| CHARLOTTE|

"Are you okay?" I raised my eyebrows and asked Naina, who had been on her mobile for a long time since the ride.

"Let's reach the home first," she said, quieting me. Though I couldn't infer it all, I could see some shit must have happened at Meeta's place. It was either with Abhi or Angad. But, according to me, it looks like she fought with Angad. She would have broken into millions of tears if it was Abhi. Or perhaps, she would be rambling about what kind of asshole he was.

***

"I think Angad is a people-pleaser." I scratched my forehead and commented on what Naina narrated about the events at Meeta's house. "I mean, look at him. He knows he would be the biggest heartbreak of her life. Why please her?"

"You're right," she said thoughtfully.

"There's no maybe business here. I am fucking sure about it." I banged on the table and leaned on the couch with a sigh. "That's a red flag if you didn't know."

"I know." Her face was straight as she glared at me as if I was talking nonsense. "Let me think. I need some time to reflect on it."

"Okay," I sighed and leaned forward to drink some water. Before my lips could meet the edge of the glass, I heard the doorbell ringing. "Hey! Let's watch Love, Simon. It's so lovely that I want to re-watch it."

I saw Naina going inside her room to change her clothes and shifted my focus to the entrance as I opened it. I wished I had not opened it. I leaned on the jamb and glared at the asshole who came to visit Naina.

I glared at Abhishek, raised my eyebrows and asked, "Why did you come?"

"I want to meet Naina," he answered.

I sighed out of annoyance and mumbled, "Come in."

I walked inside and led him while Naina was already standing at the entrance of her room. I stood near her and whispered, "Do you want me to be here? Or should I wait outside?"

"No thanks. Stand here," Naina whispered and went inside, not before shooting a deadly glare at him.

I sat on the couch and asked, "Do you want anything? Rat poison, pesticide, or phenyl?" I smiled as if I was being genuine. Abhi looked at me as if he knew I knew about him.

"I am not here to argue with you," he scowled.

"I was trying to be hospitable, Abhishek. Sorry if this hurt you, but I am not sorry," I scowled back. I saw Naina entering the hall while clearing her throat. I stood from my place and raised my voice, "The game is yours, Naina."

She sighed and sat on the couch while crossing her legs. "How can I help you?"

"Naina, listen. I'm not here to discuss about us." He lets out a deep breath and continues. "Firstly, I am extremely sorry for what happened between us. I didn't mean to do that. And secondly, I didn't know..." He looks down and sighs hard. "I didn't know Angad and you were a thing."

She raised her voice and asked, "What do you mean? Angad and I? What are you talking about, Abhishek?"

"Calm down, Naina. Angad told me everything. He asked me to stay away from your league. And, I knew you two fought. I thought of doing some favour for both of you. Hence..." He paused there.

I stormed towards him and yelled, "Oh, please! We are so grateful for what you did in the past. Thank you so much, His Highness. Please don't strain yourself this time."

He convincingly raised his voice and said, "Young lady, please. You don't have to strain yourself in this conversation. It's just us."

"There was no us, Abhi. Never," Naina replied calmly, her eyes looking away from him. I smiled a little at her and walked back with my hands crossed.

"Fine," he sighed and continued. "Naina, I can clearly understand your problem. He neither wants to break your friend's heart nor let your relationship go out of hand. I agree that's a red flag. But Angad cares about you a lot. He wanted to protect you from me. He was ready to break a wedding for you."

"Is he?" Naina asked back. "Abhi, are you sure he is ready to break this wedding for me? Are you sure of what you were talking about? But why does he have to impress his fiancee and her family when he knows they had to face a wholesome shit because of him? Do you men get this or not?"

"I said, I get it. But why not give it a chance? He is not brave enough to confess this to his parents and her parents. He needs time to bring his courage forward and talk." He shrugged his shoulders while I resisted my temptation to dislocate his fucked-up jaw.

"Abhi, he said he met me two years ago. He got engaged to Meeta eight months ago. He knew I was her friend long ago. That means he had eight months with him to tell me he was not interested in marrying Meeta and was in love with me. Why didn't he do that? Why did he have to prolong it?"

"Are you expecting him to burn the bridges without expecting you to love him?" Abhi questioned.

"He believes the force of his love, doesn't he? Why couldn't he woo me like he did now? He must have broken this fucked-up wedding long ago," Naina panted hard while Abhishek was dumbstruck.

"I agree, Naina." Abhi sighed. "But it's smart to fix the future than blame the past. What would you do if you fought with him? No matter what, it should be you two to take things forward in your relationship. Talk to him, discuss the issue, and conclude."

"I'm tired of discussing with him, Abhi. Ask Charlotte how many times I had discussed this with him. What am I supposed to do if he continues this?" Naina raised her voice.

"Naina, calm down. Please talk to him. This issue won't be solved until you two reconcile." He took his mobile from his pants pocket, dialled a number, and put the call on speakerphone mode.

"Hello?" An Indo-American masculine voice answered the call from the other side while I found out who was the owner of that voice.

"Angad, it's Abhishek here. Meeta's cousin," Abhi introduced while all we heard was sharp panting from Angad.

"Speak." His tone was curt as he sounded disappointed.

"Well, do you mind if I ask you something?" Abhi's eyes were filled with anticipation and hope as he stared at Naina while Angad hummed a yes. "Great! What would be your first words if Naina appeared in front of you at this moment?"

"Why does it matter to you?" He snapped at him as if he wasn't interested in discussing about it.

"Bro, it's not like I would sabotage your romance if you reply. I assured you I wouldn't interfere with Naina. Trust me," he sounded like a diplomat trying to explain his dilemma to a terrorist.

