37. About time

"Kya matlab vo mujhe avoid karegi aur India cheli jayegi?" Shubman's stress levels boosted when Ishan broke the suspense. "Aur ye baat usne mujhe nahi tumhe batayi. Kyu?"

"Tumhari baat huyi Navya se?" Abhi asked. Not sure how to fix things as he knew very well this proposal couldn't be postponed again.

"Trolls aur negetivity ke wajah se bahot upset hongi shayad" Yashasvi added.

"Agar aisa kuch hota tho I am damn sure who mujhe call karthi and mujhse hi baat karthi. Baath kuch aur hain" Shubman said still trying to contact Navya.

"Hua ye ki... umm" Ishan started, "Kuch dino pehle maine hi full uksaya tha usse ki match ke baad tumhe avoid kare and everything, taaki tum uska surprise effective lage. Mujhe nahi pata tha itna achese uksata hu main"

Yashasvi - kaisa surprise?

Ishan - Not important. Kuch socho kaise rokna hain.

Abhi - Tu bol nahi sakta tha ki change of plans you have to meet Shub first.

Ishan - Main kuch bhi bolta tho mere muse indirect proposal ke baare main pata chal jaata, tho main ne bas haan main haa milaya.

Shubman - Tu dost hain ki dushman.

"Main kuch kahu" a feminine voice came from Ishan's side.

Ishan - Bolo na

Yashasvi - aap kaun?

"Main Cheshta" she said.

Abhi - Ooooohhhhhh.

Shubman - Kuch idea hain aapke paas.

Cheshta - Ishan keh raha tha ki Navya aur Trisha bahot close hain.

Abhi - Haa

Cheshta - Tho Trisha Navya ko call kar ke keh sakthi hain ki they are going to London and she suspects Shreyas is going to propose. 

Yashasvi - Thab Navya usse congratulate karegi aur kya.

Cheshta - Nahi Trisha yeh bol sakthi hain ki she is nervous and excited so she wants her friend there kyu ki Shreyas ke liye tho aap sab ho vaha pe par Trisha akeli ho jayegi.

Shubman - Perfect. Kaam karega. Thank you. Ishan tu reh inke sangat main thoda dimaag transfer hoga. 

Ishan - beauty with brains.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Trisha - Main vo sab kuch nahi jaanti. I am already in London and you have to come here. Request nahi order hain.

Navya agreed finally giving up.

Trisha - Main nail salon appointment book kar rahi hu hum dono ke leye seedhs yaha aa jana. You know I don't want chipped nails if I am getting proposed to today.

Navya - As you wish your Highness. 

A few hours later. Navya sat in the salon waiting for Trisha, then she got a text that she had already done her nails an hour ago and she will meet her at the proposal sight.

Navya got her nails done because Trisha had warned her to. Then she went to her room and got changed and started for the location.

The sea murmured quietly, flecks of foam swirling at Navya's feet as she strolled along the shore and reached the boys. The sunset blushed over the horizon, golden and pink. Navya glanced at her watch, wondering if Trisha was running late

Navya - Trisha kaha hain?

"India main" Abhi shrugged his shoulders.

"WHAT!!!!????"

"Wo sab hume nahi pata. Humara bas ek kaam hain" Yashasvi said blind folding her eyes with his hands and asking her to walk slowly.

"Kya kar rahe ho?" Navya let out a small laugh and then she wasn't blind anymore.

There stood Shubman in the center of shells shaped as a heart and white curtains and fairy lights fencing it.

 Navya laughed, then faltered. "Wait, what is—?"

"Navya." Shubman's thumb grazed her knuckles, leading her into the heart. his heart.

"I know you came for a friend's surprise, but the real surprise is mine." He swallowed, cricket-calloused hand trembling just a little. "We have known each other for a real long time, ofc milna bichadna, bichadke mila hua beech main par maine na humesa tumhe apne future main imagine kiya tha. But I was an idiot jo mujhe samjhme nahi aaya why. I kept telling myself that I have missed you isi liye I wanna talk to you and be with you all the time. We were JUST GOOD FRIENDS I said , par that was just an excuse." He too a deep and went down on one knee and put out his hand. " Haath bada raha hu kyu ki saath chahiye. Hamesha ke liye. Sirf ek party main plus one banke nahi. Life main forever wala plus one banke kyu ki Navya Verma I am in love with you" he finished eyes full of hope.

"Nenu kuda ninne premistunnanu" She said taking his hand.

"Tum hamesha yeh-" he cut himself off mid sentence seeing her smile. "wait, It means..."

"Premistunnanu means pyar karthi hu. I love you too princy boy" Shubman stood up and pulled her into a hug.

The boys hooted and cheered.

Abhi was on video call with Ishan, Trisha and Shreyas when he accidentally pressed on the voice message that Navya sent him earlier that day. 

"Abhi hi. Main Shubman se baat karna chahti thi but I couldn't bring myself to talk to him. So please mere ye message ustak pahuchdena."

The voice dragged everybody's attention. Navya's face expression fell as Shubman looked at her pulling away from her.

"Meri life bahot normal thi usse milne ke pehle now you guys know what's happening. Main ye continue nahi kar sakti. I cannot be friends with you guys anymore. You guys are wonderful, but I am just not made for this world. I am  sorry."

Shock covered everyone's face.

"Navya..." Shubman's voice broke.