There are millions of lovers across the world. But each and everyone would say, love is a mystery. No other word in English dictionary or an equation in Mathematics can solve the mystery that is ‘love.’

Love has many complications. One of them being the slight boundary that defines the difference between love and friendship in a relationship.

There are many people who confine their true feelings to themselves for the fear of losing whatever friendship they have with their one true love.

One such pair who are in love with each other since four years but confined their relationship to friendship for the fear of losing their friendship are Shrusti and Ayub.

They've been the best of friends ever since the moment Shrusti slapped Ayub, mistaking him for another guy who had written her a love letter four years ago.

“Hey, I'm sorry,” Shrusti said as she looked down at her feet embarrassed.

Ayub couldn't help but let out a chuckle as he took in the look on her face.

When Ayub didn't reply for a few seconds, she raised her eyes to notice the amused expression on his face and she glared at him.

There was a stare-down between them for a couple moments  before both of them burst out laughing.

“Ayub,” he said raising his hand and she met his with hers saying, “Shrusti.”

“Sorry again,” she said as he shrugged it off saying, “don’t mention. Guess, we’re friends now?”

“Friends,” she said with a smile apparent on her face. “Let me give you a treat for what I had done.”

“If you say so,” he said walking alongside her to the canteen.

Four blissful years have passed. They fought, joked around, shared, laughed, hung out, scolded, consoled, pestered, pampered each other all through this years. But only to the confinement of friendship. Their relationship remained the same all through these years, but their feelings haven’t.

Every passing moment of every single day only caused the gradual increase in their feelings for each other, up to the point where they just couldn't believe that they would have to be away from each other from now on.

It was the farewell day thrown by the juniors, a day after the convocation ceremony. Unofficially the official final day where they get to spend together. Ayub got placed at a top notch company in Mumbai while Shrusti got to work at Hyderabad.

The irony of the situation was, Ayub’s friends know that he loved Shrusti and Shrusti’s friends know that she loved Ayub.

One hour before the farewell party at the Aalankrita resorts, Ayub went to Shrusti’s house to pick her up.

“Shrusti! Come fast,” he shouted just when she walked out of the main door and he just stared at her stunned, as his jaw dropped low.

It was one of those rare times that she wore a sari. She totally nailed the outfit in a black sari with a red border line and matching high heels. Her midnight black hair flowed over her shoulders and the twinkle in her almond shaped eyes literally knocked the breath out of him. She had a confident walk laced with elegance which only a cheerful personality such as hers could behold.

But it wasn't only her who rocked the look at the moment because her honey sweet lips formed a perfect ‘O’ shape when she took in his appearance. He looked totally handsome in his Blazer and his curious brown eyes were in complete contrast to his dashing personality. The long unruly mopped hair cropped to a side looked gracefully in sync with the slightly growing stubble on his cheeks.

But both of them failed to notice the love they have for each other.

They were in a daze taking in each other's presence for a minute or two before Shrusti got back from her stupor and cleared her throat indicating that they were getting late for the event.

Shrusti made herself comfortable in the passenger’s seat beside him as he started the car and the first two minutes of the drive went uneventful.

The tension between them was so intense that a live wire on the roadside seemed like a child’s joke.

No one uttered a word as both were yet to overcome the thought that this would probably be the last time they’d get to be together as friends.

Only if one of them had taken a chance and proposed, things would have been different. 

“You…..you look gorgeous,” Ayub said after a few minutes.

“Thank you. You look handsome. Planned to set a lasting impression on the junior girls or what?” she replied peering at him through her eyelashes to which he smiled.

Since this was probably the only time he'd get to spend alone with her, Ayub decided to take chance.

Taking his mobile from his pocket, he shuffled on it until the calm yet tensed atmosphere was somewhat taken over by the song, ‘Love Story - Taylor Swift.’

Shrusti raised her eyebrows, turned to him and said in an excited voice, “Do you remember? You said something special about this song when we heard it together for the first time. You really liked this song.”

This was their combined favourite song. They used to listen to it every single day together.

“I like this song. In fact I love it. But I don't remember saying anything,” he replied with a frown on his forehead.

Shrusti’s lips curled downwards as she tried to cover her disappointment.

“Shrusti, what did I say?” Ayub asked facing her.

“Never mind. Leave it,” she replied with a hint of irritation in her voice.

She wasn't able to bear it listening to this song any more and said, ”I'll change the song.”

‘Christina Perri - A thousand years’ blared out of the speakers.

“You still have this song?” She asked surprised.

“Well, yeah. This is your personal favourite,” he said tapping his fingers on the hardboard. “I still remember what you said when we were listening to this. You said, ‘One day I want to wrap my loved one in my hands and sway together to the music as I look into his eyes and him into mine.’”

‘Then why can’t you understand what I meant to say when I gave my favourite song to you? Don’t you get it I meant you?’ she thought to herself as tears sprung her eyes but she managed to hold them back.

“But I don't like this song now,” she said as she shuffled through the playlist and ‘One direction - She's not afraid,’ played.

“That's the song I gave you in return,” he said cheerfully. “Remember? On your birthday two years ago.”

‘Damn it! How could I forget. It was the best day of my life. It was the day when we spent the whole night watching the stars, seated on the terrace after the party.’ She thought to herself.

It only caused the irritation to panel through her. He kept all of their favourite songs and even though she indirectly tried to convey her feelings, he wasn't able to grasp on to them.

But she didn't know that those were the same feelings that were haunting him. He wanted to convey his true feelings to her through this song but in vain. Both were lost in their own feelings for each other that they weren't able to understand each other's feelings.

She was so irritated that she immediately clutched hold of his mobile and switched it off.

“What happened Shrusti?” he said looking at her with concern.

“Nothing. Will you please stop talking for a while?” she said turning away from him and looking out of the window.

“Shrusti,” he said placing his palm on her shoulder just when they reached their destination.

“I don’t want to speak now. Any ways we've reached. Let’s go,” she said opening the door, not bothering to wait for him.

Ayub just sat there clutching hold of his head with both the palms as he contemplated on what to do. Was it wrong that he wanted to have a good time for one last time before they parted their ways to their respective jobs later?

He wanted to convey his feelings. But what if she takes it on a negative note? What if she decided to totally get away from him?

If he kept shut, at least they would have parted on a good note with at least the relationship between them being friendship.

‘What should I do?’ he groaned in frustration. ‘Nothing seems to be al right. Only if I knew what her feelings were. Should I take a chance and propose her? Should I risk whatever I have with her?’

‘Why doesn't he understand that I love him? What should I do?’ she thought to herself as she strode off away from him in displeasure.

But he couldn't wait any more. He had to confess his feelings. It was either now or never.

Taking a deep breath, he got out of the car..........to be continued.