𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐃𝐨𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 - 𝐒2

20 | Let's Get Married

"I still don't get it why the fuck was Shubh with them? And Ari, what the hell is your situation with that lawyer? She seemed to know you—but she was weird for passing you those looks," Samar complains, questions, and expresses all at once as he slaps the dining table of Ari's apartment, taking a seat across from her on the table.

"Relax," Aviral growls at Samar sitting on his head chair across from Anna. "Let her breathe."

"Ease down, guys. Everything is fine. It was just an investigation and nothing is happening—" Arranya is cut off mid sentence when the doorbell to her apartment rings in the hall.

"I'll check," Aviral taps on Arranya's hand, getting up to check who's outside while Ari, Samar and Anna stay put on their seats. Anna slumps, banging her head on the table to exert some frustration.

"This is all too messed up, Ari. I swear I'd have legit died if I was in your place," Anna hushes a weary exhale towards Ari as she rests her chin on her forearms on the table.

But a cough breaks the tranquil ambiance on the table. All three heads turn in the direction of the main door where stands Shubh ahead of an evidently upset Aviral.

He doesn't say anything until all of three of them stand up, and Samar takes a leap towards him to almost throw a punch at his face.

"Why the fuck do you show up now? To ask for forgiveness? Just freaking leave, understand? You don't deserve to be called a friend, Shubh." Samar shakes his head, halting a feet before him as he steps back to the table, slapping the top of it with both his palms to let his anger out.

"Why have you come?" Arranya queries, looking straight in Shubh's orbs.

"I didn't mind seeing Janki, Vansh or anyone else there, but why you, Shubh? Why you?" her heartbeat quickens with her desperate cry for answers from the man who stood motionless, and guilty amongst the four friends.

"I didn't know he was taking me to the hospital until we reached there. And I didn't know he called police to get you arrested, Arranya." Shubh's fists clenches as he doesn't look up from his feet.

"Trust me," a minute later when he looks back at Arranya, his bloodshot, tearful eyes says it all. "I could never betray you for him. Not at least when I know what he did to you in the past, Ari, trust me." He doesn't move, but his words melt her heart (only a little, though), and earns sighs from others in the room.

"Arranya," Shubh's expressions finally mould in regret. "Trust me," but his voice cracks by the end of his sentence.

"Why should I?" Ari challenges, stepping ahead of Samar to talk face to face with Shubh. "Huh? Why should I? You could have walked to me when you saw what was happening, right? You had time. And even if you didn't have time, why did you need time or any perfect moment to come to me and say this there whatever you're saying right now to me?"

Her words pierce through his heart, tensing his jaw and muscles in all over his body. Because he questioned himself the same before showing up here. He had the same doubt, and he had fought himself with his question before he chose to courageously accept his mistake, and came here to apologize.

"I'll accept whatever decision you'll take. I'm ready to do anything to save this friendship, Arranya. I accept I made a mistake. I accept I became partial and numb when it came to choosing between two best friends from childhood, but I swear—" He takes a step closer, but maintains the safe distance between them.

"I swear just because I stood next to him didn't mean I was with him. I told him I'll never be able to trust him again and I'm utterly disappointed in whatever he did to you. But I know this doesn't count as an excuse so I'm ready to do whatever it takes to seek your apology, but please, give me a chance." He steadily bends a little to hold her palms in his.