Just Friends!

Sept 22, 11.30 PM:

"It pinches me so hard to see you suffering all alone, I wanted to be with you in your tough time. But since you are not letting me in, I won't bother you anymore, take care" –Yami's last text to Arjun after her several attempts of not leaving him alone.

He responded instantly, "I know you want to be with me like a true friend, but I can't drag you in this mud pit. Thank you for all the support, you too take care (with a heart)" & that left Yami teary eyed!! She knew the situation is serious & was praying for his wellbeing. But she was not sure if he will ever come back to her, or even if he comes back, will it be that smooth how it used to be? With that doubt in mind, she was preparing herself for the worst.

Yami & Arjun are two "(Accidently turned) friends" or maybe some divine thing led to their friendship. They knew each other from before but were never really friends, never met each other. Misunderstandings/fights usually separate people or create distance but for them it was totally opposite. They became "Friends" after a "Misunderstanding", and with every subsequent "Fight" their friendship was getting "Stronger".

Sometimes two people want to be with each other but maybe the situation & surrounding is so adverse that it creates a lot of hurdles for them! That's what happened with Yami & Arjun. They "Unfriended" each other from social media with "Heavy heart", thinking "Out of sight = Out of mind". But destiny had some other plans. 

 

Sept 25, 12.30 PM:

Yami's phone was ringing & the name flashed as 'Arjun'. 

"I'm sorry, I'm a duffer!!!"- Arjun said as soon as she answered the call. 

"First tell me, how are you? Are you okay?" (In a concerning tone) – Yami asked in return. (As pure as it can be 😊)

Arjun "Explained" his situation & Yami "Expressed" her concern throughout the call. And then that point came where Yami asked, "Are we friends again? Or do you want some more time?"

"You are also a duffer" he replied. "It's quite obvious, hence I called you". And finally, that "Smile" flashed in her cheeks that she got her friend back. But she knew the mud pit that Arjun is in. A lot of love & care was needed for Arjun to slowly come out of that mess. He also knew this time he has to be more understanding with her so that this pure bond that they have, remains intact!!

3 months of regular calls, texts, fights but still sticking to each other without even seeing/meeting each other. From just 2 "Acquaintances" to their "Go- to person" it was nothing sort of a roller coaster ride to them.

 

Dec 25, 11.30 am:

Then the day came where they "Face-timed" each other for the "First time" to "Apparently" show the "Sea view" that Arjun gets from his home.

"SEA" was just an excuse, the main reason behind the face time was "SHE"!!! 

As soon as Yami answered that video call, Arjun couldn't stop smiling. It was the first time they were seeing each other, that "Butterfly" was there not just in "Stomach" but "Everywhere"! They were talking with that "Smile" in face (from one cheek to another) throughout.

Yes, they are "Just friends"!!!
 

 

Dec 26, 11 am:

"I am coming over to your city day after tomorrow. Wanna meet?" Arjun texted & further added, "I want to spend an entire day with you from morning to night, so please spare that full day for me".

"But, but , but… suddenly? Why didn't you inform beforehand? Why at this last moment? what will I tell to my mom? See, I can meet you but for 2-3 hrs at max"  she replied angrily

"Either meet me for the entire day or let's not meet at all" - he emphasized.

"Okay okay listen to me, don't cancel I'll try my best but can't guarantee". Even she wanted to meet him and didn't want to cancel.

 

Dec 27, 12.30 pm:

They both were excited for their first meet, started planning where all to go, what to eat and all that. Everything was going rosy rosy but then there comes a twist in the tale!! 

Sudden last moment family gathering came out at Yami's place exactly on the same day when she was supposed to meet Arjun. She knew she can't cancel family commitments so she tried explaining her situation to Arjun if he can postpone their plan.

"I can't postpone tomorrow's plan as I have to fly back day after tomorrow. So, if we don't meet tomorrow, it's not possible for me to plan any soon. Let's cancel then"- he replied furiously. Yami tried explaining but deep down she also knew it will be very tough for her to cancel the family gathering, else she will be in deep trouble. All of this was happening just an evening before their meeting.

Yami was just thinking of an excuse how can she dodge the gathering and meet Arjun. But as they say "Where there is a will, there's a way". Somehow, after making excuses and telling 100s of lies she finally confirmed Arjun to meet for the next day at midnight –

Dec 28, 00.18 am:

"Arjun, you don't know what all I had to go through today, just because of you. Come tomorrow & I'll beat you up!" She texted, while baking his favorite brownie for him.

"Okay beat me, but at least you'll meet me (with a heart). Good night, see you tomorrow!" he replied with a smile on his face.

Yami got up early in the morning in excitement while Arjun couldn't sleep the entire night.

