For the first time in 15 years, Rajat finds a crying Vineet. The guy who always smiles and spreads love is crying today.

Rajat caresses his back to calm him.

''Vineet, aise kyun ro raha hai tu? Tujhe kyun itna fark padd raha hai unse? Hum jante hai na wo waisi hi hai, tu ya Sachin iss baat ko badal nahi sakte. Kyun apne aap ko takleef de raha hai, maat kar aisa!" Rajat tries to make him understand, Vineet just sobs in his arms.

''Main kabhi khud se nazrein nahi mila paunga Rajat!!" He confesses, astonishing his friend.

Rajat separates him and cups his face.

''Tune aisa kuch nahi kiya jo khud se nazrein na mila paaye. You love Anamika, right? Pyar karna galat toh nahi, kissi ko khud se jyada chahna bhi galat nahi hai!! Agar kissi ko aisa lagta hai toh wo unki galti hai, unki soch ghatiya hai!! Unki soch ki wajah se tu khudko takleef maat de aur na Anamika ko!! Kissi aur ke baaton ki wajah se apne relation ko maat bigadne dena Vineet kyunki rishtey ek baar bikhar jaate hai toh unhe sametna bahut muskil ho jata hai!!" Rajat verbalizes his point, he can't see his friend breaking down and taking the wrong decision which would lead to destruction only.

''Meri wajah se iska future dav pe hai Rajat!!" Vineet exclaims, his voice filled with guilt.

''Teri wajah se wo yahan hai!! Agar tu na hota toh usse ye azadi bhi na hoti!! Hum sab jante hai uski maa kya karne wali thi wo toh Sachin tha issiliye sab ruk gaya warna sab kabka khatam ho chuka hota. Vineet, tune koi galti nahi ki hai, apne aap ko doshi maat maan.'' All Rajat could do is to try his luck to make his friend understand that he's not at fault.

Vineet stares at him, tears still rolling down his cheek. Rajat clears his tears and assures him about things, Vineet simply nods.

''Rajat, ye sab Sachin se maat batana please!" Vineet requested, Rajat gave him a look.

''Haan, main nahi chahta usse ye sab pata chale aur disturb ho jaaye. Kuch toh khushi aai hai uski life mei ye sab sunega toh fir sad ho jaayega!!" Vineet says but Rajat knows the reason is surely something else.

''Dukhi toh wo tabse hi hai jabse kal behes hui tum dono ki. Raat ko unse bhi itni chadha li ki aab tab pada hua hai mere ghar pe!!'' Rajat told him, Vineet gazed at him with furrowed eyes.

''Vineet, Sachin se kuch chupa ke kya faida hai? Kya wo janta nahi tujhe? Kal bhi tere bina kahe hi wo samajh gaya tha ki tu uss se naraaz hai uski maa se nahi, fir ye kaise soch sakta hai tu ki usse kuch pata nahi chalega. Fikar maat kar, main toh nahi hi batayunga usse kuch aur Anamika kuch batayegi iska bhi chance nahi hai. Haan usse pata nahi chalega aisa hona bhi impossible hai. Hum 15 saal se ek dusre ko jante hai, apne har sukh dukh mei saath rahe hai, jitni bhi koshish kar le apni baat ko ek dusre se chupa nahi sakte!!" Rajat exclaims in a stern tone, his eyes fixated at Vineet who simply nods.

Rajat knows he won't forget things easily, it will take time but he will recover. Rajat patted his shoulder and asked to take care. Vineet assures him, Rajat smiles and takes his leave as he had to attend a meeting.

Later, the day passed in a blur. Vineet couldn't concentrate on anything. He tries to keep himself busy but fails. It's already dusk, time to go home and he's not willing to face his family. He wants some peace, some space and so he decides to visit Rajat.

Vineet leaves his office at around 7 and reaches Rajat's residence in 20 minutes. Rajat was surprised to see Vineet but allows him in.

''Main kuch der yahan reh sakta hoon?? Ghar jaane ka mann nahi ho raha mera!!" Vineet says in a low tone, Rajat nods.

''Formality ki koi jarurat nahi yaar, come!!" Rajat says and makes him comfortable.

As Vineet takes his seat, his phone rings. It was Anamika calling him. Vineet stares at the phone screen, his lips pinned in between his teeth.

''Utha le, kyun pareshan kar raha hai usse.'' Rajat shouts from the kitchen.

Vineet receives the call,''Hello!!" He spoke.

''Abhi time hai aane mei?" Anamika asks from the other side, Vineet struggles to find words.

''Bhai ke saath ho?" She put up another question to which he humm.

''Khayal rakhna!! Jyada mat peena nahi toh tabiyat bigad jaayegi!!" She instructed and he humm again.

''Vineet!! I'm waiting for you!!" She tells him after a pause, meaningfully.

She waits for his reply but when he doesn't speak she cuts the call. Vineet looks up and finds Rajat standing before him with a drink.

He passes the drink to him (Vineet) and secures a seat beside him.

''Maat bhag aise Vineet, kuch hasil nahi hoga tujhe bas tu apne aur Anamika ke rishtey ko bigad lega. Aisa kuch maat kar jo wo tujh se expect nahi karti kyunki jab hum kissi pe hadh se jyada bharosha karti hai na toh unki har ek chij humei effect karti hai. Aur agar wo insaan kuch aisa kare jo humne expect na kiya ho toh uss baat ko bhula bhi nahi paate hum.'' Rajat says, gazing at his friend for he knows his friend sometimes makes impulsive decisions which cause bad to him afterwards. He has seen him doing such things, earlier it was for something else but now it's for his love life and neither his friend or Anamika would be able to bear any kind of misunderstanding or problem between them. They are deeply in love and too invested in each other.

Vineet gulped down his drink and left the house without uttering a word, Rajat didn't stop him. He lets him go, praying that his friend doesn't mess up his life by himself.

...

Anamika was waiting for him in the room. His parents are out to meet a friend and she is all alone in the house. She had called him though he received the call but hardly spoke to her. She doesn't question his silence for she knows it would be wrong, he's already sad about something.

She takes a deep breath and lays down, her back is paining and she doesn't know the reason. She had just closed her eyes when she heard the sound of the door knob. She opened her eyes only to find him entering, he gave her a small smile and headed to the washroom. Anamika watches him silently as he enters and comes out after a few minutes changing into his night wear.

''Dinner lagau!?" She questioned gazing at him, he denied.

''Tum kha lo, main Rajat ke saath kya ke aaya!" He lied and laid down on his side.

Anamika snuggles to him, she wraps his arms around him and places her head on his chest.

''I love you baby!!" She confessed as if trying to tell him that she doesn't care about anyone and loves him truly. He gently caresses her hair but stays silent.

Anamika doesn't force him to speak up, she lets him take his time to recover. For she knows he's not a person who would act indifferent to her because of someone else, he would never do that, never!!!

...

To be continued….