Just Friends

CHAPTER 42

"Sometimes we need someone to simply be there... Not to fix anything or do anything in particular, but to just let us feel we are supported and cared for." 

- UNKNOWN

^^^

"What is troubling you?" Harshad asked, on finding a moment alone with Kiara. They were standing out of the ice cream parlor.

Kiara looked from her chocolate cone, her eyes inquiring in question. "It isn't hidden that something is bothering you, Kiara." Harshad muttered, making Kiara's eyes widen in surprise.

"There isn't anything like that..." she avoided eye contact with him. Her voice turned into a quiet murmur.

"You can't even lie properly. Why do you even attempt it?" Harshad muttered, holding her elbow and forcing her to stare him in his eyes. "What is it?" He urged, "it is something serious because you weren't even able to fake a content face in front of us."

Kiara kept staring into Harshad orbs. From when had he started understanding her to that level?

"Kiara, you know... you can trust me." His voice was soft and Kiara felt an inner need to express her pain but she held herself. It was the darkest part of her past, she wasn't aware if she revealed it, would he hate her? Would he feel that she was disgusting? Would he stare at her differently?

"I..." Kiara stammered, "I... can't..." he was nodding his head, assuring her to continue. "Tell... you..." she concluded, her orbs staring straight into his. "Don't take me wrong," Kiara felt a need to justify seeing disappointment lapping his spirit. "I trust you, Harshad. But unwrapping this thing will take me back to that undesirable memories. I don't want to drive into it but I want to forget it, escape from it."

Harshad plastered a smile and gave a slight nod. "Fine then let's concentrate on making some beautiful memories..." he grinned at her making her have a sweet smile.

"What are you even?" Kiara shook her head in disbelief. She licked the cream that was going to melt down from her cone when Harshad muttered into her ears.

"Your best friend..." the smile was quite visible on his face when he pecked her cheek making her eyes widen in horror.

___

"Don't you have manners?" Harshad faked a scowl while Kiara stared at him in innocence. "You aren't even inviting your best friend to your home."

Kiara narrowed her eyes at him. "Don't you know asking for an invitation is considered unpleasant?"

"And not inviting your friend is rude as well. Next time if I miss you, rather than wasting my time outside your house I can simply jump into one of these balconies." Harshad pointed out the two balconies staring at them.

"Don't you dare!" Kiara pointed an index finger at him.

"If it means so much to you, I will love to take the risk." He winked and Kiara whined in frustration.

"Why do you annoy me so much?"

Harshad chuckled listening to her frustrated self. "I had answered it before. It provides me peace," he was smiling at her making her more annoyed. "You look the most adorable person when you're annoyed."

"Was that meant to be a compliment?"

"Do you think, I will compliment you?"

"Ugh!" Kiara groaned, "just forget it!" Kiara grabbed her purse, "why do I even waste my time with you?" She was going to get out of the passenger seat when Harshad grabbed her wrist, taking the purse from her hand.