 

Dec 28, 12.45 pm:

"I'll be reaching there in 5 mins, stuck in traffic" Yami texted. "I've already reached, waiting for you" Arjun replied. His eyes were stuck at the door, looking for Yami. Knowing she will be here in no time. 

Yami entered and her eyes were looking for Arjun. 

"Arjun, where are you? I can't see you. Can you see me?" she called & asked.

"You are wearing a red & looking like a Santa Claus" (Arjun already had his eyes on Yami and silently "Enjoying" that scene how she's trying to look for him!)

"Santa??? Am I looking that fat or that old???" She asked in a scary tone.

Arjun laughed & said "it's Christmas so red means Santa to me!!"

When their eyes finally caught each other, they both were in smile and started walking towards each other. They both were wearing masks but could see each other smiling just through the eyes. That "Eye contact" with "Smile" for good half a minute, followed by that much awaited "Big tight hug". "Finally, this meeting"- Yami said & Arjun felt (that emotion), while hugging.

"Come let's go, we are already late". Arjun hold Yami's hands and that touch made butterflies fly in stomach for Yami.

They were talking, laughing, enjoying the food but couldn't keep their eyes off from each other even for a minute. He was looking at her smile, her thin eyelinered eyes, her hair - how she was fixing it, whenever the wind was there and how she was getting irritated with it. How she was crying that she has put on weight, which Arjun was unable to figure out though!

 "Can't you see, my cheeks are getting fatty? Yami stood up and said "Now see me properly, I am becoming a bull day by day".

"I am anyways noticing you" he silently said, smiled & thought how can one be this cute..!!

She was also noticing his tattoo, his "Sparkled Black" eyes, his smile - how his cheeks spread & dimples flashed when he laughs and she was totally in love with his dimples. Arjun was clicking her pictures how she eats, how she smiles, her irritated face, how she ties her hair, her every expression- basically every moment he would want to look back and keep as memories.

In a very candid moment, Yami made him eat food with her hands and those butterflies now came into Arjun's stomach. Yami noticed he was smiling & his dimples turned red. She was also enjoying every second of that day with him.

They went for a long walk, talking & talking but didn't leave each other's hand. For a very brief moment when Yami hold her bag in hand and because of that Arjun couldn't hold her hands, he noticed that & waited for some time thinking she would take off her bag from hand but when that didn't happen, Arjun said (very cutely) "hey, take off your bag to your other hand na". Yami smiled and instantly shifted her bag.

They sat on a park and sharing how their life is getting problematic day by day but also assured to stick to each other in times of need - "We had already given up on each other, tried keeping each other's path away several times but destiny made us come together every single time." Arjun said.

"I think meeting you and having each other as friends was god's will, let's not give up anymore. Whatever it is, let's face it together" Yami replied while putting her head on his shoulder & Arjun could feel that warmth (Such a picture-perfect moment) 

With that, they were heading towards home and thinking 30 mins more and this date will end…

 

Dec 28, 9 pm:

Finally, when Arjun dropped Yami at her doorstep, she surprised Arjun with her handmade brownies. "Hey, you shouldn't have bothered this much" he said.

"Oh please! just shut up & take it" she replied "Authoritatively"

He smiled and was just keeping it in his bag and Yami planted a "Kiss" quickly in his cheeks. Arjun was just puzzled for few seconds thinking what just happened!!

When he finally realized, he couldn't stop blushing and we all know when a man blush what it is…. Yami was just enjoying seeing him blushing like anything. They hugged and thanked each other for that entire day.

A lot was in the air, a lot can be felt yet unsaid…

 

 

Dec 28, 11 pm:

Yami's whatsapp notification: 61 new msgs from Arjun

The first 60 msg was- her & their pictures that he took. She saw how Arjun tried capturing all the moments beautifully

1 other msg was: Missing you already (with a sad face)!!

"Missing you too (with a heart)" – she replied and thinking when will this "Piglet" accept his feelings & say to her  

 

Dec 29, 1 pm:

Arjun boarded the flight. He closed his eyes, reclined, smiled & was remembering, yesterday this time he was with Yami and how beautiful the last day was for him.

He still couldn't confess his feelings to Yami fearing he might loose on the friendship also. But he knew and was sure for what he has for her. He started planning for next meet, maybe then he gets that courage, and maybe then, the unsaid gets said….

A very pure and selfless friendship which was not supposed to even start or not supposed to survive has come to this beautiful point where they are just waiting for each other to confess. 

If you have "Willingness" to make it work, it will definitely work out. Giving up is easy but sticking to each other is real love.

Yes, they are "JUST FRIENDS"!!

                                                                                                                                           (To be continued…)