A party was going on. The celebration was a riot of colour, everyone a little more hyped up than they should be. Preeta's eyes ate up the scene like a post birthday feast, her limbs feeling supercharged and her head giddy. Everything about the flowing silks made her want to dance, her feet moving with grace and her heart beating with joy.

On the other hand, a boy was seen talking to a girl, getting bored.

Girl: He didn't put the toilet seat down for the 7th time!!! I locked him in the bathroom for the entire day!! (laughing) what do you think Karan??

He was revealed to be The Karan Luthra.

Karan (fakely smiles): Haha very funny. (in mind) Oh godd!! I am getting so bored!! Where are you, babydoll!!

He makes a crybaby face in his mind. Just then Preeta comes towards them.

Preeta: Hi, baby!! I am so sorry!!

She hugs Karan.

Preeta (with her hands around his neck): Its just been three minutes, but I missed you...

She again hugs him. The girl who was talking to Karan, stamps her foot angrily and leaves. Karan smiles. Preeta breaks the hug and bursts out laughing.

Preeta (proudly): Thank me later for saving you from that witch!!

Karan: Babydoll, what if she is the one...

Preeta (making faces): Of course she's not the one!! (laughing) and even if she was standing in front of you, you wouldn't know that she's the one!! (keeps her hand on his shoulder) Now slowly look there...

Karan looks in the direction she had pointed. He sees a girl standing there, talking to her friends.

Preeta: She's Shruti!! Perfect for you!! Come!!

Karan: No!!

Preeta (dragging him): Come, come, come!!

She drags him with her.

Karan (trying to resist): Preeta!! What are you doing!!

Preeta (dragging him): Don't be a weirdo!! Lets go!!

Later.

Karan and Preeta are taking shots, with their arms entangled. Everybody looks at them weirdly.

Random boy: Guys, another round of drinks??

Everybody: Yesss!!

Karan goes to the bartender.

Karan: Is that my babydoll's drink??

Bartender: Yeah!

Karan: 60ml whiskey, equal parts water, equal parts ice, no coke!!

Preeta comes there, jumping onto his back. He smiles. He hands over her drink to her.

Preeta (taking a sip): Perfect!!!

Karan smiles and she hugs him.

Karan: Thanks!!

She hands over her phone to him and goes back to the dance floor.

Karan: Enjoy!!

He looks at the bartender, who was looking at them.

Karan: What!! She's my best friend!!

The screen shifts.

Preeta is seen sitting on her bed and reading a book. Just then she receives a text from Karan and smiles.

"Ek surprise hai tumhaare liye...jaldi niche aao!!"

"Okay, cominggg!!"

She smiles and jumps out of the window. She finds Karan sitting on the bonnet of a car, waiting for her.

Preeta (surprised): When did you buy a new car?? And...spending again!! Karan, you won't be able to go to Europe this year too!!

Karan was only smiling.

Preeta: And what about your wanderlust!??

Karan gets off the bonnet of the car.

Karan (smiling): Relax, babydoll...I just rented it!!

Preeta: But...

Karan (interrupts): The best part is we will be able to go for longggg night drives (he shows it with actions)

Preeta chuckles.

Karan (winking): Lets test drive!!

Preeta hits him on his elbow, laughing and sits inside. They drive away in the darkness.

In the car.

Preeta turns on the radio and they dance (while sitting) and laugh. Preeta takes a power nap and Karan is looking at her, smiling. She, without opening her eyes, turns his face in front and smiles.

Preeta: We might get into an accident, bajarbattu!!

Karan gets embarrassed, while Preeta laughs silently. After sometime, they finally reach their destination. Karan brings three ice creams. He hands two of them to Preeta and sits on the bonnet of the car, along with her.

Preeta (eating her ice cream): You remember Shruti??

Karan (eating his ice cream): Hmmm...

Preeta: She was asking about you!!

Karan (shocked): What!!

Preeta: What what!! (teasing) should I set you up!! Don' t mess it up like last time!!

