That Sunday, luckily another day off, Tanvi finds herself surrounded by her girl pals early inside her apartment. The girls were all in a clear hurry and didn't bother to change out of their pyjamas. Not that changing out of pyjamas is necessary while within the residential quarters visiting a friend. A lot of officers move about that way, lounging in their leisure wear. They hardly find these moments of leisure, after all. Tanvi has just woken up having had a disturbing late night, standing in her own pyjamas, hair put in a loose bun, looking at twin frowns on the faces of her friends.

"Tanvi, bata!" Isha takes charge while Sameera watches from behind. "Purey air base mein yeh baat phail gayi hai, ki teri aur Sam ki bilkul nahin ban rahi. Best friends worst enemies ban gaye hain! Aakhir kya ho raha hai? Hume batao, yaar! You know, Abhimanyu is also concerned! Woh bhi mujhse poochh raha tha kal! Aur Farhan... kaam ke chakkar mein main usse mil nahi paayi lekin, usko zarur kuchh pata hai, hai na! Farhan is the only one who's constantly in touch with you and Sam. But we're all friends na! This is not done humen bhi kuch bataya karo na!"

Sameera nods. "Han, Tanvi. Ab aur nahi chhupana. Last time tumne baat taal di. Par ab nahi."

Tanvi sighs and gestures to her friends to take the couch. "At least baith toh jao yaar. Let's discuss this over morning coffee, hm?"

Five minutes later, the girls are drinking lukewarm morning coffee because the weather is too hot outside. The temperatures in all of Rajasthan during summer; at this rate, even air-conditioning will fail in and around airbase.

Isha takes a slow sip of her coffee and faces Tanvi. "Okay. Ab bataoge bhi ya nahi?"

Tanvi takes a deep breath and explains everything. Her one-sided love for Samrat that she kept secret from everyone, including the guy himself, how it all boiled up and led to a confession. A one-sided confession, which was surely a burden to him, given his self-hatred. How they stopped being friends at her insistence and how the sequences spiralled on, now resulting in Samrat wanting to show his worst side.

"He's even started harassing me at work! Can you believe it? Teaming up with those disgusting girls who always want to flirt and do time pass with him!" Tanvi's tone is laced with frustration, which she releases with a soft sigh. She then drinks her coffee that's gone cold in one gulp. "Sam sara kaam mujhse karwana chaha, fir Vivek aaya! We're only two, but it helped. Baki ladkiyan were just chilling and Sam let them!"

"Samrat ne aisa kiya?" Sameera's shock afterwards renders her speechless. The Samrat she knew would never, not even his traitor self would go to such lengths. Or would he? Isha heaves a heavy sigh and throws Tanvi a pointed look.

"Seriously yaar, tum log iss wajah se lad rahe ho?"

"Toh aur kya kar sakte hain, Isha? He is hell-bent on proving himself the worst kism ka ladka! This is a new twist in the kahani! Maine socha nahi woh aisa karega! This is all because I blurted out my feelings. Khair koi baat nahin. I will handle it... I can. So you guys don't worry. Main bhi toh ek Air Force officer hoon. Hawks ki team member thi. Samrat ko takkar de sakti hai yeh Tanvi Sharma."

Isha pats Tanvi's back. "Wah, meri sherni. Tu Samrat se takrayegi. I'm having mixed feelings about this."

Tanvi shrugs, and they both look at Sameera, who has been quiet for a long time.

"Sameera, tum chup kyun ho?"

"I really don't know. Yeh jo bhi ho raha hai. Tu aur Samrat aise dushman jaise... aur tera yeh naya attitude usse takrane ki... mujhe Khush hona chahiye ya upset."

Tanvi takes Sameera's hand with a smile.

"It will pass. Yeh jo bhi hai na khatm ho jayega, Sameera. Don't worry."

"Kaise khatm hoga?"

Sameera and Isha are at a loss for words, watching Tanvi slowly smiles like usual. They don't know about her transfer appeal after all.

"One way or the other isko toh khatm hona hi hai na, Sameera, Isha. I mean project Shakti ke bad hum dono sath mein kam nahi kar sakte. Everything is temporary, don't you think?"

Tanvi says, thinking, it will all and with my transfer I know. Main Samrat ko transfer per nahin jaane dungi. I just wish all happens smoothly and we can part based on friendly terms. Aise ladte hue nahi.

"I don't know aage kya hoga. But we want the best outcome for you, Tanvi."

Tanvi is pulled out of her thoughts by Isha and Sameera's heartfelt words. The girls share a warm group hug while still sitting on the couch, putting aside their coffee mugs.

Tanvi feels touched and guilty for hiding the fact that she will soon go on transfer. Well, she will let her friends know as soon as her request gets approved. She won't want to hide anything from such sweet friends anymore. The last secret she's yet to share is her transfer, which she will soon share if on an appropriate occasion.

She smiles as they pull away and nod at each other, and suggests they drive out into town for lunch

The other girls immediately say no.

