Sleep seemed far from our eyes. I could hear his steady breathing and feel his tense muscle. He wasn't able to rest. My hands moved towards his face, attempting to caress it. His stumble slightly inching my fingertips.

"You haven't slept..." I heard his hoarse deep voice which had only matured in years. That masculine voice could melt my heart, butterflies dancing in my stomach.

"Because you haven't," I expressed my concern. "What is it?" I inquired after a minute of silence.

I wasn't expecting a response. Normally, he ignored my interrogation. He kept things to himself. Sharing inner most thoughts or feeling, didn't came easily out of him. I always felt the need to hear, to listen. I wanted to be there for him as he was for me.

"Everything is a mess..." He whispered, softly. "I am feeling lost!" He continued, his grip on me tightened. "They are my family and I can't afford loosing any of them."

I could understand his worries. The fight was between his friends. Individuals he labelled as his family. Without whom he couldn't imagine his life. They were source of oxygen to him. Seeing them drifting apart was shattering him from inside. Yet he was expected to stay strong. The pillar of their friendship.

"They are just furious, they will get normal. They won't be able to stay away from eachother." I was attempting to convince him. To build hope in his devasted heart.

"Aarav is broken," Ehaan whispered. "I had seen those tears only once in my life when he had shared about his family, when he had opened up to me. I had never seen him crying after that." He paused for a minute, "that was the last time he grieved over his family. And today," he voice was soft, filled with sadness. "He was grieving about his friends."

I raised my head from his chest, staring at Ehaan with concern, worry. His dark brown orbs were staring at the white ceiling, blank. His face devoid of emotions. As if he was blocking those emotions from reaching him. He was stopping himself from feeling the pain.

"Ehaan ..." I grabbed his attention towards me. I couldn't allow him to use his defence mechanism. Suppressing the pain would built anger, frustration. Giving birth to arrogance, violence. Opting  psychology as my major had provided me to glimpse at underlying reason behind different personalities traits.

The more we despise ourself, the more we offer hatred, judgment to the world around us.

"Please let it go, keeping it within won't help." I was attempting to make him understand but he was adamant not to listen. Letting go of defence mechanism wasn't easy and forcing the individual would only result into more stubbornness. So, I allowed it to slide off.

The morning rays brought me back from my world of dream. Ehaan's grey walls was filled with light. I yawned, rubbing my orbs. I stared at the human sleeping beside me. A smile popping on my face. I loved him! I loved his mere presence. His presence lighten my heart, filled my grieving spirit with happiness.

My hands were craving to caress his face but his exhausted self halted my actions. I wasn't aware when he fall asleep. I should provide him with rest.

I shook my head as I slowly moved myself from the bed and walked out of the room. I needed to make something for the breakfast. We were getting late for the university and I wasn't going to allow him to bunk it. He was restricted for a week from the University. He had promised to concentrate on studies and I would look forward that he does.

As I moved into the kitchen, I got a glimpse of Savita bhabhi, I passed her a smile. "How are you, beta?" She asked in concern. "I am seeing you after a long."

"I am fine," I nodded. "How are you? And how is Rohan?" She nodded with a wide smile playing on her lips.

"He had started going to school." She patted my head in love. "All thanks to you," she was filled with admiration.

Rohan, his son had a deep enthusiasm to learn things but his parents financial condition was allowing him. So, I asked Ehaan to help him with the studies. I was happy that my small request could change someone's future.

I moved around the kitchen. The dark titles coordinating well with the dark counter. Ehaan had designed the entire mansion according to the dark theme. He loved everything, dark!

"What is today's special?" I inquired, glancing at her chopping items.

"Pasta?" She raised her brow in hesitation. "Baba, normally likes eating it." I nodded, he was never into healthy eating habits.

"Hey!" I heard an exclaimed feminine voice as I glanced at the soul. Niti walked downstairs wearing one of my night gown. It looked so unusual on her. Her personality couldn't fit under an individual who wore baby pink floral night gown. I pressed my lips tight not wanting her to glance at the smile forming on my face.

Her companion followed her. Their orbs staring at me for a minute longer. I frowned at their judgemental orbs. It was making me conscious. I normally, was comfortable roaming around the mansion. I treated it as my home but the two women staring at me was making me doubt my decision.

I had walked out of Ehaan's room in his shorts and his oversized grey shirt. I was aware what views were forming in their heads.  I lowered my head in embarrassment, trying to pull those awful thoughts away from my mind.

"Good morning," Pia sounded annoyed. "What is there for breakfast?" She was almost ordering bhabhi and I didn't admired the tone she was using, clearly indicating from her actions that she had superiority complex. She wore arrogance on her face.

