***Veer's POV.***

"I can't just like you. You are my best friend. So I can't just like you. You are supposed to be... loved by me. But I hope I am not late. I will do my best, Piya. The best to be the man you deserve to have in your life with the intention to always be there for you. History won't repeat itself with us because I will not let it."

I sit up on the bed with a start as those words echo in my head. Those words which are the feelings kept deep inside of me have surfaced after such a long time and why wouldn't they when I can't avoid them any longer? Not when she is back in my life.

"Piya." I speak her name and feel a wave of joy inside my heart.

I put my hand on my chest and take deep breaths to calm it down before it gets out and tell everyone my secret. No. I can't let that happen, not until I know what Piya feels. I remember nothing from last night, but I do remember answers to my questions. I forced myself to concentrate on her answers with all my being.

And now that I know Piya has never fallen for anyone and nor does she have a boyfriend, I will try my best to let her know about my feelings, but not before I know about hers. I can't just force my feelings on her and destroy our friendship. No.

I first have to know her feelings somehow and if I get even the slightest inclination that she at least likes me romantically, then I will do my best to make her fall for me. I will give my everything to have her love me back.

Yes, that is the appropriate and rational decision for now.

"What are you smiling about?" Mom asks as she enters the room.

"Nothing. Just a little happy." I say.

"You stink. Go, get a bath, then come down for breakfast." She says after putting remedy for my hangover on the table.

After drinking it, I do some routine exercise, then take a shower. As I was wearing my jacket, I got a text from Rihaan to meet him in a cafe for breakfast. I frown and ask him why, but he tells me to do as he wants to talk about something important.

"Mom, Rihaan wants to meet me. But I will be back before lunch." I say.

"But breakfast." Mom says.

"I will have it with Rihaan. Bye." I say and kiss her cheek, then Dadi's.

When I reach the cafe's roof, I look for Rihaan and find him waving at me. I reached him only to get a punch landed on my jaw. Not that powerful, but neither was it weak. I look at him in astonishment, and so do others.

"Best friend." Rihaan says with a smile, but his eyes look angry.

"What was that for?" I ask him calmly, as I know my friend won't do something like this until I am responsible for something.

"I don't know. I just felt like it." He says as he unwraps a muffin and puts it on my plate.

"And why did you feel like that?" I ask and take a bite.

"Because you are an idiot and also kind of a moron. No. You are a moron." He says with his arms folded.

"And why am I considered a moron, if I may ask?" I ask.

"As I said, you are a moron not considered as one and as to why, you tell me." He says.

"Rihaan, you know I hate riddles, don't you?" I ask and he nods, "So just tell me what is the issue?"

"You are the issue." He says and sits up, "What did you say to Piya last night, huh? Tell me."

"Why?" I ask.

"Because this morning she called me and said that she is taking a week long leave to visit her Nani and Nanu in Dharamshala. Did you say something rude?" He asks me and I feel like I am in a police inquiry, "Veer!"

"I remember nothing." I say.

"Don't throw that at me. You must remember something. Tell me, what did you do?" He asks.

"Fine. But I remember only one thing." I say.

"What?" He asks.

"I asked her two questions last night." I say.

"What questions?" He asks.

"I can't tell you." I say.

"Why?" He asks.

"Because they are not for you to know." I say.

"You can ask our mutual best friend, but can't tell me. I am not hearing any excuses. Tell me, Veer." He says.

"Fine. I only asked her if she loves someone." I say.

"And what did she say?" He asks.

"No." I say.

"No , you have to tell me, Veer." He says.

"She said no." I say and he frown in confusion.

"And then?" He asks, and I get irritated.

"I asked her if she has a boyfriend and she vehemently denied it." I say.

"Then what happened?" He asks.

"I don't remember after that." I say, "Now you tell me, is she okay? Definitely, these questions are not the cause for her to leave. It must be because her Nani is ill. That is why she is going there. Don't you know that?"

"We are not done with you yet. Tell me why and with what intentions did you ask those questions?" He asks, and I sigh.

"Please, Rihu, stop it. You are giving me another hangover." I say.

"Tell me." He says seriously.

"No." I say.

"Veer." He says.

"No. It is personal." I say.

"Best friends' means personal boundary breaker. Tell me." He says.

"No." I say.

"Veer." He says.

"Because I wanted to know if I could approach her." I say, finally.

"Approach her how exactly?" He asks.

"Approach her... romantically." I say, and his eyes widen in surprise.

"You mean to say... that you... like her?" He asks.

"No." I say and he frowns, "I... I... No I can't say this. It should be her who should hear this first from me."

