THE TRIP

CHAP 12

Aarohi's POV

Riya was still talking about Aarav and asking for my advice about what she should do, but I was like, how can I give her advice when my own life is so confused. I mean, just imagine what would it be when your crush is your Best Friend. Yes, it's not like shy people don't have crush and the best example for that is me, I had a huge crush on a guy since the time we entered our new society.

It was when I was 12 years old. My dad decided that we should shift into a bigger apartment. When we shifted there, on the very first day during evening, while I was standing in the gallery with my mom, I saw that there were two boys and three girls playing badminton. I just love badminton like anything and as it is said that moms know their children the best, my mom immediately told me to go down and play with them. I was not like those who can make friends easily. But finally I accepted going down when my brother finally said that he would come with me. I thought that it's not compulsory to talk with them, I can just go down and sit there.

So I went down, and as decided I sat in the swing and that was when I realized that my brother was not with me. When I searched for him nearby, I found that he had already made friends with the children of his age and was playing with them.

When I made my way to the swing again, I saw that one of the guy among the others playing badminton was walking towards me.

"Hey" he said and that was when I noticed how handsome he was. With chocolate coloured soft looking hair, dark black eyes and perfect shape. He probably was 3 to 4 years elder than me. He had a heart melting smile which showed his perfect white teeth.

"Ummm, hi", I said with much of hesitation.

"You seem new here. Have you come recently ? I mean, me and those friends of mine play badminton daily and I never saw you here before.", he asked.

"Well, yes.... we have just shifted here today." I said.

"Great, you would really enjoy here a lot because the people here are really awesome and helpful and the children too. Ohh shit.. how stupid of me. I have not even introduced myself yet. I am Vivan."

"I am Aarohi, and that's my brother Abhimanyu." I said showing him my brother who was playing with his friends.

"So Aarohi, you like badminton ?"

"Well, yes I love playing badminton."

"That's great, so would you like to play badminton with us ?"

"Are you sure ? I mean, did you ask them ?" I asked.

"Oh, them. Don't worry about them. They won't mind." He said still smiling. I just don't understand how can someone smile continuously.

"Okay then." I said, I just can't resist if someone ask me to play badminton.

And then he introduced me to the others. One of the girl was his sister, she was the same age of mine and her name was Ishika. The others were Vijay, Saniya and Sneha. Initially I thought that they won't like if I play with them, but I was wrong. They were all very nice and friendly and instantly I became friends with all of them.

So after that I would go and play with them daily and slowly I started liking Vivan. He would always be there for me. And then it went to me having crush on him and that too a huge one. But I never found the courage to tell him. So I remained friends with him and slowly we became Best Friends who would share anything and everything with each other. We were in the same school but he was three years elder than me. So when I was in 6th grade he was in 9th. I thought he might not talk with me in school, but there I was wrong again, he used to talk with me during recess and even introduced me to his group.

As time passed, we became bestest friends. But everything changed when he passed 10th standard and went to college. One day he told me that he had a Girlfriend and that broke my heart to pieces. I know that it was not his mistake because of which I was hurt, he didn't even know what I felt for him.

And later I stopped talking with him because everytime I saw him with her I felt more and more bad. He then tried talking with me a lot later, convincing me, trying all that he can but I just didn't talk with him. After a couple of months he gave up. I later found that he broke up with his girlfriend. Even then I couldn't face him. We used to meet each and everyday but never talked.

And this was exactly why I just can't give her advice. I mean I lost my Bestest friend because of this whole love thing. And if I give her any advice, it might get worse then it already was. After talking a bit more, she told me to wait for her and said she would be back in minute.

When she went, after a minute or two, I felt someone tap my shoulder. When I turned around I met a face I didn't wanted to see at all and that was only because I liked it a lot.

There was Vivan standing there with that heart melting smile of his. And just as I was about to leave, he held my hand and brought me a little closer to him.

"Aarohi, I missed you so so so much. Why did you stop talking with me ?" he asked with a hurt expression, the smile leaving his face.

"Let's just not talk about this Vivan." I said freeing myself from his hold but again he held my hand and this time more tight while bringing me closer to him and his other hand moved to my waist.

"Wait Aarohi, don't run away from me again Aarohi. Listen to me first. When you stopped talking with me, I felt really bad. You were my Bestest friend. I felt that my other half was gone when you left me. Why did you do this to me ?"

"Vivan, I was only your bestest friend, not your Girlfriend. I was not your other half, she was." I said.

"Yes Aarohi, I had a girlfriend. But when you lest me I tried talking with you, but you just won't talk back. I messaged you, called you and did everything I could to get you back. And yes Aarohi, though she was my girlfriend, she was not you. I was not the same Vivan when I was with her. I was not happy. I missed you. And so I broke up with her."

"I know that you broke up with her."

"But you don't know the reason Aarohi. It was because, when you left me, that was when I realized I liked you. Actually not the past, I still like you. It is the present Aarohi. I still like you Aarohi, much more than a friend."

"Don't do this Vivan. I know it's not true. Don't play pranks in me. I know your si..." But before I could complete my sentence, I felt his lips on mine kissing me softly. But the thing that shocked me was that I kissed him back.

Just when I kissed him, he started kissing me passionately, his both hands now on my waist, pulling me more and more closer to him. Soon my hands found their way to his shoulders, then to his neck and then in his soft hairs.

We then parted due to lack of oxygen and stared into each other's eyes. Just then I heard someone clear their throat, so I turned around to find Aarav standing there with a shocked look on his handsome face. When I saw him I blushed. Vivan still had his one hand on my waist. And I was still close to him.

I then introduced them to each other.
"Vivan, this is Aarav. I meat him here on my very first day. He is really nice and my Best Friend. And Aarav, this is Vivan. My school friend. Well, actually, my school bestest friends."