Amaira's POV:

"Amaira, Aayan has feelings for me, right?" Manvi said, and I stopped in my tracks.

My eyes widened hearing her. I didn't turn around and stood there fidgeting with my fingers, trying to think about something to say, but nothing came to mind.

She came in front of me, and as I raised my head to look at her, she started laughing. Confusion took over me, but I didn't get what she was up to. She held my shoulder with her right hand, trying to control her laughter.

"Areh, I saw it somewhere, to prank your best friend by asking this question, so I was just trying it on you," she said, and I released a sigh of relief. I shaken my head in disbelief as my lips curved upward, giving her a smile.

I left the room and went into the main room, where Aayan and Reyansh were sitting and chitchatting about something. So I decided to brush off the previous thoughts and join them.

I sat on the couch beside Aayan, and he looked back to see if Manvi was here.

"Where is she?" he asked me.

"She said she would be here in some time," I told him, and he nodded.

"I think we should go to a sunset point near some water-based location because I have decided to confess my feelings to Manvi on that day," he said in a nervous tone.

"WHAT! ARE YOU SERIOUS, OMYGOD, I AM SO EXCITED?" I almost screamed in excitement.

That's when Aayan kept his hand on my mouth and said, "But I am kind of nervous."

Taking his hand from my mouth, I said, "Aree you chill, sab mast hogaaa, finally mere best friends mingle hojayengeee?" I stated excitedly.

"Can you please lower your voice a bit? Ye surprise, hi rehne de yaar galtise bata mat dena manvi ko," Aayan said, raising his voice slightly, not in a harsh way but as if my statement irritated him.

Hearing him, I felt hurt—not because he raised his voice but because he knew how happy and excited I was for them, but still, he said that.

I have noticed him becoming a little bit distant from me for a few days, and I was trying to be okay with it, but still, it did hurt me at some point.

Listening to him, I got teary eyes, but not allowing tears to flow, I lowered my gaze, muttered a sorry, and left from there, giving some excuse.

Reyansh's POV:

After Aayan raised his voice a little, I noticed a change in Amaira's behavior. She was sad; tears were floating in her eyes, but she lowered her gaze.

I felt bad for her because I know Aayans voice gets raised on anyone whenever he is nervous, and that's what happened. He did not say that to hurt Amaira, but she got hurt, or maybe she was already hurt due to some reason, and this was just an addition to it.

After some time, I got up in order to search for her. When I was about to knock on their door to look after her, I saw Manvi opening the door. She was surprised to see me already standing.

"Oh, Reyansh, do you want something?" She asked, "No, actually, I was here to call you only." I lied, she nodded, and we went downstairs.

Amaira was nowhere in the room; even Manvi did not mention Amaira, which means Amaira did not come to Manvi. Where did she go?

Amaira's POV:

Leaving from the main room, I didn't go to Manvi because I knew if I went to her, I'd eventually tell her why my mood was gloomy, so I went to the seating arrangement on the lawn.

It was around 5:30 p.m., and I was sitting on one of the chairs, watching the setting sun peacefully.

Internally, my mind was messed up, but the sunset was helping me to let go of my thoughts.

But how can I let go of my only boy best friend? How can I let him know that I will never tell his surprise confession to Manvi? I was engrossed in my thoughts when I felt someone's presence beside me.

I looked beside me to find Reyansh with two mugs of coffee in his hand, taking a seat beside me.

Reyansh's POV:

Knowing the absence of Amaira in their room, I went to check other rooms but she was nowhere, so at the end, I went to the lawn, where I saw her sitting peacefully watching the sunset.

I went inside the kitchen and made coffee for us. Taking the mugs of coffee, I went towards her. She noticed my presence and saw me taking a seat beside her chair.

I know there must be something going on in her mind. I don't want her to carry this gloomy mood throughout the staycation. I want to see the smile on her face, the smile when she talks about her fictional men, the smile when she is around her favorite people, the genuine smile.

I gave her a cup of coffee, and she muttered a small thank you and again shifted her gaze towards the sunset.

Amaira's POV:

There was an utter silence between us. He was hesitating, but finally he broke the silence.

"You know Aayan always talks about you, how you guys became friends, how your friendship started, and everything. He always mentions that 'Amaira is the one whom I trust; she is the only one who noticed my crush on Manvi and has always helped me throughout'. Aayan always mentions you whenever he is talking about friendship." I heard Reyansh saying these words.

I didn't know what to say; why is he saying all this now in this situation?

"I know, he always says that," I said, taking a sip of coffee.

"Oh," he said, going silent again.

"But he has changed now; he doesn't need me; he has no time for me; he just... ignores me as if I am his enemy." I broke down in front of him. I don't know why. It wasn't expected of me to be crying in front of anyone, especially him, but the emotions overtook me.

Tears streamed down my cheeks like a river, and I closed my eyes to let them flow. I felt two palms cupping my cheeks and wiping my tears with the pads of  thumbs. I opened my eyes to find Reyansh sweeping them off.

Our eyes met, his eyes depicting worry. "Don't cry, please; it's not what you are thinking," he said in low voice, as he swept the last tear that slipped through my eyes he withdrew his hands away.

My lips wobbled, tears again making their way into my eyes, but I diverted my face towards the sunset. "He is also your best friend, so it's obvious of you to think like that, but I know what I have been experiencing for the last few weeks; it feels like this friendship was just for him to connect with Manvi through me. I know it's wrong to think about my own best friend like this, who is also like my brother, but it's hard for me too, and no one understands it."

"Have you talked with him about this?"

"No, how can I? I'm not someone who'll force anyone to stay by my side. If they want to  leave."

"You are right, but it can be misunderstanding too, it can lead to wrong paths,"

"Yeah, I understand."

"So will you talk to him about this now?"

"Yeah, I will try."

"Good."

It was a peaceful conversation. I felt good and content, and talking to him gave me a sense of calm.

We were sitting there in silence, sipping our coffee.

"Chalo, let it go. Don't be so gloomy. Where is your million-dollar smile?" he said, trying to cheer up the situation.

I chuckled a little observing his continuous efforts, and now somehow the sadness I carried was long forgotten, so I decided to pass on his vibes.

"Ye million dollar smile sabko hi nai milti," I said, smiling internally.

"Dekh lenge, dekh lenge," he said, coming close, so close to my ear that I could feel his breath fanning on my neck. Goosebumps arose, and his next words left me flustered.

Coming close to me, he said, "Kahi kal aisa na ho ke humara naam sunte hi aap muskurane lag jaao."

Saying this, he took his leave, not forgetting to take back the empty coffee mugs, and I sat there, smiling like crazy.

To be continued...

QOTD: Will Amaira talk how she felt with Aayan? Or will she continue to distance herself?

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