40

"I'm wondering why Meera didn't come to the office today. I quickly finished my work and went straight to Meera's house. No one was at Meera's house. I called her several times, but she didn't pick up.

Shahnaz took the blood samples to the hospital. Meera is sitting there lost in thought.

"So many people here are in tension."

Shahnaz held her hand and said,

"Let's go home."

She took Meera home and laid her on the bed. Shahnaz noticed that Meera was lying too close to the edge of the bed. She held Meera's waist and pulled her towards the center, Shahnaz was lost in her thoughts.

"It seems like she forgot to lock the door."

Just then, Naina arrived. Naina saw Shahnaz near Meera. Meera had closed her eyes.

"Has anyone come, Shahnaz?"

Shahnaz looked at Naina as she was leaving and said, "No one came. You just relax."

Naina stood outside the building, lost in thought.

"Shahnaz and Meera? I never even dreamed that Meera would deceive me. Is that why she was talking to me like that? So she could break up with me. Cheap Meera. She should've just said it."

I didn't say anything. My face was red with anger.

Naina opened the car door when suddenly a little girl grabbed onto her pants. She was about 4-5 years old. Naina saw her smiling face. The girl was laughing as she looked at Naina. Naina bent down towards the girl and said,

"Mom? Where's your mom?" (My anger seemed to disappear.)

Her mother came running and picked up the girl.

"Pari, I told you to stay here. Wait here." (She scolded the girl, then turned to Naina.) "It was my mistake, I went upstairs to get a water bottle."

"Upstairs? You know Shahnaz, she lives in your building."

"Yes, I know. She's my neighbor. There was a lot of noise last night, a girl came to meet Shahnaz."

"Hmm, I know, Meera must have come, she's my boss."

"She was saying something, I'll fix her attitude. There was a lot of noise." (I felt angry.) "Then doct..."

"Let it go. I have work, I have to go."

If she kept on talking, I felt like killing Meera. Jay called me. I went to meet Jay at his house.

"What happened? Are you upset?"

"Naina, Aahan can't get out of this problem because of you. You betrayed him. Did you ever think about what will happen to Aahan?" Jay said with so much anger. It was the first time I saw anger in Jay's eyes.

"Aahan broke up himself," I shouted back.

"Why did you do it? He knew. Meera likes you. You laughed. What did he gain? He truly loved you. If you were interested in Meera, why did you get into a relationship with Aahan?" Jay noticed regret in Naina's eyes.

"Maybe I won't be able to understand how this happened. But maybe that's why I feel like I'm being punished," Naina said.

"I could punish you, but I've come to request you. Meet Aahan, he's very upset," Jay said.

Naina immediately called Aahan. Aahan answered after two calls.

"Hi Naina," Aahan took a deep breath, then suddenly switched from a sad expression to a big smile.

"Where are you? Have you forgotten you have friends?" Naina asked.

"You forget, Naina, I'm always free."

"I want to meet you. I'll come to your place."

"No, Naina, we can't meet. I don't want to have any more problems. I don't want to meet anyone."

"Okay. But meet me for the last time, then I won't say anything," Naina said.

"Last time is fine," Aahan agreed.

Naina hung up the phone and said, "He's talking with a fake smile, he's definitely in trouble. Should I call Meera?"

"No, Naina."

"How about Lalita? Teena."

"You can tell them, but it would be better if you explain to him."

"I can't explain anything to her."

"Just tell her to be happy. Nothing else," Jay said with a broken smile.

"You told her that you love him."

"I couldn't tell him. He still loves you. Even if I hate it, I can't forget it, I can't become selfish."

Naina and Jay sat in the car.

Naina's phone is ringing, it's Shahnaz calling. Jay looked at Shahnaz's call on Naina's phone.

"Jay, you go first, talk to Aahan. I'll come later," Naina said.

"Naina, are you kidding me? He'll shoot me on sight, he doesn't even want to see me," Jay said.

"If something like that happens, I'll come," Naina said.

Summoning courage, Jay approached Aahan's door and rang the bell, invoking the name of God.

Meanwhile, Naina called Shahnaz back.

"Speak, Shahnaz," Naina said.

"Meera is at my place, she's unwell. The doctor has prescribed her 15-17 days of rest. Come and take her home," Shahnaz said.

"Don't play games with me, I know you're lying," I shouted.

Just then, Aahan opened the door. There was smoke in Aahan's house; he had smoked about 20-30 cigarettes and had a few beer bottles around him. He was sitting at the laptop, trying to complete his story. Aahan seemed barely conscious. He said to Jay, "Naina, you've come early. Come in, would you like to have something to drink?"

Jay became emotional. "Are you writing a story, Aahan?"

"Yes, it's almost complete. I thought of writing a story while I was in Thailand."

"Oh, so you found work there?"

"No, I applied a long time ago, my story got selected, and now I'm writing an episode for a web series. You won't believe it, it's a BL story."

