Dhun walked in and climbed into her bed. Rith came following her. She looked at him. "Come here." He obeyed her and climb onto her bed. She cuddled him and they lie down on her bed. Dhun did not say anything and closed her eyes. Dhun was deep in thoughts. Trying to calculate things. Rithvik slowly moved his hand over her hair. "Dhun..." He called.

"Don't say anything. I know what you are going to say." She said.

Rithvik smiled softly. A sad smile. "You know it was going to be like this, right? Rithvik does not say anything, hence confirming the answer to her question. Dhun opened her eyes and she lie like that for some time. There was a blank look on her face as if she has reached some sort of conclusion and that conclusion hurt her. As if she is hit with a dead end. Gradually a tear formed in Dhun's eyes and rolled down. It fell to Rith's chest. Rithvik looked down at her. He saw her tears. He did not know what to do. He looked away and kept looking at the ceiling.

"Dad and Dhruv..." Dhun asked in a strong sounding voice, "What will happen to them?"

"Nothing. They won't know what happened when the time starts flowing again. They won't detect a change."

"Even if it's forever?"

"Dhun, we can't stay here forever." He said, finally.

"What if we figure out a way to eat and drink?"

"Dhun..."

"We can do something."

"Dhun...."

She sat up and looked at him, a bit hurt and annoyed. Rith sat up facing her. "You can't live your whole life like this?" He was serious, "Can't you see how it is? Nothing is moving."

"I can see. I don't care."

"What about your dad and your brother?"

Dhun looked like she is in a bit of a fix. She looked down then. She does not reply.

"You love them. You can't do this."He said.

"You don't understand." She cried.

"What?"

"I love them. But if you die like this, you are leaving me in a mess. I don't want to live like that."

"You have to move on."

"Yeah, it's easy for you to say that." She yelled at him.

"Dhun..."

"Do you think I am like this because I love you so much that I want to save your life no matter what? Because I love you that I can't live without you? I do love you, okay. I really really love you. My life will never be the same without you. Dad and Dhruv are my family. But you...you are my family too. I love you as much as I love them. Rithvik is a bit touched. But I am not doing this for you. I have to do this for myself. As long as I know about the existence of that freaking time turner thing, I have to do this."

She looked away. Rithvik sighed and took her hand in his hand. "You don't have to do this. Listen to me. I know you love me. I love you too. I really love you a lot. And that's why I want you to stop and think and see that you have your life to live. I know you will be hurt if I die. It's going to pain for a while. But...It's not the end, right? You have your life. You can live and move on." Dhun looked up at him. Tears of anger and helplessness filled up in her eyes again. Rithvik continued, "I took you away from that alternate time because I did not want to watch you being in that kind of torture. And this...this is even worse. Do you think I will let you be in here? In this frozen time? Forever? Do you think I would want you to live like this??? This is not the kind of life I want to give you. I love you. So I can't let you live in this frozen time forever. I can't let you try to save me and be in that endless loop forever."

Dhun looked up at him.

" So stop. You should move on. Live your life." He said.

"Dhun look at him without a change in her expression. So, Promise me. Promise me that if I die again, you won't try to save me." Dhun just stared at him. Without a reply. "Dhun, please..."

"No," She said

"Come on, Dhun," He grabbed her hand. "No."

"Oh come on, Dhun." He was angry now, "Don't act like we are some starstruck lovers that you will die without me. It's you who said nothing will happen if we are not together. It's the same."

"Shut up. I told you there are things you don't understand."

"I don't want to understand. All I want to say is that you are being silly."

Dhun looked up at him in anger. "I am being silly?"

"Yeah."

"Oh yeah! Go to hell then... Go die. I don't care."

"Fine. And GOOD. That's what I want." He moved away from the bed. Dhun just pulled her legs up and buried her head to her knees. Rithvik took a look at her and his anger melted. He sat back down beside her. He kept looking at her. She seemed to be like trying to calm herself down when she is fuming with anger and hurt feelings. Rith just kept looking at her with a pained expression. "Do you think I want to do this?" Rithvik asked, helplessly, "I don't have a choice, Dhun..."

