*Pia Pov*
Next day I woke up with someone shaking me. I groaned and opened my eyes to see Arthi with a very panic face trying to wake me up.
“What happened?” I asked rubbing my eyes.
“We are getting late Pia. Come on get up.” She replied and got down from the bed.
“Arthi! Why did we decide to have a movie night yesterday?” I asked her ofcourse after rolling my eyes.
“Because yesterday was your birthday.” She replied looking at me like I am crazy.
“There is another reason dear just think.” I said and closed my eyes to sleep.
“Oh right! Today is Sunday right.” I heard her saying but with a little sad voice.
I opened my eyes to see a frown on her face. “Why are you so sad?” I asked her sitting.
“I can’t rag anyone today. That’s so unfair.” She replied and sat beside me.
“Seriously Arthi?” I asked laughing. In return she glared at me but eventually laughed.
“Look at Nikki she is sleeping so peacefully.” Arthi said looking beside me.
I smirked and looked at Arthi. She immediately understood and we both got down from the bed dragging the pillows with us. We silently stood beside Nikki and started hitting her at a time. She opened her eyes directly blazing at us and picked the pillow on which she is resting her head.
And that’s how our pillow fight started with us screaming at the top of our lungs. Suddenly some small stone came out of nowhere and hit me on my head. I took it in my hands and felt another stone hitting me. This time I saw it coming through the blinds.
“Guys wait!” I called them and showed them the stones. While doing it another stone came and hit me.
“Oh great! We are under the attack of the stones.” Nikki said laughing.
I opened the blinds to see Aman holding a stone and was ready to throw in this direction. I looked at him in shock.
“What are you doing?” I asked him confused.
“Oh! I just wanted to tell you to stop the noises.” He replied releasing the stone from his hand.
“You are throwing them for that?” saying this Arthi looked at him disbelief.
“What? Didn’t you saw the movies where hero throws the stone at heroine room’s window to say something stupid? While watching them you girls just swoon at that but when I do it to tell the important thing you guys are acting like I am mad.” He said glaring at us.
“Well in those movies those windows have the glass. But we don’t Aman. Oh I forgot how you could know there is glass for your window right.” I said sarcasm dripping with each word.
“Whatever! Just don’t make noises. You all are disturbing my handsome sleep.” He said rolling his eyes.
“Handsome sleep?” Nikki asked amazed.
“Yeah if for girls it is ‘Beautiful sleep’ then for boys it should be ‘Handsome sleep’. You guys are so slow.” Saying this he closed the blinds and we couldn’t help but crack at that statement.
We turned to move away but we heard him asking “How is my gift?”
I turned towards him and asked “What gift?”
“Oh I forgot to give you your gifts.” Arthi said and went outside my room. After few minutes she returned with few gifts in her hands.
“Tell me later how it is.” He said and again closed the blinds.
I searched for his gift and found a small scroll with his name on it. I was about to take it but Nikki beat me and took it away.
“Give it Nikki.” I said glaring at her. But she teased me and ran away leaving my room with Arthi following her. I ran behind them shouting them to just give it to me.
We ran around the house with me following them. They teased me laughing and I just begged them to give it to me.
Then we heard my Dad’s voice making us stop in our tracks. “What is happening here?” He asked with so force that we three kind of gulped.
He is sweet father and all but he can be very scary sometimes. I saw him being scary to some of the clients at the business parties many times.
“I am asking something here. What are you hiding Nikhila? Give it to me.” He said and reluctantly she gave it to him.
He saw the scroll without opening it and walked near me with that serious expression. After coming near me he smiled and gave it to me. We three looked at him with wide eyes and I hugged him immediately.
“Uncle! That’s not fair.” Nikki said looking at us.
“Sorry for scaring you three.” He said laughing.
“You should try in bollywood Uncle I am sure you would get best roles.” Arthi said smiling.
He shook his head and went inside the kitchen. I teased them and rushed towards my room.
I calmly sat on the bed and opened the scroll to see the beautiful painting of the sky with moon and few stars near an ocean. It is very beautiful.
“Bhai really knows what makes you happy. Our ‘Paman’ ship is moving very fast.” Arthi said to Nikki.
