Suvarna's POV.

Where is Paresh? After he ran off from the terrace last night I have not seen him at all.

Brat!

He knows he has been caught and has hidden himself and has not even shown up for breakfast. I woke up early and made pancakes, to ensure Raghunath uncle is not once again forced to cook by his father.

I looked around the table. Raghunath uncle was scowling at his plate. I know he must be really angry right now, but since Aditya himself confessed yesterday he cannot point his finger at anyone.

Our grandfathers were tucking in clearly enjoying their meal making me smile in their direction. Shishir is quietly eating and not looking at anyone. I almost laughed at this. He has been like this around our grandfathers ever since he made a mess of the situation by jumping to conclusion.

"Where is Paresh?" I asked out aloud at last.

"Who is Pushkar?" asked his grandfather and I almost rolled my eyes.

"I um- he does not miss his meals, so I was wondering." I tried again.

"I think Billy ate him." his grandfather continued looking up from his plate.

"Papa!" Raghunath uncle objected and I did not know how to react. Shishir of course continued to pretend he is deaf!

"Oh you did not?" Dadaji asked pretending to be surprised. He turned to me "Billy did not eat Paresh." He informed and I got up from the table wanting to escape from this crazy scenario.

I think Raghunath uncle had the same idea because he quickly excused himself from the table and went to his room

"What are you doing today" Nanu asked Shishir forcing him to look up from his plate. He opened his mouth to answer but before he could Dadaji said:

"We are going to spend the day with you today."

"With me? Why?" Shishir almost choked on his food "No I mean it would have been great but today I am really busy. Many meetings." Shishir muttered going red in the face making me chuckle.

He glared at me "You can spend the day with Suvi. Maybe go for a nice visit somewhere. Paresh can accompany you" Shishir said and shouted "Paresh!"

Out came the brat from his room trotting slowly and not looking at me.

Ha! I have got him now, I gave him a smug look.

"Suvarna here is Paresh!" Dadaji said sounding triumphant as though he had just made the discovery of the year and I could not help smile at him this time.

"Are you saying you are too busy for us?" Nanu said looking at Shishir  and Shishir's expression was priceless knowing he was cornered.

"N-no! Of course not." He stammered and I once again chuckled softly knowing Nanu was teasing him.

"Please agree to spend the day with us. It is the most important thing in our life." Dadaji piped in and I shut my eyes in despair. They are not going to let go of this!

"How important is it for you?" Nanu of course had to ask.

"Just like a puppy is in Shishir's life."

"See? And you say you are busy for two helpless old men?"

Helpless?? I shook my head at the two old pranksters who were obviously having fun at Shravan's expense

"I – Of course I would." Shishir said looking at me helplessly. "I really have meetings."

I suddenly had a wicked idea remembering mine and Shishir's discussion earlier on. He has been stalling to go and meet Aditya and I wanted him to do it right away.

"He is really busy. I had also asked him for a help but he said he has some very important work today." Shishir smiled at me in relief for rescuing him before my next sentence wiped that smile off his face.

"So I am thinking of calling Rahul and checking if he has time for helping me."

"What? Why do you have to call that-" Shishir blurted instantly without thinking before coming to an abrupt halt remembering who were around us.

We had the attention of two old men who looked very interested in our conversation.

Paresh decided to utilize this opportunity and grabbed a plate and started gobbling his breakfast.

"I mean I will help you Suvi. Just give me some time." Shishir said trying to smile sweetly to cover up.

"But you don't have time. So let Rahul help her." Dadaji said.

"Yes. I agree. It is a good idea." Nanu said looking at me "Call him over for lunch for helping you."

I almost jumped in joy at the success of my plan. I love these two crazy old men!

"No!" Shishir blurted "I think I can shift a couple of meetings for later and find some time. You both can come along with me today and Suvi I will help you soon."

"No do what Suvarna is asking today." Dadaji said and Shishir would have protested but Dadaji surprised us when he said softly "Go and meet Aditya today."

I and Shishir exchanged startled glances. They knew all along and were just fooling round intentionally!

Shishir looked down at his plate his face blank. I knew he is facing an emotional battle within him but this was important.

"Go fix it Shishir." Dadaji insisted and smiled at Shishir. He nodded and got up.

"We will leave after Paresh finishes eating." I said eyeing the brat who was carefully avoiding eye contact with me.

"He has finished." Dadaji said swiping the last pancake off Paresh's plate and eating it much to Paresh's horror.

Looking grumpy Paresh got up and I laughed at his disgruntled look. I grabbed his hand and pulled him out quickly saying my bye to our grandfathers.

As soon as we stepped out "What is going on between you and Prema?"

"Why were you going to call Rahul?"

Both me and Shishir spoke at the same time.

"Stop being jealous Shishir. This is more important." I rolled my eyes at my silly boyfriend.

"I am not jealous! Shishir Mehrotra is never-" he started saying and I pulled him down at my level and put my hand on his mouth.

"Shut up!" I said and turned my attention to the younger Mehrotra who seemed to have fallen in love with his shoe right now and was looking at it like it was the most interesting thing he had ever come across.

I tapped his chest and raised my eyebrow at him as he looked at me. For the first time I saw Paresh blushing and I felt my eyes widen in surprise.

He suddenly gave me a hug hiding his face from me and I could not help but chuckle at his reaction. Now I have to confront Prema once we are back.

