32 Pacifying My Best Friend #3
Ansh's playful smile vanished. He looked over at me, his gaze lingering with quiet concern, and I looked back at him. We both realized the exact same thing in an instant: Diya was still holding onto a massive wall of defense.
Walking over, Ansh set the ice cream tubs onto her nightstand. "I'm not here to take sides, Diya."
"Really?"
"Really. I'm here because I'm just as responsible for this mess as she is."
Diya stared at him, her hurt flaring up again. "You're my brother, Ansh bhai. You've known me my entire life. And you still thought it was okay to keep something this huge from me?"
Ansh let out a quiet sigh, stepping closer. "No. It wasn't okay."
"Then why did you do it?!"
"Because I was scared too," he confessed plainly, taking a seat on the mattress right beside me. His presence instantly grounded my fluttering pulse. "I didn't know how you'd react to us being back together, and I didn't want to mess things up for Niyati or you."
Diya scoffed, though her voice lacked its previous venom. "Both of you are using the exact same excuse."
"Because it's the absolute truth," Ansh said gently, reaching out to lightly brush his fingers against my hand before looking at his sister. "We weren't trying to make you feel unimportant, Diya."
"Well, you did," Diya's voice cracked slightly. "You both made me feel like an outsider in my own life."
"Never," I interjected immediately, shaking my head violently. "Diyuu, you could never be an outsider to me!"
"That's how it felt," she whispered.
Ansh looked at her with deep regret. "I know. And we were wrong. You're my sister, she's your best friend, and we should have been honest with you from day one."
Diya looked between the two of us, her eyes growing glossy. "And what if I had said no? What if I hated the idea of you two together?"
Ansh didn't hesitate. "Then we would have had to deal with that together."
Diya blinked, her voice small. "You still would have chosen her?"
Ansh turned his head, his dark eyes meeting mine for a brief, intense second, filled with an unwavering certainty that made my heart leap. Then he looked back at Diya. "Yes."
Diya's gaze shifted straight to me. "And you? You would have chosen him over me?"
I looked my best friend dead in the eye, unable to lie to her ever again. "I would choose him."
Diya let out a long, dramatic groan, burying her face in her hands. "God. You two are actually, disgustingly in love, aren't you?"
Neither Ansh nor I said a word. The heavy, beautiful silence in the room was answer enough.
Diya rubbed her forehead, shaking her head in utter disbelief. "I still can't believe my best friend is dating my brother."
Ansh allowed a faint, smug smile to play on his lips. "Neither can I, honestly."
Diya immediately pointed a sharp finger at him. "Don't smile! Wipe that off your face!"
Ansh's smile vanished instantly, though his eyes danced with amusement. "Sorry."
I couldn't help it-a tiny, bubble of laughter escaped my lips.
Diya snapped her finger toward me next. "And you! Don't laugh!"
I immediately pressed my lips into a tight line, holding my breath. "Sorry."
Diya glared at the two of us sitting side-by-side on her bed, looking like two guilty kids in the principal's office. "You two are completely impossible."
Ansh quietly slid one of the ice cream tubs onto her lap. "That's why I brought your favorite flavor."
Diya looked down at the tub, her defense mechanisms crumbling by the second. "You're blatantly trying to bribe me."
"Is it working?" Ansh asked.
"...Yes," she grumbled, popping the lid open.
Ansh smiled, and I felt a wave of pure relief wash over me, bringing a genuine smile back to my face.
Diya caught me looking. "Don't get overly excited, Niyati. I'm still very mad."
My smile faded slightly, and I nodded. "I know."
Diya stared at me for a long, heavy moment. The annoyance in her eyes slowly melted away, leaving only pure warmth. "But... I don't ever want to lose you," she whispered softly.
Fresh tears filled my eyes instantly. "You will never lose me, Diyuu."
"You promise?"
"I promise on my life."
Diya turned her sharp gaze to Ansh. "And you?"
Ansh nodded firmly, his tone serious. "I promise."
Diya let out a long sigh, taking a bite of her ice cream. "I just really wish you guys had told me earlier. I wanted to be happy for you."
My voice broke. "You can still be happy for us..."
Diya looked at me, her lips slowly curving into a genuine, radiant smile. "I am."
I blinked, stunned. "You are?"
