“Listen! Aaram se calmly baat krna. Take your time. Ek do din le le. And when you're ready just talk to him. I'll talk Kartik away jisse tu aaram se baat kr ske. And mai bhi Kartik se breakup kr lungi na officially.”

Shreya nodded again and looked at her.

“Tu pakka meri wajah se breakup nhi kr rhi na?”

“Tu ye sab nhi bhi bolti mai tab bhi kuch time mai breakup kr leti. I and him don't have any chemistry. You'll look good with him though.”

She teased again and Shreya went red again.

Shreya did think about the whole thing. Mansi kept it a surprise for Kartik. Rohit was thinking of ways to get out of the relationship because it suffocated him. He had to smile at her like a boyfriend so that it doesn't hurt her feelings when he loves her best friend.

Shreya finally decided to talk everything out with Rohit and in the break time, Mansi dragged Kartik out with her making Rohit fume again.

“Umm…Rohit?”

He heard Shreya's soft voice and hummed absentmindedly seeing Mansi and Kartik disappear in the corner of the corridor.

“Tumse kuch baat krni thi. About us.”

She whispered the last two words softly and Rohit closed his eyes.

“Shreya! About that…mai-”

He started but stopped midway. What if she wanted to say something to him and he broke her heart talking about breakup. Maybe he should let her speak first. He didn't want Mansi hating him because he hurt her best friend.

“Nevermind! What were you saying?”

“Haan wo mai…I don't think I want to do this anymore.”

She said fidgeting with her fingers and looked at her lap. 

“Do what?”

“This relationship. I know I was the one who asked you to get into it but I…I don't think…we were meant to be together.”

Rohit looked at her with hopeful eyes and asked in the calmest tone he could. Although his thoughts were haywire.

“Are you breaking up with me?”

“I'm sorry! I didn't want to hurt you or your feelings but mai tumhe ek aise relationship mai nhi rakhna chahti jisme mai apna 100% nhi de skti. It's unfair to you.”

She quickly clarified and Rohit heaved a sigh of relief.

“Hey! Relax! You didn't hurt me. Infact mai khud tumse bhut dino se yahi baat krna chah raha tha. I'm glad you feel the same.”

Shreya smiled knowing he didn't feel bad and she didn't do anything wrong.

“Waise, how did you realise this suddenly?”

He asked and Shreya bit her lip thinking about how to tell him that she had started liking his best friend.

“Wo…umm….all these months we have been dating, if felt like namesake. I mean I never felt that we had any chemistry or connection. And umm…those two months of practice with Kartik made me feel like he was the one who was actually texting me. You know wo flirty texts. I felt a strong connection with him. I know it's lame and wrong at so many levels but -”

“It isn't. Having feelings for someone isn't wrong. Galat hota agar tum mere peeche se usse pursue krti. But you clarified everything to me instead of acting like a coward and going behind my back. It is not wrong.”

Shreya smiled and Rohit finally felt like he could breathe. He was happy he didn't even have yo do anything and she herself realised.

“But what are you going to do about it now? Kartik is dating your best friend.”

He said with a pissed tone.

“Oh no! They're not serious. In fact, Mansi abhi usse breakup hi kr rhi hai.”

And his mood was instantly better.

“Wow! You guys are fast!”

She giggled and he chuckled. He had always felt comfortable being her friend only. All this dating scenario made him too uncomfortable.

On the other hand, Kartik couldn't believe what Mansi had told him.

“You're joking!”

“I'm not! Usne khud bola mujhse. She likes you. She said she feels like you are more of the Rohit who texted her. In fact, she is breaking up with Rohit right now. Just like we are.”

Kartik kept processing the information for a minute before getting into an empty class and yelling in happiness. Mansi laughed. Her own happiness at the ninth cloud.

Things were slowly getting back on track. As how they should have been from the very beginning. Kartik had finally proposed Shreya who had accepted with a beautiful blush.

He had also told Rohit about the whole fake dating scene.

Kartik and Shreya were in the Dean's office, who was congratulating them for their prize in the dance competition.

“You were fake dating Kartik.”

Rohit commented as soon as the professor left the classroom, making her look at him surprised.

“Kartik told you?”

Rohit nodded and asked.

“Why did you fake date him?”

“He didn't tell you that? To make Shreya realise that she likes Kartik.”

Rohit shook his head and turned to her side. She suddenly felt flustered seeing all his attention on her.

“That's the reason he dated you. Why did you fake date him? You were the one who proposed, right? That's what he said.”

How could Mansi forget about it. She nonetheless cleared her throat and made up an excuse.

“Because I had seen Kartik's feelings for Shreya and I knew he'd keep her happier.”

Rohit chuckled and looked at her amused. When Kartik had told him the truth, he kept thinking about the reason why she could suggest such a thing. And he had a doubt he wanted to confirm. Looking at her nervousness, it felt like he was right.

“Unnhnn? Then what about me? Meri feelings? I was the one Shreya liked initially right? Why did you think I couldn't keep her happy?”

Mansi got tonguetied and looked down not knowing how to answer.

“You're right about one thing though. Kartik would keep her happier. The happiest.”

Rohit said with a smile seeing the two walking in the corridor now. Kartik had planned to tell her the truth about the texts.

“He was the one who was texting her by the way. My id but his words and feelings nonetheless.”

She looked at him wide eyed and he chuckled.

“Shreya ko pata hai?”

“He's telling her now.”

Mansi looked at the two with a whiplash. Shreya was looking at Kartik shocked while he looked nervous. She then lowered her head and muttered something which made him look at her surprised. He then pulled her into his arms and Mansi smiled seeing the two.

“How could you think I'd text her like that?”

She looked at Rohit hearing his soft voice. She frowned and he continued.

“How could I text anyone like that let alone the best friend of the girl I've loved since I've known her.”

Mansi froze. It took her a minute to process what best friend and what girl he was talking about.

She opened her mouth but nothing came out and so she dumbly pointed towards herself. He chuckled and nodded.

“Yes! You, silly! I love you! Not Shreya! But everything got so messed up and I didn't want to hurt Shreya's innocent heart. Because I knew it'll hurt you eventually and I can't let that happen. I love you Mansi.”

She kept looking at him, not able to believe it was real.

“Hey? Say something!”

“This is real?”

“It is!”

He said with a smile and her lower lip wobbled before she hugged his torso and hid her face in his chest.

“I love you too. I love you! I love you! I love you!”

He kissed her forehead and hugged her tighter.

Time passed by in a blur. Mansi was the happiest she had ever been. The man she had always dreamt of, was her boyfriend. 

It was their graduation and all of them were ready in their robes and hats. Their names were called on for getting their degrees one by one while the others woohooed loudly.

The highlight of the day for them was the photo session. They got their solos clicked, got group pictures, bestie pictures and even got couple pictures.

They got some super cute pictures which found their way on their homescreens.

Kartik's new homescreen was a picture of him bending down with his eyes closed, a beautiful grin on his face as Shreya kissed his cheek as a red hue covered her cheeks.

Shreya's homescreen was a picture where she stood which her hand in front of her, a cute smile on her face, a red hue covering her right cheek while Kartik kissed her left cheek as he held her from behind. 

Their height difference made the picture even more cute.

Rohit's homescreen was a cute picture of him spinning Mansi around while she giggled, hiding her face in his shoulder. The shot came out perfect.

Mansi’s homescreen was a picture of her holding Rohit's collar and him looking flustered at her move as their faces remain at an inch’s distance from each other.

Their story doesn't end here. This was the beginning of their love. Because it's never the end, it's always the beginning of something new❤️.