I rolled my eyes and placed the painting on my table to frame it later. These things just make me like you more Aman. I have a small feeling that you too like me.
*Aman Pov*
I entered the living room to see both Mom and Dad talking to each other. I went near them and sat on the chair infront of them.
“Dad! Yesterday my VISA came.” I said looking at him.
“What? But you didn’t tell us.” Mom said frowning.
“I thought you guys will be sad if you know it yesterday itself and it will also spoil your moods.” I said looking at them.
“So when are you going to leave?” Dad asked.
“In two days and I already looked for my arrangements to live in U.S.” I replied.
“What? You are going to U.S?” We three heard Arthi saying. We turned to see her standing near the entrance door.
We actually didn’t told her as we know she will get upset from the day I decided itself and will try her best to change my mind.
“Arthi..” I started to say but she cut me off and asked “Why are you going there?”
“For post-graduation only. After that I will come back.” I replied going near her.
“When are you leaving?” she asked another question.
“In two days.” I replied and she just stood there.
“Congratulations Man.” Dinesh said coming inside along with Sushant and Rajeev.
“Mom! I am going to stay at Pia’s house the whole day.” Saying this Arthi turned around and left calmly.
“Is something wrong?” Sushant asked worriedly.
“Let’s go to my room.” I replied and we all went inside my room.
After explaining everything Sushant hit me on my head and said “You should have told her before Aman.”
“I know ok. I will talk to her when she will come back from Pia’s house.” I said looking at him.
“Speaking about Pia, what do you think how will she react?” Rajeev asked looking at the blinds.
“I don’t know! But I think this distance will also help her to forget me completely and move forward.” I replied.
Sushant rolled his eyes and moved away looking at the VISA and the certificates which I placed on the study table.
*Pia Pov*
Nikki and I got ready after Arthi so that she can go and inform Aunty that she is going to stay here. When we were waiting for her, she returned with tears falling from her eyes.
“Arthi! What happened?” I asked and made her sit down on the bed.
“He.. he is going away.” She replied in between her cries.
“Who Arthi?” I asked her confused.
“Bhai! Bhai is going away to U.S for further studies.” Saying this she lay down and slept off after few minutes.
I continued to look at her in stun. What the hell just happened? Is it true?
“Are you ok?” Nikki asked with concern.
“Yeah! I think she will sleep for some time. Let’s finish our project by that time.” I replied and went near the table only to see the painting there.
I shook my head and moved it away. We both started working on our project. I am working on it correctly but inside I am having so many questions forming.
But why am I thinking this much? It is not like I love him right? I just like him. Then I got another thought which I said out loud.
“I think this distance will actually give me a view about my feelings towards him. Maybe he is not the one for me?” I said frowning.
“Are you sure?” Nikki asked.
“Yeah! I think it’s perfect that I will get a chance to find out my actual main feelings.” I replied smiling.
“But it is sad that Arthi is hurt.” I added looking at Arthi’s sleeping form.
Nikki nodded and we both continued to do our work. We both thought she will wake up after sometime but she didn’t until evening that too because she got hungry.
After eating the lunch at that time, the first words she said are “You need to tell Bhai that you like him.”
“What?” I asked laughing.
“Yeah! Come on just do it now. He will not be here for two years.” She replied.
Then I explained what I am thinking about this situation with her protests in the middle but she finally accepted my decision.
We just sat and talked generally until dinner. Nikki and I tried to make Arthi understand why he is doing this.
Finally she did after we had our dinner. As we three are not getting sleep we decided to sit near the window.
We opened the blinds and sat there looking outside talking about Arthi’s famous ragging. We told her what we went through in our college.
Then we heard Aman calling Arthi. We turned to see Aman leaning on the window along with his friends.
“Hey guys!” I said greeting his friends to which they replied polietely.
“Arthi! Are you coming here?” Aman asked looking at her.
“Tell him that I will come there tomorrow.” Arthi mumbled beside me.
I glared at her and turned towards Aman saying “She will come tomorrow morning.”
His face just fell and sighed. He must be feeling so sad that Arthi is not happy with this.
“Hey! The painting is beautiful. Thank you so much.” I said smiling a little which he returned.
