True Friend

Akash had always been envious of the famous five. Ram Kapoor, Brinda, Adi, Kunal and Vikrant were inseparable from their college days. He envied their friendship and he wanted to be part of their gang desperately, but it was never meant to be even Vedika, Ram's girlfriend was more of an outsider amongst them.

So it hadn't been a surprise to Akash when Ram didn't get married to Vedika. He assumed it must be because Vedika was fed up with the gang and decided to break it off.

His intelligent wife though claims it was pure jealousy from Akash's side that makes him find reasons to look down on the five of them. It was the reason she used as she dragged him to Vikrant's wedding.

Even his well counter argument to his wife, that they ignored his invite to attend their wedding fell on her deaf ears because his wife and the bride are acquaintances. His wife was her regular and loyal customer.

Akash knew her loyalty was more due to the fact he loves cupcakes. So in a way he was to be blamed for spending his day off at a wedding.

When it was time to greet the groom and bride at the reception Vikrant didn't even recognise Akash, when they studied together in the same class for four years in college.

Ram Kapoor did seem to recognise him, but called him Arun instead. Akash knew he got a habit of mixing names but the man never forgets a face easily. Maybe that was the reason he was successful businessman.

Akash could never understand him either. He was so different from him, Ran always makes everyone laugh around him and doesn't take anything seriously. Even now he was trying to be funny with his jokes that no one laughed except one person in the wedding hall. So it wasn't a surprise to Akash that he was still single, given his lifestyle.

"I do envy that you are the only one of us free from marriage " Akash made small talk and his wife shushed him so fast he assumed that he made a tactical error.

Then she dragged him away and clued him on the fact he was married and is trying to get back with his ex wife.

"It is everywhere in the news Akash. How can you not know it?" his wife asked him surprised that he wasn't aware about the famous love story of Ram Kapoor.

Then he found Ram with his family and he had to admit that it was such a cute family moment as he played with his daughter and the one who actually laughed at his not funny joke was standing beside them, who he assumed was Ram's ex wife.

Akash wanted to apologise for the mistake, but Ram was busy with his family. So decided to do it later. By the time the reception was winding up. Akash realised everyone around him was more drunk than ever because Vikrant was suddenly beside him and even remembered him.

The groom began to talk to Akash as if they were best friend and even dragged him to the table where four of them except Ram were seated already to drink together.

Akash knew his younger self would have been delighted to be included in this moment. And if he had to admit even his present self considered it an accomplishment until everyone started talking with each other.

In the next fifteen minutes Akash become privy to the entire story of Ram Kapoor and his ex-wife. The earlier jealousy he felt about Ram vanished as he realised that Ram lost so much in his life.

"I have a confession to make" Vikrant spoke up and then proceeded to shock Akash with the truth he had kept from Ram because his wife asked it of him.

"I know it too. But I think Priya, is right and Ram would only  remember about Shivi, if Priya and Pihu were around. So I had decided to keep it a secret as well " Brinda spoke up next as she began to cry.

While Adi and Kunal each comforted their friends and not getting outraged at them for hiding everything from Ram.

"I understand Bri, please don't cry. We are Ram's friend, but we can't interfere in his family matter. We always knew Nandini aunty never really cared for Ram, but we couldn't say it to him because he would only break our friendship. We can only be there to support him" Adi spoke up as if it justified their reasons.

"Yeah Vikrant. Even with Vedika, we knew she is with Ram for her money now and left him because he had no money back then. But we couldn't tell that to Ram because he was hopelessly in love back then. So how can we tell him about Priya's truth now. " Kunal comforted Vikrant by his understanding as he patted a drunk Vikrant.

But Akash wasn't comforted by the four idiots. He didn't know if they are acting like this because they are drunk or it was the reality of their friendship.

The envy he felt about their friendship turned into pity for Ram. Whose friends couldn't even protect his interests, but instead kept justifying their reasons.

Akash had no such reasons. Ram Kapoor may not even remember his name, but he doesn't deserve to remain clueless about his own kid.

So he did what his best friends couldn't do for him. He went and found Ram Kapoor at the wedding venue. He told Ram Kapoor the entire truth he overheard and walked away.

"I don't believe you" Ram Kapoor responded back once Akash finished telling him the truth.

"I just told you, what I overheard. Why don't you ask your friends when they get sober for the truth. If you can't believe me, it is fine. But you should find the truth on your own because those around you aren't going to tell you anything on their own" Akash answered back and walked away leaving a confused Ram Kapoor.

Akash didn't care if Ram break his friendship with him, because there was no friendship to begin with but as someone who knew him for four years. Akash believed that his friends were wrong to keep him in the dark about his own life in fear of their friendship.

A true friend would have risked his anger or even alienation to better his friend's life and not remain quiet about it. So that is what Akash did for Ram Kapoor, maybe not as a friend but an acquaintance who wanted the best for him.

P.S :" The End. Let me know your thoughts and feedbacks. Hit the votes if you liked it "

Juanita Reid.