"Pasta," I muttered in bhabhi's behalf. "Ehaan likes it," I added before she could open her mouth and complain about it.

Pia stared at me for a minute longer, "you might have mistaken." She pressed, "Ehaan don't adore junk food. He is more into healthy ones," she commented. I shut my mouth while I heard them giggling among themselves.

I ignored their comment as I walked towards the refrigerator to prepare my breakfast. I wasn't going to eat pasta early in the morning. I would go with sandwiches, something light and easy.

"Beta," Bhabhi commented on seeing me removing vegetables. "Just command, I will prepare whatever you want." She started at the bread in my hands. "Do you want your special sandwiches?" She inquired a beautiful smile playing on her pink lips.

I could feel Pia's and Niti's gaze on me but I ignored them as I continued with my work in the kitchen. Unlike Samaira or my other friends, I weren't gifted with a maid to help me in breakfast. Mostly mom used to prepare breakfast but lately, I had asked her not to. I could manage on my own! I didn't like troubling her early in the morning when I was gifted with hands and legs.

We heard numerous footsteps descending down. "Everyone are here?" Bhabhi asked getting curious. "Didi, didn't inform me about their visit. I would've prepared extra," she glanced at her quantity in concern.

"Not everyone are present," I attempted to assure her. "Only few of them." I passed her a smile.

"Hey! Guys!" Tarun smiled at us in enthusiasm. Almost forgetting the events of last night. Varun passed a fake smile as he grabbed a seat on the dinning table. Niti and Pia followed him.

I took my tray of sandwiches while Sumitra bhabhi served them pasta. "Ehaan?" Varun asked in concern.

"Sleeping..." I blinked my orbs in assurance. The only person concerned about him. Though new members were added to the group but they seemed distant. I doubted their loyalty for the group.

Varun nodded in understanding. Tarun's comment grabbed my attention from the crowd. "Are you wearing Ehaan's clothes?" Silence prevailed around us after that question. All eyes fixed on me.

Tarun was staring at me with a smirk. His smile had an underlying meaning and I wasn't liking the way he was staring at me. His gaze was making me uncomfortable. What was wrong with my dress?

"It's isn't..." Varun attempted to justify my actions.

"Oh! Come on!" Niti interrupted, "that's nothing new! The way she is walking around with those clothes. She does it often," she pressed. Niti was staring at me with new found curiosity. "I had thought of you to be innocent. Never thought..."

"Obviously, she will have to do it to keep Ehaan in her charm. Boys are after girl for just that," Pia commented, shaking her head in disbelief. "How could their case be any different?"

I was feeling humiliated with their choice of conversation. I lowered my head in embarrassment. My small, innocent action was taken in such a bad manner.

"They have never done it." Varun voiced it out, shutting their assumptions. "Don't take her innocent action in wrong direction. Not every relation is about lust." Varun voice was filled with annoyance. "Haven't you all done, enough?" He was yelling at them.

"What have we done?" Niti glanced at Varun in defense. "From past few days, everyone is blaming either of us. If you're so done with us. Why don't you simply ask us to leave? Why are we humiliated on frequent intervals?"

"Because if you had not crossed the boundaries we won't be dealing with conflict in our friendship." I had never seen Varun so furious but I was aware he could burn city in support of his friends.

"We aren't responsible for the conflicts. If they had decided to date or claim to love, they should have trust or be loyal. Either of them is lacking in one of the factor." Tarun pointed out, "hence the result."

"Those pictures didn't came out of nowhere?" Varun muttered in frustration. "I had seen her going through that difficult phase. She was dating him, man! She loved him. How could she be okay with such a random intimidate picture of him with her friend?" Varun was putting valid points forward. Defending Zara's actions.

The dinning table had got tense. People kept jumping into arguments.

"Are you claiming that Aarav cheated on her?" Niti interrupted the verbal battle taking place between Tarun and Varun. "Wasn't yesterday night enough of proof of his innocence?" There was a pure displeasure lacing in her voice. "He was totally broken!"

"I am not claiming anything!" Varun grumbled, "I am just saying one needs to know their limit." His orbs directed towards Pia. "There is a reason such rumors are spreading around."

"I hadn't crossed any limits!" Pia yelled in frustration. "Why my intentions are brought up, again and again? I hadn't come here to get humiliated or degraded." She was attempting to keep her voice calm, collected.

"I am not humiliating you, I am just..."

"Pia hadn't ever done a thing that allows you to point a finger on her character."

"I am not pointing fingers on her!" Varun fisted his hand on the table in annoyance. "I am just speaking the truth. If Ruhi was in that picture none would've voice a finger. Why? Because they have faith in her. If someone is having issues that means you are doing something wrong." Varun stated his opinion.

