ARNAV

I was busy working on my laptop when I heard a knock at the door, as soon as I looked up, I saw Ansh and Manav walk in, I stood up immediately and rushed to greet them with a hug.

"What a pleasant surprise guys." I smiled at the both of them.

"Dude, you're the one with surprises, Bindiya is here working for you and you dint even tell us." Ansh said.

"Or did you two finally get together?" Manav asked.

"I dint tell you because she just joined yesterday, and no we aren't together, I don't think we ever will be and I've come to terms with that. Anything else?" I asked as I walked back to my chair while they both sat in front of me.

"One more question. Since you've given up, can I ask her out?" Ansh smirked, I grabbed a pen and threw it at his face.

"Yup, got the answer loud and clear." He laughed while Manav laughed along with him.

"What about this other girl you went on date with? She was hot, I saw the picture she tagged you in." Manav smirked.

"If you're planning to cheat on my sister I'll break your bones." I looked at him seriously.

Oh I even forgot to mention, a couple months after I finished my studies and got this job, Manav and Anjali had started dating and they were together ever since, I mean of course it was strange for me at first given that it was my sister and my best friend plus they also had like a four five year age different but they loved each other and I was happy for them, age is anyway just a number right?

"Actually, that's what I came to talk to you about." Manav said.

"What? Are you thinking of breaking up with my sister?" I almost stood up angrily.

"No dude, the opposite. Stop being the overprotective brother. I'm planning on proposing her, I mean it's been a while since we've been together, she was already settled when we got together but now I am well settled too, so I was thinking maybe it's time to take the next step." Manav said excitedly.

Wow! I couldn't believe that he wanted to propose her, it meant that Anjali would get married soon and go live with this idiot, I was going to miss her. Even the thought of it already made me emotional.

"Okay, so when are you planning on doing it?"

"I'll have to take your mom's permission first and make sure she's okay, that's why I came to talk to you, maybe we can go talk to her when Anjali isn't around and then plan everything?"

"Sure, sounds good, I'll give you a call about it."

"Okay now I need some proposal ideas, I have no idea how I'm going to do it, do you have any ideas?"

"Dude, I haven't even had one girlfriend, and the only girl I ever fell in love with doesn't even love me back, so I am really the last person to ask for advice on it. You should ask a girl these questions, all girls have an idea on a perfect proposal in their minds." Arnav said.

"Perfect, we should ask Bindiya, let me get her." Ansh said as he stood up and rushed out of the cabin even before I could say anything and immediately walked back holding Khushi's hand and pulling her with him.

"Bindiya, we need your help." Ansh said to her.

"What help?" She asked as she looked at us in confusion, why did Ansh have to drag her in between all this? I couldn't stop thinking how it felt like the old times, the four of us hanging out together at the canteen.

"Actually, Manav needed your help." I said, she looked at me and then at Manav waiting for him to say something.

"I am planning on proposing my girlfriend, so I just needed some ideas on how to do it or so... Could you maybe have some ideas?" Manav asked.

"Really? When did that happen? Who is your girlfriend? Do I know her? Was she in our college?" Khushi asked excitedly as she sat down beside him and started talking to him.

"No, it's Arnav's sister." Manav said.

"Wow, that's exciting, I have this very interesting idea, let me tell you about it then you can tell me whether you like it or not." She smiled as she immediately started explaining it to him while Manav patiently listened to her.

I just stared at her, none of the words she spoke really went through my ears but I was just zoned out completely staring at her, admiring her, how she talked, how beautiful she looked, how gorgeous her smile was, it was like once again, I was mesmerized by her.

So much for moving on Arnav.

"Does it sound interesting or should I come up with something else?" Khushi asked.

"It sounds perfect, I love it, it's sweet and simple, just how Anjali would like it. Would you help me put it together once I talk to her mom?" Manav asked.

"Sure. Let me know when you want to plan it, I'll help you as much as I can."

"Thank you." Manav smiled at her.

"Anyway, I'll leave you guys to continue." She said as she stood up to leave.

"Stay. It feels like the old college days." Manav said so she just nodded and sat down as we all started talking about random things, remembering our college days and all.

*****

After Ansh and Manav left, I got back to work and also gave Khushi some work to do. I finished my work in a while and then headed out for lunch as usual, it looked like Aman and Khushi had already left for lunch also as they weren't on their desks.

I would usually just go to a nearby restaurant sometimes and sit there, have lunch alone and come back to work, so that's what I did, I got to the nearest restaurant parked my car and headed inside.

I grabbed the menu as I settled down wondering what to eat when I heard her voice.

"Hey." I looked up from the menu and saw her standing right in front of me.

"Khushi, what are you doing here?" I asked.

"I came for lunch, I was seated there, you dint see me?"

"If I had seen you, I wouldn't ignore you right? I just came and settled down, I guess I was hungry so I just wanted to get food as soon as possible." I laughed.

"Oh okay... so is someone joining you or would you mind if I joined you? It's awkward sitting alone in a restaurant, everyone is staring." She giggled nervously.

"Sure, you can join me. I am not waiting for anyone, I usually eat alone." I smiled as I grabbed the menu once again, I was quite surprised that she actually approached me, it wasn't something I would have expected from her, but I was quite happy that she was here, having lunch with me.

"What would you like to eat?" I asked her once I had decided on what I wanted to eat.

"I've already placed my order, I'm sure the waiter will be here with it soon." She smiled, I nodded as I called a waiter and gave him my order. Once he wrote everything down, he walked away leaving us alone.

I just sat there looking at her and looking around not knowing what to say, it was a bit of awkward. I remember in college I wouldn't even stop talking to her, and now I had nothing to talk to her about, or maybe it was just because things were awkward between us.

"So how's your mom and your sister?" I asked trying to make conversation.

"They are good. How's everyone at your home?"

"They are good too, I'm sure in the coming days they will be happier when the whole proposal thing happens and finally Anjali gets married." I smiled.

"Yeah, she would be so happy." She smiled.

Soon the waiter came with Khushi's food and placed it on our table and then walked away, instead of starting to eat, she decided to wait until my food was brought too so that we could both eat together, that was really sweet of her.

It was as if today was surprise day for me, first of all Ansh and Manav gave me a surprise visit at the office and then Khushi, here and now Ayesha, I saw her walking towards me from afar with a big smile on her face.

"You! Did someone chase you away from work." She said as she approached me, I stood up and greeted her with a hug.

"I just came for lunch." I rolled my eyes at her

"Oh by the way, meet my workmate, she's Khushi... Khushi this is Ayesha, Aman's sister." I said.

"Yeah, the girl you went on date with last night." She said as she stared at Ayesha.

"I'm sorry, Aman wouldn't stop talking about it." She said immediately and then looked at the table awkwardly.

"It's okay." Ayesha laughed and then turned to look at me. "I'll get going, I'll see you when I see you again? Maybe on a second date." She winked at me as she walked away, she was always this funny and entertaining, I mean she was so perfect only if I could feel for her even ten percent of what I felt for Khushi then things would be way easier.

"She's pretty." Khushi looked at me awkwardly, she had this really strange expressions on her face that I couldn't understand.

"Yeah, she is." I nodded which seemed to make the expressions even worse than they already were. In a perfect world, I would think she was jealous, but she never loved me so the question about her being jealous was out of topic.