Author 

Flashback: 7 Years Back

Vansh was sitting in a small café, deeply engrossed in some files, when he noticed Sakshi, who was about to exit the café. Deciding to call her out, he said, "Hey, Sakshi!"

"Huh?" Sakshi replied, taken aback.

"Arre Sakshi, main Vansh! Yaad hai ya bhool gayi?" (Hey Sakshi, it's me, Vansh! Remember or did you forget?) Vansh asked.

"Hi, Vansh, sorry, woh mera dhyan nahi tha." (Hi Vansh, sorry, I wasn't paying attention.) Sakshi replied, fumbling and feeling too shy to even look at Vansh.

"Waise jabse school khatam hua hai, tum ghar nahi aati aur shift bhi ho gayi wahaan se?" (So, ever since school ended, you stopped coming home, and you've even moved away from there?) Vansh asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Kuch nahi, Vansh. Bas padhai aur career mein busy ho gayi hoon." (Nothing, Vansh. I just got busy with studies and my career.) Sakshi replied with a sad smile.

"Achha, haan, Devisha bhi aaj kal bohot busy ho gayi hai padhai-likhai mein." (Oh, yeah, Devisha has also become super busy with her studies.) Vansh said, shaking his head.

"Achha, main jaati hoon." (Okay, I'll get going now.) Sakshi said, turning to leave.

"Kahaan jaana hai? Main chhod deta hoon." (Where are you headed? I'll drop you.) Vansh offered.

"Aap kyun takleef le rahe ho? Main chali jaaungi." (Why trouble yourself? I'll go on my own.) Sakshi replied, not wanting to inconvenience him.

"Iss mein takleef kaisi? Dost jaisa hoon tumhara. Hoon na?" (How is it trouble? I'm like your friend, right?) Vansh replied, playfully questioning her.

"Uh... mera matlab, haan chaliye." (Uh... I mean, yeah, let's go.) Sakshi stammered.

"Kahan jaana hai, madam aapko?" (So where do you want to go, madam?) Vansh asked as they reached his bike.

"Ghar." (Home.) Sakshi replied.

"Maate, mujhe bhi pata hai ghar, par tumhare ghar ka address kya hai?" (Oh come on, I know home, but what's your actual address?) Vansh replied, amused by her response.

"Oh." Sakshi said, realizing her mistake.

Vansh climbed onto his bike, and after a moment of hesitation, Sakshi climbed on too, keeping a noticeable distance between them.

"Arre, itna door baith rahi ho jaise koi ajnabee hoon main. Thik se pakdo, gir jaogi. Nahi toh, I don't mind you holding me." (Hey, you're sitting so far back as if I'm a stranger. Hold on properly, or you'll fall. Otherwise, I don't mind you holding me.) Vansh teased.

"Nahi, I am fine like this." Sakshi replied, trying to keep her composure.

"Don't say I didn't warn you." Vansh shrugged, starting the bike at full speed. Sakshi wobbled, losing her balance for a moment, and then hugged Vansh tightly in fear.

"Arre, aaram se chalao na!" (Hey, drive slowly!) Sakshi shouted.

"Aaram se hi chala raha hoon." (I am driving slowly.) Vansh replied, grinning.

They reached Sakshi's house, and as she got down from the bike and began walking to her door, Vansh called out, "Arre, andar bhi nahi bulaogi? Kaisi dost ho yaar tum?" (Hey, you're not even inviting me in? What kind of friend are you?)

"Arre, sorry, sorry! Main bhool gayi. Aap andar aao na." (Oh, sorry! I forgot. Please, come in.) Sakshi said.

"Ab kya faida, mere bolne ke baad bula rahi ho." (Now what's the point? You're only inviting me after I asked.) Vansh teased, laughing. Sakshi rolled her eyes.

"Arre, aise aankhein roll mat karo. Uske liye humein bedroom mein jaana chahiye." (Hey, don't roll your eyes like that. For that, we should be in the bedroom.) Vansh joked, then bit his tongue, realizing what he just said. "I didn't mean it like that! I mean, sorry!" Vansh stammered.

Sakshi, sensing his embarrassment, quipped back, "Mera taste itna kharab nahi ki main aapke saath bedroom mein jaun." (My taste isn't so bad that I'd go to a bedroom with you.) She started laughing.

Slightly offended, Vansh huffed. "Achha, ab sach mein puch rahi hoon, andar aa jao. Main chai banati hoon." (Alright, for real, come in. I'll make tea.) Sakshi said.

