***Piya's POV.***

"Look there, Piya." Dev says, pointing at the beautiful sky as the sun gets ready to set behind the mountains.

"It is good." I say with disinterest.

"What happened, Piya? Are you not feeling well? Are you tired?" He asks.

"No. I am fine." I say.

"Then why do you sound like you are not having fun? Am I boring you?" He asks.

"No. That's not the... I am fine. Really. Okay. Maybe I'm just a little tired." I say.

"Okay. Why don't we have some gur-gur chai then? It will help your mood get better." He says.

"Gur gur chai?" I ask with a frown.

"You haven't heard about it?" He asks.

"No. What is it?" The curious chef in me wakes up.

"It is a butter tea. It is a local beverage here. Also, we will eat some skyu too. What do you say?" He asks.

"Yeah." I say.

We toured around Ladakh and visited some monasteries, too. I asked for peace in my heart from the Great Buddha when every moment I saw Kanika and Veer together. It wasn't like they were some kind of couple, but the way Kanika was behaving made me go crazy.

I know I have no right over Veer romantically, but I am not over him yet to see him with someone else. Also, the fact, I am so bothered right now is making me frustrated too. And all because of that look from Veer I got in the afternoon and not to forget him ignoring me all day after that.

But why?

I thought I was his bestest friend and he would protect me from everything and be there for me. Did I do something that made him get upset with me? And even if I did, shouldn't he just forget it like usual and be with me? This whole day of my trip was gone in confusion and questioning for myself.

Dev stops near a local Dhaba and makes a call to others to let them know we would be late. We were behind them as we stopped to buy a charm for Priya Masi's mother, Ekta Nani. As we take a seat, I get a text from Subu.

"If it is good. Get a parcel for me."

"I will see." I text back.

"Don't see. Bring it, otherwise you are not getting your beautiful pictures." She texts back and I sigh.

"Fine." I say and text her the same.

The butter tea was amazing, and the skyu tasted so good that I had to ask for the recipe for both. Dev waited patiently for me while I was in the kitchen, noting down everything. I was just about to come out of the kitchen when I almost bumped into a waiter who was carrying hot tea.

But in order to avoid it, I twisted my ankle at the last moment and fell down. The impact was not strong as I braced myself, but then again, to avoid falling on head, I graced my right hand harshly against the wall, which was rough in itself.

Everyone asked me if I was okay and I assured them I was just fine. Dev came rushing in and helped me up. He asked me if I was hurt and I told him that I just scratched my hand and a little twist in my leg, otherwise I am perfectly fine. After washing my hand, we say our thanks and leave.

"Are you sure? We can go to the hospital." Dev says as we ride towards the hotel.

"No, I am fine, Dev. And don't worry, I have a first aid kit with me so I will take painkillers if it hurts too much and put on a bandage." I say.

"Okay." He says and I turn my focus back to twisting my ankle a little to make the sting go away but looks like it got a mild sprain now.

When we reach the hotel, I limp a little and Dev asks if I want him to carry me. I refuse vehemently and immediately.

"But why? You definitely can't walk like this. At least let me carry you till the lift?" He asks again.

"No. I am really fine. And also, I don't want others to worry." I say, especially Veer.

He may be upset about something with me, but he still cares for me a lot and could never see me hurt. Or at least that's what I thought until I saw him avoiding me when we reached the lobby where he was talking with Kanika. They were whispering among themselves and didn't react even a little when Dev told them what happened.

"You should have been careful. Who asked you to enter the kitchen in rush hour? Now go and rest." He literally orders me and I look at him with an open mouth.

"Well, thanks for your concern, Veer. But no need to be so rude about it. And I was going to rest, anyway." I say and turn and limp towards the lift.

"I can help you, Piya." Dev says.

"No need. I am not a baby who needs help walking." I say and stab the button many times so the lift can get here as soon as possible.

I get in and wait for the door to close and just when they are about to, Veer enters it, alone. He looks at me, but I look away in a huff. What has gotten into him, I don't know, but I am not talking to him anymore because if I do, I will definitely cry as I am tired, frustrated, upset, angry and, above all, hurt.

Veer stands next to me and before his arm could touch, I take a step ahead of him to not look at him. The feeling of distress is building inside me second by second and any second now, the flood will come from my eyes. But before that happens, I want to enclose myself in the sanctuary of my room.

The lift's door opens and I have just taken one step outside when I feel the land slipping away from under my feet and my whole body is engulfed in the warmth and tightness of a sturdy pair of arms. I am literally swept off my feet by him and I look up at him in confusion.

"You are an idiot." He says and starts walking towards my room.

"Then why are you helping this idiot? Leave me. I can walk just fine." I say.

"Yeah. I saw. Like a supermodel." He scoffs and refuses to let me go.

"Veer, let me go." I say.

"No." He says simply, and it makes me snap.

"Leave." I say and try to get down from his arms.

"Behave, Piya." Veer says, looking straight into my eyes while squeezing my body against him even closer than before.

"No." I say and he raises his brow.

