhi hua, uske baad mein – I am unhappy."

"Main yeh sochne lagi hoon – ki mere wajah se – do(2) best friends mein jhagde ho gaye."

"And I never wanted this to happen."

"SO PLEASE" I PLEADED.

Although he did not reply with a yes, but he nodded and said that he will do.

"Ab tumhara ho gaya toh – mujhe bhi kuch bolna hain" he spoke and it felt intriguing – as I nodded – asking him to speak.

"Look Ayesha."

"I do not want an answer from you."

"But I just want you to know this"

"Main sirf tum se yeh kehna chahta hoon ki –"

He took a deep breath, held my hand tightly, and whispered –

"I love you Ayesha!"

Before I could speak anything, he hurriedly muttered –

"Tum please gussa mat hona aur bura mat maana." I laughed.

"Main sirf itna chahta hoon – ki tumhe yeh baat humesha pata ho –

that there's a boy called KABIR CHAUDHARY who..."

That incomplete statement seemed to be the most complete proposal, I ever heard.

Since I was sitting just adjacent to him, I dropped and kept my hand on his right shoulder and smiled.

"Agar tum dono ka prem-milav khatam ho gaya ho,

Toh main enter karu scene mein –"

Shreya exclaimed teasing both of us, as I got back to my original chair.

Suddenly, Kabir got up from his chair, and his looked seemed to be very serious.

"Kabir, kya ho gaya?" a tensed Shreya commented.

He walked towards Shreya, with his head down and exclaimed –

I moved with Kabir and spoke –

"Shreya – meet my new male BEST FRIEND – Mr. Kabir Chaudhary"

Shreya grinned and raised her hand for a shake, when Kabir, all of a sudden, dropped down on his right knee and spoke –

"Shreya, will you be my Valentine?"

TO BE CONTINUED.