"Mohabbat toh woh hai jisme milne ki umeed na ho phir bhi itezar ho."

- Unknown

^^^

Her eyes were busy staring at the numerous pieces of the wonderful creation of the famous fashion designer. Every particle in the building yelled money. She was against Dhruv's allowance to Aditi for it. There wasn't a need to waste such an amount of money on a simple piece of cloth. Though it was their wedding yet it seemed illogical. Her eyes rooted on her friend, the-would-bride.

Aditi's fair skin was glowing as the wedding day was coming near. Those set of black orbs shinning in delight as each piece of cloth was showcased to her. Everyone who glanced at her could claim she was excited about the wedding. She had a huge dream about her wedding and her mouth never had stopped narrating those imaginations to her bunch of friends. During those years, every one of them had by-hearted her entire fairy tale wedding. Maybe that was one of the reasons Dhruv felt obliged to fulfil all her wishes.

She was a fortunate woman to have someone like him in her life. That thought flashed a sudden wave of agony across Kiara's spirit. She averted her gaze from her friend to the numerous pieces of fine fabric. Maybe distraction was a better option!

"I still suggest you might have excluded yourself from the event altogether." She heard logical reasoning. Her eyes darted to the girl, the one she considered most close to her. She was years younger than Kiara yet way more mature than her age. Avni glanced at Aditi for a minute. A smile was placed on her lip yet an upset feeling crossed into those orbs. "Kiara, this isn't going to work. You're going to torture yourself." She sounded concerned, as she stepped toward Kiara. She was much bigger in height so in appearance compared to Kiara.

"Avni, we had already talked about it. My disappearance won't be appreciated by Dhruv. You know how he is..." Kiara muttered not for once glancing at her. She was scared of breaking down in front of the crowd. And wasn't wishing suspiciousness to raise upon her.

"Dude, stop thinking about him. We will provide with any reason and he will be much busy with his wedding preparation to discover your disappearance." Kiara shook her head at Avni's suggestion. It wasn't that easy! He won't ever be that busy to overlook her disappearance. None knew him better than her. And it was a blessing as well as a curse because none knew him better than her.

"I had made up my mind. I can't miss my friend's wedding due to my stupid feeling." She voiced making Avni narrow her eyes at her friend's stupidity. "Hadn't you said it before. These emotions... fade away with time. Maybe in years to come, I will consider myself stupid for even holding something towards him." Kiara's eyes were scanning a beautiful piece of lehenga though her mind was far away from appreciating the piece of dress.

"You and I both know, that isn't happening." Avni was growing impatience seeing one of her dear friend, on the verge of shattering into pieces. She wasn't planning to choose between her friends. She cared for them enough, each one of them. They were a part of her life. She understood each one of them yet she couldn't allow any one of them to be broken. "Why you just don't voice it out to him?" Avni sounded defeated. She had suggested those words many times in her past but Kiara never considered her suggestion.

At times Avni believed only if she hadn't listened to Kiara and voiced those words out herself so might be the situation was different. Now, they were trapped. Or it was she who was trapped among her friends. Neither she could allow herself to celebrate her friend's wedding nor she could escape from it. She was trapped to witness it, fully aware that Kiara was breaking from within.

"I can't..." Kiara choked at the end. The strong exterior was suddenly crushed down. She wasn't able to hold herself any longer. "Not when I know he loves her more than his life." That came in between her sob and soon Avni wrapped her arms around her devasted friend. At that moment any passerby could suggest an elder sister was consoling the smaller one. The view suggested so but it was other way around.

Kiara considered Avni as her small version. A girl who was far mature for her age. That allowed her to be comfortable around her, and to ask for her suggestion about things in life. To share feelings without having the thought of judgment. That was the reason that only Avni was aware of her feeling for Dhruv. Only she knew about the pain Kiara had gone through after the announcement that Aditi and Dhruv were planning to marry. But Kiara had suggested to Avni the happening long back but Avni had often rejected the idea. And yet it was the truth!

They both had a huge likeness towards each other and they were going to end up together. It was such exciting news for their friends but Kiara even after attempting, couldn't force herself to be content. She was happy for them but driven by grief deep inside.

"Hey..." They heard a familiar voice and got alert. Kiara pushed back her tears while Avni offered a smile at the interrupter. A guy much of Kiara's age stood in front of them. That face shouting joy and happiness were changed into concern due to the view before him.

"Bro... what are you doing over here?" Avni attempted to sound calm but her hesitance was visible and it never passed through those spying sets of black orbs. It stayed a minute longer on Avni before gazing at Kiara who was staring at the floor.

"What's the deal?" He questioned making Kaira panic a little. She wasn't able to hold her tears back when he stood in front of them with interrogating orbs. "Kiara! Are you crying?" And his further inquiry made it worse for her. "Hey..." and soon she was pulled into those familiar arms. Those arms made her feel secure but at the same time, she was certain maybe it was the last time he would hold her in such a manner.

She had never voiced her feeling due to the fear of losing the beautiful friendship she shared with him. She valued it much over her stupid feeling. She was certain that if those feeling was ever brought into notice everything between them would crumble into pieces. She never wanted that yet at that moment she was so uncertain if their friendship would still be the same?

He was going to marry soon and would get engrossed in his life. There was an advantage that he was marrying one of their friends. There won't be any objection from Aditi's side to his friendship with Kiara. Yet she knew, it won't be the same. He won't be the same!

"Shh! It will be alright." He whispered to her ears as his hands slowly caressed her hair. His orbs fixed on Avni, interrogating her about what was the deal?

"Nothing... it just... you know she and her mood swings." Avni came up with the most possible answer. Dhruv frowned a minute at Avni. Understanding that she was holding a thing back yet didn't force her to voice it out.

