Maurvi's POV

I unlocked the main door of my home when I reached home from my college and threw my bag and my car keys on the couch. I didn't even change my clothes and just ran towards my bed and buried my face in my pillow and cried for hours.

I was really sick and tired of this issue now. My best friend Prachi somehow had a misunderstanding and since then she is not talking to me properly. I was feeling very frustrated because of that.

I tried to explain everything... But she didn't fully believe me. She has always been very important to me. We have been together for the last 5 years since we took admission in our college. We have always been inseparable for the last 5 years.

But since last month, things have changed. She started telling lies and also started avoiding me... I have tried to mend everything but it seems that she doesn't trust me.

It all started when we joined a computer centre. We had a batch of around 10 students. We made some new friends... But one of them mistook my friendship as something else and proposed to me on the phone.

I was shocked at his proposal but as I was not at all interested in him, I said that I don't have any such feelings for him. He tried to make me accept it by making me guilty. He said that I was not accepting his feelings as there was a hell lot of difference in the social status of our families.

It was not like that. He was just not the kind of a person, I can think about falling in love with... In fact, he was exactly the opposite of what I wanted.

I tried to explain that to him and he seemed to take it in a healthy way. He said that he understood. As I used to tell everything to Prachi, I told her about this incident too. She behaved in a weird manner. But afterwards, I started feeling that she started avoiding me gradually...

Recently I came to know about the fact that she was having an affair with the same guy secretly. I tried to make her understand that he was not good for her. I had come to know about a few, not so good things about him. I even told her about them but she was not even listening to me.

I cried for hours and then tried once again to make her understand that Naman was not good for her... I wanted to save her from him... I recently came to know that he had some kind of criminal record too. He had anger issues and he was definitely not good for my best friend.

I called her on her phone but there seemed to be no network inside my home so I went outside. I tried again and her phone started ringing, which she picked up reluctantly. It was quite evident from her tone...

" Hello.. yes?" She said in a bored tone.

" Prachi... please try and understand..he is bad news.. he is not good. I can prove it to you. Please just stop right there... He even has a criminal record... However small it may be. Please stay away from him. " I pleaded.

" Oh please Maurvi, you are saying bad things about him as he proposed to me and not you. You are just being jealous. " She said in an angry tone.

I even reminded her that he proposed to me but I was not interested. I tried to put some sense into her head but she was not paying any heed.

" Maurvi I know you must have developed a crush on him as he is very good looking and you are feeling bad that he chose me over you. You are even making up all the stories about him proposing you. While in reality you proposed to him and he refused as he is in love with me. "

I was shocked to hear that. How could she say that?

" Oh come on Prachi... I used to tell you about each and everything if I ever had a crush on him, I would have told you. You know very well that I have a crush on someone. "

I have had just two crushes in my life. The first one was when I was in class 9 and another one about whom I was very serious. He was the man of my dreams, not that Naman.

" Please Prachi trust me yaar... I just want you to be safe and happy. He was just a friendly batchmate to me. Nothing else."

" You are telling me to trust you, but that means that you are asking me not to trust him... I love him ok? And he loves me...so if you can't see me happy just stay away. " She was almost shouting at me.

" Prachi, he is not good for you... He is a liar... He has a criminal record. Just stay away from him. What can I do to make you understand that he is a liar?"

" No you are just being jealous, that's why you are saying all that. I don't want to talk to you. "

" Prachi please... "

" No more discussion on this topic... I have had enough... " She disconnected the phone.

I tried calling again but her phone was switched off. I felt helpless. I wanted her to understand that she was wrong about Naman. He was not how he looked like.

Someone I know once saw him coming out of the computer centre after the class and asked if he was Naman. I nodded and asked if she knew him. She said he is the ex-boyfriend of her cousin. She also told me that they broke off because he had severe anger issues. He used to shout and get angry at her cousin over very small things. Ultimately she had to take help from her parents.

I thanked God that I never had any feelings for him and I refused to accept his proposal to be his girlfriend. But Prachi fell for his false charm.

I decided to call him. I punched his number on my phone. The bell started ringing and he picked up the phone on the third ring. " Hello, Maurvi..."

What a pleasant surprise... I am obliged that you called me. How can I help you, beautiful? " He said

" Just stay away from Prachi."

" Awww.... are you getting jealous now?"

" Are you kidding? Why would I be jealous? Just leave her alone. "

" You want me to leave her alone? But why would I do that? She is my girlfriend, I hope you know that by now. "

" Why are you telling lies to her? Why did you say that I am interested in you or even worse that I proposed to you? You know very well that is a lie. You proposed to me and I declined it. Why are you poisoning her mind? "

" Awww I wish I could see you right now... You look even more beautiful when you are angry... I would leave her alone if you accept my offer. "

" What? Never. I never had feelings for you and now you disgust me. I will not let you spoil her life. Just take my suggestion and stay away from her or you will have to face the music. "

" Oh, I am really scared, beautiful. " He said in a sarcastic tone and laughed.

" Don't worry about me, beautiful, just worry about your friend and your precious friendship with her. I will ruin it forever. You know what I still remember you both saying that you have been inseparable from the last 5 years. I challenged her that I will break that strong friendship between you. And I succeeded." He was laughing.

