Chapter 19- "Never mind."

To be honest, I was completely fine with Gaurav and Mira hanging out. I mean, both of them are my friends and it would provide me a lot of happiness and calm if my best friend actually liked my other friend.

Also, their having a relationship wouldn't affect me much, albeit it would definitely make things awkward. Them being cheesy and head over heels and me just sitting there alone and- wait! Rhea could join me when I'm teasing them!

I shook my head, smiling. Things sure do work themselves out well.

"Hey, you here with us?" Gaurav tapped my shoulder.

I raised my eyebrows, being shaken out of my reflection. "Yes. Yes, I am here. Go on, what was the super special plan you came up with?" I said and made air quotes around the word super.

"Yes of course. Come on Rhea, let's present this together." Gaurav beckoned Rhea forward. We all turned towards Rhea, smiles on our faces.

But Rhea stood there, frozen and unyielding. She stared right ahead, the hazel specks in her eyes turning darker by the second. Her fingers curled into fists and her form stiffened.

My brows furrowed. This was the first time Rhea was behaving clamped up. A few minutes ago, she was completely fine. She even laughed at some of my crappy jokes and shares some of her own in exchange. The transition was remarkably odd unless-

"Why don't you and Mira tell us? I'm sure you must have told her everything on your way here. And by the looks of it, I bet she does know. A lot."

Instinctively, my eyes skipped over to Mira. I could see the jab hurt in all the right places. She turned white and then a furious shade of red. Her wide eyes shrunk to the point, that they became slits.

Her lips trembled as she walked forward, grabbed Rhea's hand and said, "We need to have a little chat. Alone." She started to pull her out when I stepped up.

"Umm we'll leave. Uh the trailer is all yours. G-Gaurav, let's give them a moment." I said and began pushing a gaping Gaurav out.

"I appreciate it, than-" Mira was cut off by Rhea, who spoke in a high, clear note. "We appreciate your consideration, Raghav, but I think it best to have you two here as well. After all, this isn't only about us, is it Mira?"

Mira's eyes steeled but she let it slide. "Never mind." She let out a deep breath and started speaking, "I'll cut straight to the point since beating about the bush isn't going to help. What is this about Rhea? I've known you all my life and never have I ever seen you this hateful. What is wrong with you?"

Rhea let out a chuckle. "Wrong? With me? Or with you, Mira? Did you even check your phone last night? 33 unanswered messages and 21 unpicked calls! Where are you when I need you? Oh, you are hanging out with a guy you hated and now suddenly seem to love him for god knows what reason because I, place my bet on publicity, while also being the centre of attraction for someone I like! Don't look so shocked, you would've known if you had answered your goddamn phone!"

The entire room fell silent. And this time I knew why. Gaurav looked like his eyes were about to pop out of their sockets. Mira looked as if she had been slapped across the face. Rhea had a steady stream of tears running down her cheeks.

And me? I was speechless. Something Rhea said stuck out. Mira hated me. She seemed to like me for- what was it?- ahh yes, publicity. Publicity. A dangerous word. People will do anything for it, won't they?

Without I realising it, I started walking towards the door. My mind reeled from shock. Hate. Pretending. Mira. But what hurt most was trust. I trusted her only to know that she didn't even want anything to do with me. Wow, right? I let out a small laugh and reached out for the handle.

A pair of hands grabbed my shirt and clung to me. I tried shaking them off but to no avail. I turned around and saw Mira, looking ever so small, eyes red, tears coursing down and her tiny frame shivering. My hands ached to reach out and steady her but I couldn't summon myself to do it.

My eyes hovered over to Rhea who had fallen down on the sofa and was sobbing incessantly. Gaurav still hadn't moved. He stood where he was staring at Rhea. I looked back at Mira who was clutching my hands.

"Raghav, this isn't true. I'll admit, I did hate you in the beginning but that was the past. I don't anymore. I've seen you. I know you. I would never do that for publicity Raghav, you know that please j-"

"That's the whole point. How much do I even know you, Mira? Rhea has a point. We just met a few months ago and during that course all you've done is be seen with me. You've never put in a good word for me. Heck, on GMM you spoke about Gaurav and not me! Is that how you show friendship and support towards me? It just shows how you've done nothing for me.

All the recent news about you has you with me. If you did think Gaurav was amazing and kind and lovable, the way you proclaimed on national radio, why isn't there something about you both out there? Is it because if you are seen with him you'll lose fans? Is it because you think I'm a usable object? Is that why you two move when the paparazzi isn't around like you did today? Tell me Mira, which one is it?"

I wanted to continue and let more of the words out but I had to stop there. I saw the hurt. I saw it in her eyes. Her best friend wasn't there for her today. Agreed, but what did she do to me? What face was I seeing today? Was she really a mistake? Did I do something horribly wrong by showing her a place I shouldn't have shown? Is she trustable or is she not? Will she expose it?

My heart contradicted all of my worries. For the first time, my heart encouraged me to keep my head aside. But I couldn't. My brain screamed at me, telling me that I've made enough mistakes already and trusting someone again would make me a fool.

I looked down at Mira and delivered the final blow. "If I wasn't any wiser, I'd say you are a liar." As soon as the words left my mouth, I knew I had gone too far. She raised her bloodshot eyes towards me. Her hand trembled as she raised it and slammed it across my face.

I winced in pain while she scurried across the room, gathering her belongings. I moved my hand over the pain to subside it while watching her. When she was done, she stood in front if me, her chin high as she said, "And if I wasn't any wiser, I'd say you are an idiot of a man who knows nothing but to hurt other people's feelings."

She walked out, slamming the door behind her. Gaurav finally moved towards me, shook his head and grabbed his car keys.

When he stood close to me, he stopped and said, "I hate to say this, but you messed up." And he walked out as well.

Rhea sniffled and went away towards the restroom. I was left standing alone inside, contemplating my words. I felt low and disgusting for what I had said to her. It was now that I realised that I didn't even give her a chance to fully explain herself. How was I so stupid?

I turned towards the door, ready to apologise to her when the van door swung open. A horrified Dhruv, our director, stomp in.

"Dhruv, I don't have time. I need to talk to her. Will you please-?"

"Not now Raghav! I've had enough of your tomfoolery! Now you will answer one question, only one, and then you are free to run away wherever you wanted to go- Why did Mira come up to me, crying and say she was calling it quits in the movie?!"

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A/N

Hey you! Another update is here! Lemme know what you think!

*runs off to write the next chapter with an evil smirk because this bitch knows it's spicing up*

LOVE, HUGS AND HURTFUL GOODBYES,

RITWIKA

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