Monday, 13/07/2009 ... in Kochi, India

Later that evening, Priya and Udhay were standing outside the hotel by Udhay's car.

"That day I had told you to give me time when you had asked me to rate your friendship with Ajay. I've got an answer for you now. Your relationship with Ajay is not just friendship. It may be hard for you to accept this, but I am telling you the truth, Priya. You two appear like a couple not only to me, but to everyone," claimed Udhay.

"Udhay, I've told you about my friendship with Ajay since the first time we met. You're open-minded; you seemed to be fine with our friendship. I thought you would understand us. I never expected that you would talk like this," Priya sighed.

"I can't be that open-minded to ignore you getting so close to him in front of your fiancé. If I ask you to choose between me and Ajay, I fear you'll say that we are just equal to you."

"You are comparing two unequal people. You and he are different. Ajay and I are friends since childhood, now and forever. But you... before you were my boyfriend, today you're my fiancé, and soon you'll be my husband. My relationship with him hasn't changed and it will never change. But with you, it has changed and it will only keep changing and becoming stronger. Don't you realize that?"

***

"I don't feel like there's anything wrong in what Udhay did," stated Isha, as she and Ajay were standing in the balcony in his room in the hotel.

"He pushed her to the floor! I can't keep quiet if he hurts Priya," pointed out Ajay.

"Then, why don't you just marry her and forget me and Udhay?"

"Huh? What nonsense are you talking about?"

"When you proposed to me, I was very happy. You were my world. I expected you to love me like that too, was that wrong? Any girl would want her boyfriend to give priority to her first, but you are giving Priya more priority than me. When you needed help too, I wanted to help you. But she's always there for you before me!"

"Is this all you've understood about our friendship?"

"I don't know how to tell you this, but I feel like there's somebody occupying the space between us."

"I am going to share my life with you, not with Priya. Why are you comparing yourself with her?"

***

"Our expectations will also change along with our relationship. It's fine if you are close to another guy when you're my girlfriend. But after marriage, you'll be my wife, Priya. If your friendship with him continues like this then, many problems will creep between us," warned Udhay.

"What are you coming to say to me, Udhay?" inquired Priya.

"If you want us to have a happy married life together, then your friendship cannot go on at this rate."

"The day he proposed to Isha, he came to meet me full of excitement. But when he saw me upset, he asked if his love was a problem to our friendship because he didn't want to lose me over Isha. Similarly, I can't leave him for the sake of our love. But I want you, Udhay."

***

"Isha, don't be ridiculous. Come, let's go back into the room," commanded Ajay.

"If we have to be happy together, then you have to take a decision now, Ajay," answered Isha.

"I'll do anything to make you happy and live a happy life together. But you know, when Priya felt that our friendship would be problematic for my love, she wanted to leave me and go to Chennai. She didn't want our friendship to become a hindrance to my love. But she never asked me to forget my love."

"So, what are you trying to say?"

"I can't live with you happily leaving Priya."

***

Tuesday, 14/07/2009 ... in Coimbatore, India

That morning, Ajay and his parents as well as Priya and her mother were seated in the living room of their house in silence.

After hearing Ajay and Priya out, Sarita spoke, "They are young; they may have just quarrelled on impulse. I think everything will be fine if you just go and talk to Udhay and Isha once, Kishan."

"The problem is not with Udhay, it is with these two only. They just aren't realizing the love they have for each other," remarked Amrita.

"Mom! What are you saying? Udhay and Isha are new in our life. They don't know everything about us, that's why they spoke like that. But you too?" asked Priya.

"I can't find anything wrong in what Udhay and Isha spoke. Seeing your closeness, when that idea came to your mother's mind, it's not surprising outsiders can think like that. So your lovers couldn't understand you. If anyone new enters your lives as well, they won't understand you. Then, what if this problem comes after your marriage? It is better for you to discuss this now itself and decide," explained Kishan, "The decision is in your hands. Husband and wife may or may not be able to be good friends as well. But good friends can become husband and wife. If you want to live together forever, there's only one option for you that the world will accept. The two of you should get married."

Ajay and Priya froze but remained silent.