Angad sighed deeply and confessed, "I would apologise to Naina if we met. I will accept my mistake, promise it won't happen again, and tell her how much I love her and I need her. Trust me, Abhishek. I can't imagine living a life without her. I agree, I'm an asshole. I'm a douchebag. Naina deserves someone better than me. But, I love her. I know I made a mistake. But, my love for her would overpower my fucked-up self. And, all she had to do was to love me like she does."

Naina snatched the mobile from him and spoke up, not before blowing her nose with a hand towel. "Hello?"

It took Angad five silent seconds to realise it was she who had spoken to him. "Naina?" He whispered.

"Apology accepted," she whispered while I was on the verge of cussing loudly. Did she believe what he said? "I won't think twice to break up if you repeat this. And, you know I will do it for sure."

"I will ensure you won't regret it, Desi Girl," he whispered with his tone saccharine and romantic.

She chuckled and said, "Did you tell anything to Abhishek?" She looked at me with a grin while I understood her motive to ask that question. She wanted to unleash the possessive/protective man in Angad and warn Abhi.

"I noticed his eyes focused on you during the wedding discussion. Hence, I thought of warning him a little. I didn't mind him telling our parents. After all, it would get our work done easily. But, I didn't expect he would be playing peacemaker for us." While he was saying these, Naina glared at Abhi and smiled at him. "Thanks a lot, Abhishek. I will never forget your help."

Abhishek chuckled at Angad's gratitude and replied, "I did what I felt like doing. You don't have to thank me for that."

"I get it," Angad chuckled as well.

"Anyways, I will be there at your house soon. Thank me with a feast," Abhi ordered before laughing heartily at it.

"Yeah, sure thing, bro! I would love to do that. See you soon!" Angad beamed and disconnected the call.

"Anyways, Naina, I have to go. My job is done." Abhi extended his hand for a handshake with a genuine smile on his face.

She joined her hands together and greeted, "Have a nice day." I wish I could salute her for this, but no, I didn't want to disappoint that handsome asshole for the umpteenth time.

Though his face showed extreme disappointment and shame, he concealed them with a small smile and left the place. I closed the door with a bang and exclaimed, "Don't you sense something fishy, Naina? He came here to play peacemaker for both of you."

"Even the strongest wind has its change, Charlie. It's time for this harassing wind to change its direction," she spoke philosophy for the 278499th time.

***

"What?" Violet whispered out of disbelief while I narrated everything that happened in Amritsar except Abhishek harassing Naina. Instead, I mentioned he made her feel bad. "What the fuck was Angad doing when these happened? That asshole deserves curses, not love. And definitely, not Naina's."

"I get it. But, she doesn't. Love makes everyone shameless and senseless," I groaned at the fact.

"Yeah. You're right. Just the way I am now," she chuckled at her comment. And no, I didn't blush that time. Never. "Are you blushing, my lady?"

I laughed at her question and replied, "No way. My parents didn't teach me how to blush."

"Then, come to me. I'll teach you," she whispered in the sexiest way possible, trying to arouse me. "Should I? Or, will you manage with your first-hand knowledge?"

"Sure. I'll be more than glad to learn how to blush," I whispered as well while reflecting on our relationship. She liked me. I liked her. We enjoy our company very well. We have a great romantic chemistry. Sex, though a part of a relationship, doesn't matter to me. We knew other ways to entertain each other. Why not me giving hints to her about how much I like her? Why not try that out?

"Well, Miss Veez," I said. "I need to confess something."

"Go on," she commanded.

"I hate my last name," I whined. "Tell me this. Do you think a beautiful first name like Charlotte should be ruined by an awful surname like Brown?"

"Tell me. What can I do for you?" Violet asked while I chuckled. Perhaps she got the clue.

"I wish I could change my surname," I replied wistfully.

"Change, as in? Have you got any suggestions?" She queried.

"Yeah. Imagine what if my name was Charlotte Brown Davis? So cute, isn't it? What are your opinions, Miss Violet Davis?" Yeah, I was not stoned. I knew what I was talking about.

"I get it," she laughed which suggested what she said. And, that laughter was genuine and positive. "I would love to do that for you. But, it happens in two cases. One: our parents get hitched to each other. Or, it would be us to be hitched. What is your go-to? I would prefer the second option, though."

She got it. She got the meaning behind what I suggested. And, her reply is fucking highly positive. She loves me back. God answered my months-long prayers. Finally!

"I want the second one as well. We have a great wavelength, don't we? We could make a great couple indeed," I chuckled and minimised my endless joy.

"Yeah. Right, Miss Wifey?" She asked that made me end my chuckling.

"Right, Miss Wifey." Let me be honest this time. Yes, I blushed.

"Charlie!" I found Naina's voice extremely annoying that time as she interrupted the romantic conversation between two new lovers. "Charlie! Are you there or what? Come soon."

"Yeah, I am coming," I yelled at her as well and shifted my focus to my Wifey. "Sorry, Violet. It looks like Naina wants me there. I have to go. Shall we continue this talk later?"

"Yeah, sure," she replied with a sullen tone. I knew that disappointed her, but it looked like my dimwitted best friend couldn't wait for me. As I could disconnect the call after mouthing my goodbye, I heard her say, "I need to tell you something." I hummed with approval while she uttered those magic words.

"I can't wait to transfer those vitamins into your mouth."

***

I AM SO SO SORRY FOR THE DELAY! I had some work back home, hence I couldn't be consistent with my writing. And, I couldn't assure you that the updates would be consistent hereafter. At least, not for a few months. But as I say always, I will try my best.

Stay tuned for more drama!

See you soon.

Song Courtesy: Samjhawan from Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania.

P.S.: There's a HUGE surprise waiting for you at the next update.