Samrat focuses on enjoying his day out with the others. Farhan is glad about it. At the end of a long but fun day, the two guys return to their shared apartment, after which Farhan breaks his silence.

"Tumhare aur Tanvi ke bich chhupi kab tak chalegi?"

Samrat acknowledges Farhan with a simple nod and proceeds to change out of his clothes into some comfy pyjamas. Farhan does the same. After a moment, he speaks again.

"Batao na, Samrat. Aur aaj subah tumne usko jhooth kyun bola? Mujhe achcha nahi laga tha, to take the credit for things I didn't even do. And mujhe waise bhi guilty lag raha that I couldn't cheer her up as I was really busy with my job... What kind of friend was I?"

"Farhan..." Samrat clears his throat and the two of them, now fully dressed, sit on their respective beds facing each other.

"It's okay, Farhan, you're already doing so much for her. Aur Tanvi bhi itni weak nahi woh khud ko sambhal na sake. And she was upset because of me, toh mujhe kuch karna pada na? I'm glad it worked out. Thanks for keeping quiet back there and letting her think it was you, yaar."

Farhan huffs and looks away.

"Raha sawal mere aur uske bich ki chupti ka... I'm looking for a chance. Ab bas mujhe usey kisi bhi tarah usey samjhana hoga, Farhan. I have to convince her to move on. She has to find some nice guy who can love her back-"

"Wow! As if that's easy, Sam! Why do you care so much about her, huh? Don't tell me this is just friendship kyunki mujhe kuch alag hi feeling aa rahi hai... Asking her to move on, truly, tum yahi chahte ho tum dono ke liye?"

Samrat falls quiet. For a long moment, neither of them speaks. Farhan, unable to bear the silence, opens his mouth. Samrat holds his hand out to quiet him, and mutters irritably,

"Farhan, please! Please don't ask me why. Please aur sawal mat karo. Na pucho mere dil mein kya hai! Because kuch nahin hai-"

"Maine abhi sawal pucha hi nahi hai, Sam..."

Samrat curses under his breath. "Damn it."

The atmosphere between him and Farhan has heated in seconds. Now Farhan is staring at him with firm eyes.

"Seriously, Sam! Tu agar... tujhe agar..." Farhan begins in a quiet tone. Samrat's patience snaps.

"Mujhe agar Tanvi se pyar hai toh, na? Yahi sawal karna chahte hona, Farhan? Mujhe agar usse pyar hai... toh?"

Farhan's eyes widen. Samrat trails off, running a hand through his hair, sucking in a shaky breath.

"Mujhe usse pyar... Aisa khayal bhi main apne mann mei aane nahi de sakta, Farhan. Aisa hone nahi de sakta!"

Farhan quietly watches, in awe of Samrat's sudden emotional outburst. Samrat had seemed calm all these days, but clearly a lot was going on in his head and heart.

"Woh ladki pagal hai!" Samrat nearly screams the words then drops his voice, "Shayad main bhi... lekin uske jitna pagal nahi hoon main! Apni bhavnao ko khud par havi hone nahin diya maine kabhi. Toh aaj bhi nahi..."

Farhan shakes his head in exasperation. "I don't get it. I don't understand what you're trying to say. Does this mean you love her?"

Samrat is quiet again, having composed himself. A self-deprecating smile plays on his lips as he muses on his feelings.

"Mujhe pata hai mujhe kya karna hai, Farhan."

"Kya karoge?"

"Mujhe yahan se Jana hoga kisi dusre air base mein. Tanvi ko chain mil jayegi aur hamare bich woh distance."

"Are you an idiot!?" Farhan suppresses the urge to pick Samrat by the collar and smack his face with his fist. "Kyun?"

"I know, Farhan. She will be in pain, lekin yeh temporary dard uska kya bigadega? Main yahan rahunga to use aur takleef hogi. Waise I speak peak of the future. Abhi mujhe kaafi kaam niptane hai jaane se pehle. Aur to be honest, I want me and Tanvi to part on friendly terms."

"Arey par tum dono ek dusre ko taklif doge kyun? Tum ek sath khush kyun nahi-"

"Farhan, no!" Samrat stops Farhan from saying further. "Tu iss baare mein kuchh aur na bol. Aur tu Tanvi se bhi iss bare mein kuch baat nahi karega. Tujhe meri kasam, okay? This is the end of discussion."

Farhan is agitated but there's nothing he can do. He walks out of the residential quarters saying he will be back after taking a walk to calm his head. Samrat goes to bed, frustrated for many reasons. For disappointing Farhan and for causing Tanvi so much pain. He wonders if he will ever find a chance to speak to Tanvi so they can address the matter together. Deciding that he has to create that opening, he falls into a dreamless sleep. He could stay up all night and muse on things but he's a fauji whose duty awaits him in the morning. Farhan too will return for the same reasons.

***

✨🩵TBC✨🩵

🌈📚WC: 821

📚❣️💭Up next: Tanvi talks with her brother. Later decides something to do about her current stand-off with Samrat.

💭✍️AN: V & C!