***

I could sense Shishir's agitation as we waited for Aditya to be brought out. I put my hand on his trying to calm him and he held my hand tightly in his.

We heard a sound and before I could look up I heard his voice.

"Hello Shorty."

Shorty? Who is Shorty? I thought confused at Aditya's words and Shishir stood up quietly.

"Hello Fatty." Shishir said softly and I frowned in confusion as I realised they were referring to each other.

Shishir Shorty?? And Aditya is definitely not someone who can be referred as Fatty!

I think Aditya sensed my confusion. He smiled at me "There was a time when he was really short."

"That was a long time ago!" Shishir protested and I almost laughed in relief. At least the ice was broken between the two. "He was round like a ball as a child." Shishir said looking at me.

I chuckled at their crazy nicknames for each other. It was clear once they had been really close.

I saw Aditya looking at Paresh and Paresh was looking away. I could understand Paresh's feeling. After all he had thought Aditya had been a friend.

"You did not have any nickname for Paresh?" I said in my attempt to lighten the mood. Paresh snapped his head up giving a warning look at the other two and I realised there was one for him too!

I looked at Shishir and Aditya who were trying to hold their laughter.

"What was his name?" I asked curious.

"No!" Paresh hollered. "There was no name for me."

Aditya chuckled "Once he had come over with Shishir during summer break and had insisted we give him a name that rhymes with ours."

"So Aditya gave him one." Shravan continued pulling Paresh's cheek.

"I hate both of you." Paresh said pushing Shishir's hand away.

What did you call him? Naughty? Dotty?" I tried guessing names that rhymed. I was loving this light hearted conversation. Things could only improve after this.

"We kept his first initial same." Aditya said and without thinking I blurted "Potty? No – cannot be-" I said trying to guess but stopped when I realised Paresh was glaring at me.

"Oh my God! Potty? Seriously?" I said trying not to laugh.

Aditya and Shishir burst out laughing.

"Oh shit!" I said.

"Right." Aditya said cheekily and I put my hand on my mouth realising what I had just said.

"They used to bully me." Paresh whined and I hugged him trying to control my laughter.

Soon the laughter around died and we stood in somewhat awkward silence.

Shishir's POV.

For a minute there it seemed just like old times.

"You know I hated you as I child even without meeting you." Aditya told Suvi and I glanced at Suvi worried how she would re act to this.

She looked at me and back at Aditya. "Hated me? Why?" she asked softly.

"You stole my best friend from me." he continued and I saw Suvi's feature take a dismayed look as she realised what Aditya was referring to.

"Aditya-" I started warningly but Suvi caught my hand, wanting me to allow Aditya to speak.

"When a twelve year old is told by his best friend that someone else has taken his place he tends to overreact I guess." Aditya said looking down. "Of course I understand things better now. But at that time I wanted to retaliate. To show him that if he could give someone my place then I could also make other friends."

"I never gave anyone your place. She just made a place for herself in my heart that was closest to anyone else." I said quietly "You were still the same to me."

"I was?" Aditya asked softly "And I was trying to show off that I had better friends now and did not need you as my friend anymore." His lips twisted as he said "And in my attempt to get back at you I fell into wrong company."

I felt a pang at my heart. How could I not realise this at that time? Maybe because I myself was a child. "I was hurt when you stopped spending time with me and used to go out with your new friends then." I said thinking back.

"Such a silly thing. We were childish." He gave out a short laugh "I of course ended up goofing my life in my stupidity."

He looked up "Not any more. That day in court-" he stopped and looked at me. I realised he was silently referring he had realised how Suvi was involved. He looked away and continued "Something snapped in me. I realised how foolish I was being in my quest to get back. I was almost blinded."

"I was at fault too." I said realising I could have handled things better. Why does my temper get the better of me and I end up doing things that can be avoided? "I should have talked to you."

"We should have talked." Aditya agreed. He looked towards Paresh "I really considered you as my friend buddy. Never doubt that."

I saw Paresh look away, his hurt evident on his face. Our childhood memories were different. These two had shared a bond without Paresh recognizing him as my cousin. He had every right to feel used and betrayed.

"I was the root cause I think." Suvi said looking sad and I immediately put my arms around her.

"No."

"No"

I and Aditya echoed and Suvi looked up and eyed both of us warily.

"Sorry." She said looking at Aditya and he looked at me helplessly clearly feeling bad that Suvi was taking it on herself.

"Will you give me a smile if I tell you the nickname Shishir had given you before you became his best friend?" He said suddenly slanting me a cheeky look.

What? Oh crap! No!

"He gave me a nick name?" Suvi perked up immediately interested. Aditya nodded enthusiastically and I closed my eyes in despair.

Damn!

&&&

Hope the chapter has been a good read. So Billy did not eat Pushkar after all –Haha!

Sometimes our immature steps in childhood or rather unintentional gestures can do a lot of damage.

Do you all think Aditya can be trusted and deserves a second chance?

Please vote and comment.

Love, from me to you.:)

Pre cap Chapter 74

Suvarna's POV.

As we turned to go out. I saw Shishir pause and turn around and Aditya who had got up and had started moving away also stopped right then.

I am not sure what happened but suddenly I saw both of them hug each other. I looked away at the sight of tears running down Aditya's face. I gulped feeling his pain.

"I goofed up big time Shorty."

Enjoy guys!

Buh bye till next time.