Karan (glaring at her): Babydoll last time wasn't my fault!! (she narrows her eyes at him) Whatt!! I can't date a girl who doesn't like dogs!!

Preeta: Who doesn't like dogs, or whom Koko doesn't like!!

Karan (eating his ice cream): Same thing!!

Preeta (lost): Karan, what if Koko didn't like me...we wouldn't have been friends??

Karan: Nope!!

Preeta (shocked): No??

Karan (still eating his ice cream): Um hmm!!

Preeta feels bad.

Karan: Because we would still have been best friends...

Preeta looks up, happy. She starts hitting him cutely.

Preeta: I hate you, bajarbattu!!

Karan: I love you more, babydoll!!

Preeran (looking at each other): Just as best friends!!

They burst out laughing.

The screen shifts.

Karan is in the bathroom, brushing his teeth. Suddenly he gets an idea and goes out of the room, with the toothbrush still in his mouth, and takes his phone. He texts Preeta.

"Thriller thursday ka movie list bana liya?? We have to watch Pyaasi chudail!!"

Preeta sends him a voice message.

"We will have to cancel the plan this time!! We are going to Bistro 11 on thursday night!!"

"Kyuuunnnn?????"

Preeta again sends a voice message.

"I want you to meet someone!!"

Thursday night.

Karan is sitting on a table, inside the Bistro, looking into the camera of his phone and setting his hair.

Karan: Perfect!!

Just then Preeta arrives with a friend of hers. Karan doesn't like it.

Preeta: Karan, this is Rahul!! He heads the IT department in my office!!

Karan (shaking hands with him): Hi, I have heard about you...

They start having their dinner. Preeta is sitting opposite Karan, with Rahul. He sees Preeta and Rahul laughing and eating their dinner together. He feels jealous. He is only playing with his food, not eating anything. Just then Preeta wraps her hand around Rahul's arm and Karan fists his hands. He couldn't take it anymore. He closes his eyes. He is broken out of his trance by Rahul's voice.

Rahul: What else will you have??

Karan: Beer...

Preeta (confused): Beer??

Karan (nods): Two beers and one whiskey...and...

Rahul: 60ml whiskey, equal parts water, equal parts ice and no coke!!

Karan doesn't like it at all. He was the only one who knew how to make Preeta's favourite drink, but now this random guy knew it too.

Preeta (smiles): Perfect!!

Karan looks at Preeta, tears almost about to leave his eyes. Preeta looks at him, smiling. He too smiles back at her.

You don't realize when you fall in love with your best friend or when you start loving your best friend, but it happens and you can't do anything about it...

The screen shifts.

Karan and Preeta are in Karan's room. They are playing a video game.

Preeta: Karan!! Why do you always use range attacks!! By the way, did you text Shruti!!??

Karan: No!!

Preeta: Karan you are very bad at this!! I am telling you she is totally your type!! (teasing) unless you like someone else!!

Karan (looking at her): Yes...maybe...

Preeta stops playing and looks at him shocked.

Preeta: Who is she????

Karan (smirks): A girl...

Preeta (frowns): Her name, Karan!!??

Karan (smirks): I am not telling you...

Preeta (cry baby): You can't do this to me!! Please tell me who is she!!

Suddenly something strikes Preeta and she smirks. She hits her shoulder with his, teasing him.

Preeta: Don't tell me its me!!

Karan smiles nervously, while Preeta laughs.

Karan (in mind): I won't tell you that I like you...because, I love you, babydoll...

Karan: Umm...Preeta...

Preeta (interrupts): Hey!! I forgot to tell you!! Rahul and his friends are planning a trip to goa and they have invited me too...(Karan gets sad hearing that) won't it be a bit weird...I mean we have only been on a few dates...

Karan (fake smiling): I think you should go...that way you will get to know him better...

Preeta: I think you are right...

Karan smiles and leaves from there. He goes to the kitchen and drinks water. He doesn't want Preeta to go with someone else, but then he could do anything for that smile on her face. He smiles bitterly.

