•~Four troublemakers~•

Chapter 7: friendship

Aakash had never been the type to let emotions control him, but tonight was different. He had been in the boys bathroom for a few minutes Aushi from across the room was in depressing because of loosing aakash like that, her eyes dull as she looked at Veer. Something in his chest tightened, a familiar feeling he had tried so hard to suppress. It was jealousy, but it wasn’t because of Veer’s charm or the way everyone adored him. It was because Aushi... Aushi was smiling at Veer in a way she never did with him.

His gaze flickered between them. Aushi’s attention seemed completely absorbed by Veer, and Aakash felt the sting of it. Why did she look at him like that? Why couldn’t it be him? He clenched his fists, frustration boiling inside him. He should’ve been used to it by now—the way Aushi could light up a room just by being herself. But tonight, it felt different. He wasn’t sure if it was because of Veer or the way his own feelings had quietly transformed over time, but he couldn’t ignore the ache in his heart any longer.

Without thinking, Aakash stood  up and said to  himself, his voice barely audible. "Why is it always me?." He thought his departure went unnoticed in the clamor of the group, and for a moment, he was sad. But the emotions inside him raged louder as he walked back and forth in the bathroom

leaning against the cold tiles as he let out a long, shaky breath. Why was this so hard? Why couldn’t he just tell Aushi how he felt? He knew he should be happy for her, that her friendship with Veer was natural, but the truth was, he couldn’t help the way his heart twisted whenever he saw them together.

It was silent in the bathroom, but his thoughts felt deafening. What if she never saw him the way he saw her? What if she always saw him as just a friend?

Moments later, the sound of footsteps reached his ears. The door to the bathroom creaked open, and Aakash tensed. He didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.

"Aakash?" Aditya’s voice came from behind him. "You okay, man?"

Aakash didn’t answer immediately. He just stared at the sink, taking deep breaths, trying to calm the storm inside him. But Aditya, being as observant as ever, could tell that something was wrong.

"You’ve been off ever since Aushi has been with veer" Aditya continued, stepping closer. "What’s going on? You look... tense."

"I’m fine," Aakash muttered, still not meeting his friend’s eyes. He hated the way his voice came out, almost defensive. But he couldn’t let Aditya see the mess inside him. "Just needed a minute."

Aditya didn’t buy it. He wasn’t going to let Aakash pull away like this. He leaned against the doorframe, watching him closely. "Come on, man. Talk to me. Is it about Veer and Aushi? If not then why did you rage out like that in the library!"

Aakash froze at the mention of that scene, his heart rate picking up. He swallowed hard, but before he could answer, there was another knock at the door.

Aushi’s voice floated through the door, soft and concerned. "Aakash? Are you alright?"

The last person he wanted to face right now. Aakash’s throat tightened as he stood there in silence. He had no idea how to explain what he was feeling. How could he tell her? How could he admit that, for weeks, he had been falling for her and watching her get closer to Veer was breaking him?

He cleared his throat, trying to steady himself. "I’m fine, Aushi. Just... needed some space."

There was a brief pause before she spoke again. "Aakash, please open the door. We’re all worried about you."

Aakash didn’t answer at first. His thoughts were spinning out of control. He could feel the weight of their concern, but it only made him feel more exposed. It was easier to hide in the bathroom, away from the truth.

Finally, with a sigh, he turned the lock and opened the door. Aditya stepped aside, allowing Aushi to enter. Priya, who had quietly followed them down the hallway, appeared right behind her.

The tension in the air was palpable. Aushi’s eyes softened as she studied him, and it hurt even more to see her concern. He had always been able to be the strong one, the reliable friend, but right now, he felt like he was drowning in his own emotions.

"Talk to us, Aakash," Aushi said gently, stepping closer. "You’ve been acting distant, and it’s not like you."

Aakash shook his head, his voice barely a whisper. "I’m just... I don’t know how to handle this." He turned away from them, staring at his reflection in the mirror, as if looking for some answer in his own eyes.

"Handle what?" Aditya asked, his tone still patient but laced with concern.

Aakash closed his eyes, his voice breaking slightly. "Who is veer to you?"

Aushi gasped softly, her hand reaching out toward him, but he stepped back, not wanting her pity. He couldn’t take it. He couldn’t be the guy who sat there, silently longing for something he could never have.

"Let me clear the confusion," Aushi said, her voice gentle but firm."veer is my brother. You didn't know that?"

He looked at her blankly "he is your brother? I thought he was your lover..."

Aushi’s expression softened, and she stepped forward, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Aakash, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know you felt that way. But he is my brother not my lover."

"I don’t want to make things awkward between us," Aakash whispered, his voice almost lost. "I just... Can we forget this never happened?. This is embarrassing"

Aditya, sensing the heaviness of the moment, spoke up quietly. "Look, Aakash, sometimes these things happen. But you're not alone in this. We’re here for you, man."

Priya nodded. "We’ve always had each other’s backs, and that’s not going to change."

Aushi, her expression soft but understanding, finally spoke, her voice tender. "We’ll figure this out, Aakash. You don’t have to carry this alone. And I promise, I’ll always be here for you."

Aakash let out a slow breath, his shoulders relaxing. It was still painful, but for the first time in a while, he felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe things weren’t perfect, but they were real. And that, for now, was enough.

SEE YALL TOMORROW FOR ANOTHER CHAPTER BYEEEEE👹👹👹😛😛😛🥳🥳🥳✨✨✨✨🎀🎀🎀😃😃😃😃