Ansh walked up to the CSE classroom and looked inside. Meghna who was coming out sees him. "Dhun is not here yet." She said. Ansh nodded. And look around. Dhun was walking up to the classroom then. She stopped seeing Ansh. Ansh looked at her and smile. "Hey... "

"Hey..." He was nervous, "So...We okay now?" Dhun did not reply and just look at him. "I feel like I stepped out of my limit yesterday."

"Yeah. You did." Dhun said.

"Dhun, I am sorry. But..."

"Can we talk later? The bell is about to ring." She was cold.

"Yeah. Okay. I will wait for you at the canteen at recess."

Dhun nodded and walked in.

Dhun walked into the canteen while Ansh walks to a table with two coffee and snacks. He saw Dhun. He looked like he wanted to make up some way. "I got you your favourites," He set the plates down.

Dhun walks to him. She looked at the plates and then looked at Ansh. "I will just ask directly. Have you like developed feelings for me or something now?" She asked.

Ansh got a serious face. He hesitated a bit. "Can't I?" He asked defensively.

"What about Roli? Are you completely over her?"

ANSH sighed and leaned on the table. "It's complicated," he paused, "But I don't want to be stuck at Roli anymore. I want to move on with MY life."

Dhun looked at him. "You guys are all forgetting one thing. That there is something called 'My' life. I had to give up the girl I liked for six years. And now...you are my girlfriend now, right, Dhun...?"

"Have you confused reality and faking it? We are acting."

"I know."

"How the hell can you... I mean??? Sorry... I know I should not degrade someone's feelings. But...you are making things complicated. Do you want me to be your real girlfriend now?"

Ansh did not answer, hence confirming his feelings more. "Ansh..." Dhun called him frustrated.

"I don't know how this happened," Ansh said, helpless and guilty. Dhun stared at him. " I'm sorry," Ansh said.

She calmed a bit at his sorry. She realized he is indeed guilty somewhere inside. "So you will really just go and blackmail with Roli?"

"I am really sorry about that. I didn't want to go that far."

"But you did."

"Dhun, please..." He sighed... "I am sorry."

Dhun just crossed her hands. "I know that you have feelings only for Rithvik." He said. "I can see it in you, how much he means to you."

"Yeah."

"But... you can't be with him, right? I am not asking for you to forget Rith and like me immediately or anything. I know it's not easy as that." She looked at Ansh. "Look, It's great if you can be with Rith. But you yourself said you should not be with him. Then what...? I don't want to see you hung up on him like this forever. I want you to move on. That's all, Dhun. And I can wish that for you even as a friend, right?"

Dhun felt that he is at least trying to be as much polite and diplomatic with this. Dhun decided to be straight with him. "So you developed those kinds of feelings for me." Ansh just looked at her guiltily. She continued, "Maybe it's my fault. I am sorry. I had thought I had found a really good friend in you."

"We are friends."

"Yeah, but this became really awkward now. I don't know if we can still be friends after I reject you."

Ansh looked a bit hurt. "You will reject me?"

"What else can I do?" She asked calm and genuine, "I am sorry, Ansh. You see, I can't feel that way about you. I already have someone I like. And things do not work like that. Feelings do not simply go away. It's practically impossible to get Rith out of my heart. He may be there forever. Our relationship was not as flimsy as you may think. There may be a few things involved which you may never understand."

Ansh looked frustrated. "Okay. Let's say you saved him. Let's say that the crisis we have here is over. What next? Will you live the rest of your life still loving him?"

"Yes."

"Alone?"

"It's okay even if I live alone. And it's for me to decide." She said.

Ansh was hurt. "Okay. So what am I? Something you can use selfishly and throw away?" Dhun got that her words sounded so unfair to Ansh and felt a bit guilty.

"I just need to be a pawn in your love game," Ansh continued, "and selflessly sacrifice my love and live and do everything that just ends up in my sadness for your and Rith's happiness, right? Why? What do I get out of this?"

"Ansh, he is your best friend."

"Yeah, I guess, I will get Rith's life. I love him too. He is my friend. But...why does his life come at the cost of my happiness? Why do I have to go through all this and end up in a worse place? Why do I have to give up everything? In your guys' story, why do I have to be the side guy who loses everything in the end? Even I want to have a happy ending in some way..."

Dhun saw that Ansh is deeply hurt. "Ansh, I am sorry. I... I didn't mean it that way. I didn't mean to hurt you. I understand it is unfair to you."

"Really? Do you?"

Dhun felt really guilty now. "What can I do? What can I do to make it up to you?"

"Nothing. I know I can't ask more. Just see me. That's all... See that there is someone whom you can depend on and trust. Maybe for the rest of your life."

She looked at him. "And don't talk stuff like you will live alone for the rest of your life. I am here. I am willing to be your friend, and a real good friend, for a very long time. And we are just 19, Dhun. We have a lot more decades ahead of us. Who knows maybe after a few years you may feel different about Rith and me. I may be the one who stood by you for a longer time. So just don't throw me away when I have become useless for your purpose. And don't say stuff like we cannot be friends after this. Because the least you could do is still be my friend. I don't want to end up alone and miserable. Because I have a life, a heart and emotions as well."

