***Abhimanyu's P. O. V***
My tears had started flowing the moment Naina had told me that her grandfather was going to Shruthi's parents' place to talk about Shruthi and Kunal's marriage and looking at the same happiness etched on Rohan's face brought more tears to my face.
I was surely a little taken aback seeing the lack of the same level of enthusiasm on Naina's face - c'mon it's her best friend and her brother! I had expected her to weep, and maybe even kiss me in happiness!! Sure she had tears in her eyes but Rohan and I actually wept in happiness okay?! Thoda sa toh reaction banta hai na?!
But then again, Naina has always been a closed-book for as long as I've known her {even though I've not known her for a very long time, but still..} so maybe she is happy but that she hides her emotions better?!
Still wondering what Rohan meant by 'all the girls I love are already married or gearing up to marry some other guy', Rohan and I made our way to Shruthi's bedroom to give the two love birds the good news.
Rohan is a chilled-out guy and is much more popular amongst people and the paparazzi thanks to his friendly nature! But even with his flirting nature, I've never known him to never fall for any girl!! And frankly, I've never seen him as serious or as somber as he's been today!!
Rohan is a good friend of mine and a really good human and a good friend to his friends but man he flirts a lot!! He can get girls to go weak in their knees by just a few words!! I actually had a slight insecurity about Naina facing him {okay maybe a little more than slight because my sasuraal wale i.e Naina's family, i.e. her grandfather was considering Rohan as a match for Naina}, but then I recalled the time she'd told me that I was a better choice than him, and also the fact that she doesn't believe in love!
But why was Rohan sad anyways?!
"Now let's give this sweet news to the love birds in there shall we?! Wait... you don't think they've gotten down to business now do ya?!" Rohan asked, putting a full-stop to my train of thoughts as we reached the bedroom.
"Dude!! Nah they might be kissing... but nothing more!" I shrugged, pushing all the thoughts aside.
And as I opened the bedroom door open, we found Kunal's lips glued to Shruthi, the two of them kissing fiercely, making me grin sheepishly.
"Hey what do you know?! I was right!!" I snickered, at Rohan, and found Kunal being pushed away by a shy Shruthi, her face resembling a ripe tomato as she hid behind Kunal.
Kunal hissed cuss words at us, but the relief and happiness on his face for being accepted by Shruthi was inevitable.
"Well at least someone has found love and is getting a happy ending!" Rohan's voice issued somewhere in the background as I continued to wink and snicker at Kunal, who though swore loudly, was blushing to the roots of his hair!
"Hmpf true.... at least someone is happy and getting a happy ending!" I smiled ruefully, remembering my own loveless marriage.
As I looked at a very somber Rohan and then at the blushing love birds, my own heart swelled with joy and love for my friends - at least someone's getting a happy marriage!!
Putting a smile back on my face, I looked maliciously at Kunal and Shruthi, mentally deciding to have some fun and pull their legs!
"Hmm...so let me talk to my best friend now" I winked, walking casually to the love birds and pushing Kunal aside, to sit between them, rather comfortably.
Kunal hissed and swore loudly again, whilst Shruthi buried her face in her hands as I continued to chuckle, and Rohan just stood there at the threshold of the room, smiling wryly - wait is he really heart broken or what?!
"You're married now to the love of your life and free to do anything you want... So go be happy and leave us alone" Kunal hissed, glaring at me as I put an arm around Shruthi and pulled her closer to me.
"Sure I'm married to the love of my life, but she.... She doesn't love me back.... So I have only my best friend here and no other option" I smiled sadly, kissing Shruthi's temple.
"She'll love you back don't worry" Shruthi said consolingly, resting her head on my shoulder.
"She doesn't believe in love it seams...she told she'll never be able to love me" I choked, as tears made their way to my eyes yet again.
"What? Look Abhi she will love you... Just don't give up hope okay? And besides... You have your whole life to make her fall for you" Shruthi smiled at me, wiping my tears away.
"Yes my sister is lucky to have found a husband like you!! Now get your hands off of my woman!!" Kunal hissed, and to my amazement, he moved forward, pushing Shruthi's hands off of me!!
"What if I don't want to let go off of her?" I glared at Kunal, putting Shruthi's arms around me again and kissing the top of her head.
"Go hug your own woman!!" Kunal hissed, now trying to remove my arms from around Shruthi.
Now I love and respect Kunal for the good human and friend that he is, but man he's so freaking lean and weak!!
