kaho Na Pyaar Hai

Starbucks & Sarcasm

Ariyana's POV

Since I couldn't sleep at all, I decided to leave for college early. It was 6 a.m. and Arjun has slept off on my bed. I got ready for college.

When I reached the door, I saw Mia and her friends sleeping on the couch drunk.
Maahir was sleeping between two girls.
Argh I just hate them so much!

I texted Ruhaan that I'm coming to his house.
Ruhaan is my best friend he has always been for me. I feel both of us understand each other's lives and the difficulties yet when we are with each other we almost never stop laughing. Never.

(In Ruhaan's house)

Third person pov

'Namastey bhabhi!' Said Ariyana.
Misha was getting Yash and Maira ready for school obviously they were not cooperating.
These kids! Can't let me have a good morning! Shouted Misha bhabhi.
Ariyana laughed and helped her getting the kids ready.

Ruhaan came down the stairs while wearing his jacket. The kids ran towards their chachu, Ruhaan picked both of them up and gave them kisses.

Misha hugs Ruhaan and Ariyana goodbye as she goes to drop the kids to school. 

Ruhaan looks at Ariyana and says, 'OHMYGOD! you look like a panda!'

'NO SHIT SHERLOCK, I DIDNT GET SLEEP LAST NIGHT' says Ariyana while pouting at Ruhaan.

Ruhaan teases her, 'Nor did I but fir bhi look at my face, I am santoor mommy'

Ariyana bursts out laughing at him 'Okayy rooh, sure'.

Ruhaan keeps his hands on her shoulder, 'Chal tujhe meri favourite coffee pilaata hun'

They go out of the house towards Starbucks.

Ariyana's POV

Ruhaan and I walked towards his car, and I couldn't help but yawn—like, a full-on sleepy panda yawn.

"Beta Ariyana, yeh kya haal bana rakha hai? So gaye the ya jagte raat bhar philosophical vichaar likhte rahe?" Ruhaan teased while starting the car.

"Mia ki party ko kaun samjhaye yeh 'philosophical vichaar' nahi hai... pure torture hai," I replied, resting my head against the window. "Aur tum? Tum toh santoor wali mummy ho na? Fir tumhe kyun neend nahi aayi?"

He smirked while driving. "Wahi purana haal, Ari. Sleep aur mera itna hi connection hai jitna math aur tera—door ka rishta."

"Waah! Mazak toh accha banaya tumne," I shot back sarcastically, rolling my eyes.

The car ride to Starbucks was filled with our usual bickering—his bad shayari, my never-ending rants about step-sibling chaos, and some genuinely cringeworthy jokes that we both laughed at anyway.

Third Person POV

They reached Starbucks and grabbed their coffees—Ruhaan's strong black coffee and Ariyana's caramel macchiato (extra sugar, of course). Finding a corner seat by the window, they settled in comfortably.

"Okay," Ruhaan said, taking a sip, "jab tum yeh coffee pi rahi hoti ho na, mujhe lagta hai tum diabetes ki taraf fast-track ho rahi ho."

Ariyana glared at him. "Tumhara black coffee dekhti hoon toh lagta hai ki tumhe khudse nafrat hai!"

They both burst out laughing, earning curious stares from the people around them. It didn't matter though—when Ruhaan and Ariyana were together, the world sort of faded away.

After a moment of silence, Ruhaan leaned back, watching Ariyana stir her coffee absentmindedly.

"Bata na, kab tak yeh torture jhelti rahegi? Kab move kar rahe ho tum dono?" he asked softly.

Ariyana sighed. "Bas, thoda aur time. Arjun ka school complete ho jaaye... fir dekhte hain. Pata hai na, papa ki taraf se support mil raha hai ab."

Ruhaan nodded. He knew how much Ariyana and Arjun had been through. And he respected her strength—never once did she let her brother feel like they were alone in the world.

"Tu tension mat le, Ari. Kya bolte hain woh?" he teased, nudging her elbow. "You're my Ironman, right?"

Ariyana laughed lightly. "Tu bhi Arjun ke jokes sunne lag gaya hai?"

"Nahi, woh toh bas main tujhe yaad dila raha hoon ki tu duniya ke saare storms survive kar sakti hai," Ruhaan replied sincerely.

The warmth in his voice caught Ariyana off guard, but she quickly covered it with a joke. "Haan, aur tum ho mera sidekick Spider-Man. Nahi?"

Ruhaan threw a tissue at her. "Chup kar! Sidekick nahi banna aapka, madam."

Ruhaan's POV

I watched Ariyana laughing as she wiped coffee off her hand. She always found a way to mask her struggles behind that smile—but I could see it. I could see the weight she carried, the exhaustion in her eyes.

A part of me wanted to pull her out of that mess, tell her it would all be okay—but I knew she'd never allow anyone to fight her battles. That's what made her her.

"Okay, Starbucks wali therapy ho gayi?" I asked, finishing my coffee.

"Haan baba," she replied, stretching. "Chal, ab mujhe college chhod de."

We got back into the car, and as I started driving, she turned towards me suddenly. "Ruhaan, mujhe na tujhse ek baat poochni hai."

"Haan, bol."

"Tu kabhi itna patient kaise rehta hai? Matlab... tera bhi toh stress hai, na?"

For a second, I didn't know what to say. "Pata nahi, Ari. Shuru mein toh mushkil tha. Lekin jab life sab kuch le jati hai na, toh aap chhoti cheezon mein khushi dhoondhna seekh jaate ho."

Ariyana looked at me thoughtfully and whispered, "Waah, aap kitne samajhdar ho Gaye hain, Mr. Santoor Mommy."

"Bas bas, ab mujhe emotional mat car," I shot back, smiling.

We pulled up in front of her college. Before getting out, she leaned back in and said, "Thank you, Ruhaan. Tu na Hota toh life bohot boring hoti."

I smiled, watching her disappear into the crowd. Ari, tumhare bina meri life mein light nahi hoti.