***Veer's POV.***

"I am talking about you being unconsciously in love with your best friend, Piya forever, Veer." Kanika says, and I almost choke on my drink.

"Where did you get that idea, Kanika? There is nothing like that. Piya is my best friend and we have always been friends." I say.

"Really? You are still going to use that excuse as a shield to hide your feelings behind it. Can't imagine there was a time when I almost fell for a coward like you." She says and chugs down her drink.

"What?!" I ask in shock.

"Almost. As there is no one present here, I will vent everything on you now." She says and turns to me to give me her full attention.

"Okay?" I say in confusion.

"When we were in our last year of high school, I almost fell for you, Veer. I don't know why. Maybe because you were always kind to all of your friends, caring too and also you will fight for us without a second thought, even for Piya." She says with a smirk, "Or that's what I thought. You were hanging out with her and I thought maybe because you knew her since she was a baby. But that day changed my way of looking at you guys."

"I was returning from my club when I saw you standing outside another class. Before I could approach you, the look on your face stopped me. It was so calm and one could say you looked more handsome than ever at that moment. Then I heard a laugh and looked into the class to see Piya with her friends. When she laughed, a smile came to your face. A smile I have never seen. I don't know what happened, but then I took my step back and left." She says and then takes my beer and drinks it.

"I didn't want to, but then I started stalking both of you. The curiosity was killing me. I wanted to know if there was something more between you than you both were letting us know. But you both always would act like besties and it made me frustrated more and more. But every now and then I will see that look on your face when no one is around and you are with Piya." She says.

"Is that the reason you had a scuffle with Piya?" I ask.

"Did she tell you about it?" She asks in surprise.

"Not in detail. What was it about?" I ask.

"Nothing. Just something between us. Oh, by the way, why do you think she avoids me the most?" She asks and I know she knows the answer.

"I don't know." I say and she smiles.

"Because I know what she feels about you." She says.

"And what is it?" I ask.

"Shh... It is our secret. I mean, I was first to hear her say it." She says.

"What was the point of this conversation anyway, Kanika?" I ask and look away.

"Just what I said earlier. You have always been in love with Piya, unconsciously." She says.

"That's not true. Piya is my friend." I say, looking back at her.

"You fooled us all these years that you consider Piya as a friend. Everyone thought Veer was so kind and protective towards Piya as her best friend. You acted so well that no one can doubt you. But while others have watched Piya, I have watched you and I know the real Veer very well who is scared of, I don't know what, but also would go to lengths to hide his feelings even if it is to lie to himself and live that lie. But fine. Keep telling yourself that Piya is your best friend only. But keep this in mind too, Veer Malhotra. Everything is about to change in the coming days. I hope you are ready for it. Because we are not kids anymore. We are adults now and at this stage, our feelings refuse to stay in and find even the littlest provocation to come out. The same would happen to you and Piya both. All thanks to me." Kanika says with a smile.

"Why are you behaving like this?" I ask.

"Because you both have made me go crazy with your patience and resistance. I am done waiting around. So why don't I just poke around a little fun and get to move on from my curiosity?" She says and gets up to join our friends to dance just as Piya and Rihaan enter.

"Did you two fight?" Rihaan asks.

"No. We were just having a friendly argument." I say.

"Did she say something?" Piya asks and I look at her to see her wringing her hands.

"No." I say and look away.

"Well, I am going to dance, too. Wanna join me, Piya?" Rihaan asks.

"No. I want to sit and eat." She says and takes a seat not far from me and helps herself with starters.

"What about you, Veer?" He asks.

"Maybe later." I say.

After Rihaan leaves, there is a few minutes of silence which is not at all comforting, not after what Kanika made me confront with. Those feelings which I suppressed and turned into friendship weren't meant to be noticed by anyone, not even by me.

"Veer." Piya says and I look up at her, "Is something wrong?"

"No. Why would you ask that?" I ask.

"You were frowning just now." She says and comes close to me.

Her scent envelopes me once more, taking me back to that day when I realized what I really feel for her. But then I get another memory of what happened afterwards. The day I realized my feelings for her was also the day I got to know about my birth mother.

