"You look different."He said, staring into her eyes, the same ethereal orbs which had imprinted on him years ago.

Indeed she did! Reddish hue glowed on her face which made her look so beautiful that he couldn't take his eyes off her.

"Hmm."She hummed, fumbling with her fingers.

"Radhika, do you trust me?!"He asked, his voice laced with anxiety.

"Of course I do, Veer." She softy replies sincerity brimming in those eyes, he loved.

He nodded and smiled nervously. He was trying so hard to open his heart to her but couldn't build courage ahead of her. Everything inside him froze like ice and he would be so lost in her subtle beauty, her warm nurturing nature and her innocent heart-stirring smiles that he would forget himself in her.

"Radhika, I don't know how to say this....but." He fumbled for words,"Shit! I am at loss of words right now. I don't know how to say this."

She chuckled at his floundering and reassures him by rubbing his shoulder,"Veer, I am the same Radhika for whom you got  beaten up  by the teacher  because I forgot to do my homework and you lend me yours to show as mine. You have always thought about me before you. You remember once on your birthday Leitiza, our classmate ruined my dress and I was so heartbroken because my mom had sewed that from her sari and you left your own birthday party and threw a fit that you won't cut the cake if I don't smile and be a part of your happiness."

She rest her head on his shoulder and says,"You have always been my best friend. The one I can always count on. And you know what, even I want to tell you something."

"What?!"

"First you say."She persist.

"No ladies first."He claims.

"No not fair."She tilts her head on the right and taps her finger on her chin,"You know....I think we should  count 1 to 3 and disclose our secrets."

He exclaims,"Wow! That's a great idea."

1, 2, 3....

I love Arjun

I love...."He froze and swallowed his feelings and buried them deep inside his heart. The benevolent happiness that unfurled in her eyes talking about Arjun crushed his heart. His heartbreak was like an insatiable fire that burned all the oxygen in his body and left him lifeless and breathless.

She smiled lightheartedly as a heavy burden was lifted off her heart. She had kept her promise to Arjun that she would tell Veer about them and so she did at last. Completely unaware and disillusioned of his pain and agony, she was smiling ear to ear in good spirits.

He gulped,"You love him?!"

She claimed,"Veer, there are no words to describe what I feel about him. I am crazy about him."

She faces him and squeaks,"You know I feel sparks and magic evolving around me and inside me when he is with me."

He nods with tears forming in his eyes. Thank God she looked away at the other direction. What if she saw his tears?! No he will suck it up. Its the right thing to do now. She is too happy and her happiness should prevail even if its at the cost of his tears.

His voice choked,"I...ju...just...want...to...see...you happy, Ra...Radhika."

She stands up straight and faces the enormous sky, all dark and filled with stars. She whispers,"I never been happier." She smiles jovially,"I feel like screaming out loud that I am in love with the Arjun Mehra who is mine, All mine! Who all woman want but none can have him for he only belongs to me."

She laughed feeling silly,"Oh God! I sound like Arjun now. He growls in my ears you are mine, only mine ton times a day."

He stands up on his feet, grabs her arm and tilts her towards him. He stares in to her eyes, her beautiful brown eyes he fell in love with the first time he saw them, he wished for the time to still and wait for him to come to terms with the fact that she belonged to someone else now. Her world was enlightened and his was lost in darkness. She looked so happy and in deed she had never been happier. Then why did he wait for so long?! Never let any woman close to him. He! A 25 year old young man who was ahead of time. Who would believe he was a virgin still?! Towering above her with 5'10 height, he looked tall, light coloured and  handsome at least that was what girls who threw themselves on them thought. He had a spark but not enough to light a flame of love in her heart. She wanted Arjun! Five words so bitter and disgusting to him but they meant the world her. Everything now started from Arjun and ended on Arjun. Why he kept his hopes high if there weren't any chances of her ever being his?! Why?! Why was he such a nincompoop to deny the reality?! Why he kept himself reserved for her when she had to choose that village manwhore?! He tried to find himself in those eyes but all he found was Arjun...Arjun...Arjun. He was nowhere to be found in her eyes, in her heart he lost to Ar...Fuck it! He wasn't interested in taking his name chastely. Let's keep his heartbreak at side and think about does that fucking playboy really deserve his sweet Radhika?! No he didn't! She is too good for him. What if he hurts her?! What if he sees someone out of the marriage?! What if he hurts her physically or mentally or emotionally?! Almost everyone knows he has anger issues what if Radhika has to suffer because of him?! Arjun had so many affairs but he had just Radhika, only her, he loved her since the time he understood the meaning of love. He needed to make sure Arjun would not treat her like his past fling. Even if she broke his heart unknowingly, he will protect hers! He wanted her to be in safe hands and nothing about Arjun, he thought was safe for innocent Radhika.

He strokes her head lightly,"You have always been special to me. I have always had this resolution with myself to set you apart from everything and anything. Did you ever figure out why?!"

"That's because we are childhood friends. We have always been with each other through thick and thin except for the time when you left all of us behind to chase your dreams."She replies sadly.

He lifts her head from his chest and makes her face him so they are eye to eye now. He asks,"You are still holding onto that, aren't you?!"

She shakes her head,"Yes and No. See you know I always try to be honest as much as I could. I know you made your choice but somewhere down the line I felt resentful that I lost my best friend. I congratulated you halfheartedly that day and wished you all the very best but I wasn't happy but with time I made peace with that feeling too."

