Arya's POV:

I looked at Riya's face as we got off the plane. Her radiant smile and bright eyes made me want to grin myself. I still couldn't believe that this bubbly beautiful girl standing in front of me was mine. It all felt so surreal.

A little tap on my shoulders broke me away from my thoughts.

" Are you going to stand there all day staring at Riya or are you planning to take a step forward?" Desh teased.

"Going going," I said and hurriedly quickened my pace.

There was a stark difference in the weather in both the places. The sweltering humid Chennai heat made sweat droplets run down my face and neck. I wiped them away with my handkerchief.

" Arya?" Riya called. She was more than ten steps in front of me.

" What are you doing all the way there?" She asked, turning to look at me.

I jogged to her with a grin and took her hand in mine.

" All the way where?"

She rolled her eyes, but a small smile crept onto her face. She leaned over and kissed my cheek.

" Stop the PDA," Kajal screamed, covering her eyes.

I chuckled, pulling Riya closer.

The rest of her friends joined us in a minute. Surprisingly, Desh and Rahul were walking together, talking animatedly. They both looked equally happy and Rahul was more jovial than usual. He cracked some jokes, making the girls burst out into laughter. I don't know what had happened between them. But the tension that I had felt before had completely dissolved.

As we walked through the airport, I swung our intertwined hands up and down. Riya raised an eyebrow at me as if to say " Who's behaving like a kid now?"

I just ignored the look and continued walking.

Meera was on the phone with Manan and I felt like teasing him.

" Manan, my boy...when were you going to tell me that your girl was my girl's best friend?" I screamed into the phone.

" I didn't know. What? Your girl? When were you going to tell ME that you asked your girl out?" he asked.

" You know, Manan, if you want to talk to Arya, you can. Why did you call me then? Here Arya, talk as much as you want. Manan, don't call me again."

" But Meera, " he pleaded, but she was adamant.

" No."

She thrust her phone on me and went to stand beside Riya.

" Yo bro," Manan said from the other side. " What's up with her?"

" Don't know.." I replied.

" Pmsing," Kajal screamed, which caused Meera to yell even louder.

" Can you shut up?Stop being so embarrassing!"

I could hear Manan sigh from the other side. "What did I do?"

I am sure he must have had a confused look on his face that I always knew with his eyebrows scrunched downwards and his forehead wrinkled in thought.

" Chill bro, she's just in one of those moods, she will come around."

" Yeah, so tell me...how did it all happen? How did you tell Riya?"

Manan only knew whatever he had witnessed during the flood. After that, I hadn't got much time to talk to him so he wasn't aware of the recent happenings. So when I told him everything, he said, " Woh dude, so much drama in your life. But finally you got what you wanted huh?"

" Yup," I said, smiling brightly, looking over at Riya who was trying to calm Meera down.

We had reached the entrance of the airport. Desh went to go book cabs to take us back.

" Riya?" I heard Kajal calling. " Are you coming back to the hostel with us?"

She looked at me as if to ask if I had plans. Then I remembered that my parents wouldn't be back for another three days. So Riya could come over for a while. Then I could drop her to the hostel. Also my sister was very keen on meeting her.

" Nope, I will drop her there. I want her to meet my sister," I said.

I saw Kajal raise her eyebrow and give a knowing look to Riya. Then she winked at her.

I laughed inside. ' Girls '

"Hey Arya?" I heard a small voice. I turned around to see Meera talking to me. " I am sorry, I shouldn't have screamed at you like that.."

" Why are you apologizing to me? It's your boyfriend that needs that," I said smiling at her. " It's okay everyone has moods. Don't worry about it. I am sure Manan has already forgiven you."

"Yeah." She smiled. " That's what I like about him."

" OK guys," Desh came back." I asked for two cabs."

" Thanks!" I told him. Then we bid goodbye and parted ways.

As I sat in the cab, I gave the driver instructions to my sister's friend's place. I wanted to surprise her and introduce her to Riya before going home.

We were there within half an hour. Riya had slept on my shoulder during that time and I had let her.

The cab came to a halt and the jerk caused her to wake up. She was still groggy when she said " You're not kidnapping me are you?"

And I wondered what dream she had.

I started chuckling. " No I am not. Now get up! You're drooling on my shirt."

She shot up in a jiffy and her eyes opened immediately. They zeroed in on my shirt. When she didn't find anything, she narrowed her eyes at me.

" You jerk!"

" Get up dear. You can't sit in the car all day. Come. My sister is so eager to meet you."

I combed her hair with my hands as much as possible, paid the cabman and got out.
Then I called Aru.

"Hello Aruuu?"

" Aryaaaaaa!" She exclaimed. She was really happy.

" Can you come down?"

" What?"

" You're in your friend's place aren't you?"

" Nooooooo."

" Then where are you?"

"At home."

" Ahh what the hell. I asked the driver to drop us there. When did you go home?"

" Nah I am kidding. I am at her place only. Wait a minute. I am coming."

I didn't know why she couldn't give me straight answers. What joy did she get in making things complicated?

I heard the patter of footsteps and two girls emerged from the front gate.

Aru ran over to crush me in a hug which kinda ended up crushing Riya too cause I had one of my hands around her waist.

Her friend just stood and watched the scene, amused.

" Won't you come in?"She asked after a while.

We all walked into her house. The girl had been Aru's childhood friend. And I knew her very well.

" Not giving me a hug then Arya?" She asked with a grin.

I looked over at Riya as if to ask permission.

" It's just a hug Arya. Go ahead."

I hugged Aru's friend while she whispered " You're telling me all about that girl, big bro, no escaping."

I pulled back and said, " Sure sure."

Then we all settled in on their living room sofa. It was plush and comfortable and made for a good resting place after our travel.

I introduced all of them.

" Riya this is my sister Aradhana, and this is her best friend Mehak."

" And girls, this is Riya, my girlfriend."

" Oooh," Aru said grinning and Mehak whistled. " Way to go bro!"

" Soooo Riya, " Aru began. " What did you find so attractive in my annoying boring brat of a brother?" She asked.

Riya started laughing and I somehow knew that they were already going to be best friends.

" Well,"she started answering. " His chocolate brown eyes."

" Aah they always fall for that."

" They?" Riya questioned, a worried look overtaking her features. "Who they?"
Aru had a silly smile on her face.

" Chill I meant that in general. Not that Arya's had a girlfriend before."

I heard her sigh in relief and smiled. My Riya was becoming too possessive already. But I liked that. It was extremely adorable.

" Ohhh."

Then they started talking about whatever girls usually talk about and that's when I tuned out.

" Arya?" Mehak called. " Do your parents know about your relationship?"

" No not yet. "

" Are you planning to tell them?"

"Yes, of course."

" They are pretty orthodox aren't they? Do you think they will accept it? How do you think it will go?" She asked, concern evident in her voice for me.

" I don't know that, but I have to convince them. I really have to, because I am falling for Riya badly and imagining a life without her is impossible."

" Ahhhaaa bro's caught the lovebug," she teased.

And I laughed along with her.

After she insisted that we freshen up and eat something, I took our house key from Aru and called for an auto to take us to my house. Aru said that she would come the next day.
I opened the door of my house and stepped in, Riya following me.

I was met with the most unexpected site ever.

" Mom? What are you doing here?"

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Heyaaaaa

Sorry for the cliffhanger... :P

What did you think of Aru and Mehak?

Hope you enjoyed the chapter.

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Adios amigos,

:) harshini :)