***

The whole day passed in a gloom. Ajay was lost deep in his thoughts throughout the day as he wondered if there was any other solution to their problem.

While they were having dinner that night, Ajay noticed that he had not seen Priya after lunch that afternoon.

After dinner, Ajay confronted Amrita in the kitchen, "Aunty, where's Priya?"

"She must be upstairs in her room. I called her to come and have dinner, she told me to keep some on the table for her, she'll come later," answered Amrita.

Ajay remained silent, before heading upstairs to check on Priya.

As he entered Priya's room, he saw her seated by the window, hugging her knees. Ajay walked up to her. Upon noticing him, a cheerless smile cropped up on her face. Ajay watched her for a moment in silence. The box of earrings Udhay had gifted her lay in her hands. Without uttering a word, Ajay walked out of her room.

Ajay entered his room and stood behind the door, folding his arms as he was deep in thought. That was his friend, Priya. He had never seen tears in her eyes, not when she had lost her dad and her sister or now. Instead, she had always had a smile on her face whether she was happy or upset. She was his perfect friend. There was no better word to describe her than the word 'perfect'. Yes, that was her; the friend who had always trusted him and been with him when he had no other support. He had never done much for her, yet she had always been there for him. Now, there was a problem in her life, and Ajay knew only he could help her.

***

Wednesday, 15/07/2009 ... in Coimbatore, India

Kishan, Sarita, Amrita and Priya were having breakfast early that morning when Ajay sped down the stairs towards them in a hurry. They were surprised to see him awake so early in the morning.

"Dad, I need your help. We have to meet Udhay," said Ajay. Priya frowned a bit.

Kishan glanced at Priya before turning to Ajay, replying, "Alright, we'll meet him this evening."

Without speaking another word, Ajay headed back upstairs to his room and dialled Isha's number on his mobile.

***

Kishan, Ajay, Isha, Priya and Udhay were standing in the park that evening, deep in thought for a long while.

"So what are you coming to say, Ajay?" asked Udhay, finally breaking the silence.

Ajay remained silent.

Udhay turned to Kishan before saying, "You might find me harsh for saying this despite listening to what you and Ajay tried to explain to me all this while, Uncle. As a father, you are thinking about their future. But I'm thinking about the problems that will crop between us in the future. I love Priya; I really just want to keep her happy all her life. But knowing that we'll have problems between us because of her friendship with Ajay, I'm not ready to marry her. I don't want problems between me and her after marriage to hurt her. I just want her to be happy, that's all."

"There is nothing wrong in what you said, Udhay. But you have misunderstood us; we are just friends. Our friendship is very important to us. You are going to share your life with Priya. If you can't understand our friendship, then there's no meaning for it. Our friendship should not be an obstacle in our lives or your lives. I'll marry Isha and only Isha, no one else. What else can I say or do to make you understand? You love Priya, and even Priya loves you so much; I don't ever want her to lose you because of me," explained Ajay.

Udhay sighed. Ajay looked around at all of them as they remained forbiddingly silent.

"Fine, I won't talk to Priya or meet her till your wedding, is that enough for you to understand that our relationship is nothing more than friendship?" asked Ajay.

Priya and Udhay frowned.

"Is it enough if I don't contact her for a month?" demanded Ajay.

Udhay shook his head in disagreement before stating, "It's not a matter of a week or a month. You don't seem to understand. I'm talking about problems after marriage. I won't be able to bear it if Priya and I have arguments after marriage and our marriage becomes bitter because of your friendship."

"I will never contact Priya, look at her, talk to her or meet her again. Please marry her, Udhay," declared Ajay.

"What–" Priya started to speak but Ajay raised his hand and showed her his palm without even looking at her.

Without even glancing at any of them again, Ajay walked away, leaving Priya staring in the direction he had left, speechless in shock.

To be continued...

PS: Writer's note ~

I don't usually write notes like this since you don't see such notes when reading hard cover books. But I felt like adding in this note here since this chapter is quite short. 

So, this chapter here ends the flashback. Now, you may go back and read the prologue to know where the next chapter of this story will be taking off. 

What do you think will happen next? And what do you think of this story so far? Please comment!! 

Looking forward to reading your comments.. :)