" Shut up. I will never let that happen. Just stay away from both of us or I will have to take help from my family against you. Let me tell you that if I use our contacts or if I tell my parents about all this, you will be in hot soup. I hope you still remember that there is a hell lot of difference between your and my family's social status, as you put it yourself. So beware and stay away. "

Maurvi's POV

" Shut up, I'll never let that happen. Just stay away from both of us or I will have to take help from my family against you. Let me tell you that if I use our contacts or if I tell my parents about all this, you will be in hot soup. I hope you still remember that there is a hell lot of difference between your and my family's social status, as you put it yourself. So beware and stay away. " I shouted at him and disconnected the call. I released my breath which I seemed to be holding. I took deep breaths as I suddenly felt that I was panting.

I turned to go back to my house when I saw my neighbour Gautam standing there looking at me. There was no doubt that he heard what I said. Oh no...

" Is everything alright? " He looked at me and asked seriously. I just nodded meekly.

" It doesn't look like that? You seem to be very upset. What is the matter? And don't even try to tell a lie as I heard most of what you said. I can easily guess what was said from the other side of the call. Now come out with it. "

" Oh.. nothing. Seriously it was nothing... " I said but he raised his eyebrows.

" Listen Maurvi, just tell me everything... As it is I heard most of your conversation. I can help you. See even your family is not here. Your parents have given your responsibility to us while they are not here. "

" But I can handle it myself. "

" Don't be so stubborn Maurvi... Or I will have to inform your parents or mine. " He said looking at me with concern.

" Ok fine. " I went back to my home and he followed me.

" So just start from the beginning." He sat on the couch which was facing mine.

" This guy Naman is our batchmate at our computer centre. We all were friendly with each other. As I am the best student in the group, they all take help from me, from time to time. One day he called me to ask some questions regarding some programming project which was our home assignment. I helped him and then he said if he could ask something else as well. I said yes he could. " I looked at Gautam, he was looking at me very seriously.

" So he said that he really has some feelings for me and then he asked if I.... would.... be his girlfriend. " I was a bit hesitant to say more.

" And??" He asked promptly.

" And I declined his offer by saying that I have no such feelings for him. Then he said that I am saying it because of the obvious difference in the social status of our families. But I swear it was not like that..... I don't even like him. So I said no it is not that, I just don't feel anything like that for him. "

" Then what? Did you not tell your friend about this? " he asked me.

"Oh, I did. I tell her everything. Her behaviour was a bit weird as she asked why I didn't accept it. But she knows me well.. why did she even ask it. Then I came to know a few things about Naman which were objectionable. I even shared them with her. But she says that she doesn't believe in them."

" So what is the problem now? Just try to make her understand slowly. "

" It is not that easy, he has brainwashed her. Somehow he put this in her mind that I am jealous of her because I fell in love with him and proposed to him which he declined as he had feelings for her. Now she thinks that I am saying all these things about him because I can't see them happy together. I don't know what to do. I can't let my friend fall in that ditch. I know he has a record in the police station due to his anger issues. I don't want to involve my dad in it. He would solve the problem in minutes but then there would be more consequences..... "

" I understand what you may be feeling right now. We will find a way. " He smiled at me.

" I think she has gone mad... She trusts him over me. You know he even challenged her that he can break our friendship in a month. And she accepted it and still, she can't see what he is trying to do. I really want to kill that man with my own hands. How can she fall in love with him? " I was just blabbering.

" Now what does that mean... I mean how can she fall in love with him.." he mimicked me.

" She must be an idiot for falling in love with him. "

" Why, is he that bad? Not good looking? "

" Oh, he is good looking, in fact, very good looking. He is tall, fair, handsome and very well built. "

" Then why did you say that ? "

" He is 27 but he is not mature enough to be even like a 15-year-old. "

" He is 27 ?? "

" Yes "

" Just now you threatened a 27-year-old man who is tall and has muscles?" He smiled at me

" Hmmm " I smiled at that.

" Ok, let's see what can be done. I guess if your friend thinks that you have an affair with someone else, she won't think that you are interested in that guy. Just make her believe that you are in love with someone."

" Easier said than done. Where would I get a boyfriend from? No this won't work. Moreover, I don't tell lies. She won't believe it. How can I explain, from where the boyfriend came, all of a sudden."

" You don't need to, they didn't tell you about their affair. It is the easiest way to prove him wrong. He would not be able to say that you are having a crush on him. "

" Yes, maybe you are right... But .... "

" No buts... Do you trust me? "

" Yes, I do... But boyfriend? "

" I will arrange for him. When do you have to go to the computer centre now? " He asked

" At 5 PM... One hour to go. Why are you asking?"

" I am asking because today you are going with me. I will not let you go alone after you just threatened him."

" What? No need for you to go with me. I can handle my problems. "

" Yes, I know you can, but still while your parents are away you are our responsibility. I can't let you go alone so I am coming with you." He smiled at me and went out. Oh God !!! Why was he being so nice? I am already crazy about him.

Well, he was Dr Gautam Jindal, a radiologist. He lives next door to us. He is approx 27 years old, tall, dark, handsome, well built. He is very smart, intelligent and witty. I have had a big crush on him for the last 2 years.

My father is a high profile Government Official and he was transferred to another city. But as I was studying, I stayed here. My parents asked our neighbours Jindal family to just take care of me. Over the years our families have become very close. Gautam's parents were also government officials just like my dad. They are always very sweet and take care of me as their own kids.

I tried to call Prachi once again but she did not pick up.

I ate a few bites of the sandwich which I fixed for myself. I got ready for my computer class. My doorbell rang and I came out with my bag. I locked the house.

I slid into his car and he asked me the address of my classes. I told him that.

" Maurvi, listen, you will not talk to both of them. Your friend needs to pay heed to you and trust me by the end of this week she will if you ignore them both and keep smiling. Avoid that guy at any cost. " he said.