“Yeah Bhai! It is very good.” Arthi said making him smile more.
“So Aman! Going to U.S but didn’t told anyone of us?” I playfully asked him.
“Yeah! I don’t want to totally but it is good for my career. And also the things will fall into right places if I go there.” He said looking at me.
“Sorry? Didn’t get you?” I asked him frowning.
“Nothing! So tell me any quote on Moon.” He said changing the topic.
“Ok this is said by some ‘Vera Nazarian’. Which I read somewhere so don’t ask me where.” I said laughing.
“Sure.” Aman said laughing back along with everyone.
“When hope is fleeting, stop for a moment and visualize, in the sky of the silver, the crescent of a lavender moon. Imagine it –delicate, slim, precise, like a paper-thin slice from a cabochon jewel. It may not be very useful but it is beautiful. And sometimes it is enough.”I said smiling looking at the Moon.
“Wow! Every time after hearing you say these quotes I want to read them too. But the way you say them feeling the emotion actually makes them more beautiful.” Sushant said smiling.
“You are way too kind with the words Sush.” I said smiling.
“Sush?” Aman and Arthi asked at the same time.
“Yeah! She gave me that nick name last week. I protested my best but she is not listening to me.” Sushant said glaring at me playfully.
“Yeah, yeah! Some tiny little protest you had done that day.” I said rolling my eyes and then we both laughed.
“When did this happen?” Arthi asked.
“I told you right that I went to a handicrafts exhibition. I met him there and we both even had lunch together. He is such a funny guy.” I said laughing.
“Uhmm… ok you guys go to sleep. You have college tomorrow right. Good night!” saying this Aman closed the blinds.
“Weird!” I muttered and we three decided to sleep as it is really getting late.
*Pia Pov*“So he is not coming for this year’s holidays?” Nikki asked sitting beside me near the window.“No!” I snapped at her and looked outside. I don’t know why they just keep on talking about him for the past two days when I am trying my best to tell myself that I can get over him.“Pia! What happened? Why are you behaving like this whenever we take his name?” Arthi asked and I turned to see concern written all over her face.“I am tired Arthi.” I replied sighing.“What are you talking about?” She asked confused.“I am tired of telling myself that whatever I felt for Aman can just disappear with this distance for sure. This whole year I didn’t saw him or talked to him but his memories took it as their job and just revolve around my head all the time.” I replied frowning.“So does this means what we are thinking?” Arthi asked excitingly along with Nikki.“Yes! I have fallen for him that too very badly. I am done fighting with this feeling.” I replied smiling at th
*Pia Pov*“Finally!” I and Nikki said at the same time looking at the certificates in our hands. We are finally the graduates and left the college after looking around for one last time.“I will stay at your house Pia. I am still emotional that we will not meet every day.” Nikki said looking sadly at me.“Don’t think about later and get sad Nikki. Think about now that you are a graduate and that is very good thing.” I said smiling.“Whatever Miss positive!” she said rolling her eyes when we got inside the bus.“Miss Positive?” I asked her confused.“Yeah! You are way too much positive in this situation than the remaining.” She replied looking at me.“You are just negative. I mean we will meet each other frequently right so there is no reason to cry.” I said.“Anyway there is another reason that I am happy.” I added smiling.“I know that reason. Arthi told me that Aman is going to come this weekend.” She said and I can see the teasing in her eyes.“Nope! Don’t star
*Pia Pov*“Shh… Pia! Don’t cry please.” Nikki said sitting beside me on my bed.“Then.. what else.. should I do?” I asked looking at her between my sobs.“He is not worth of these tears Pia.” She replied.“I should have not fallen for him and should have come out of the crush way back. This is all my fault.” I said and more tears started to flow.“No! It is mine and Arthi’s fault as we were on back of you to find your actual feelings and all. We shouldn’t have and Arthi just stepped out of line than me.” She said scowling.“I don’t want to be angry on anyone. I just want to cry and forget this.” I said lying down.“Well looks like that is not happening as I saw you are crying for more than one hour.” We heard Sushant saying from my room door.“What are you doing here?” I asked him sitting up.“Are you angry at me Pia?” he asked frowning and sat infront of me. “Ofcourse I am. You all know that I like him all these years but you didn’t say anything in these two ye
