Akki and Rashi was having a heated argument when Anusha came home with Alvin. They don't fight usually, but when they do, they are the most hell bent couple in the world. Today they were arguing about Ninnu's bday party. Rashi wants a house party with family and immediate friends, where she can cook for them but Akki had another ideas. He wanted to invite his colleagues and friends and families which will be a total around hundred. So house party is not an option, so Akki got carried away on his brilliant idea and booked a party hall in the Indian restaurant without Rashi's consent.

Apparently Rashi is not happy about Akki's plan. Rashi was angry that Akki didn't tell her about his plans and it was true, but he had booked the party hall for coming Friday, so Akki was trying to pursue her, which wasn't going well till now.
Anusha and Alvin landed right in the middle of the fight, that they have left with no choice than siding with them. Akki asked Anusha to convince her friend and she nodded in response. This is not going to be easy she thought herself, since she didn't tell her about the hospital visit. She walked to their bedroom, where Rashi was sitting silently with Ninnu in her arms. Ninnu jumped into her arms as soon as she sat beside Rashi.

'Rashi...you are angry and I know you have a very good reason for it, but
Akki booked the venue already, so can't you just let it go this time? Please??' Anusha looked at her friend with pleading eyes.

'Don't try to side with him Anu, specially you. I don't know what is so wrong with me, my close friend didn't tell me about her health condition and I have to find out about it from Alvin. You find me as a nuisance ? This is what I get from my loved ones' she sobbed.
Oh...so she knew already... thanks to Alvin..he already filled her in.. great!!

She was thinking another way to convince her friend Alvin came to the room. He raised her eyebrows to her and she shrugged.

'Why it feels like that a war has broken out here?' he asked looking at both of them.

'Need any help?'
Anusha sighed and moved to the end of the bed, to make some space for him. He sat in between them and took Rashi's hand in his.

'See Rashi, I am on your side, what he did was stupid. But he wanted to surprise you with his perfect plan. He thought that you will be happy to know that he had arranged everything and you have nothing to worry about it and he wanted you to enjoy the day without working in the kitchen for the party...still he should have told you before booking the place...but you know him...he can be dumbass at times..' he said with a chuckle and Rashi smiled.

'Yes.. sometimes he can be very stupid'

Wait...she smiled, that is a good sign... isn't it?

'Yep...so just forgive him already and we will arrange the party exactly the way you want. If you want to show off your cooking skills, you can prepare something for dessert and we will help you. Is that ok?' he looked at her playfully.

'Yes..more than ok.. thank you'. Rashi smiled again and Alvin patted her hand.

'And for Anusha, you can give her an ear full, because she deserves one'

'Traitor..' Anusha glared at him and he winked in response.

'Yeah I will see to that..and both of you will help me to decide the menu and dessert'
'Of course we will... Now go to Akki.. enough drama for today'
'Ok..ok... I am going ' she took Ninnu and left the room.
He stood up to leave and Anusha gave him a punch in the arm

'What was that?'

'What?' he gave an innocent look.

'You are such a smooth talker, you just got your way with Akki and didn't save me at all..' she said and placed her hands on hips.

'Ha..that one.. you know Rashi, she will give you a piece of her mind no matter what, and I think you deserve a bit scolding.. '
She gave him one more punch and left the room.

That night after dinner, she literally got an ear full from Rashi and more than that Rashi was concerned about her. Anusha felt sorry for not telling to her friend. Alvin was right, she deserved some scolding.

***********************
Next day was as busy as the previous one and by the end of the day, Anusha was exhausted. On top of that she had to deal with her psycho friends, who kept bugging her about Alvin. They were convinced that something really going on between them and was excited to meet him today. By the end of the day, both Arlene and Yasmin were present on her side waiting for him. When he finally showed up, they were swooning all over the place.

'Stop it guys... I never knew you people were like this' Anusha said while shaking her head.

'Hello.. for your information, were always like this and for a change, you are acting weird. Jealous?' Arlene grinned ear to ear and Anusha rolled her eyes.

'I know Arlene was kind of psycho, but you Yasmine, you weren't like this.'

'Poor girl, you didn't know me better that's it'. Yasmin chuckled and they gave a hi five to each other. Looks like they got closer at her expense.

'Should I remind you Yasmin that you are married' suddenly she felt protective about him, god what is she doing?

'I wish I wasn't married...' Yasmine clasped her hand with a dreamy look on her face.

'You both are unbelievable' Anusha replied and grabbed her bag and left without waiting for their reply.
She walked towards his car, while trying to calm herself.

'Hey...what happened? It looks like you can kill someone with a glare'.
She sighed.

'I wish I could do that'

'What?' he looked amused.

'My friends are crazy.. they are just drooling all over you..and I am sorry about that'

'Why? I am so happy, at least they are appreciating my looks.' he said and gave a twirl and her jaw dropped.

