"Just friends"

Arjun didn't know what changed overnight. Rather he knew what had changed but hated to accept it. Sunaina, the love his life is how he mockingly called her after getting drunk, today stood in front of him. He was born to help. And it was Sunaina. It just got more complicated, burdening and his heart just reached out to her. It was more instinctively than he thought. Worst still he thought he had forgotten her but it all came hitting back. He had to keep his composure. 


His chance meeting with Ananya in the kitchen, when he came to keep the glass, was one of the most awkward ones and he didn't know how to combat that. Neither did she. She asked him if she should prepare some quick bite like nachos and some dip or the sorts as Sunaina looked really weak and tired. Arjun did have a feeling she is combating lot of emotions at various levels but he wasn't in the right frame of mind today which made the situation even more difficult. He nodded a no to her question and asked her to sleep. Sunaina would sleep in his room and he'll just stay with her. Ananya agreed and went into her room. She wanted to ask Arjun to sleep with her while Sunaina could have Arjun's room. But then she felt Sunaina should have company for tonight. One moment one sentence would have saved them 3 years of their lifetime.


When she woke up as a habit she entered Arjun's room. She saw Sunaina cuddle into him and Arjun had fallen off to sleep resting his back to bed-rest. His hands were lost in her hair like they were in Ananya's that night. Tears welled up her eyes and she fought them back, turned and left his room! She got ready and left for office.

Its when the door banged Arjun stirred. He stared at the clock... 9.30 A.M. He was surprised; Ananya didn't come to wake him up and who banged the door? He got up and went to Anaya's room startled to not find her there. He sat on the sofa wondering what happened in that last 7 hours.

He called in sick at work. Left a text to Noel 'Have called in sick at work. Call once you done. Lots to talk. Life's fucked', as he knew he was going to be busy in a meeting. He then dialled Ananya's number wanting to know why she didn't come to wake him up. He had just hit the green button when Sunaina walked out of his room rubbing her eyes. He cut the call thinking 'Later. Will talk to her once she's back from work, face to face'. Sunaina sure looked tired. He got up and walked towards her, smiled and asked, "Bread-jam and juice?" He still remembered what she preferred for breakfast. She stared at him and tears rolled down her cheeks. He wiped them off and held her close, "Enough! I don't want you to cry any more. Once we have breakfast, you freshen up and we'll sit and sort things out. Will speak around and rope in the best lawyer. Now c'mon stop. You don't deserve this and you are not going to do this to yourself. Getting it?" She nodded fervouresly. He fixed the breakfast and they sat on the table. He watched her gulp the food. He missed Ananya at breakfast today. 'Did she even have breakfast? The kitchen sink looks clean. Wonder if she ate. But why wouldn't she wake me up. She is a dead meat...' his thoughts trailed.  Sunaina, sure was hungry. After food entered her body she had the energy to talk and think.

"So, your girlfriend left for work?"

Arjun looked up from the sandwich he was eating. He had expected it coming. With food in his mouth, and smirk on his face he replied, "She isn't my girlfriend. She is my best friend. Nothing more. We were batch mates at college. Her name is Ananya" his volume lowered. Sunaina needn't know what Ananya meant to him. It was unimportant at this stage.

"Ananya... Ananya Noel and u, Oh ya! You had mentioned about her. Very briefly tough. That's nice. Friendship has really come a long way."

Arjun nodded as he sipped his bitter coffee, thinking about The night, and the multiple nights that followed after that; each special in its own way, the movies, fights, flirts, last night at Noel's, the door bell, and then her; his eyes looked up to Sunaina at the same time.

Ananya was dead hungry. She had never missed breakfast. She was too distracted at work. She wanted to run away. But why was she feeling like this. Because she didn't know if Arjun was going to re-consider... Ah, Crap! She didn't want to think about that not today. She hated when Arjun hadn't even called or messaged to ask if she had breakfast. He always did that when they were away from each other.


Chief's call was a blessing. He spoke to her for an hour or so. He called her once a month but chatted everything under the sun. This call was however, purposeful. "Ananya, today there's a reason why I called you. A good business proposition arrived at the Mumbai office today. Something I feel would be a breakthrough for your career. And your knowledge and insight would be valuable. You've always been a bright child and I need someone her with creative bent of mind plus a strategist. This is my baby and I want the best here."


She was honoured and touched, "Chief, am too overwhelmed right now. Trust me when I say this, I will consider it. Lemme just weigh my options around here. There's lots going on at a personal level. I never mixed personal and professional life but at this juncture it might just get jumbled.  Lemme sort things at personal level first and I'll be there helping you. But Chief am truly truly feeling so blessed to have worked under you and this call.." Chief just cut her short, "You deserve it sweety. Fine you at least said you'll consider and not a straight no, I think its a battle half won" Ananya could imagine his face - a broad smile and a wink when he said the last line. She suddenly felt burdened with thoughts after she hung up.

Arjun was busy the whole day understanding what had happened and how a divorce could be filed. Noel called around 5 P.M. He just updated briefly about what was happening. Noel had called asking Arjun to meet as there was a fax needed to be sent by 8 P.M. and he wanted Arjun to meet him at a coffee shop near their work place, where they could discuss. Arjun knew this was high priority work that Noel was talking about, and it had absolutely slipped from his mind due to the events around. He told Sunaina that he would be back in hour or two. "Make yourself absolutely comfortable and rest. We'll discuss further once am back. Okay?" She nodded with a smile. He patted her cheeks, "Now that's like a good girl."

Arjun hadn't called or messaged the whole day. There was a point when she thought of calling but she withdrew thinking he might have a lot of catching up to do with Sunaina. She left early from office. She was too restless to work.

When she saw no one around. She saw an extra pair of chappals there, Sunaina's. On hearing the door open Sunaina came out of Arjun's room. Both of them smiled awkwardly. "Arjun just left for office. Some important work came up." Sunaina almost blaberred to break the awkward silence. Both walked towards the sofa. Ananya dropped her bag to her side.  "Hmmm... Did you eat something?" Ananya asked concerned.

"Yes we ate some pasta that was there in the fridge. It was really yum!" she said trying to woo Ananya. Ananya saw that and she didn't react a lot to it and just smiled. "How you feeling today? Did you guys talk?"

"Yes! He said we'll be speaking to lawyers and get this divorce done" she said it with a lump in the throat "its not going to be easy" her eyes were lost in the layer of tears.


Ananya bent forward and touched Sunaina's palm, "You've to be strong. Don't worry everything will be okay!"


"Ya let's see!" She wiped her tears and her face "I'm glad I came here. Arjun made me feel so comfortable as if nothing had gone wrong between us. Life, sometimes does gives you a second chance." She said it with a smile.


Shudders went down Ananya's spine. She saw Sunaina smile for the second time after that awkward smile when she was at the door. But the statement behind that smile broke Ananya's heart into million pieces. She still kept her composure and pasted a smile on her face. What came next broke her completely...

"Arjun did mention you guys have been friends since college. Just friends... I asked if you were his girlfriend and he said no... And that..."


Ananya still doesn't recall what came after "just friends"