She did not look up. "I am scared more than anyone in this situation. So please... please, Dhun. I am begging you." She sort of softened up a bit. "I love you." He finally said.

She kept looking into his eyes. Rithvik sat closer to her. Dhun had a mature and more composed expression now. As if she had finally reached a conclusion and was calm inside now. She shifted and knelt upon the bed beside Rithvik, so as her figure is rose above his. "Don't be scared." She touched his shoulder. He looked up into her eyes. A bit thankful. Dhun was looking into his eyes, with a strong determined look. "Come here," She hugged him, pressing his head to her chest, wrapping her hands around his head, in a really secure position. They stayed like that for some time.

*

Ansh came out of his house, Rithvik and Roli's mother, Sameera was leaving to go to the hospital. "Take care, and eat dinner on time, okay," he heard her telling Roli. "Hey, Ansh..." She also greeted him. And walked down.

"You alone at home?" Ansh asked Roli after Sameera went down using the elevator.

"Yeah. Why? What is in your mind?" she asked.

"Nothing. Just.... I was thinking if you need to clear any doubts in maths or physics..." He said. "' Exams are coming up, right?"

"You will tutor me?" She asked excitedly.

"Yeah. I don't see a reason why I should not. And I also want you to do well in your exams."

"Come on in then." She said.

"I was thinking more like to come to my house," Ansh said, hesitating to go into her house alone.

"Oh, come on... I won't eat you. And this is the only chance we get to be alone. And don't worry. Rith won't come home for a long time. He has gone to a movie. And if you really are still nervous, we can leave the door open."

Ansh considered that and did not think there would be a problem with that. He walked in.

Later Ansh and Roli were kissing. And Rithvik walked into the house seeing them. He stared at them. And looked back and then at them and away again. They had not realized he is there. "Ah...crap the timing. Again!!!" Rithvik said.

Ansh and Roli backed off at his voice. They looked at him horrified.

"Actually, I was trying to come in before this thing started," Rithvik said "So I can talk to you two about this whole thing. I mean, without me having to actually witness this thing. But then..."

Ansh and Roli just looked way too stunned.

"I guess it was in my destiny anyway to witness my best friend fuck my sister." Rithvik shook his head. "Wah! I am never going to get rid of that image from my head. And seeing it twice doesn't help."

"We were not," Ansh said.

"What?"

"I didn't mean to." Ansh sounded really guilty.

Rithvik just scratched his head.

"Get out, Rit. Rit looked at her. "What?"

"I said, get out. I don't want to be semi-naked in front of my brother."

Rithvik nodded. "Ah...right, right... You close up your shirt, sister." Coz we need to talk. She looked puzzled and started closing her shirt. Ansh stepped closer to Rithvik. "Rith, I can explain."

Rithvik looked at him. "Explain then."

"First of all, we were not having sex. I didn't mean to have sex with her."

"What you were doing was kind of sex already, bro. And, you know what...I can simply let this be. But then, I feel..." He stepped closer to Ansh. Ansh looked puzzled. "I think you deserve at least this."

He threw a punch at Ansh. Ansh staggered back, and Roli gasped and jumped down from the counter. Rithvik shook his hand in the pain of the collision with Ansh's jaw.

"Rith, have you lost it???" Roli screamed at him.

Ansh clutched his jaw and looked up. But he did not fight back with Rithvik.

"You deserved that." Rithvik said, "For...various reasons. Not just this 'reason'. If I don't punch you, I may regret that. Anyways..."

Ansh did not reply. Roli was still just glaring at Rith. So Rith stepped closer to them both of them. "So you guys like each other?" He waited for an honest reply.

Ansh stood up to face Rithvik. "I love her."

Roli linked her hand to Ansh's elbow and stood closer. "I love him as well."

Rithvik nodded. And let out a deep breath, "Okay."

"What okay?" Roli asked.

"I give my permission."

"What?" Both Ansh and Roli are surprised. "Really?" Ansh asked.

"Don't be too happy. I am not doing this for you guys." Rithvik said.