Dhun did not know what to say to that. She felt that she may have gone a bit too far with being cruel to Ansh. After all, he was trying to help them and is giving up something for them.

"You will always be my friend, Ansh. I will never forget what you did for us," Dhun said. Ansh nodded. "You can still be my friend when I am living alone. But just a friend. I hope you will find your happiness with some other girl. You will. I know. You are a good guy. Anyone would love you." He smiled, but sadly, not giving up his stand yet. Dhun stepped closer and give him a hug, trying to get things back to friends level. Ansh closed his hand over her. There was still a pain in his eyes. "I don't want to lose you as my friend, Ansh," Dhun said.

"You won't. That's my promise." Ansh smiled sadly.

Rithvik was walking down the corridor looking kind of happy, and okay. He stopped at the door of the canteen and is about to step in when he saw Dhun and Ansh. Hugging. The smile vanished from Rith's face at once. His eyes are filled with pain, jealousy and possessiveness at once. He turned around and walked off.

Ansh came back to class and saw that Rithvik is in there. He walked to him and sat down near him. "When did you come? Are you not supposed to be in the hospital?"

"Hm. I got discharged." He said without looking at Ansh.

"So you are okay now?"

"Yeah."

"Good. We were all worried yesterday."

Rith suddenly took his bag and got up. Ansh was puzzled. "Sorry, I had thought that I would still be able to sit with you. But... I can't." He turned and went and sit elsewhere. Ansh just went a bit bitter since he can somewhat understand why this is the way it is. The canteen incident. So Ansh looked away.

Dhun was standing talking to her friends when she saw Rithvik walking around. Rithvik was walking to the gate with his bag. Dhun did not know he was in college, so she swiftly walk to him. "When did you come?" Rithvik gave her a cold stare and walked on. She was puzzled. She continues to walk with him. "Is it okay for you to be out of the hospital? Are you all better now? Even then...you should have taken a day off."

And since he still kept walking, she had to keep pace with him, "Where are you going? Why are you not talking to me?" She grabbed his elbow. He stopped, and Dhun saw that he is kind of tormented. He shook her hand off from him, with a bit of anger.

Dhun sensed something is wrong. "What is wrong?"

"I saw you hugging Ansh. Earlier in the canteen."

Dhun went a bit pale. "That was a friendly hug, Rith. Can't I hug my friends?"

"Friend? Yeah, right!" He sounded bitter.

"Rith??" But she just saw anger and pain and helplessness in his eyes. She continued in anger, "Rith, don't look at me like that. Don't treat me like I cheated on you or something."

"You didn't cheat on me, Dhun. You are already his girlfriend na. Not mine. You hugged your boyfriend. What's the problem in that?"

"Why are you talking like that? And I told you, it was just a hug between friends. "Why are you giving explanations to me? Do I mean something to you that you are giving me an explanation?"

"Rithvik, please. What is your problem? I am doing all these for you and you..."

"My problem? My problem is that I can't see you being touched by some other guy in that way. It burns my heart."

"Rith that was just a friendly hug."

"Maybe for you. I know Ansh. I can read the look in his eyes. Don't tell me you don't know."

Dhun did not know what to say. " So you know. Even then...?" he asked softly, Rith was kind of defeated. "And this is what you want?"

"I am just trying to save you." She said, helplessly.

"Yeah. You are trying to save me." He chuckled sarcastically.

"I told you already. Don't treat me like I am cheating on you."

"You are willing to do anything to save me na. Are you willing to go sleep with other guys to save me?"

She lost her shit on that. She just pushed Rith off with all her force. "Asshole... Swine"

But Rithvik was still angry, "Do I have to bear with that as well??"

"Shut up. You don't get to talk. And you know what... JUST GO TO HELL! I don't care anymore. Just go die or whatever... I am not going to save you once more."

"Yeah. Good. Because that is better than this torture."

"Okay. Fine... I won't save you." She crossed her hand.

"Good."

"We are done then..."

"Yeah..."

"Goodbye..."

"Bye to you as well."

She turned around and walked off. He watched her walk off, immediately regretting his words, but his pride won't allow him to call her back or apologize. He just stomped the ground in frustration.

Dhun came to her room, closed and bolted the door and walked to her bed. She got on her bed, and pulled her legs together, and buried her head to her knees and cried.

The next day, Ansh walk to CSE class and looked in and didn't find Dhun in there. Meghna saw Ansh and say. "Dhun did not come today."

"She didn't come at all?"

"Yeah. Is she ill? Don't you know?"

Ansh shook his head.

"But you are her boyfriend, right? What kind of a boyfriend are you?"

Ansh walked off a bit concerned. He took his phone and called Dhun, but she did not pick up. Ansh sighed.

Ansh walked back into his Mech classroom and saw that Rithvik was there, sitting alone. He walked to him. "Did you speak with Dhun lately? She did not come to class today."

"She is your girlfriend. Why are you asking me?" Rithvik was cold.

"I was just asking."

"I may have fought with her."

"I knew it. What did you say to her?"

