When Anay dropped her home, Advika asked Moli to go inside and stood in front of Anay herself.
"What happened…?" Anay asked.
"What are you doing...?" Advika asked, looking straight into his eyes.
"Was driving the jeep... now I'm just sitting. If you move, I'll go home. Worked all day, so naturally, I'll sleep. Unless you have other plans...?" Anay replied calmly.
"I'm not talking about all that... What are you doing since morning?" Advika said, irritation in her voice.
"What did I do...?" Anay asked, feigning innocence.
"Don't act innocent, Thakur Sahab..." Advika raised her eyebrows.
"You're right, I'm not innocent... I'm smart," Anay said with a smile.
"Don't pretend..." Advika said firmly.
"Where am I pretending...?" Anay asked in mock surprise.
Advika clenched her teeth in anger.
"So you won't admit it…?" she said, glaring at him.
"Just tell me directly, what do I have to admit?" Anay looked into her eyes.
"Why have you been acting so strange with me since morning...?" Advika finally asked.
"Strange…?" Anay raised his brows and with a mysterious smile said, "It's called loving behavior…"
"Exactly, and why is this so-called loving behavior only showing up today—and is it just for me or…?" Advika looked at him with suspicion.
Anay looked deep into her eyes. There was a strange sparkle in his eyes that Advika couldn't quite read. For a moment, silence fell; only the faint sound of the wind could be heard. Then Anay took a deep breath and said with utmost sincerity in his voice,
"I've fallen in love with you… and only you…"
Advika just kept staring at him.
All the house lights had turned off, and in the distance, a few lanterns glimmered through the darkness in some homes. The sound of crickets echoed like a gentle melody, deepening the stillness of the night.
On the deserted road under the filtered moonlight, only two people stood. Advika, whose face was partially covered with her scarf, her eyes still glimmering even in the dim light. And Anay, whose face seemed to glow even in the darkness of the night.
After a long pause of silence, Advika slowly started walking toward her home. The crunching sound of dry leaves and pebbles under her feet echoed clearly in the quiet night. She neither turned back to look at Anay, nor did Anay stop her. He just stood there, eyes fixed on the fading silhouette of Advika.
When Shrey returned home, Anay was lying on the sofa with a wide grin on his face. His eyes were glowing.
Shrey looked at him strangely and asked, "What happened? Why are you grinning like that…?"
"I told her…" Anay chirped happily.
"Told who what...?" Shrey asked in surprise.
"You fool... I told her how much I love her..." Anay couldn't hide his joy.
"You told her? When? Where? How...?" Shrey bombarded him with questions.
"Today, when I dropped her home," Anay replied.
"What exactly did you say?" Shrey asked eagerly.
"What else, fool... I said, 'I love you'..." Anay repeated, his smile widening.
"And...?" Shrey probed.
"And what…? Was I supposed to say more?" Anay countered.
"You said only one line and came back…?" Shrey was in disbelief.
"When it's just one thing to say, why stretch it? Should I have recited a poem?" Anay replied, a bit annoyed.
"What did your Mahbooba say?" Shrey asked curiously.
"Nothing..." Anay replied indifferently.
"What…?" Shrey was shocked.
"She didn't say anything..." Anay repeated.
"And you came back…?" Shrey couldn't digest it.
"So what should I have done? Stood on the road all night?" Anay reasoned.
"Anay…" Shrey said seriously, "Dude, how will she be impressed like that? At least do something properly... decorate the place, propose well... act like a lover. You just went and said 'I love you'... and that's it?" Shrey expressed his disappointment. "That's your idea of romance? You've become Majnu... Ranjha... and your Laila, your Heer, might just be taken away by someone else..."
Anay glared at Shrey, "You and your cursed tongue... shut your mouth or I'll beat you so bad you won't recognize yourself…"
Shrey dramatically responded, "Yeah right... you've got your girl now, I've lost all my respect... no friend left... no bond left..."
Anay, still glaring, said, "Are you done with your drama?"
Shrey sighed deeply, "Anay, I'm serious... who proposes like that? Do something different. Something girls like... a dinner date, decorations, gifts…"
Cutting him off, Anay said, "Anay Thakur doesn't do what everyone else does. Anay Thakur has his own style. Dinner dates, gifts... that's what everyone does. Street-romantic style—anyone can do that. I'm Anay Thakur... I'll confess every day, even if she says no, I'll keep loving her. But with dignity. Within my values.
Love is not a bargain, not a game that needs tricks to win. It's a bond of souls. And my soul is already tied to Advika's. I'll keep expressing my feelings—it's my right. And if she rejects me, that's her right. But that doesn't mean my love will decrease."
Shrey (softening a bit seeing Anay's seriousness): "Alright, alright... I get it. You've got your own way. But bro, at least create a moment. Just saying 'I love you' doesn't melt someone. Do something special."
Anay laughed, "Special? For me, what's special is to present my feelings truthfully. Pretending, lying... that's not me. And if my real emotions don't reach her, then what good is any show?"
Shrey: "Man, you've gone full Majnu in one day... but bro, when's the party?"
Anay glared: "What was that party yesterday, then?"
Shrey: "That was the party for realizing your feelings... This one will be for confessing them..."
Anay: "How many parties do you want?"
Shrey: "One for confession, one for the first date, engagement, then the wedding... and when you become a dad... That's all I've thought of for now."
Anay: "Damn, I haven't even gone that far, and you've already imagined the whole saga…"
Shrey proudly raised his collar: "Who do you think you're friends with?"
Shrey: "Come on, let's party... anyway, it's a happy day…"
Saying that, both stepped out of the house. Rudransh was sitting at his window, lighting a cigarette. Seeing Anay and Shrey go out, he called out—
Rudransh: "Thakur…"
Anay looked up.
Rudransh: "Going somewhere this late…?"
Shrey snapped, "What are you, a guest or a security guard...?"
Rudransh: "Why do you get triggered like someone stole your favorite chocolate... Are you a kid?"
Shrey shouted, "Rajvansh... stay in your limits…"
Anay clamped Shrey's mouth, "Will you wake the whole neighborhood up? If Amma finds out, she won't let us go…"
Then, turning to Rudransh: "Rajvansh... we're going to the club... Want to come?"
Rudransh, eyes filled with sarcasm: "This morning someone said he's not the kind of eunuch who trades in pleasures…"
Shrey was about to curse him when Anay stopped him—
"It's not necessary to complete every celebration with pleasures... For us, just some drinks are enough. If you want to come, come. Otherwise, Anay Thakur doesn't ask twice…"
Rudransh: "You sure are full of attitude, Thakur…"
Shrey added, "It's inborn…"
To be continued.....