"Actually, we don't need your 'permission'," Roli said. "Who are you to give us your 'permission'?"

"Roli..." Ansh called her in a tone that said 'don't make this more complicated'.

"No, I am right, right?" She asked.

"Do you want me to take that back?" Rthvik asked her.

"No."

"Then shut up and take it. Don't regret it later..." Roli nodded. "And next time lock the door or something. I don't want to walk into things like this."

Roli nodded, naughtily.

"And that does not mean you two can do things like this again." Rithvik said angrily to Roli, "Mind your age."

"I am old enough."

"You are 17. So focus on school. Don't make me tell mom." Roli frowned, scandalized. "And you..." he turned to Ansh, "Follow me". Ansh looked confused.

"Are you going to hit him again?" Roli asked quickly.

"No. And you stay here."He said to Roli and then turned to Ansh, "You, follow me." Ansh nodded.

They walked down to the building grounds and walked to the children's playground. Rith leaned to the swings post. Ansh had his head turned down in a bit of guilt.

"I wanted to tell you," Ansh said. "But... And you were being so impossible. So honestly, I hated you for a while."

"Okay...."

"I am really sorry. I did not really...mean to. Not like this."

"Well, it was what you choose." Rithvik was cold. Ansh looked up guilty. "You chose to betray me."

"I did not per-say betray you. I wanted to tell you. I had told you a few times that I did like her. And want to be with her." Ansh corrected him.

Rithvik nodded. "I know."

"I know I kept her and my relationship a secret. But I knew you would react in a very negative way. I am actually surprised that you are this cool about it."

"I hit you." He reminded Ansh.

"Yeah. That hurt..." Ansh rubbed where he was punched.

"And I am not cool about it. She is 17. I want you to remember that."

"Yeah. I am sorry."

"And that means, no second base till she is older. That means whatever that happened today, should not even remotely be repeated."

Ansh nodded, looking down. Really guilty.

"I mean, holding hands and going for dates, or tutoring her all is okay. But nothing more."

"Fine. You don't have to make it sound so awful. I feel guilty already. I had lost control for just a second today. I know it was wrong and I already feel bad."

He looked down in guilt and hit his slippers tip to the ground, waiting for a response from Rithvik. Rithvik kept looking at Ansh. Ansh cautiously looked up.

"And if you hurt her, in any way..." Rithvik said softly, "I will kill you."

Ansh relaxed up a bit. "I won't. You can trust me on that."

Rithvik nodded. "Yeah. I guess I know you enough to say that you are a guy who would not hurt the girl you love."

Rithvik looked at Ansh with a mature appreciative face. Rithvik remembered Ansh telling him in the alternate timeline – 'I would not let her cry because of you again;.

Rithvik softly smiled at Ansh. "And, Ansh..." Ansh looked at him. " Sorry if I ever have been a jerk to you."

Ansh was confused. "You okay?"

"I just wanted to make sure that you are not being my friend while hating me secretly or something, are you?"

Ansh was confused. "I just wanted to say, if you are... You don't have to force yourself, you know." Rithvik looked down, looking kind of hurt. Ansh was more confused. Rithvik continued, "Hm... You can just... Go away if you want to stop being friends."

"What are you talking about?"

"Just..."

"It was true that I hated you for a while for the Roli thing. But Rith, you are my best friend. Rith look at him."

"So you don't hate me?"

"No. Dude! Why would I? I mean, you are kind of a jerk sometimes. And mostly selfish and conceited. And was a total asshole about whole me liking Roli thing, But..." Rithvik raised an eyebrow. "You are you." Ansh shrugged "You are my best friend. I love you, buddy." Rith smiled. " I don't want to stop being friends. I indeed hated you for a while. But...You are really important to me. And by the way, this seems to be a really weird conversation between two guys. If someone hears this they will think we are gay."

Rithvik broke into laughter. Ansh frowned and look around. But Rithvik kept laughing loudly. " Shut up... You suck, you know." Ansh said, "Coming up and deciding everything on your own."

Rith stopped laughing and looked up at Ansh. "And why are we even talking about all this??? Who talks about these kinds of things?" Ansh asked.