How did she end up with all kinds of psycho people? She looked at him in disbelief.
She was still in shock when her friends came to meet him. They were talking like long lost friends and shared bantering remarks about Anusha. That is when she actually snapped out of her daze.

'You should have seen it Alvin,
Anusha was totally freaking out. I never thought that she will fall for our prank. It was fun.' Arlene said and winked at Anusha.

Wait..what? It was a prank and she fell for it?
Wow..how more stupid she can become.
She wanted to strangle them if possible.

'Sorry dear..but it was really funny..'
Yasmine said and Anusha shrugged and give her a nervous smile. They chatted for a few more minutes before leaving.

Anusha sat silently for sometime, she was still angry and after sometime she was relieved that everything was there plan just to annoy her and she had an idiotic smile on her face.

'Someone is happy now' Alvin said and she pouted.

'yeah.. they just made fun of me.. and I can't be happier than that and you just played along with them..how mean..' she glared at him playfully.

'Hey.. it was fun..and your friends are really pretty.. specially yasmine.'

'Don't even try, she has a handsome husband and a cute little boy..better luck next time' she winked at him.

'Oh.. I lost my chance just like that..' he faked a hurt expression and she chuckled.

'So I guess you were or still are popular among girls?' she turned her head to look at him

'Not really..' he said sheepishly.

'What ? No girlfriends at all? Unbelievable..' she shook her head dubiously.

They entered the main road, and he was silent for a few minutes. He was contemplating whether to tell her or not.
She kept glancing him, his sudden change made her uneasy.

'I am sorry, I was just playing around'
She said in an apologetic tone.

'No.. it is alright. I was in a relationship for more than six years and we broke up last year. So no girlfriends and no worries..' he tried to laugh but it failed miserably.

'Why did you break up?' she was curious now .

He kept driving, glueing his eyes on the road. Something about him told her that this conversation is off limits.

'Sorry again.. I wasn't prying.. you don't have to tell me anything. Just forget that I even asked'. She blabbered.
He smiled at her with amusement.

'Ohho..don't worry, it is not a secret or anything. We were school mates, went to same collage, and we were friends before we fell in love. But her family didn't approve of us..and she broke up with me and she is happily married now. So all is good' he said without looking at her.

'I am sorry, I should not have asked. It must have been hard for you'

'Yes it was. He agreed.

'She ended things pretty quickly and that really hurts. She didn't fight for 'us' with her family. May be she thought I am not worthy enough for a fight. It took me sometime to accept the fact but I moved on.'

She nodded without replying. She knew she had pulled some painful strings. She felt sorry and her heart went out to him. The rest of the journey was silent, both lost in their own world.

*****************

Anusha's blood test results came out normal. Her doctor said, if she want they could perform an endoscopy to get more clarity. Before she could decide, Alvin already said she will definitely do it. Now, they were waiting outside the endoscopy room. She was bit nervous, but she can't back out now.
The doctor came, and anaesthetised her and after 30 minutes, they performed the endoscopy. It was a bit painful but she managed to stay calm and he didn't left her side the whole time.
They said that her nasal blood vessels are protruding to her skin layer and when the skin dry or disturbed the vessels broke and bleeds. So there is no major problems but she had to use some nasal creams and drops to keep the skin moisturised,and avoid bleeding. They left the clinic after collecting the medicine and both felt relieved that everything turned out normal.

They were in the parking lot of the restaurant which Akki had booked for the party. They wanted to see the party hall and try some food too, so that they can decide the menu later. Anusha was tired and her feet was hurting since she was wearing the same heels from the previous day. Alvin noticed her discomfort and pointed to her heels with annoyance.

'You are wearing the same heels aren't you?'

'Yep'
She replied remorsefully and looked at him.

'I didn't have flat chappals or sandals that go with my office uniform. I just got to know that in the morning.'
She tried to defend herself and he gave her a fake shocked expression.

'Stop teasing me.. remember, I had enough teasing for the day.'

'Ok.. then tell me one thing, when was the last time you bought something for yourself not because you need it, just because you want to treat yourself ?'

She opened her mouth to say something then stopped herself. It has been a while she did something for herself. They walked towards the perfectly lit restaurant. She had been there before with Akki and she really liked the atmosphere and food was good too.

'You didn't reply me' he reminded her as they entered the restaurant.
'Uh...it has been a while actually'

'Exactly when?'he was persistent now .
'um...may be two years before..'she mumbled. For my wedding she said that in her head and met his eyes.
He gave her a shocking look and took her hand and lead her to a table tucked away in the corner.

'So it is high time we went for a grand shopping. So be prepared, we are going to shop tomorrow.'

He said with a smile playing on his lip and Anusha rolled her eyes.
He always gets his way in the end.