Decision

Arjun's expression changed within seconds, as he recognised the words Manya uttered.

*So what she had been murmuring in her half conscious state, was right? Was she mistaking someone for him again, like she had done previously with Ishaan and himself? Or perhaps, it was just her hallucination? He had already been suspecting the autopsy reports to be forged, but he was yet to verify it. He couldn't use that as a basis for anything, not until he had enough information- for which he would have to wait until the next day! But at this moment, his priority was to comfort her, because she would definitely panic if he voiced his doubt at the moment! So think quick, Juno! He needed to think...he was busy running through the various alleys of the maze, as fast as he could, to find a solution and a way back to her.*

His attention was called to the present when he heard Ishaan's voice.

"Relax, Manu! I think you might have been mistaken in recognising him. Could it be perhaps, due to your prosopagnosia worsening further? Since we are free now, the contract has also been terminated after today's events. So I suggest that we should head back to Italy, so that your treatment can run in a systematic and undisrupted manner."

Manya looked at him and spoke, "Quindi mi suggerisci di tornare a Milano?"

("So you are suggesting I return to Milan?")

Ishaan replied, a little flustered, "Non dovrei essere?"

("Shouldn't I be?")

"No!"

"Come mai?"

("Why?")

"Perché non sei più il mio migliore amico!"

("Because you are not my best friend anymore!")

Manya had said this, wanting to tease him. But her reflexes were already on guard after Arjun's statements, and she observed that this statement of hers had hurt Ishaan, judging by his expressions. She quickly added, "Ish! Scherzavo, ma in realtà ho deciso di non tornare indietro!"

("Ish! I was joking, but I have actually decided to not go back!")

*This statement of hers was enough to make Ishaan stay frozen at his place. He was unable to reply; he was unable to process anything. Why, how and when had he covered this whole distance with her? But anyway, he had somehow reached a point where he didn't know his life without her. Neither could he stay here any longer, because he had been under the impression that no matter how angry she would have been, she would eventually, definitely return to the world that she belonged to, and the one that belonged to her- the fashion world. She was the queen of that industry; after she had reached the top, no one had ever been able to surpass her. And after this launch, he knew she had shaken the industry once again, and now they had Shekhar's confession to back their claims as well! How could she decide to drop everything, how could she leave her own throne so easily? No, she couldn't sacrifice her life like that, and he would not let her! No, no, no...he couldn't lose her in any aspect; he was not willing to give up on the designer Manya or his best friend Manya, either. Because without her, nothing in this world would make sense to him. But what had made her say all this all of a sudden? Was it perhaps because of Arjun again? Definitely, definitely it was all because of him and it had to be because of him. The guilt about having given Manya the amnesia-inducing pills to keep her memories of the past suppressed, evaporated from his heart. Whatever he had endured had not been wrong after all, if it was working to keep her in the profession she was meant for. He wanted to drag Arjun out and punch him on his face- a common thought of his which had been prevalent from the first day of meeting him! But he had to keep control of himself; he couldn't do anything to him yet. He needed to do something to stop Manya, something to change her mind, but what would have that effect on her?*

He was about to speak, when Vendy replied to Manya's previous statement.

"Aspetta, cosa hai deciso? Hai seriamente deciso di non tornare? Ma perché?!Sai che sei al vertice del settore in questo momento, e questi anni sono gli anni di punta della tua carriera! Allora come puoi andartene all'improvviso?"

("Wait, what have you decided? Have you seriously decided not to return? But why?! You know that you are at the top of the industry right now, and these years are the peak years of your career! Then how can you just leave abruptly?")

Manya explained, "Io non me ne vado, Vendy. Mi sto solo prendendo una pausa e ho deciso di passare un po' di tempo con la famiglia, nel tentativo di recuperare gli anni che ho perso. E poi, inizierò tutto di nuovo."

("I am not leaving, Vendy. I am just taking a break and have decided to spend some time with my family, in an attempt to make up for the years I have lost. And then, I will be starting everything from here only.")

She took a pause before turning back to Ishaan and spoke, "Ishaan, ho una richiesta per te. Puoi per favore-"

("Ishaan, I have a request for you. Can you please-")

Ishaan intervened in the middle of her sentence and said, "Sai benissimo che non devi mai supplicarmi per niente, tutto quello che devi fare è ordinarmelo!"

("You know very well, that you never have to plead for anything from me, all you have to do is to order me!")