"What about this ring?" (Jay noticed the ring on Aahan's finger.)

"Yes, Jay gave it to me. We're engaged."

"Where is Jay?"

"Jay? I don't know, he left."

Aahan's eyes filled with tears, then he asked, "Do you love Jay?"

"Naina, Naina, why do you ask so many questions? I'll order something."

When I entered, I saw Aahan's room. Aahan was giving some orders on the phone, and Jay asked Naina to remain silent.

I couldn't hold back and said to Aahan, "What's going on here?" I grabbed a broom and chased after Aahan. "Jay, catch him!"

Aahan started running.

"It seems like Naina has turned into two Naina," Aahan said.

Both Jay and I took Aahan to the bathroom. I told Jay to pour cold water on his head while I closed the bathroom door from outside to prevent Aahan from escaping. Naina turned on the fan to clear the smoke and saved the story on the laptop, then plugged it in to charge. She threw away the cigarettes and bottles.

Jay held Aahan from behind.

"Naina, you've gained a lot of weight, have you started going to the gym?" Aahan mocked.

"Shut up, Aahan, I'm Jay," Jay replied.

"Who's Jay?"

"Call him a junkie," Jay mocked. Jay, too, was soaking wet along with Aahan. When Aahan regained consciousness, he found Jay in his arms.

"Jay (wait for 3 second) is it you?"

"Yes, it's me," Jay said, resting his head on Aahan's shoulder.

"You've come back."

"I told you, I'll never leave. Even if you kick me out, I won't go."

Aahan started crying uncontrollably upon hearing this. Aahan sat down, and Jay sat beside him.

Jay said, "You love Naina, I have no problem with that. You can still stay with me, just be happy."

Aahan turned dramatically to Jay, his eyes ablaze with intensity. "Who on earth said that? Naina or me? No chance."

"What? There's another girl besides Naina?" Jay's eyebrows shot up in disbelief.

"Yep, there's this girl with cheeks like balloons and eyes that could rival a snake's. Tiny ones," Aahan growled, his frustration evident.

"Cheeks like balloons?" Jay repeated incredulously.

"Yeah, and she'd irritate me all day, calling me 'cutie cutie.' Now look at him, always calling my name like a lovesick fool."

"You?" Jay's breath caught in his throat. "You... love me?"

Aahan looked away, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "I'm feeling too bashful to admit it," he muttered, hiding his face.

Jay stood there, stunned, tears shimmering in his eyes.

"Come on, Jay, let's head out," Aahan said, his tone softer now. "I don't know when I'll gather the guts to say sorry, but I'm just glad you're back. Whenever you're up for it, I'll be right here. I kinda really need you, man."

"Naina handed towels to both of them, her eyes full of empathy." "Aahan, did you not even wash your clothes? When I went to take out a towel from your cupboard, the stench was unbearable," Naina said.

Jay started laughing upon hearing this. Aahan handed Jay some clothes and said, "Go change... (with a devilish smile) Babe."

Jay's jaw dropped, and he dropped the clothes from his hand. Naina tapped Jay on the back and said, "Babe?"

Jay changed and came out, then Aahan went inside to change.

The food arrived.

Aahan asked, "Naina, when did you arrive?"

"When you were setting fire to the room in your drunken state?"

"Alright, enough. I'm sorry. I lost my way. After the fight with Jay, I felt very lonely. It's only been a few days, but it felt like years. I realized I have to fight my own demons, but I couldn't bring myself to fight. Who would I call? Today, I finally got really drunk so I could call Jay, but when I came to my senses, it felt as if peace had come home with Jay."

Jay blushed and hid behind a pillow.

I smiled and said, "Jay, Jay, when are you two getting married?" I peeked out from behind the pillow.

"We're already engaged, Aahan has been wearing a ring. The moment I saw him for the first time, I felt like proposing to him right away. Are you talking about marriage? Aahan."

"What? No, no, Naina, that's not how it was with me. Living with Jay, he can make a good husband, the world's best friend, he's also hot and sexy, maybe in my case, I'm getting a rich husband, it's everyone's dream, and I'm getting just that," Aahan chuckled.

"Aahan, I need... a hug," Jay said, blushing and hesitating. His cheeks had changed color multiple times by now.

Aahan hugged Jay. Aahan could feel the warmth of Jay's body, and he felt a deep sense of peace. He closed his eyes. Jay said, "Aahan..." but Aahan had already fallen asleep. A deep smile adorned Aahan's face. Jay smiled back and hugged him, then fell asleep alongside him.

I thought to myself, "They're so cute together. When I saw Meera, my mind went blank. Her actions kept confusing me. I can't forget the feeling of holding her hand. Her cold hands that make me feel warm."

"Guys. Bye."

"Meera, babe, I'm coming to rescue you from the Bitch Shahnaz."