"Don't worry... there is still time. I won't marry Aditi if you say yes," Dhruv chuckled making Kiara throw a punch on his shoulder making him growl dramatically though it had least affected him. Her punches won't even scare a kitten.

"Stop your flirting Mr..." Kiara growled wiping her tears off as indirectly or intentionally he had shifted her mood. "Don't forget you are going to marry." She spoke offering him a glare as she raised her head from his chest to glance into his eyes.

He was staring into her orbs as if driving deep into her soul. It was difficult when he would stare at her with that intensity to feel that he never held any feelings toward her. The way his orbs would sparkle with the mere sight of her. The way it held adoration towards her. It was always difficult for her to convince her heart that it was one-sided. Maybe she voiced it out that she had the least expectation yet deep down she considered he reciprocated that feeling, that was the reason that his wedding news had devasted her. It had broken every hope, she held in them.

"Even if I am on verge of dying, I am never going to stop joking around." He voiced out slowly brushing those tears off her cheek. Pressing a small smile on his face, "and that wasn't flirting." He whispered slowly yet loud to get into Kiara's ears.

She knitted her brow in confusion, staring at him. Demanding him to elaborate but he smartly changed the topic. "Where is Aditi? Is she done with the clothes?" His attention fixed on Avni though his arms hadn't left Kiara as it was wrapped around her shoulder.

"I have!" An excited, familiar voice compelled Kiara to push Dhruv's arms off her and take a step back from the proximity they were standing. Kiara could feel Dhruv's gaze on her but she chose to ignore it and concentrate on the excited would-be-bride before them. She had the biggest smile playing on her lips and those orbs glittering like stars on the darkest night. She was so excited about her upcoming future.

Kiara at that minute felt so guilty for not being able to share her happiness. Whenever Aditi used to narrate about her fairy tale wedding, Kiara used to be filled with enthusiasm. She used to always motivate her along with the rest of the friends that it would turn into reality when Dhruv was adamant enough to spoil her mood, saying she need to act practically.

She was so lost in thoughts that she was zoned out from the conversation happening before her. She was staring at the couple with a sweet, sad smile playing on her lip. The individual who argued that her dreams were baseless was doing every effort needed to turn them into reality. How could Kiara even dare to imagine he wasn't in love with Aditi?

"Come... I need to show you a number of them. They are all beautiful." Aditi commented soon dragging Dhruv away from them. And at that moment Kiara visualized how slowly but gracefully Aditi was taking him away from her life. But she stood there staring at their retreating figure with a smile on her face.

___

A few days had passed by and Aditi had finally decided on her wedding lehenga. Kiara could visualize Dhruv sighing in relief as Aditi mentioned those words he was longing to hear after hours of shopping. "This is the one, the best." Those were her words with an award-winning grin that could melt any heart. Maybe Dhruv felt all those hours were worth it if the result was her beautiful smile. Kiara hadn't missed the smile playing on Dhruv's face on glancing at content Aditi.

"Can I know the reason behind that beautiful smile of yours?" She was brought back into the present by a very familiar voice. She could recognize that voice even in her unconscious state.

Her eyes narrowed at the person leaning on the door frame. A mischievous smirk played on his lips as his arms were folded around his chest as he was offering Kiara a teasing look. "What are you doing over here?" She interrogated, shutting the laptop she was typing on before ending in daydreaming.

He straightened his posture and walked inside her room. Walking around the length of the room as if he owned it. "I was the one to question first so I get the answer first." He voiced the fact and Kiara rolled her orbs.

"Fine, I was thinking about someone special. Now, your turn?" She spoke raising herself from the chair so she could face him. Her voice depicted the worry held within. "Weren't you both supposed to go on date?" She inquired, spying on him curiously.

"She had an urgent case to look after," voiced Dhruv shrugging his shoulder as he jumped on her bed. "Hey... Bunny!" He greeted the brown teddy resting on top of her pillow. "How are you, man? Is she taking care of you?" He was initiating conversation with the teddy as he carried him in his hands.

Kiara observed him for a minute before voicing the words troubling her. "Are you fine?" She inquired. Dhruv's orbs were fixed on her teddy. That amazing smile hadn't left his lip. "Dhruv!" she hissed gaining his attention from the teddy. He stared at her for a minute longer before shaking his head and resting the teddy back in its original position.

He shut his orbs and leaned on the wall beside him. "If you're going to ask me if I am upset with her decision to cancel the plan then I am not." He mumbled, his eyes shut in peace.

"And yet something is troubling you..." Kiara's small whisper made his orbs jerk open and stare at her with the same adoration, he had always glanced at her with. Kiara felt an uneasy feeling passing through her spirit so she diverted her gaze from him. She couldn't allow her hope to rise. He was going to marry Aditi, her friend. Maybe it was just her imagination. There wasn't anything in those set of beautiful orbs.

"How can you understand me so well?" He was amused as he chuckled at the end. Kiara made her way toward her study desk. Opening the laptop once again. She wanted him to walk off. That would be correct, distancing him. "Hey," he called out on seeing Kiara engrossed in her laptop screen. "You aren't allowed to ignore your friend in need." He whined like a kid that was craving for attention and Kiara had a wonderful smile playing on her lips. She wasn't aware, of how he managed it? But he could lighten her mood without even attempting.

"You might have forgotten, we aren't friends." Reasoned Kiara as she faked an annoyance.

"Then what are we?" His voice was husky as those words rolled down his tongue. Kiara's heart leapt a second as waves of nervousness engulfed her. She didn't have the courage to turn and glance into those orbs. She was scared, afraid that her hope would build.

^^^

A story of just friends! Hope you all will enjoy the ride, it's going to be an amazing one.