She nodded and tears filled her eyes. She sniffed and hugged him.

"You're making me cry."

She cried and hid her face in his neck and he chuckled in amusement.

"Are you on your period?"

She looked at him and nodded.

"Tujhe kaise pata?"

"You're too emotional today."

He said with a chuckle and ruffled her hair making her pout and snuggle into him.

"You're so warm."

She whispered and he smiled.

"You always say that."

A few days later, Saanvi was thinking about her behavior on the day Aarav rejected her. She face palmed realizing that had indeed overreacted.

She smiled thinking how Sanchit comforted her. And then she recalled all their moments together.

The way he's always been there for her, his unwavering support, and his subtle yet caring gestures.

She loved the bond she shared with him. Pure, unadulterated. Like she could confide in him. Always. Like she could trust him to hold her if she walked blindly.

He had always held her when she needed a shoulder to cry on. Offered his warmth and care when she felt low. They have always been like that. Since the time she had remembered, she and Sanchit had been the backbone for each other.

A sudden thought of some other women, maybe his future wife or girlfriend sharing a bond, closer than her, with him irked her. Can best friends feel jealous of girlfriends? Maybe!

Because she didn't like the idea of any other woman close to Sanchit the way she was. Not even a wife. Was she crazy? Definitely! But it was probably a best friend's jealousy. She had heard that it was real and existed.

But then, her mind went to the kiss they shared all those years back. It was a faint memory but she remembered how good it felt. How good he felt.

And imagining someone else feeling the kiss. Someone else enjoying being touched so intimately by Sanchit pinched her more. This could not be just best friend's jealousy now, could it?

On one hand, Saanvi started to see Sanchit in a new light, Sanchit, on the other hand decided to distance himself a bit, believing that's the best way to cope with his unrequited love.

He thinks he might start losing the feelings which have been growing a lot if he starts avoiding her and focusing on other things. She anyway would never reciprocate the romantic feelings he felt for her, so it was better that he guards his heart.

He starts avoiding her calls and texts that she sends between his work, and immerses himself in work and other activities.

Saanvi has started to sense the change and feels a growing sense of loss and confusion. She misses Sanchit's presence and begins to realize how much he means to her.

"Itna kaha busy hai tu? Bandi wandi bana li kya? Calls nhi uthata, message ka reply nhi krta. Ho kya gaya hai?"

She asked on one of their usual meetups. Sanchit shrugged and sipped his coffee.

"Abhi bani nhi hai. Ban jaayegi lekin. Aadat daal le abhi se. Share krna padega mujhe."

He said teasing her and she felt her stomach twist.

"Tu...like karta hai kisi ko?"

Sanchit looked into her eyes and leaned closer. He smiled before nodding and saying.

"Karta toh hu. Bhut jyada pasand krta hu."

Her smile had completely disappeared.

"Tune kabhi bataya nhi."

She asked in a low voice.

"Abhi tak mujhe bhi realise nhi hua tha."

"Is it someone I know?"

"Ummhmm."

He nodded again while having another sip and she felt even more jealous. Seeing him with someone she knew sounded even more difficult.

"Toh ab tu mujhe ignore krega? Girlfriend aa gyi toh mai best friend nhi rahi kya?"

He chuckled at her jealous tone and pinched her cheeks.

"Abhi girlfriend aayi nhi hai. Par yes jab aayegi toh wo bhi important hogi na. Now, would you want your boyfriend to give more attention to some other female than you?"

She shook her head and he smiled.

"Toh phir meri girlfriend bhi nhi chahegi na ki mai kisi aur ko jyada importance du usse. Tu important hamesha rahegi lekin wo jyada hogi na."

He wasn't wrong. Then why did it hurt? She did not want him to give attention and love someone or anyone other than her. Wait! Love? She must be going mad thinking about Sanchit romantically.

Soft, ambient music played on her phone as Saanvi curled up on the couch, flipping through an old photo album filled with pictures of her and Sanchit over the years.

Her parents had a lot of albums with her pictures and since she and Sanchit have been best friends since she had remembered, they were always together. They had so many albums with her and Sanchit's pictures.

Saanvi's eyes linger on a photo of her and Sanchit laughing at a festival, their faces glowing with happiness. She can't help but smile, remembering how he had won a stuffed toy for her at one of the game stalls. Her fingers trace the outline of Sanchit's face in the photo, and a sudden wave of emotion washes over her.

She sets the album aside and gazes out the window, her mind drifting back to all the moments they've shared—his comforting presence during her heartbreak over Aarav, their late-night conversations, and the way he always seemed to know what to say to make her feel better.

Their steamy moments all those years back and the way he touched her, kissed her. As if she was all his and he was claiming his rights on her, her body, her heart and her soul.

She remembered his words from their last meet-up. How he would give more attention to someone else. She didn't want that. She wanted him all for herself. She knew she was being selfish.

A realization starts to dawn on her. It's like pieces of a puzzle finally coming together. Saanvi had always thought of Sanchit as her best friend, her rock, but now she sees him in a different light.

She thinks back to the times she'd seen a flash of something more in his eyes, something she had ignored or brushed aside. She always considered it him remembering about the kiss and feeling awkward. But what if it wasn't that? What if he actually felt something for her? Something more than just friendship.

She remembers how he's been distant lately, and a pang of guilt hits her. Could it be that she's been so focused on her own feelings that she overlooked his? 

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