"Yes, you idiot," she laughed softly, shaking her head.
"I'm angry that you kept it from me, I'm hurt, and I'm definitely going to need time to process the fact that my brother is touching my best friend. But if you two are genuinely happy..."
She looked back and forth between us, her expression softening completely. "...then I'm happy for you too."
A sob of relief escaped my throat. "Diyuu..."
"Hold on! One more thing," Diya held up a finger sternly.
"What?" I asked, wiping my eyes.
She pointed accusingly at both of us. "No more secrets. Ever. Except for your little touchy-touchy thing. I don't want to hear about your sex stories with my brother."
My face immediately heated up. I looked at Ansh and he rubs his nape looking at him. I turn back at Diya.
"Promise!" I said instantly.
Ansh nodded. "Promise."
"No sneaking around behind my back, no secret dates, and definitely no making out in rooms where I can walk in on you! You can make out where I won't."
"Then, don't walk into my room when Niyati is here." - Ansh said and glanced sideways at me, an amused smirk tugging at his lips, and I instantly looked down at my lap, my cheeks burning beet red.
Diya narrowed her eyes, catching the silent exchange. "Oh God! So gross, bhai!"
Ansh cleared his throat quickly, pulling a straight face. "Right. No sneaking around."
"Good," Diya crossed her legs comfortably. Then, a wicked, scheming glint appeared in her eyes. "You know what? If you two are actually serious about each other..."
Ansh raised an eyebrow cautiously. "Yeah?"
"I'm going to get you two married!" Diya announced enthusiastically.
My jaw practically hit the floor. "What?!"
"Yes!" Diya nodded, her eyes shining with sudden excitement. "I'll talk to both the family heads. We can start planning!"
Ansh burst out laughing, shaking his head. "Diya, you're eighteen years old. You're already planning my wedding?"
"Someone has to be the responsible one here!" she declared.
I started laughing through my tears, covering my face in utter embarrassment. "Diyuu, we haven't even discussed marriage yet!"
"I don't care," Diya pointed her spoon threateningly at Ansh. "If you ever hurt her, Ansh bhai, I will literally end you."
Ansh blinked in fake offense. "I'm your older brother!"
"I know! That's why I can do it without hesitation!"
I clutched my stomach, laughing harder than I had in weeks. Ansh just shook his head, a warm, affectionate smile softening his features as he looked at his sister.
Diya turned back to me, her playful tone dropping into something incredibly sweet. "But as long as he keeps you happy, Niyu... I'll personally fight the whole world for the two of you."
My heart swelled to the point of bursting. "Diya..."
Diya opened her arms wide. "Come here, you idiot."
I didn't hesitate for a single second. I threw myself forward, wrapping my arms tightly around her neck as we tumbled into a tight hug. Diya held me just as fiercely, burying her face into my shoulder.
"I was really angry with you," she whispered against my neck.
"I know."
"You really hurt me."
"I know. I'm so sorry."
"Don't ever hide things from me again."
"Never again."
After a moment, I felt the bed shift as Ansh leaned in, wrapping his long arms around both of us to join the hug.
Diya groaned playfully from under the pile. "Why are you squeezing into this?"
"Because I was half the problem," Ansh's deep voice echoed right beside my ear.
"Fair enough."
The three of us stayed wrapped in that tight embrace, the heavy weight that had rested on my chest all night finally dissolving into complete peace.
Over Diya's shoulder, my eyes met Ansh's. He was already looking at me, his dark eyes brimming with absolute relief and an unmistakable softness. A small, shared smile passed between us.
Diya pulled back suddenly, catching us mid-gaze. "Seriously?!"
We both blinked at her. "What?"
"You two are literally flirting in the middle of my forgiveness hug?!" Diya cried out, slapping Ansh's arm.
I burst into fresh fits of laughter, hiding my red face behind my hands.
Ansh threw his hands up defensively. "I didn't even say anything!"
"Your face did!" Diya argued.
"What does that even mean?"
"It means I know that look, big brother!"
The room dissolved into warm, familiar laughter. The storm had passed. We still had endless conversations ahead of us, there would surely be awkward questions, and I knew Diya would never let us live down the way she had caught us.
But as I sat on the bed between the guy I loved and the best friend I couldn't live without, I knew we were going to be just fine.
No more secrets. No more hiding. Just us.