He stared at her, unblinking and still, There were no words to describe what he felt at the moment. He went away because he thought there was no future for him with Radhika and here, she is saying that she didn't want him to go. Does that mean even she felt for him something at that time?!

She flips her hair in the front and starts playing with them maybe engaging her hands in some sort of activity. She lifts her bowed head and looks at him, with a smile tugged on her lips,"Veer, you looked out for me. We are friends because you don't be with me because I am an eye turner or in Arjun's words cock teaser. You never made a pass at me like other guys."

His eyes widened hearing the foul language, she just spoke. He glares at her,"Lady, you have got your pretty mouth contaminated staying with that...."He pauses when he sees her shaking her head vigorously,"Fine I am not cursing him. With Arjun. Are you happy?!"

She nods smilingly,"So where was I?! Ya so you were the only guy I trusted apart from my brothers. Others were off limits so I thought maybe....you know we...."She looks up for some sort of divine inspiration to quote her feelings,"But what I felt for you at that time isn't even close to what I feel for Arjun now. I have always liked being taken care of. Who does not?! But you know I never have to worry about anything when I am with him. It's like just by looking at my face, He understands me except for the times when he is palm twitchingly mad. You know every girl likes to see the qualities of her father in the guy and you know Arjun has most of it. My father was possessive of me and Arjun....God! He is obsessed. Sometimes its very annoying but I love that side of his too. Obviously its not the only reason I am just so much in love with him that I don't think I can breath without him. Sometimes I usually get up in the night and stare at him doing nothing just staring for minutes, hours until I realize its first break of dawn. You know he says he is no fun type of a guy but still when I am with him most of the time I am laughing."

He shouts interrupting her,"Radhika, Stop! You are just thinking about the present and I can see you are very happy. But what have you thought about your future?!"

She cocks an eyebrow and asks,"What about my future?!"

He shakes his head and steps closer to her. He cups her face and makes her look at him. He says,"Sweety, why are you so innocent?! Tell me why?! You say you love him but does he love you back."

No he does not. Her heart answers but lips stayed pressed in straight line. Love?! Arjun does not believe in it. But that will never stop her from loving him with all her heart. More than love its trust that matters in their relationship. Her love is enough for both of them.

She plainly replies,"No he does not believe in love."Deep hurt laced in her voice.

He narrows his eyes at her,"Are you kidding me?!"

She shakes her head,"No why would I?!"

He races to her and grabs her shoulders. He snarls,"Radhika, are you even hearing yourself?! You say you love Arjun but he does not love you. What sense does this make?! He isn't a relationship type of a guy. You don't know or you have blindfolded yourself."

She yanks off his arm,"Veer, please don't judge our relationship. Its too different."

He glares at her with a piercing gaze,"What it is?! Friends with benefits?!"

She was shocked and still at her place. How could he say that?! Her insides numbed hearing his crass language.

"Veer, how dare you?! I can't believe you said this. I wish I had gone deaf before hearing this from you."Storming rage sparkling in her eyes.

"Look I am sorry its just that I care for you a lot, more than I can ever explain. Please Radhika don't do this mistake. It will be the most stupid and the greatest regret of your life. He is not good for you." He literally begs her hoping she will change her decision. He wasn't asking her to think back on her decision for him but for her. He knew she would not survive a heartbreak for she was too innocent and frail.

She stared at him with dismayed eyes,"I thought my best friend would understand me but I guess I was wrong."

He shook her vigorously and begged with earnest eyes, "Radhika, please take off the blindfold of love you are wearing. He won't stay with you for long. Don't ruin your life, dear."

She jerked off his hands and signed,"Ruin my life?! Where is this coming from?! Veer, if you really cared so much for me you would have never left me years ago. It hurts to says this but you are no more my best friend. I tried my best to contact you at the time of my marriage to help me elope. But you didn't respond to any of my messages or emails or calls. You treated me like a nobody! At that time Arjun showed up in my life like my knight in shining armor. He has done so much for me that I can never repay him. If by loving this man I am ruining my life So be it! I will happily get ruined in his love."

He teared up,"Radhika, why don't you understand?! I care for you. Why can't you see how much I...lo..."

Her breath hitched in her throat,"You love me?!"

He wiped his eyes and said earnestly,"I do. I always have and always will."

Her world was upside down in that one freaking moment. Ground underneath her feet slipped away. So Arjun was right?! Her heart asked. Her mind mocked. He is always right. God! Why she was so naive to see what Arjun saw the very first time he met Veer?!

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she chocked with emotions,"Veer, I am sorry. I am so, so sorry. I didn't know that you...."She pauses and laughs hysterically,"God! Arjun saw through you and I couldn't! I failed as your best friend."

"Veer, I don't love you its him I love and...."She sniffs woefully.

He kisses her forehead,"I know, I know and that is why I am letting you go because I love you enough to let you go. But always remember If ever you need me I am just a call away. Please stay happy for me for I always want you be happy even if your happiness lies in him."He staggers

He retreats taking steps away from her. His eyes mapping her image in his mind and welling up as he knew its over for him. There is no hope now!

She stood there rooted to the ground watching him walk away from her. She closed her eyes briefly, more hot stinging tears emanated from her eyes and fell readily down her cheeks,"I am sorry Veer but I can't give you anything accept my friendship. I have lost my heart and soul both to Arjun. I am really sorry."