He grunted and gritted his teeth as he tried with all his might to remove my hands from around Shruthi, but as hard as he tried, I too tightened my grip around her, while all Shruthi did was bite her lip to stop herself from giggling!!
"You know Rohan... You were right!! He actually has no strength! Dada ji really should have had just concentrated on strengthening Kunal up before he went to talk of his marriage with Shruthi!" I snickered, turning to look at Rohan at the threshold of the room, but frowned seeing that he wasn't anywhere there.
Where did he go to?
"Hey I have strength okay? Just because I'm not all beefed up like you two assholes doesn't mean I don't have strength! And what are you talking about dadaji and my marriage?" Kunal stopped abruptly, panting for breath.
"Your grandfather and father... Both of them are right now on their way to Shruthi's parents' place... To talk about your marriage... " I trailed off.
"What?!" Both of them gasped and squealed.
I told them of how Naina's dada ji saw their photograph on the front of a newspaper and had now decided to get them married and by the end of it, both of them were gaping at me with their eyes and mouths hanging wide open.
"Really?" Kunal asked, to which I smiled and nodded my head.
"Oh my God!!" He squealed like a little girl and the next moment, I was being tackled to the bed, and I blinked my eyes in confusion, only to find Kunal on top of me, as he kissed every inch of my face!
"Dude what the fuck? Get off!!! Get off!!" I hissed, pushing him off of me!
"Hey you're okay with Shruthi kissing you but why can't I hug and kiss you?" He asked, as he carefully sat between me and Shruthi, putting his arm protectively around her.
"Because she's my best friend... And like my sister... But you...." I trailed off, scrunching up my face in disgust as I rubbed my hands all over my face, trying to wipe his kisses off of me.
"Anyway... So now that you two are getting married..." I trailed off, only to stop as saw the two of them glued to one another, their lips moving on one another's!
"Get a room!" I sighed, though beaming at the thought of my friends finally finding happiness.
"We are in a room... You get out of here!" Kunal hissed as he continued to kiss Shruthi.
"Oh my virgin eyes!" I closed my eyes before getting out of the bedroom.
I sighed and closed the bedroom door behind me before walking towards the living room, a smile etched on my face, though my heart kept shattering again and again.
Would I ever find such happiness in my own life?! Forget kissing, but would there ever be even such a day where in Naina would look at me with the kind of love that Shruthi has for Kunal?! Would Naina and I ever find love?! Would we forever be stuck in this loveless marriage?!
Is so much pain and so much heartache really worth it?!
Blowing out a deep breath, I blinked, wiping my tears that I don't even know had pooled in my eyes.
But the moment I entered the living room, I froze to find the sight in front of me - Rohan and Naina in a tight embrace.
"Shush now!" she was cooing, patting his back, and to my utter amazement/horror, Rohan was weeping, his tears flowing down his face.
"I swear... I'm gonna slay them all if they hurt her!" he choked, breaking from the hug to... glare at Naina?!
"You know my brother loves Shruthi!! About the rest of my family... well, they'll do as my grandfather orders... they have a fairly good impression about Abhi so at least to remain in his good books they won't insult her right out front!! And bhai would stay with Shruthi at his penthouse after their marriage... so it's okay... she won't be seeing them a lot.." Naina trailed off as Rohan sighed.
As I stood there and watched them, my heart shattered as realization hit me - this is what Naina was offering me too - friendship!! I was no different from the guy who was sitting beside her! Even though she said she preferred me over him and hence 'chose' to marry me, yet, this is all that I would get - her sympathy!!
I sniffed, wiping my tears of heartbreak away, and at the same time, Naina and Rohan turned to look at me, both jumping a mile apart as their eyes met mine.
"We.." Rohan began, sniffing and shooting Naina a furtive glance.
"Uh... they... we'll first sort out breakfast.... and then... we'll go to Raichand mansion" I shrugged, making my way to the kitchen.
Seriously, was this the only peace in my life that the woman I loved was tied-down to me?! Won't I ever get her love?! Friendship is all I'll ever get?! Friendship and sympathy?!
To be continued...
A/n - okay sorry I was meant to give this update yesterday but got super late so.. here it is!!
I hope you enjoyed it... do let me know how you felt about the chapter.
And ah Abhi... Rohan... and of course, Naina - what happens here, we'll just wait and watch.
And finally Kunal and Shruthi - well let's hope things go smooth from here :D
Until next time,
Love,
M <3
P.S - not edited so do bear with the grammatical errors!