*Sushant Pov*The way Pia told her answer just got struck to all of us. When she turned to go away we didn’t saw her face but her voice was still ringing in our ears.Nikhila and Arthi followed her after few minutes and then Jaykar’s decided to go home as it is getting really late.“Guys! You all stay in our home for today.” Aunty said and left Pia’s house.Aman followed them but before leaving with them I went to the Pia’s room and immediately informed her that I will meet her later. Then I left her home following Aman.When we reached his room we were all silent and sat on the chairs calmly. Aman started pacing around that too with a big frown on his face.“I know I was harsh on her. But is my decision wrong?” Aman asked looking at us.“Don’t worry Aman. You are totally right.” Dinesh replied patting his shoulder.I rolled my eyes and said “Yeah Dinesh! He is totally right.”They both frowned as each word I said is dripping with tons of sarcasm. I can’t lie to him just because he is
*Arthi Pov*I got ready as soon as I can even though it is just 7am. Today it is very important day for me as I am going to give my first presentation to an important client.I got downstairs and heard the door bell. I opened the door to see Shushant arrived correctly on time.“Hey! I am almost ready. Just wait for two minutes I will go and bring my bag.” Saying this I started going near my bag on the couch.“The meeting is cancelled for today Arthi.” He said following me.“What?” I asked him shocked because I was not expecting that.“Yeah! We have to go next week. I know you will be disappointed that’s why I came here to inform you directly.” He said flopping himself on the couch.I sighed and sat infront of him saying “No! I am not disappointed but I was just nervous from yesterday thinking about my presentation.”“How dare you to feel nervous when you are working for me for the past one year?” He asked glaring at me. I couldn’t help but laugh and he followed my su
*Sushant Pov*“Really? I can’t believe this.” I said to Arthi on the phone.“Yeah! He actually went to Kolkata to meet Pia. And then he got to know that she has a boy friend so now he accepted to marry any girl Dad and Mom chose for him.” Arthi said in one breath.“I am worried for him as he didn’t look like he is happy at all. I don’t want to do anything stupid again so I called you.” She added when I didn’t say anything.“Don’t worry! I will talk to him.” I said but there was smile evident on my face.After that lying incident she is staying away completely from all these. If she wants to do anything she just asks me and I am very happy to be her guide.She is sweet one and loves everyone near her. She is even talented as she proved in my company. I am asking her everytime to go a join in her brother’s company but she is not listening to me.After hanging up I drifted off into sleep as I need to talk to him before he does anything stupid.Next day I went to his house and entered his
*Pia Pov*I entered the company talking to our sponsor with Nikki following me. Immediately when I put the step inside mostly everyone went silent and there are some hushed whispers.When we got inside the elevator I didn’t missed the glares from everyone. I rolled my eyes and continued to talk. While Nikki chuckled from beside me.“Yeah! We are completely ready for tomorrow’s show. There will be no mistakes and everyone will love our work. We assure you.” After talking to him I hanged up and glared at the phone.“We need to have a immediate talk with Mr.Prakash.” I said pressing the top floor button.“Poor him!” Nikki said and I turned to see her controlling her laugh.“I am sure you will enjoy the show Nikki.” I said and stepped out of the elevator when the doors opened.I opened the door of his cabin but not before knocking on it. He looked up hearing the sound of closing door and smiled at us.“Pia! Come on sit down. We need to discuss about tomorrow’s show.”
*Arthi Pov*I looked at the Moon leaning against the car door. I remember the times when we all friends just sit and gaze at it.Pia just used to say something every time we sat like that. But these three years surely changed everything in everybody’s life. Mainly this year is far worse than the before years.Will it be back to normal in any near future? I asked myself and I really don’t have any answer for that question.I turned towards my right side to see my Fiancée driving the car in full concentration. I smiled remembering the way he proposed to me two months back. I never thought he can be so angry and also beat someone like that.When my Mom started to search for grooms for my marriage, he started to talk very little to me and that too only about the company.I met so many but I never felt even a little to think about them. But two months back when I met one he started to misbehave with me. I don’t know from where Sushant came but he just came and beat the hell out of that guy