*Manya looked at him with her helplessness apparent on her face. She didn't want to hurt him any more, but she could not, in all seriousness, keep on acting like he was her best friend and claim the same authority she once used to! The curtain had already been lifted, and the frightening and harsh scenarios of reality going on behind the beautiful silk curtain were now visible to her. In such a state, she couldn't really pretend that she hadn't seen anything by just closing her eyes or turning her face away from it. She had, of course, desired that whatever course the events had taken should not have happened, but she could not change the reality; and it was Reality's nature to be cruel, and show no mercy.*

But for now, she just smiled and continued her statement. "Ci scusiamo per l'inconveniente, ma in realtà ho fatto una promessa a Shambhav, di lavorare a tempo pieno dalla nostra sede principale in Italia, dopo il completamento della sua laurea. Fino ad allora, ha la possibilità di prendersi una pausa se lo desidera, e se no, allora dovrebbe unirsi alla filiale come stagista. Lo so, avrei dovuto chiedertelo prima, ma non sapevo che la situazione sarebbe cambiata in modo così drammatico e così improvviso, e che le relazioni sarebbero diventate così diverse. mi dispiace davvero, e se non puoi soddisfare questa offerta, dimmelo in anticipo e mi scuserò per questo. "

("Sorry for the inconvenience, but I had actually made a promise to Shambhav, regarding the full time job from our main branch in Italy, after the completion of his graduation. Until then, he has the option of taking a break if he wants to, and if not, then he is supposed to join the branch as an intern. I know, I should have asked you first, but I really didn't know that the situation would flip on its head so dramatically and so suddenly, and that the relations would become so different. So I am really sorry, and if you can't fulfill this offer then just tell me beforehand, and I will apologize for this.")

Ishaan managed to speak, pain and desperation evident not only in his tone, but his eyes as well. ""Non pensi di scusarti troppo in questi giorni? Sei sempre la stessa Manya e io sono sempre la stessa Ish, allora perché non capisci che a parte quell'unica e unica bugia, non ti ho mai mentito anche per una volta. Non puoi semplicemente dimenticarlo, è solo una bugia. Non posso essere ancora il tuo migliore amico? Non posso-"

("Don't you think you are apologizing too much these days? You are still the same Manya and I am still the same Ish, then why can't you understand that apart from that one and only lie, I have never lied to you even for once. Can't you just forget this, it's only one lie. Can't I still be your best friend ? Can't-")

Manya interrupted him, "So Ishaan, che è solo una bugia. Ma sai anche come quella bugia ha influenzato la mia vita finora. Sono disposto a perdonarti per il bene della bugia che hai detto, ma non posso semplicemente tornare a la nostra stessa vecchia relazione, dimenticare tutto. Non posso semplicemente schioccare le dita e cancellare tutte le bugie, solo come potrebbe essere stato, che ha cambiato completamente la mia vita. Non posso davvero. "

("I know Ishaan, that it is just one lie. But you also know how that lie has affected my life so far. I am willing to forgive you for the sake of the lie you have told, but I can't just return to our same old relationship, forgetting everything. I can't just snap my fingers and erase all traces of the lie, singular as it may have been, which has changed my life completely. I really can't.")

As she completed this sentence, Manya had almost reached the verge of crying at this point. Finally, Arjun decided to break his silence. He had been struggling to manage it anyway, while also making plans to start learning Italian as soon as he could.

"Guys! Why do you all always forget that I am also standing here, and this Italian banter of yours makes me feel like an alien here in my own country! So can't you all have some mercy on me, and talk in a language I can understand? Or if not, at least one of you could provide translations!"

Saying this, he pinched Manya's nose softly, which was a sign for the best friends from their childhood days to stop them from crying. Manya smiled as she seemed to recall the purpose, which was to make the other one realise that they were with each other at their worst, and would never leave them alone.

*The moment Arjun interrupted Manya's and Ishaan's conversation, all of Manya's attention shifted to him. Only then did she realise that she hadn't told Arjun about her decision yet! Wow, she indeed never left any single occasion to hurt her own best friend! But when he pinched her nose like he used to, she was reminded of their pact from their childhood, which made her even more guilty about forgetting him! How could she forget about her own best friend, how could she have mistaken him for someone else? And how could she have doubted him, even for a moment? Her mind instantly took her to the realisation that she did not deserve to have a best friend like him. She didn't even deserve best friends in her life at all, nor friends and family. She didn't deserve love and care, she was definitely not worth it. But still, she was blessed to have all of them by her side despite everything and through all these years.*

She tilted her head, looked directly in Arjun's eyes and spoke in a serious but quiet tone. "Actually, we are planning and discussing a murder plan. And this is the reason we were not sharing this with you, and were talking in our code words. Do you really want to join in the plan?"

Everybody laughed at Manya's statement, and Manya took this as an opportunity to declare the day coming to an end. She really needed to discuss something with Arjun, even after her overwhelming feeling of guilt. She spoke up, "I think we should leave now, as I want to rest. Arjun, can you please drop me home?!"

"Ye-" Arjun was going to confirm her plans, when Ishaan chimed in. "Manu, I will drop you home. I have already moved out of the apartment a week ago, so you can stay there if you want."

Manya smiled and replied, "It's okay Ishaan, I am not planning to return to the apartment anytime soon; I am going back to my parents home, instead. And I think the two of you should spend more time together." Saying this, she winked at Ishaan and turned to Arjun, indicating that she wanted to get up. She prompted him again, "I think then we should leave, Arjun!"

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A/N- Hello my lovely readers! (◕ᴗ◕✿)

The first chapter is here, and the bonus one will be up in a couple of hours. So please check back for that, and have fun! Much love to you all.( ˘ ³˘)♥