"You know what, Ansh. That is none of your business..."

"She did not come to college today."

"She won't die if she misses college for a day."

"How could you be this way?"

"She is your girlfriend, right? So you go take care of her."

Ansh walked away looking angry and giving up hope on Rithvik. But as Ansh left, Rithvik did kind of look concerned.

But Dhun was not in class the next day as well. Nor was she taking anyone's calls. Ansh was concerned and decided to pay her a visit.

He was received by a messy looking Dhun. She walked back to her room, letting Ansh follow her. When she was in her room, she got on her bed and stayed there. Ansh took a chair and sat facing her. "Dhun, what is wrong??" He asked.

Dhun just moved her fingers through her hair and looked away. Ansh saw that her eyes are red. "Did you cry?"

" No."

"What did Rith say?"

"I don't want to talk about him."

Ansh understood that something is wrong. And that Dhun really did not want to be reminded of that again. "Okay... If you say so."

He waited. They sat in silence. " Hm..." Ansh said after a while, "Our school friend Yash is having a party tonight. He had invited me. Would you like to come with me? It will be a change for you. Going out may help you." Dhun looked at him. "Come on. Will be fun."

"Will there be drinks?"

"Yeah."

"Then I am coming. Wait, will Rith be there?"

Ansh thought about that. "Maybe. I don't know. Yash may have invited him as well. But with Rith's current mood, I am not sure he will come. What is wrong with him lately anyway?"

"He remembers everything."

"He remembers what?"

"That we had been together. He remembers what happened in the alternate, I mean original timeline?"

"What?" Ansh was stunned. "Is that even possible?"

"Apparently."

"How?"

"I don't know. He said he had been having dreams."

"Dreams? Yeah. He had told me about his dreams. I didn't know it was..."

Dhun nodded. She let out a deep breath and looked away. "Let's go to this party anyway. I can't spend the rest of my life in my room."

"You are right."

"It may take me a while to get ready. As you can see, I am a mess." Her hair was not even washed.

"That's okay." Ansh smiled. "I will wait for you outside."

Dhun walked into the party venue, a club, with Ansh. Ansh greeted a few of his old friends. And Dhun looked around and see that Rithvik is there. Rithvik saw her as well. She turned her eyes away and ignored him.

Later, Rith was at a mini bar of the party with a drink in his hand. When a girl slid next to him. She seems a bit older. She orders a drink. She turned to look at Rith. "You know the legal drinking age is 21, right?"

Rithvik set his drink down and looked at her.

"Do I know you?"

"Not yet. I am Simran," She extended her hand. But Rithvik did not shake it. "You seem like in a bad mood."

"Yeah."

"What's wrong? Girl trouble?"

Rithvik looked over to Dhun who is standing with Ansh as Ansh was talking to some of the old friends. She seemed to be holding up well and trying to enjoy meeting new people.

"Is that the girl?" Simran asked.

Rith looked back at Simran, "Hm...why are you talking to me?"

"Because you are cute. Why? Don't you like older girls?"

Rithvik looked back at Dhun who is laughing at something Ansh said, and then back at Simran and shook his head.

A few minutes later, Dhun got herself a beer from the counter and turned to look at Rithvik. Rithvik and Simran were now sitting together on a couch, talking. They seem to be immersed in a good conversation. Dhun was kind of pissed and jealous inside. She drank her beer and looked mad.

The music at the party changed to a softer romantic song. Many couples went to the dance floor for a slow dance. Dhun was still just sitting looking at Rithvik talking with the older girl with a jealous face. Rithvik could see her looking. He was enjoying her jealously. He wants that. He looked at her and then turned back to Simran and smiled or laughed at something she said.

Ansh came to Dhun. "Dhun," she looked at him as he held out his hand, "Dance?" She was a bit perplexed, but then she can detect that Rithvik is looking at her. She slid her hand into Ansh's. It's Rithvik's turn to go stiff and uneasy. Ansh led Dhun to the dance floor and started dancing with her. Rithvik and Dhun are still looking at each other. To show her, Rith turned back to Simran and continue talking with her.

And a couple of long minutes pass like this, where they both are just trying to get each other jealous, trying to make the other think that they are okay without them.

"Dhun..." Dhun look back at Ansh.

"Hm...What? Sorry. Did you say something?"

"Stop looking at him," Ansh said.

"I wasn't looking at him."

"You were. But stop now. And just look at me. Keep my gaze. You can do it." She nodded. She kept Ansh's gaze for a while. This kind of pissed off Rithvik more. He kept expecting Dhun to turn and look at him, but she did not. He was uneasy.

But then, Dhun's eyes flipped back to Rithvik. And Rith has a triumphant look. Simran said something and Rith looked back at her. Simran got closer to Rith. As if expecting a kiss. Rith smiled at her, and gave Dhun a stare and then get closer to Simran for a kiss. Dhun froze. She stopped dancing. She gripped on to Ansh's hand a bit too tightly, making it painful for Ansh. He winced internally, but he does not show it. Dhun's eyes stayed on Rithvik. Rithvik draw close to Simran. And closed his eyes for a kiss.