Chapter-15 Friendzoned but still yours

Nirvay (gently):

"I have so much to talk to you about."

Aarohi (softly, still feeling awkward):

"Me too… let's meet in the evening at some café. I have a lot of work right now, I should go."

She was still feeling a little awkward and wanted to leave quickly.

Nirvay (playfully firm):

"Let's go now."

Aarohi:

"No! Neha ma'am isn't here, how will I get leave?"

Nirvay (raising an eyebrow):

"You'll get it from me, silly. I'm the CEO, remember? You're coming with me, who's going to say anything?"

Aarohi (serious):

"I'm not crazy to leave the office with you during work hours! I've just made good friends here… if they find out I have some connection with the CEO, they'll distance themselves from me."

Nirvay (mock surprise):

"Wow, now this is what's important to you? I don't care about all that — just come with me, no one will even notice."

He gently grabbed her hand and led her into the private lift. His assistant was busy fixing her makeup and didn't notice who had gone into the lift with him.

---

Beautiful Café

They sat in silence for a while, letting the moment settle.

Finally, Nirvay spoke.

Nirvay:

"I wanted to ask… if you had forgiven me back then, why didn't you ever try to contact me? I kept thinking… how would I ever prove I was innocent?"

Aarohi (gently):

"I know… you left. After the airport incident, I was shattered. I truly believed you wanted to hurt me physically, just for fun. You kept sending me messages and emails, trying to explain, but I had shut off my ears… and my heart."

Nirvay (softly):

"I swear… even in my dreams, I never wanted to hurt you. But go on, tell me."

Aarohi:

"One day, Ayush brought those two boys in front of me. That's when I realized… what a fool I'd been. And somehow… I'd fallen into Shreya's trap again. I felt terrible guilt. I wanted to talk to you, but I didn't have your number. The next day, I was going to ask Ayush for it, but I overheard him and Sukhi talking in the canteen… and I decided it was better if I stayed away from you."

Nirvay (confused):

"What were they saying?"

Aarohi (hiding the full truth, not wanting him to know she had realized his feelings):

"Ayush said I wasn't a good friend because I didn't try to understand you when you were going through so much pain."

Nirvay:

"Really? That was the reason?"

Aarohi:

"Yes, something like that. Listen… I was just 18. I didn't understand things back then. You either overthink or overreact to everything. And you were so far away… things were too complicated for me. And… after six months, you also stopped emailing or trying to contact me. So I thought you'd forgotten about me."

Nirvay (in a sad tone):

"I wish you had told me earlier that your misunderstanding was cleared…"

Aarohi (smiling softly):

"I'm sorry, Nirvay. Let's start again This friendship This time, no misunderstandings."

Nirvay (holding back his true feelings, thinking – I want to start more than friendship, but control yourself Nirvay):

"Okay… let's start with friendship." 🙂

Just then, Aarohi's phone rang. It was Dhruv.

Dhruv (teasing):

"How long does it take to deliver a file? Were you kidnapped or what?"

Aarohi (smiling):

"No, I'm still safe. No kidnapping so far."

Dhruv (laughing):

"Thank God you're safe. Okay, seriously, where are you?"

Aarohi:

"I had some urgent work. I'll explain when I'm back at the office."

She cut the call.

Nirvay (curious):

"Who was that?"

Aarohi:

"Dhruv. He was asking why I was taking so long — a valid question, actually."

Nirvay (teasing):

"So why didn't you just tell him where you are and who you're with?"

Aarohi (playfully):

"Sure. Tomorrow I'll just post it on the company bulletin board."

Aarohi (serious now):

"On a serious note, I don't want anyone to know we're friends."

Nirvay:

"And why is that?"

Aarohi:

"People will think I got this job as a favor… and more than that, you're the CEO. We can't act like we're still in school."

Nirvay:

"This isn't a favor job. You truly deserved this role — you're valuable to this company. Please stop doubting yourself. And about my image… hmm… okay, we'll meet outside the office. But what if I want to talk to you inside the office?"

Aarohi:

"We can meet outside. Inside the office, it'll be a little risky."

Nirvay (smiling):

"Wow… I'm your friend, not some secret spy. Why hide me like this?"

Aarohi:

"Please, just agree."

Nirvay (thinking: I've already come here to agree to everything):

"Hmm… okay."

Aarohi:

"I should go now. I'll book a cab."

Nirvay:

"I'm dropping you. And this time, you're not allowed to say no."

Aarohi (smiling softly):

"Fine."

Outside Aarohi's Flat

Nirvay drops Aarohi at her apartment building. As soon as she enters her room, she immediately calls Sukhi.

At the same time, Nirvay is calling Ayush.

---

Aarohi & Sukhi – Phone Call

Aarohi (excited but trying to sound casual):

"I talked to Nirvay today."

Sukhi (excitedly teasing):

"Wow! So you're not single anymore? Did you guys kiss? Come on, tell me, tell me!"

Aarohi (blushing but pretending to scold):

"Are you crazy, Sukhi? We're just friends — just like before."

---

Nirvay & Ayush – Phone Call

Nirvay (disappointed tone):

"I met her today, but she friendzoned me."

Ayush (smiling a little):

"She's going to make you work really hard, man. But don't lose heart — at least she forgave you, right?"

Nirvay:

"I'll tell you everything when we meet."

---

Aarohi & Sukhi – Girls' Long Chat (Back to Their Call)

Sukhi (serious but sweet tone):

"Aarohi, seriously though… say whatever you want, but I know this — you haven't had a single boyfriend or even a proper male friend in the last four years. Deep down, you were still stuck on Nirvay."

Aarohi (softly, with honesty):

"I friendzoned him on purpose… I'm trying to protect myself. Last time, I went through such a painful heartbreak. Every word, every action of Nirvay's hits me so deeply… I'm protecting my heart because, in friendship, I won't expect much, and I won't overreact. Friendzone is my safe zone."

Sukhi

"Wow, what a logic! Now you know why Ayush and I didn't arrange your meeting with him sooner? We were scared of how you'd react… and we didn't want poor Nirvay to get his heart broken again."

Aarohi (suspicious):

"Wait… you mean Nirvay was in touch with you and Ayush this whole time? And did you both know that this was his company?"

Sukhi (casually revealing):

"Yeah, sometimes I used to talk to Nirvay. When you told me the company's name that day, Ayush figured it out and contacted him. That's when I found out. I thought… let him try, because dealing with you isn't exactly easy."

Aarohi (tired):

"I'm exhausted. Let's talk later."

Sukhi (teasing):

"Exhausted? What exactly did you do to get so tired? You just friendzoned him, remember? Poor guy."

Aarohi (laughing, pretending to scold):

"Enough of your nonsense! Your mind isn't a brain — it's a dustbin."

She quickly cuts the call.