Chapter 4

Josh's POV

I was having a drink when Sol came and sat beside me. "Hey Josh, It's been a while", she smiled. Huh!!! Why is she speaking in a seductive tone? I hate this girl. "Hi", I said and changed my seat.

"Actually I have to show you something", Sol said and followed me. "I don't wanna see anything", I said and continued my walk.

"It's about Riya, your friend", she said and I stopped.

"What do you wanna say about her?", I asked.

"Do you think she is happy for you two? She is just looking for a chance to snatch you back from Anna. Here listen to this", she said and opened the voice recorder in her phone.

____"I liked Josh ever since we were kids. I waited for so long but only to be snatched by her. I should do something to get him back. Should I throw her in the swimming pool over there? I mean she can't swim. Should I mix poison in her drink? What should I do?"____, it sounded like her voice.

"I don't believe this. She is not that kind of a girl", I said and just then I heard the splash of the water and I saw Anna drowning in the swimming pool and Riya was near to her. I ran towards the swimming pool to help Anna.

Riya's POV

"Sorry wrong number", I said and turned off the phone. Just then I heard the sound of a splash of water and as soon as I turned around I saw Anna drowning in it. I immediately jumped into the water to save her. I swam towards her and as soon as I caught a hold of her, someone pushed me away.

It was Josh who pushed me away. But why did he do that? He held Anna in his arms and took her out of the swimming pool. I followed them and came out of the pool too.

Anna looked completely exhausted and she was coughing. She looked scared too.

"Hey are you okay?", I came and caressed her back but then Josh pushed me away again. I fell to the ground and bruised my hands.

"What the hell Josh?", I shouted as I stood up.

"You are asking me that? I can't believe you did that", he said.

"What did I do?", I asked.

"This whole drama. I thought you were the best woman in my life but it turns out that you wanted to remove the woman I love from my life. Why are you acting so innocent? Aren't you the one who pushed her in this pool?", he shouted.

"Josh, there is confusion", Anna said but she was finding it hard to speak. She was choking.

"What is this huh?", He took the phone from Sol's hand and played the recorder. Damn...that bitch planned this whole thing.

I didn't say anything and just looked at him. I don't know why was I even crying. Tears won't stop rolling down from my eyes.

"Huh...hah...huh...hah", I sobbed.

"Now why are you crying? Do you have any explanation for that? Why did you act to be so nice all this time? Was it fun?", I could see the pain in his eyes too.

"Huh! What should I say, huh? You already concluded, why should I convince you about my innocence? We have been friends for so long, and today I realized you never really knew me well. You believe this bitch more than me, what should I say? Do you really think I would do that?", I said with a shaky voice.

"I didn't think you would do that. But what's all this? I trusted you the most", he had tears in his eyes.

"You already set a mindset about me, so yeah... let's say I did everything. It was all my planning", I said. Though from inside I was dying.

"You know what, I hate you now", he said and took Anna in his arms and left the spot.

As he went away, I remained there at the same spot...all broken and shattered. Many people were there, I was surrounded but I felt so empty. I felt lonely and helpless. It was the first time feeling that way. The most important person in my life doesn't believe me and now probably hates me.

I stood at the same spot and just watched him walk away from my life. I just stood behind him, looked at my bruised hands, and whispered, "Is love really that painful? Why does it have to be me?".

I just watched him go away from Behind. Only Behind him!

Josh's POV

I dropped Anna at her home and went to my own. My parents were not home, I mean they hardly stayed at home because of their business. Since I was a kid, I have lived alone in this house. But today it feels more lonely and devastating. Why did she do that to me? Why did she betray me? And how could she become this low? I wish I could think it wasn't her. A part of me says whatever I heard or whatever I saw today is an illusion. Am I concluding too fast and rashly?

Riya's POV 

As I entered my house, I covered my face on my pillow and cried my lungs out. I can't believe he trusts that bloody half-recorded video than me. We have known each other for so long and how could he think that I would do such a disgusting thing?

I love him and it's so very hard to see him with another girl but it doesn't mean I'll hurt the love of his life. I'm not that low. As long as he's happy, it's fine with me. Damn...why does it hurt so much?

.......

It was 7 am when I woke up and suddenly saw a message popped in my phone. It was from the medical college of the US. The Dean of my college recommended 10 scholars for this scholarship and I was selected. It's for two years. I wanted to decline the offer at first but now I think I could consider it. If I stay here for long, it will probably hurt me more. And now that he hates me, there is no point in me staying here. Maybe after two years when I come back here, everything may be back to its place. I contacted the head office and confirmed my admission. Just three days and I'll be out of his life.

Anna's POV

It's been 2 days and both Riya and Josh won't pick up my call. I have to make things clear. I don't believe Riya would do that to me. I know I don't know her for long but for all the little times I've known her, I know she is not like that. She will never do that to me. And probably she was not the one who pushed me, it was someone else.

Is that girl, I mean Sol playing a game on us?

I also went to their houses to make things clear but Riya was not home and Josh probably didn't even let me into his house.

And suddenly while I was in my thoughts, I got a message from Riya.

Riya:

"Hey, I'm sorry I didn't respond to your messages. I wanted some time. I went to my grandparent's house to pay them last visit and I heard you came to my house. I know you want to make things clear between Josh and me but I want him to believe me on his terms. We have known each other for so long, and the fact that he chose to believe that half-recorded video than me hurts a lot though. But let me tell you that he is the best guy in my life though I'm not the best woman in his life anymore. So please take better care of him and don't let him go. He is a good guy, he'll treat you better than anyone. Please tell him that I love him very much as a friend and as a person as well. And I don't know if I'll be able to forget him, but he'll always be a beautiful chapter of my life. Huh, if I knew things would end like this, I would have given him a better farewell. Anyhow, I'm leaving for the US for further studies tomorrow and I'll be very happy if you could see me off. I'm telling you this because I think he'll probably not come. So please tell him that I had a great time with him", she wrote and I had tears in my eyes.