"Nahi, main toh tumhari taang kheench raha tha. Achha, main chalta hoon. Aunty ko mera namaste kehna." (No, I was just pulling your leg. Alright, I'll go. Say hi to your mom for me.) Vansh said and was about to start his bike when he noticed a slight tear in Sakshi's eye.

"Sakshi, kya hua? Ro kyun rahi ho?" (Sakshi, what's wrong? Why are you crying?) he asked, getting down from his bike and touching her arm.

"Nahi, main kahaan ro rahi hoon? Aankh mein kuch chala gaya hoga." (I'm not crying; something must have gotten into my eye.) Sakshi said, wiping her eyes.

"Mere muh pe pagal likha hai kya?" (Do I look like I'd believe that?) Vansh asked, unconvinced.

"Haan, aapko pata nahi? Dekho jake aaine mein." (Yeah, don't you know? Go check the mirror.) Sakshi tried to deflect.

"Sakshi, tum kyun ro rahi thi?" (Sakshi, why were you crying?) Vansh asked, more seriously this time.

"Woh... maa nahi rahi. Unka teen saal pehle dehaant ho gaya." (It's... my mom passed away. Three years ago.) Sakshi said, which shocked Vansh. He realized why Devisha never mentioned it and decided not to press further. Hesitantly, he hugged Sakshi, who melted in his embrace.

"Shh, koi na, main hoon na tumhare saath." (Shh, it's okay. I'm here with you.) Vansh reassured her as Sakshi clung to him for support.

When Sakshi's tears subsided, she realized how close they were and took a step back.

"Aise sharmane ki zaroorat nahi. Hum dost hain, hai na?" (No need to be so shy. We're friends, right?) Vansh smiled.

"Haan." (Yes.) Sakshi replied, looking down shyly.

"Waise, madam ji, woh aapka number? Apne dost ka number toh hona hi chahiye na dusre dost ke paas?" (By the way, madam, your number? Shouldn't one friend have the other friend's number?) Vansh asked, smiling sheepishly.

"Aap jyada flirt nahi kar rahe? Main pasand toh nahi aa gayi aapko?" (Aren't you flirting a bit much? Did you start liking me?) Sakshi replied, smiling.

"Nahi, bohot jyada pasand aa gayi." (No, I've come to like you a lot.) Vansh replied, looking into her eyes before breaking into laughter.

"Achha, ab kya number dogi ya main jaun?" (So, are you going to give me your number, or should I go?) Vansh asked, teasing.

"Jao, bye!" (Go, bye!) Sakshi said, turning to leave.

"Karwa li beizzati." (Got myself humiliated.) Vansh muttered under his breath, climbing onto his bike. Sakshi heard it and smiled to herself.

---

Back to the Present

Sakshi recounts the story with a smile. "Tab mujhe laga ki shayad koi hai jo mera saath dega, jo mujhpe vishwas karega... shayad koi jo mera woh teen saal ka dukh mita de. Vansh ne meri zindagi ko sach mein roshan kiya aur mujhe apnaya. Mujhe darr tha ki jab main unko teri aur meri dosti ke baare mein bataungi, toh shayad woh mujhe chhod de. Par aisa kuch nahi hua." (Back then, I felt like maybe there was someone who would support me, who would trust me... someone who would erase those three years of pain. Vansh truly brought light into my life and accepted me. I was scared that if I told him about the fallout with you, he might leave me, but he didn't.)

Back to the Past

After dating for a few months, Sakshi finally gathered the courage to tell Vansh about her fallout with Devisha.

"Vansh, woh... mujhe tumhe kuch kehna tha." (Vansh, I... I have to tell you something.) Sakshi said, nervously fidgeting.

"Kya? Bolo." (What? Go on.) Vansh, sensing her nervousness, held her hand reassuringly.

She told him everything about her fallout with Devisha.

Vansh listened and sighed. "Oh." He felt guilty for Sakshi, thinking how Devisha, her only friend, had left her alone during such a hard time.

"Toh ab kya karen? Agar Devisha ko pata chal gaya toh woh toh gussa ho jayegi." (So what should we do? If Devisha finds out, she'll be so mad.) Sakshi said, looking worried.

"Arre, Tum chhodo yeh sab. Woh bhi busy hai apne internship mein, aur tum apne CA exams mein. Filhaal toh aaj ki date ka maza lo." (Hey, forget about it. She's busy with her internship, and you're busy with your CA exams. Let's just enjoy our date today.) Vansh smiled.

"Haan, theek hai." (Yeah, alright.) Sakshi smiled back, and they continued to enjoy their time.