"Fine. If you squirm one more time, I will throw you over my shoulder." He says.

"You won't." I say with a smirk.

"Try me." He says with a polite smile.

I look away, as I don't want to cause a scene in the middle of the hallway. Veer starts walking again and I keep mute as I know once I reach my room, I would be free of this torture of his warmth. Only I know how I am holding myself back from melting in his arms right now.

"Open the door." Veer says, and I do so.

"You can leave now." I say as soon as he puts me on my bed.

"Where is the first aid kit?" Veer asks.

"I can look after myself. You just go." I say.

"Tell me, or do you want me rummaging through your wardrobe?" He asks.

I look with a frown and ask, "Why are you doing this?"

"You didn't ask this question when I treated your scratches back in school." He says.

I look away again and point at the table near the fireplace. As Veer goes to bring the kit, I remove my jacket and boots. He starts treating my hand first and I don't say a word, then he takes hold of my left ankle and I take it back.

"You still feel ticklish here, huh?" He asks with a smile and runs a finger on my ankle and I almost kick him by accident.

"Stop it, Veer." I say, and my voice sounds shaky to my ears.

"Are you crying, Piya?" He asks.

"No." I say and proven a liar when a single tear runs down my cheek.

"Are you sure?" He asks softly now.

"Yes." I say and I whimper.

"Okay." He says, "But is it okay if I hug you?"

"No." I lied again.

"Okay." He says and sits beside me, "I am here if you change your mind."

I don't look at him and shed some tears in silence as long as I can, but then I feel his hand on my head. I turn around and hide my face in his chest and start sobbing, not so gracefully. He rubs my back to make me feel better, but it makes me cry even harder.

I cry, not for the wounds I got, not even for the worst day I had so far, not also for when he gave the saree I liked to Kanika, and not for being so distant to me so much today. I cry because I missed him so much today and also a tiny part of me is upset that we didn't enjoy this day together, neither as a couple nor as friends.

"Shh... Calm down, Piya. Here, drink this." Veer says, after what feels like an hour.

I shake my head, but he keeps insisting, so I drink some water.

"Now tell me. Why were you crying?" He asks, and I look up at him.

"Like you don't know." I say accusingly.

"You are seriously upset because of me?" He asks in astonishment.

"Of course I am. Do you know how you behaved with me today?" I ask.

"How?" He asks.

"First you were rude, then you were ignorant, then you were rude again, along with being a jerk to me when I am hurt." I say, stabbing my finger in his arm, which hurts me more than him.

He takes hold of my hand and says, "I am sorry."

His eyes look so sincere that I almost give in and forgive him, but then I remember the look he gave me this afternoon, like I had done some kind of crime and he would never talk to me about it.

"You are not forgiven." I say.

"But why?" He asks with a frown.

"Because you gave me that look. What did it mean, anyway?" I ask in confusion.

"I was upset with you." He says.

"Why?" I ask.

"Because you returned me a favor." He says and I look at him in confusion. He sighs, "You gave me the gloves in return for me buying Aunty's saree, didn't you? It hurt my feelings."

"It was a gift. Not a favor." I say and bite my tongue and look away.

"Really?" He asks and I sigh.

"Yes." I say.

"No. You are lying." He says.

"No, I am not. It was a gift." I say, looking back at him.

"Then why didn't you smile?" He asks, and I blink back.

"What?" I ask.

"You didn't smile when you gave me the gift. So I thought maybe it was a favor." He says.

"You acted like that just because I didn't smile while giving you the gift?" I ask in shock.

"Yes." He says simply, like it is an absolute truth.

I open my mouth to say something but stop as I don't know how to react, but then I ask, "How could you think like that, Veer? I don't know what to make of this."

"Come on, there is nothing to be confused about. You always smile when you give me a gift." He says.

"Oh, really?" I ask.

"Yes. Remember every birthday of mine. Remember when I got sick, and you bought me a scarf with your pocket money? Then again, when you bought me that watch which I wanted but Dad refused to buy me because I already had so many. Then what about the time when you were upset with me, still you gave me that charm with a sweet smile on your face. You always smile, even if you are upset with me while giving me gifts." He says, and it feels more like a decorated speech.

I take a deep breath and say, "I am sorry but I wasn't upset with you and please don't get upset with me just because I don't smile at you. Maybe my mood was not good."

"Same here." He says, "Just because I frown, that doesn't mean I dislike you. Friends fight too."

"So what now?" I ask.

"I made you cry nonetheless. So as an apology, I will spend the whole day with you tomorrow and ride in the car with you. Do you agree?" He asks. I blink up at him and think for a second while he asks, "You really need to think that hard?"

"No. I am happy to spend time with you. But I was thinking what should I do? As an apology, I mean." I say.

He smiles and says, "Simple."

"What?" I ask.

"Just smile." He says.

"Really?" I ask in astonishment and feel a blush coming to my cheeks.

"Yes. Because it is my favorite thing about you." He says with a sweet smile of his own.

And that starts another rollercoaster of difficult emotions in my heart again. Little did I know that it was going to go on the entire trip.