And I didn't want to risk losing Piya. But now I wonder, was that really the right choice? Because every time I look into Piya's eyes, I can't help but feel that maybe there could be more between us than friendship and maybe it won't damage anything between us.

Maybe.

But first I need to know what's on her mind. What does she think of me now? And for that, I have to do something. Then, if she gives me even the slightest hint of her feelings for me changing, I will have to think about my next move.

Because my next step after that will change both of our lives drastically.

So I have to think hard about how to take this first step.

Love is a difficult dilemma.

***Piya's POV.***

"Veer! Veer!" I call out for him and he comes out of his thoughts.

"Oh, sorry. Want something else to eat?" He asks and I shake my head.

"I am fine. But what were you thinking?" I ask with concern as he looked lost a minute ago.

"Nothing." He says, but I know there is something.

"Okay." I say and he goes to take one more bottle of beer, "And I think you should stop drinking. You had enough."

"How would you know what my tolerance is?" Veer asks with a smile and opens it.

I stop him from taking the drink by putting my hand on his and plead, "Please don't."

He blinks a few times then puts it away, "Fine."

"Let me take a swig." Dev says and takes the bottle from Veer's hand.

All his friends come back and Rihaan tells everyone about going on a trip and Veer suggests where we should go. It was the same place I suggested earlier, and he smiled at me after that. Dev and Kanika agree immediately.

"We can't come for a trekking trip in Manali. But we will be there for Jammu & Kashmir, but only if it is in this month. I have to leave for work next month." Om says.

"Fine. Then I will give you all the details by Tuesday morning." Rihaan says.

"That's great." Kanika says and looks at me with a secret smile.

Why does she have to always look so smug around me? It's irritating.

Kanika gets up and stands in front of Veer and says, "Veer, you have yet to get on the floor. Let's go."

"I don't think so..." Veer says, but Kanika gives him a look and he sighs, "Fine."

They go to the dance floor and start showing their cool moves. Can't believe they still look so good while dancing together. I have always been envious of Kanika for being so boldly approachable to Veer without giving thought to how others would take its meaning.

Kanika and Veer used to take part together in many dance competitions in their final two years and they were the first to be approached for any event, too. Such was their partnership. How I used to wish that I could be the one who could dance with Veer, which only happened on our birthdays, and that too with his siblings around to dance with us, especially Shravan.

Ah! I miss that clingy boy, too. Maybe I will give him a call later.

But right now as I look at Veer's hand on Kanika's waist it makes me... I can't see them together anymore, so I look away. Why do I have to be like this? Why can't I have just been Veer's friend and not fallen for him? But then again, this feeling is the only thing that keeps me going sometimes when I feel down.

Even so, I want to be there with Veer. To dance with him, to cheer for his winning, to cook for him and him alone, to have him hold me in his arms, to have him touch me, to have him... kiss me and have him be mine. But my stupid promise to myself is keeping everything at bay and also the fact that I don't know how Veer would feel about my feelings.

I can't avoid my fate anymore now. Soon I have to make a big decision in my life. And for that, I have to think hard about what to do first.

"Even you didn't dance, Piya. Wanna come with me?" Dev asks suddenly, and I don't know what to say.

"Uhm..." I think for a moment.

"Come on. It would be fun." Dev says with a smile and gives me his hand.

"Go." Rihaan says with a smile, "He won't look like it, but Dev is actually a gentleman."

Dev rolls his eyes, then looks at me. I smile and take it hesitantly. Dev is a nice guy. Even when we were in school, girls used to fawn over him for his rough attitude with a gentle heart. Everyone knew he was a kind man with the way he would always help any girl who needed it.

I was nervous at first, but he was patient and let me have my time. We were moving to the rhythm when he seized my hand and twirled me around. I giggled a little, then he distracted me with a conversation. We were ‌talking when I felt someone's gaze on my back. Not a bad one, but something I can't pinpoint.

Before I could turn to see who it is, Dev waves his hand and I know it must be someone familiar. When I turn around to see who it is, I almost stop breathing because it is Veer who is coming towards us and the look in his eyes is sending shivers into my bones.