The screen shifts.

Karan is eating his breakfast and checking his phone. He sees a notification on facebook.

"Preeta Arora is travelling to Goa from Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport with Rahul Sharma"

He doesn't like it.

The screens shifts.

Karan is sitting near his window. He again receives a notification.

"Preeta Arora checked in to Burritos with Rahul Sharma"

He keeps his phone aside and looks out of the window.

The screen shifts.

Karan is lying on his bed and going through his notifications.

"Preeta Arora is travelling back from Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport"

He finds it odd.

Karan: Yeh akeli travel kar rahi hai...Rahul ke saath nahi...

He falls asleep, thinking about her.

Next day.

Karan is working when he receives Preeta's text.

"I am back...we need to talk..."

"Aaj nahi...aaj thoda busy hu..."

He takes his stuff and leaves.

Later.

Karan is lying on his bed, when Preeta calls him. He sees the caller id and puts the phone on silent. He goes to the living room and sits on Preeta's favourite couch. He starts playing a video game, with his mind still stuck at Preeta. Just then the doorbell rings. He gets up to open the door. Just as he opens the door, he sees an excited Preeta standing outside. She excitedly hugs him.

Preeta (hugging him): Hiii!!!!

Karan smiles feeling her warm embrace. He hugs her back and closes his eyes. She breaks the hug and enters.

Karan: So...you wanted to talk about something...

Preeta (sadly): Yes...about Rahul...

Karan smile fades away.

Preeta: Its not working out between us...after spending a week with him in goa, I realised what I truly wanted...(she says, looking at him) despite him being there beside me, I wasn't completely happy...I was missing a major part of myself...I just need someone more chill, dis-oriented, slightly goofy, someone like you...

Karan looks at her, shocked.

Karan: Then you could have just dated me...

Preeta (laughs): Are you serious...

Karan (seriously): More than I want to be...I can't ignore my feelings anymore...I don't even realise it, I just get lost looking at you...I do so many things I don't even like so that we can spend some more time together...And most importantly, I hate saying goodbye... you were right, babydoll...I couldn't see the one even when she was right in front of me...

Karan: Babydoll, what if she is the one...

Preeta (making faces): Of course she's not the one!! (laughing) and even if she was standing in front of you, you wouldn't know that she's the one!!

Karan gets up and goes to his room. He locks himself inside. Preeta goes behind him and knocks on the door.

Preeta: Karan!! What is your problem!! Open the damn door!! Why do you always run away!! What makes you think we will work out!!

Karan opens the door.

Karan: Because its just been three minutes...and I miss you so much...

Karan makes a crybaby face in his mind. Just then Preeta comes towards them.

Preeta: Hi, baby!! I am so sorry!!

She hugs Karan.

Preeta (with her hands around his neck): Its just been three minutes, but I missed you...

She again hugs him. The girl who was talking to Karan, stamps her foot angrily and leaves. Karan smiles. Preeta breaks the hug and bursts out laughing.

Preeta (proudly): Thank me later for saving you from that witch!!

Preeta immediately hugs him. He closes his eyes and smiles and hugs her back. Preeta digs her face in his chest.

Preeta: I love you Karan Luthra!!

Karan (smiling and caressing her hair): I love you too, babydoll...

Preeta: I hate you, bajarbattu!!

Karan: I love you more, babydoll!!

Preeran (looking at each other): Just as best friends!!

They burst out laughing.

Preeran (together): Not just as friends!!

They burst out laughing.

The screen fades away on their smiling faces and hug.

Sometimes, we take for granted the person who is always there beside us.
We get so used to their presence that we do not realize that we have been looking at love all along. The moment we realize that we are in love with our best friend, there would be no sparks, just a recognition of the warm feeling melting inside of us, like finally, we have found the home for our heart...
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That's the end of this one shot!! It is my first ever try!! Do leave your reviews and please do vote!!! Byeeeeeee!!!!