His words weren't entirely wrong. I had seen Pia around them. I had seen her closeness with Aarav. I might be old-mannered but I adored keeping boundaries with male species. I never was in such close proximity with Aarav or Varun even after knowing them for years. My reserved nature never allowed me to get that close around them.

"We can't blame Pia for Zara's lack of confidence in Aarav." Ehaan descended from the stairs. Annoyance visible on his face. "Zara's insecurities should be blamed for it. She should have trusted Aarav rather than those pictures."

"But Aarav shouldn't have constantly supported Pia infront of Zara. He even took her as date. How would she feels? Rather than trying to justify, reason things out. He just..." Ehaan didn't allow Varun to complete.

"Zara didn't provided Aarav with an opportunity to justify. She saw the pictures and she assumed." Ehaan had a bored expression, "she could share it with Anuj rather than clearing it out with Aarav." He paused for a minute as he grabbed a chair on the dining table. "I don't feel any fault in Aarav's actions. If someone is going to accuse him in the group of friends. If he would punch him and label him as cheater. He would react the way he did!"

"You had pointed a finger on me as well!" Varun voice turning heavy. "You had degraded me at each moments during our initial friendship. Everyone one of us had tolerated your arrogance, you sternness. Should we have fought back?" Varun remarked, narrowing his orbs on him. "Why should it always be us tolerating your rudeness? Just because you can't handle your past."

I was staring at the scene with my orbs enlarged in surprise. Varun had never behaved in such a manner! What was happening? My heart was beating loudly in anxiousness. Things were so fastly falling apart.

"Is this about last night?" Ehaan raised a brow, a smirk playing on his face. "Is it about the truth?"

"It is about the betrayal!" Varun hissed in displeasure. "Things which were meant for family not a piece of entertainment for a stupid game."

"You had came up with that stupid game." Ehaan argued, his orbs shooting daggers at Varun. "You wanted us to play it and when I was trying to add just a spice in it. Why should you have problem with it?" He took a sip from the glass.

"What if I had brought those phone calls?" Varun question, that fade off the smirk playing on Ehaan's face. His dark brown orbs glanced in my direction. I could feel the uneasiness passing through those chocolate brown orbs.

"This! That was the difference. You were dragging a personal matter into a stupid game which was planned to wipe difference between us." He groaned in annoyance. "None was taking the initiative so I had to!"

"When difference did it make?" Ehaan roared like a lion. "Are we back with eachother? Have things sorted out! Rather the matter got more complicated! What that a way to behave? Would you support Anuj on things he did? He was indirectly accusing Aarav. Pointing fingers at him, degrading him." Ehaan sighed, rubbing his face in frustration.

"I had kept myself away from this mess!" He groaned at the thought of it. "Couldn't I interrupted it? I could've! But some matters needs to be sorted between couple if you don't want the friendship to collapse." I could hear the frustration lying under his harsh words. "But Anuj had to act the cupid. The human that mends relationship. The relationship coach. Fuck!" He laughed, "he helped alot for the conflicts to settle."

Silence prevailed around us. Varun had nothing to argue on the topic. I didn't admired the way Ehaan was accusing Anuj but I shut my mouth seeing Ehaan's pissed mood. Taking a word out would end into disaster.

I concentrated on the plate before me. I wasn't anylonger in the mood of finishing my breakfast. I heard some curses from Varun before he walked out without sparing a glance at anyone of us.

He was hurt! And he deserves to be wounded by Ehaan's actions. Bringing something so private, so personal in a game was cruel. I wouldn't had appreciated such an action. The topic of breakup, the topic of Samaira was very sensitive for Varun. He wasn't finding it easy to move on from the loss of their beautiful relationship.

At times, I wondered if he loved her so much why he allowed her to go? Shouldn't love mean working hard to make it work? I shook my head as I stared at his retreating figure. I wish, I could help him. I could make Samaira understand but I still was unaware of the real reason behind their breakups. None of them had voice a word about it!

I was on the verge of getting up from the chair and follow Varun but a loud, authorative voice halted my action. "Eat your breakfast," he pressed. His voice stern, devoid of emotions. He had turned into a cruel monster. I glared at him than I glanced at the sandwich. I took it in my hand on listening to my stomach grumbling in hunger.

"Ehaan," Pia's voice filled in our ears. Pulling Ehaan's attention from me. "Thanks for supporting me over your friend." I peeped at her. A beautiful smile was playing on her lips. Ehaan's support hold importance to her. Those hazel orbs sparkling was an indicator of her satisfaction.

"You're my friend as well," Ehaan nodded at her.

