Veni Pov:

I've been pretending like I was mad at this ridiculously super cute kid beside me but who can resist the charm of Bharat Raj Singh? the awesomest best friend in the whole freaking world! (His words, not mine).

"Stop pretending like you're mad at me! I just noticed a faint smile on your lips that would slip into a full blown smile at anytime moment from now" he said grinning like a buffoon.

Ignore him!

"Talk to me shorty pleaseeee" he begged using his nickname for me before pulling his super famous puppy face which I can't resist. He's practically kid by heart.

"You should've listened to me. Why is it so hard to follow my words at least once in a while?" I said smacking his head.

"Shorty! That hurts! Is this the way to treat your awesomest best friend in the whole world ?" He asked rubbing his head.

See I told you, they're not my words!

"The word Awesomest doesn't exist dumbo!" I said feigning annoyance.

"In the world of Bharat Raj Singh, everything is possible. And missy, as my best friend you should follow all those rules and stop hitting the Royal Highness in front of others" he said feigning arrogance.

"If you forgot Royal Highness of weirdos we're alone here on the empty road" I said gesturing to the now empty road.

"Royal Highness of weirdos? But last time you said 'crazies'? Stick to one Kingdom shorty I can't rule both the Kingdom's at a time. And we're not alone here, your good for nothing bro-in-law is watching us from the window right there" he said tipping his head towards the window where Arjun was standing.

"He must be there for some fresh air, weirdo. C'mon lets go. Aunty and Uncle must be waiting for us" I said gesturing to his two Wheeler. Avoiding the conversation about Arjun or Midhya .

*****

"I heard about Midhya, Veni, I'm sorry for your loss" his parents said at a time after our formal greetings. I smiled at them politely not knowing what to say. Bharat gave her mom a look and steered the conversation into lighter topics. I sent him a small smile of gratitude.

Like someone said no one can understand you, better than your best friend.

"Veni, we've been meaning to ask you...-his mom cleared throat- umm did you change your mind ?" she asked me not meeting Bharat's hard stare.

"Mom, I told you not to bring up this topic again. We're friends mom. Best friends not lovers" he said curtly. I cringed at the word of lovers. I patted his shoulder silently asking him to let me deal with his parents.

"Aunty, I know you're worried about us. You're worried of us getting hurt by our future life partners thinking they may take our friendship as something else" I said smiling at her from the look on her face Bharat realised that I am right.

"Mom, why didn't you tell me about your fears ?" He said squeezing her hand.

"We're friends Aunty, its like every other pure relationship. If you try get us married like you wish, what good happens in that forced relationship? What if one of us find our loved ones and couldn't do anything because we're struck in a loveless marriage? It kills both of us slowly because they couldn't do anything but to watch their loved ones go . I can't let this happen to Bharat, Aunty. I love him. As cliché as it sounds, its not the love you think... yes, we love each other, but we're not in love with each other" I said smiling sadly.

"Sorry Veni, she thought it was the best thing for you two. We don't have any other intentions. And you guys never bring anyone special to meet us. So, she thought you guys were struggling to confess your love and she wants to play cupid. She has been watching too many daily soaps recently" his dad said steering the very serious conversation into a joke.

"Bringing special one?" Bharat asked with a hint of hope.

I cleared my throat to gain their attention "Actually, I'm here for a reason Aunty, Uncle" I said nervously.

"What did he do now?" Aunty asked glaring at us "I know you both will not come to us if the problem was small. Tell me Veni what did he do now?".

"Please tell me he didn't do anything stupid" was Uncle's reaction.

It has been always like this, If one of us was in trouble we will have each other's back. It started in our 3rd grade when he got in to a fight just because a boy from 4th grade tried to bully me. He got into trouble but I never left his side even when our Principal asked me to leave. From that moment we vowed to be best friends forever. When his parents get to know about his fight, they tried to ground him. When I told them the entire story about Bharat's First Fight Adventures, they were mad at him for getting into a fight, at the same time happy for saving me from my bully. My dad patted his back saying 'Veni is your responsibility from now, I trust you with my daughter'.

I think that is the day our parents started dreaming about us falling in love and ask them for their acceptance for marriage. They're disappointed when we said a strict no to marriage a few years ago.

"Aunty, all this discussion is about us not falling for other people right?" She nodded "what if I say, Bharat found someone special?" I said closing my eyes knowing the volcano is about to erupt.

"Before you say anything mom, she's a nice girl. Trust me, you will love her" he said looking at me and asking my support.

"You like someone? Why didn't you tell us? For how long?" His dad demanded.

He looks like a deer caught in the headlights!