How can she be so selfless? How can she be so nice? I think I came between two friends...if I weren't there, things would have been different. Things wouldn't end this way between them.

I immediately went to Josh's house and knocked hard on his door. As soon as he opened the door, I pushed him inside and entered his house.

"Hey...do you really think she would do that to me? She was the one who jumped into the water without any second thought just so that she could save me. And about the video, it is planned. You should believe her and not that freaking video. Till now I thought no one could love you more than me, but today I just realized that it was Riya who loved you more than me all the time, in fact, better than me. I was lucky enough to get the person I love but for her, she didn't even get her love and yet she always supported us and selflessly loved you. She gave you her all and you couldn't even give her your trust", I cried as I slowed down my pace of speaking.

"Do you think I don't know the truth? Just the night that incident happened, I went to Sol to hear the real confession. At first, she didn't accept the fact that she planned everything. But after forcing her to speak the truth, she confessed her mistakes. I know I was carried away by my emotions at that particular time but after reaching home, I realized Riya would never do that. I have known her since we were kids. I know she is strong both physically and mentally, but I also know that deep within she has a soft spot in her heart. I know she cries a lot too though she smiled in front of us. You think I don't trust her and she thinks that too. But to be honest, I trust her more than I trust anyone. She is very important to me", he had tears in his eyes.

"Then why didn't you go and apologize to her?", I asked.

"I wanted to but how could I show her my face after all the things I did to her? All she did was just think good of me and all I did was just hurt her", he wiped his tears.

"You stay in your guilt okay? She is Leaving for the US today and probably won't be here for 2 years. I'm going to see her off. If you want to say sorry and if you want to see her off and say final goodbye just be there on time", I said and went to the airport.

Josh's POV

She's leaving? How can she leave me here and go? I didn't even apologize for what I did. She cannot leave like this. As I sat on the couch in disbelief and dilemma, I saw the portrait of us in high school days. In that picture, we had our hands placed on each other's shoulders and smiling. Then I remembered the promise I made to her.

"Hey, whatever you do, wherever you go. I'll always support you and wish good for you", I said a few years back. Then I immediately ran towards the airport.

Riya's POV

"Anna, it's time for me to go now. Please stay well and be happy. If you cheat on my best friend, I'll break your legs", I joked.

"Is it really necessary to go? Can't you just stay back?", she looked sad.

"It's for only 2 years. I'll go, finish my studies and come back. And when I come back, I want to see the two of you still together. Please take care of yourself and him too. He doesn't get along with his mother and he becomes very gloomy whenever he fights with his mother, so please be next to him when he's low. Just tell him you are there for him", I said.

"Before you go I want to let you know that he trusts you, he trusts you the most. And he said that personally", she cried.

"Hmm really? Then I can leave happily. Now I should go. Bye...", I said.

And as I was just about to check in, I heard someone yell at me. "Hey you stupid Hamster", someone shouted. I turned around to see who it was. It was Josh.

Josh ran towards me and as I saw him running towards me, I remembered all the years we spent together. He used to call me 'Stupid Hamster' in high school, and this made me have tears of joy. For the first time after such a long time, I was taken aback by those days, when we found comfort in each other.

He breathed profusely as he reached near me. "Hey, how could you just leave without even telling me? And I didn't even say sorry for that night. Am I that bad?", Josh said.

"Yes, you are. You are really bad", I slapped his shoulder.

"Ah...ouch. You are too strong", he shouted.

"You deserve this slap", I said and we hugged each other.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry", he said.

"It's okay. Just run 10 runs of football ground as a punishment. And Anna make sure he runs 10 rounds", I said and we laughed.

"I'll miss you", he said.

"I'll miss you too. Take care", I said.

"Hmm...make sure you keep in touch with me. Don't just beat anyone in the US, there won't be another Josh to control you. Ms. Stupid Hamster", he caressed my head.

"Huh...geez, until the last moment you just get on my nerves", I hit his shoulders again.

"Bye... I'm running late. Be happy, and together", I said and left.

While I was on my way, Josh called my name again.

"Hey, Riya...you are still the best woman in my life. Please eat well, and take care", he waved his hands and wiped his tears. It made me tear up after hearing this. I waved him back.

"Before getting out of their sight, I again turned around to have a last look at them. Josh was crying in Anna's arms and now I'm relieved as he has someone to lean on other than me. I smiled again before leaving. To this day, I'm still smiling behind him.

......

A few hours after Riya Left.

Anna's POV: 

Josh looked so sad after Riya Left. It's like he is completely lost. And even now as I see him running around the football ground, I can see he is really in pain. I don't know if this pain is of the departure from his best friend, or the pain of guilt, or the pain of not realizing the fact that at the corner of his heart, there is a boy who loved Riya. I just hope he gets better.

"Huh, Riya...why did you just leave us behind? ", I sighed.

Josh's POV

Run 10 times around the football ground, that's what she said. And I'll do it. As I ran around the football ground, I felt so empty inside. I knew she was important to me but today I just realized she is important more than I thought. As I made each round, all the memories of us kept flashing again and again. Finally, after the tenth round, I lay my whole body on the ground and looked at the sky breathing profusely. I remember the time when Riya and I used to just lie down on the ground and look into the sky to relax.

"Hey, come back soon Riya", I said looking at the sky.