Alisha

The resort sparkled under a canopy of lights, glowing like a dream against the night sky. Tonight was special-our friends' reunion-but my heart was caught up in something else. I was waiting for Jayant.

By the poolside, I stood quietly, watching the moon's reflection ripple across the water. The cool breeze brushed against my face, but my mind was somewhere else. My eyes kept drifting toward the main entrance, hoping to catch a glimpse of him.

"When will he come?" I wondered, my heart pounding a little faster with every passing second.

And then-I heard him.

"Aalu!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the night.

I turned just in time to see him running toward me, his face lit up with that familiar, heart-warming smile.

In a breath, he was standing right in front of me-just like he always did, making everything feel a little brighter, a little better.

He was here. And suddenly, the night felt perfect.

Four months. That's how long it had been since I last saw him. And now, as Jayant stood in front of me, smiling like nothing had changed, my heart betrayed me-racing, aching, longing.

Seventeen years of friendship. Seventeen years of laughing at his stupid jokes, of standing beside him through everything, of hiding the way my heart had belonged to him all along. And he had no idea.

Without a word, he pulled me into his arms, lifting me effortlessly-as always, since my height was no match for his.

I wanted to stay there forever. To press pause, to let myself believe, even for just a moment, that I meant more to him than just a best friend. But reality was cruel. Before I could even hold on, he threw me straight into the pool.

I gasped, my body hitting the cold water, but the real sting wasn't from the temperature-it was from him. From the way he laughed at my reaction, completely unaware of how much I had missed him. Unaware of how deeply I loved him.

"You idiot!" I glared at him, pushing my wet hair back. "What was that?"

He leaned casually against the pool's edge, his smirk playful, his voice teasing.

"Punishment-for ignoring me for four months. And don't think it's over yet. There's more to come."

Punishment. If only he knew how much I had punished myself by staying away.

I climbed out, wrapping my arms around myself, And storming toward my room to change. But as I reached for a towel, I sensed him right behind me. Without a word, he took the towel, wrapped it around me, and led me toward the room.

Once inside, he handed me a dress-clearly a gift, since my previous one was soaked because of him. I gave him an unimpressed look before heading into the bathroom to change.

When I stepped out, towel-drying my damp hair, he took the towel from me, gently rubbing my hair dry himself. His voice was low, serious, and filled with an emotion I wasn't ready for.

"You have no idea how much I missed you," he murmured.

I let out a quiet scoff. "Missed me? Shreya was with you 24/7. I doubt you even had the time to miss me."

His hands stilled for a moment, but I kept going. "I don't like her, and she doesn't like me, so why would I bother disturbing you two? Love birds, Hmm... Besides, I was busy with my own life."

I met his gaze, challenging, waiting for a response.

______________________________________

Jayant said to alisha - "And remember one thing ...you are ..my sweet Aalu (Patato)...I can eat you daily also" ..

_______________________________________

jayant - "Mat kar pyaar mujhse(Don't love me..)"

Alisha - "Kuch or din kr lene de.(Few days more let me do)"

_______________________________________

Jayant

I was wandering around the office, searching for one of my colleagues, when I heard a voice behind me.

“Excuse me… could you tell me where Mr. Jayant Patil’s cabin is?”

The moment I heard her, my heart stopped.

That voice.

I stood frozen. My breath caught in my throat. My body refused to turn, but my soul had already run to her.

“Hello, Mr…?” she called again, her voice uncertain, slightly more insistent this time.

I finally forced myself to turn around.

And there she was.

Alisha.

Standing right in front of me.

Looking straight at me.

My best friend.

The girl standing before me… she once loved me more than I ever deserved.

The one person I had been trying so hard to forget — was now right here, asking about… me. She didn’t recognize me. That realization stung more than I could’ve imagined.

I stared at her, wide-eyed, as if I were seeing a ghost — a beautiful, haunting ghost from a life I’d buried deep within.

Her eyes searched mine. And then she repeated, softer this time, “Mr. Jayant Patil’s cabin… where is it?”

I couldn’t speak. My lips parted, but no words came out. I simply raised my hand and pointed toward the cabin, my gesture mechanical, like I wasn’t in control of my own body.

She smiled politely. “Thank you,” she said, already turning to leave.

But then… she paused.

She turned back toward me, her brows slightly furrowed.

“Do we… know each other?” she asked gently, curiosity and confusion dancing in her eyes.

That question hit me like a wave crashing down — cold, relentless, and cruel.

And still, I lied.

“No,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper, but heavy enough to carry all the weight of my broken heart.

She looked at me for a moment, and I saw it — that faint flicker of disappointment, of unplaced familiarity. Then came a soft, melancholy smile. The kind that says I was hoping I was wrong, but I guess I wasn’t.

And she walked away.

Just like that.

My eyes followed her until she disappeared from view, and before I could stop them, tears slipped down my cheeks. Silently. Without permission. They touched the corners of my lips, then fell — crashing to the floor like the pieces of my past I never got to keep.

She was here.

And she didn’t even know me.

_______________________________________

***...***...***...***...***...***...***...***...***