"Yeah. Just did not want to leave any loose ends." He looked at Ansh. "So we cool?"

"That's what I want to ask you. We cool?" he looked nervous, "I mean with the whole Roli thing."

He waited for Rithvik's answer. "I want to keep dating her. You ARE giving us your permission or blessing or whatever, right? I mean you are cool with us now?"

Rithvik looked away and then back at Ansh and nodded. "Yeah. I guess... I mean you are being with just Roli. Not Dhun for me to freak out and punch your face."

"Dhun? Why would I want to be with Dhun?" Rithvik just shrug. "Ew! What the??? How can you even say it like that? I mean, Dhun, seriously?"

"'Ew'. Now that's offensive. What's wrong with Dhun?"

"Nothing is wrong with her. But she is 'Your Girl'. Why in the world would I ever be with Dhun?"

Rith laughed more

" What is Funny in this???"Ansh asked.

"Nothing. Come... Let's head back."

They walked back to the building still talking.

"How can you even say that Rith? Dhun? Seriously???"

"You know what? It's actually really weird that you are with my sister. That you feel that way about her. That you kissed her and may kiss her again in future. MY SISTER. I can't digest it, seriously."

"Sorry."

"But it's better than Dhun, I guess."

"Where did Dhun even come in between this? Why would I ever be??? I mean... It does not even make sense."

"Yeah. But it's still better than Dhun."

"You have lost it."

*

Dhun was sitting on her bed looking at her phone and biting her fingernails, looking really restless. Her phone started ringing. It's Rithvik. She quickly picked it up. "Hi, sunshine..." He said.

"Shut up. How did it go?" she asked.

"Are you sure you want me to shut up? Will you be okay if the last thing you said to me is 'shut up'? And then I die." He asked.

Dhun went silent. Rith waited for a second. And then he did not know what to say. He kept silent. After a while, he asked, "You still there?"

"Yeah."

"The talk with Ansh and Roli went fine. I gave them my blessings and all."

"Who are you, their father to give them 'blessings'?"

Rithvik chuckled.

"Dhun..." He softly called.

"Hm??"

"I love you..."

"Why now?"

"Am I not allowed to say it?"

She smiled sadly...

"Dhun..."

"Hm?"

"I sometimes think that I love you more than you ever love me."

She chuckled, "When you did not even really like me at first. If I had never confessed to you and did not kiss you first, you would never have even liked me back. We still would have just been friends even now. And you would still be calling me 'bro'."

"Eh... wouldn't I have fallen for you eventually some time?"

She chuckled through her tears, "Nope. Not at all. You idiot would have gone and dated some hot girlie girl and I would have remained 'bro'."

They laughed. "Hey Dhun?"

"What now?"

"Did you really like me since we were kids?"

She did not reply and chuckled.

"Dhun, Dhun...?"

"Hm???"

"Remember that time when you wore that magenta top and I said you look really bad in it so don't wear it again"

"Yeah..."

"Actually you looked really hot in it. And other guys were staring at you. And that's why I said you don't look nice in it and don't wear that. Because I got jealous."

"I know."

"You knew that?"

"Yeah. I know I looked hot in it. You were checking me out yourself."

Rithvik laughed. So Dhun laughed as well, sadly. And they stayed silent like that for a second.

" I want to touch you..." Rithvik said sadly.

Dhun went silent. Rithvik waited for a second, "Shall I come over?" He asked, excited.

"Why?"

"It feels such a waste to spend the last few hours of my life alone, right?"

Dhun thought about it, "The time turner is with you, right?"

Rithvik took the time turner out of his pocket, "Yeah. Why"

"No. Nothing. If you want to come, come... I will meet you outside."

"Really? Okay..."

He had already gotten down from the bed. Dhun looks really determined and serious about something and hung up the call.

Rith walked to his bike. And was about to get on, looking excited, when he got a vivid memory of his accident and death. Rith looked nervous and a bit scared and unsure now. He took a moment trying to decide. Then he gave out a deep breath and put on his helmet and got on the bike and drove on.