"You mean to say you lov-" He says but I stuff his mouth with a muffin.

"Please don't say. What if someone hears it?" I ask as I look around.

Rihaan blinks, then takes the muffin out and asks, "Since when?"

"You should stop drinking coffee because you are asking too many questions." I say.

"Just tell me." He says and I massage my temples.

"Since... around... for..." I say as I hesitate.

"Just say it." he says.

"Ten years." I say.

"Ten years?" He asks in astonishment, and I nod.

There is a minute silence, which I welcome as my head was about to explode with all the questions. Rihaan looks lost for that time, but then a smile spreads on his face, which turns into full-blown laughter, and I frown. Has he gone crazy?

"Oh, my gosh! I did not know things would take turns like this. So what are you planning to do now? And why did you say nothing about this before, to me at least?" He asks.

"Because I didn't think it was appropriate for me to think like that at that age and also it was around the time when I came to know about my father's first marriage." I say as I look down at the plate.

"Seriously, Veer." He scoffs.

"Come on. I was still a boy and as I was always around Piya, I thought maybe it was just an infatuation and nothing else. Then I tried to deny the fact that I like her for a long time. I even went lengths to avoid these feelings. But even after all this time, they are not going away. In fact, they are growing more and more in just two days after meeting her. This is so silly. I don't know what to make of it. Many times I even doubted if it is really love because I don't want to spoil my friendship with Piya at any cost." I say whatever comes to mind, majorly the thoughts I never shared with anyone.

"Come on, Veer. I am your best friend and not just for parties and celebrations but also for deep conversation too. There was a time when you used to tell me even the littlest things and now I just feel you don't trust me anymore." He accuses.

"I apologize, Rihaan. And obviously I trust you more than anyone. But these feelings, these thoughts, were too much for me to explain to you at that time. Also, ‌I needed space to think and also to achieve my dreams. And I know I must sound selfish, but I need that space a lot to get my mind on the right track. I came back to not only meet you, but to see if I still feel the same for Piya." I say.

"And you do, don't you?" He asks and I nod and rub my head, "No need to look so guilty."

"But what if Piya doesn't feel the same way and I end up messing up things for us? I don't want to lose her, especially as a friend." I say.

"Do you really think Piya would let that happen?" He asks and I sigh, "She won't and you know it. But good for you, she may possibly accept you anyway possible in her life."

"What do you mean?" I ask with a frown.

"Forget that. What are you going to do now?" He asks.

"I thought about it a lot and came to the conclusion that I will first see if she has ever thought of me like that or would she mind possibly us dating. And if I get any sign, I will ask her outright." I say, and he frowns.

"That would take too much time. Just ask her out already. Don't waste time." He says.

"No, Rihaan. What if she gets upset?" I ask.

"She won't." He says.

"How would you know?" I ask.

"I just know." He says.

"No. I am going with my plan so she won't get hurt." I say.

He rolls his eyes and says, "Why don't you do this? Make her feel special on this trip. Treat her like she is the most important person in your life and do everything possible to be close to her and initiate a little flirting. Then at the end of the trip, just tell her."

I think for a second, then say, "That's not a bad idea. But I always treat her right. So what more can I do?"

"Leave that to me." He says with a sly smile and I worry.

After we finish, we discuss our trip and plan all the stuff. By the evening of that day, we fixed everything along with Rihaan's plan on how I could treat Piya more romantically. Some of the stuff makes me feel odd and I ask Rihaan if it is necessary.

"No. Maybe I can ask Dev to do it for Piya and spice up the trip." He says, and I frown at him.

"Let me see again." I say and take a tab from him.

"Jealousy. Works every time." Rihaan mumbles and walks away.

I look at my phone and pick it up to make a call. The ring goes on for a long time and I almost feel she won't pick up, but she does.

"Hi." She says.

"Hi. I heard from Rihaan that you left for your grandparents' house. Is your Nani okay?" I ask.

"She is fine." Piya says.

"When will you be back?" I ask.

"Within a week." She says.

"Let me know if you need anything." I say.

"Okay." She says, but today I felt a little weird because she didn't sound like herself.

"Piya..." I say.

"Yes." She says.

"I... I will... miss you." I say and bite my tongue.

"Hm... So will I, silly." She says, "I need to go. Nanu is calling me. See you soon."

"See you soon." I say.

She hangs up, and I sigh.

"Hope this works, Piya. Hope we work out. Because I don't know how my life would turn out if that didn't happen." I say to myself.

But I should have known even the bestest plan can fail and ruin everything. But that doesn't mean it won't give the results you were searching for.