"Tanvi, we heard you were sick. Ab kaisi hai? We couldn't come to check on you owing to duties... but abhi hum bahar nahin ja sakte okay?" Sameera says.

Isha agrees. Despite Tanvi's reassuraces, her girl pals insist; she has no choice but to agree to a stay at home Sunday. To think just about a few weeks ago, she was playing baseball with Samrat and other guys on Sundays... Times sure change. Nothing is forever. Neither The good times nor the bad times.

After cooking a healthy meal together, sharing a vanilla ice cream tub over chitchat after lunch, the girls fall into a late afternoon chat. Isha gets thoughtful again. Tanvi rolls on her side and watches her as they lie next to each other on the spacious bed, reading magazines.

"Tanz, main soch rahi thi iss sab ke piche Samrat ke kya feelings hai? He knows you love him. He thinks he is undeserving. Lekin uske piche what are his feelings? Unfiltered feelings without barriers."

Tanvi pulls a face and shakes her head

"Kise pata? Maybe he just doesn't care."

"Of course he cares." Isha bumps her shoulder into Tanvi's. "Isliye woh chahta hai that you move on? But the question is, what are his feelings? Is it just caring for a good friend or... more?"

Tanvi shakes her head again. "Isha, that's not possible."

"Kyun nahi possible? Kuchh bhi possible hai! Zindagi mein hume flexible hona chahiye. Yun aise solid opinion mat rakho tum, Tanz. Waise bhi, Sam is a tough guy. Koi bata nahin sakta uske dil mein kya hai unless he tells. Uska kaam hi toh Aisa hai. Kitni bar double agent bana after all that happened with his abbu. I'm sure if force needs someone as a double agent again, usko hi chunenge. That guy. You know he can withhold so much information and kisi ko pata bhi nahi chalega."

"Ugh, I know. And I don't know. I mean, I know his speciality in the force but I really don't know about us. Main sochna nahi chahti, Isha. Mujhe koi ummeed nahi hai uss se. I'm fine with this! This, just my love being one sided, it's fine. I just wish, jo pagalpan uspar sawar hai woh jaye bas. Aur jaldi jaaye."

"You're so simple, Tanz. Yeah, let's hope for the best. The guys must be asking him. Maybe he'll open up to them?"

"Maybe. I dunno. Kya bolega woh? Usko toh worst ladka hi banna! Khair, let's leave this discussion and try to enjoy our girl time, okay?"

Isha and Sameera agree to Tanvi's suggestion. The rest of their day off is uneventful but fun.

***

Samrat is with Abhimanyu and Farhan in the officers' mess hall of the residential quarters, playing a match of billiards. He just had a group lunch with his flying squad and he didn't join the guys for lunch. But out of habit, they are all hanging out together, discussing this and that. Samrat is glad they all have time for this. The flying squad members also left to catch up with whatever is dear to them.

A good while passes. As dusk colours the skies outside, the mess hall is empty. Farhan takes the opening and brings up the topic he and Abhi have been mulling over.

"Sam, yeh ab kya naya drama chal raha tere aur Tanvi ke beech? Maine jo suna, kya tum usko sach mein pareshan kar rahe ho? Kyun?"

Samrat responds after a moment. "Let's focus on this day-out, Farhan. Just don't ask me why. You know why. Kabhi-kabhi jab apne rasta bhatak jaate hain, unhen sahi raste par laane ke liye kathor vyavhar karna hota hai."

"Kathor vyavhar? What a vocabulary, wow! Sam, you are an idiot!"

Samrat falls silent. Abhimanyu intervenes before Farhan can speak further.

"Farhan, tum aur discuss mat karo. Just think. This must be stressful for Samrat also."

He pats Farhan's shoulder and looks at Samrat. "Samrat, main sirf yahi kahunga tumse. Jo bhi tum kar rahe, soch samajh kar karna."

Samrat only sighs in response. After Abhimanyu gives that sensible advice, the guys fall back into focusing on their day out. It is definitely not as fun as before, but helps them unwind.

***

As the day ends with a light dinner in the mess hall, Samrat and Farhan find their way back to their shared apartment. Farhan can't remain annoyed with his best buddy; so they just end up to chatting about casual work matters before both drifting off to sleep.

Farhan lies in his bed and thinks if there is a way he can help his friends; also makes a mental reminder to check on Tanvi later.

Samrat lies on his own bed with similar thoughts. Hopefully, Tanvi has a joyful weekend thanks to her girl pals. How's her health? How he wishes he can be personally there to cheer her up. As much saddening as it is, it will be a satisfying end if Tanvi loses all the affection she has for him after all of this. Will it ever happen? What will happen next? It's strange. In between moments where he isn't working, she's all he thinks about. Or maybe it's not so strange. He, after all, has fallen in love with her too. Though it is utterly pathetic of him.

*** 

✨TBC✨

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💓💭🌈📚✨Up next: Tanvi does something that makes Samrat change his ways - stop him momentarily, at least! 🫢🫣A surprise ...? 🫢😊

🌈✨Stay tuned! V & C✨🌈