ICT
Friendships were built on trust, loyalty, and understanding.
Or, in Ishan and Shubman's case, chaos, stupidity, and aggressively roasting each other.
And unfortunately for everyone else, when they got together, they dragged their friends into their nonsense every single time.
"Okay, listen up, losers," Ishan announced, dramatically slamming his hands on the table.
The "losers" in question-Virat, Rohit, Hardik, Mayank, Abhishek, and Surya-blinked at him, unimpressed.
"We have an emergency," Shubman added, looking equally serious.
Virat sighed. "What now?"
Ishan inhaled. "Shubman and I have been best friends for years-"
"Unfortunately," Shubman muttered.
Ishan kicked him under the table. "And in all these years, we've never gotten a best friend award."
Silence.
Tilak blinked. "A what?"
"A best friend award," Ishan repeated, like it was obvious.
Abhishek frowned. "Who the hell gives out those?"
"EXACTLY!" Ishan threw his hands up. "No one! And that's the problem."
Shubman nodded. "We realized we have done so much for each other. We've tolerated each other's stupidity, covered for each other's mistakes, and risked our lives-"
Rohit groaned. "I still don't understand what you two want from us."
Ishan clapped his hands. "Simple. Since society has failed to acknowledge our undeniable superiority as best friends, we decided..."
Shubman grinned. "We will host our own Best Friend Awards."
Silence.
Then-
"You guys have so much free time," Surya sighed.
Hardik leaned back. "And you want us to participate in this stupidity?"
"Yes," Ishan said proudly.
"Absolutely not," Virat said immediately.
Ishan dramatically gasped. "OH MY GOD. JEALOUSY?"
Virat rolled his eyes. "Why would I be jealous?"
"Because you don't have an award-winning best friend," Ishan said smugly.
Mayank scoffed. "Bro, if we agree to this, can we at least rig it so you don't win?"
Ishan gasped louder. "MAYANK. YOU TRAITOR."
Shubman nodded. "Yeah, yeah, but make it funny."
Mayank smirked. "Don't worry. I have plans."
Ishan squinted. "I no longer trust you."
Mayank patted his head. "Good. Now sit back and prepare for your humiliation."
The living room had been transformed. There was a cheap-looking paper banner that said "The Totally Unbiased Best Friend Awards", and they had dragged in a stool to act as the stage.
"Alright," Abhishek said, standing on the "stage" with a sheet of paper. "The categories are as follows: Most Loyal, Most Chaotic, Most Useful, Most Useless, and The Best Best Friends."
Ishan frowned. "Who decided these categories?"
Mayank smirked. "Me."
"Why do I feel like I'm being targeted?"
"You are."
"Rude."
Abhishek cleared his throat. "Let's begin. First category-Most Loyal. And the winner is..... Hardik and Surya!"
Everyone clapped as Hardik and Surya fist-bumped.
Shubman raised an eyebrow. "How did you guys win?"
Hardik smirked. "Because when I accidentally broke virat's sunglasses, he took the blame for me."
Surya shrugged. "That's what real ones do."
Ishan scoffed.
Hardik grinned. "You wish you had that kind of loyalty."
Shubman muttered, "He doesn't deserve it."
Ishan kicked him again.
Abhishek continued. "Next category-Most Chaotic. And the winner is..... Ishan and Siraj!"
Ishan jumped up in victory. "I'D LIKE TO THANK MYSELF-"
"Siraj isn't even here," Rohit pointed out.
"Because he's probably causing chaos somewhere else!" Ishan beamed. "I accept this award on behalf of my fellow menace."
Virat muttered, "That's the first thing I actually agree with."
"Okay," Abhishek continued, "next category-Most Useful. And the award goes to..... Virat and Rohit!"
Everyone nodded. That was fair.
Virat smirked. "Of course. Experience wins."
Rohit looked at Ishan. "See? This is what being responsible looks like."
Ishan faked a yawn. "Boring."
Abhishek smirked. "Next category-Most Useless. And the award goes to..... Ishan and Shubman!"
Ishan's jaw dropped. "WHAT?!"
Shubman snorted. "Wow. A true honor."
"WHY ARE YOU NOT ANGRY?!" Ishan shrieked.
"Because I knew this would happen," Shubman said, amused.
Virat chuckled. "I mean, you two literally started this competition just to give yourselves an award. That's peak uselessness."
Ishan groaned. "I FEEL SO BETRAYED."
Mayank grinned. "Oh, it gets better."
Abhishek grinned. "And now, for the final award-The Best Best Friends."
Ishan perked up. "This is it. This is our moment, Shubie-"
"And the award goes to..... Mayank and Abhishek!"
Silence.
Then-
"EXCUSE ME?!?"
Ishan shot up from his seat. "WHAT KIND OF SCAM-"
Mayank smirked, holding the trophy (which was just a plastic cup with "BFF" written on it). "Feels great to be appreciated."
Abhishek slung an arm around Mayank. "We'd like to thank our haters-"
"I AM THE HATER."
Rohit laughed. "See, this is what happens when you act overconfident."
Ishan whirled around. "Shubman, say something! We were robbed!"
Shubman, sipping his drink, shrugged. "Nah, they deserve it."
Ishan's betrayal hit Level 100.
"You-YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE MY PARTNER IN THIS!"
Shubman smirked, ruffling Ishan's hair. "You're my best friend, but even I know when we've lost."
Ishan pouted. "I hate all of you."
Virat clapped. "Great. See you next year."
And that was the first and last time the Best Friend Awards ever happened.
Because Ishan refused to ever let it happen again.
The End.