Bade Sapne

◇ Part 2 ◇

Shubman's POV

The quiet of the apartment felt too loud, too oppressive. I sat on the edge of the couch, my fingers tapping rhythmically on the armrest, trying to focus on something-anything-other than the mess going on in my head. Abhishek was sprawled out on the other couch, scrolling through his phone, oblivious to the storm brewing inside me.

I shouldn't have said it-what I'd told Abhi that night. Confessing that I loved Vira had been reckless, stupid even. I hadn't meant for anyone to know, and now here I was, stuck in this web of feelings that I couldn't untangle.

I shot a glance at Abhishek, who had finally looked up from his phone, looking at me with confusion plastered on his face.

"You're overthinking it again, aren't you?" he said, raising an eyebrow. "Bro, this isn't that deep. You told me you love her, and now you're acting like it's the end of the world."

"It is the end of the world," I muttered, my voice low. "She's with Ishan."

He sat up, his expression turning more serious. "Toh? I get it-he's your friend. But you can't keep pretending you're okay with all this. You have to figure it out, Shub."

I scoffed, sinking deeper into the couch. "I don't know, man," I admitted. "I thought I could just move on, ignore it, but every time I see her with him... it kills me inside."

Before Abhishek could reply, my head snapped towards him, as a thought flew through my head. "Am I a bad person, Abhi?"

"Kyun?"

"Homewrecker..."

Abhishek stared at me for a moment, like he was weighing how to respond. He put down his phone, shifting forward on the couch.

"Nahi, tu bura nahi hai," he finally said, his voice softer. "Lekin yeh sab... it's messy, bro. You're in love with someone who's with your best friend. But... it's not your fault. Love can creep up on anyone without them realising."

"Tu kab se therapist hua, re?"

He chuckled.

I ran a hand through my hair, frustrated. "I just... I don't know how to look at him anymore without feeling guilty. It's like every time I'm around them, I'm walking on eggshells, pretending like nothing's wrong."

"I sense that there's a 'but' coming."

"But that's the thing! I'm pretending. Coz every. Single. Fucking. Thing. Is going wrong. I-" I paused, trying to formulate my thoughts.

"I need her, Abhi, I need her. I LOVE her, I can't live without seeing her beautiful face and now I've ruined my chances with her and now she hates me and now even if they break up she'd never even consider me because I was a complete dickhead to her!"

"Are you done yet?"

I glared at him. "Yeah, I am now."

"Tu meri baat sun lo. Go talk to her, yaar."

"Yeah! Go talk to her. Let's play that out right now. 'Hi Vira.' 'Hi Shubman.' 'Im sorry that I was a total dickhead but guess what? I'm so deeply in love with you that I have fucking dreams about us getting married!'"

"No how about-"

"No that doesn't work? OK, let's try again. Hi Vira. Hi Shubman. Sorry for being a complete dickhead, but I also love you so why don't we make this stupid thing even MORE complicated??"

"Shub, you REALLY need to calm down."

"Abhi, I'm in love with my best friend's girlfriend! How the FUCK do you expect me to calm down?"