"But the rest don't consider us as their friend," Tarun muttered sounding upset. "I never thought, they would share such wrong views about us."

"You're mistaken, they are just hurt." Ehaan mumbled, his orbs darting towards me. He was keeping an eye on me whether I was having breakfast or not.

"Aren't you going to have yours?" I pointed at the untouched plate before him.

"He don't like pasta," Pia interrupted sounding confident.

"I don't mind it," Ehaan shrugged off, taking a spoonful of cheesy pasta.

"Those are not healthy food habits." Pia groaned at him in disapproval. She was a health freak, her face was screaming it out. She had a well built figure, a slim one. A tall legs, perfect curves. A body any woman would dream of. She was defination of beauty! She reminded me so much of Mia.

"I had being saying the same from past few years." I glared at the spoon of pasta. "If I had known you would have this as breakfast every single day. I wouldn't had prepared it for you."

"You hadn't prepared it!" Niti exclaimed her confusion. "Wasn't it the maid, preparing the breakfast?" Niti glanced at Pia for confirmation. Pia gave a slight nod, staring at me for clarification.

"She isn't maid but a staff working and should be treated with respect." I couldn't hold my tongue back at their hostility towards the staff. Ehaan was staring at me in amusement.

"I wasn't trying to disrespect her," Niti opened her mouth to clear the misunderstanding.

"It's fine, Niti!" Ehaan brushed it off. "This is something prepared by Ruhi for me for the first time." He informed them, "so I like to start my day with a dish that originated from her." His orbs averted towards me, those dark brown orbs sparkling in adoration. "She is just concerned about my health." He winked at me in the end.

"You look different around her," commented Niti. "Not so arrogant, stern as you show to the world around." She paused for a minute, staring at both of us in adoration. "I still didn't knew about the love story."

"It had started with a glare." Commented Ehaan making me to glare at him. "See!" He pointed out, trying to suppress the smile forming on his lips. "She love passing me the glare." He laughed at the end while the others jointed him. I lowered my head in embarrassment.

I had pulled a pair of jeans and a trank top. It reached just below my ribs, stomach was visible.

"I found you more appealing in my clothes." Ehaan frowned glancing at my dress. "I miss that cute uniform on you." He pointed out.

"You might have forgotten, we aren't any longer studying in school. I am an adult!" I grinned as I announced it to him. I so badly wanted to be an adult.

His dark brown orbs dancing in amusement. As a child, I kept myself grounded. Not acting in the manner I wanted to and also supressing myself from expressing fully. At each minute in life, I had felt those judgemental orbs. Those faces which screamed that they found me weird at times some didn't even mind expressing it loud.

That was the reason I kept myself hidden, invisible. If I kept myself hidden, less people would glance at me. That would result in not feeling inferior about myself. I was tired of feeling inferior among a group of strangers as well as family. I hated visiting my relatives and I could never explain the reasons to my parents.

"Hey," I felt his fingers under my chin, forcing me to raise my orbs. "What's going on your stupid mind?" He inquired almost passing a glare at me.

"Nothing..." I pressed smile at him forcing my mind to brush those thoughts off. "It just the way you stare at me." I mumbled, our orbs locking with one another.

"And how does I stare at you?" He inquired, his brows raising in the question.

"As if you adore me."

"I do adore you."

"Even the silly things?" I stared at him in question. "Doesn't anything annoy you?"

He nodded, his hands wrapping around my waist. "There are various habits of yours that annoys me. Like not listening to me," he pointed out. "Acting stubborn," he glared. "And at times doing things on purpose." He mumbled as his hands caressed my exposed skin. "Like wearing this clothes!" He pointed at my exposed skin, stomach. "There is no need of wearing such revealing clothes to University."

"Everyone wears!" I argued, jerking his hands away from my stomach. "Others wear more revealing clothes." I was indirectly mentioning about Niti and Pia. "You don't have any problem with them?"

"They aren't my girlfriend to be annoyed with it. I don't care what they wear and what they show to the world." He groaned as he pulled me to his chest. "But I do care if someone glance at you with those lustful eyes. If they have a mere thought of touching you." He hissed in annoyance as his rough knuckles caressed my soft skin. "Things you make me feel, angel." He muttered joining our forehead together while I stared at him in pure adoration and love.

I was so fortunate to have him. To be loved by him. I had my share of insecurities, doubts about our relationship. We were two separate individuals, two different personalities. Our world was far apart yet the love he hold for me hadn't changed from past few years rather I had seen the growth.

Even when couples around us was crumbling apart, we stood firm yet the fear within me wouldn't subside. Fear of the unknown. Fear about the future that was to come!