Chapter 3 Will you be my friend

~Aviyan's pov~

I rushed to my room because if I looked into her hazel eyes for more than a second, I might lose control. This worried me. My heart was beating faster than usual. When she ran toward me, my heart skipped a few beats.

When she hugs me, I forget everything. My world stops, and it feels as if my breath is caught in my throat. I can't help but reach out to her. I hug her back, and for a moment, I forget that she is not mine. I hold her tightly, as if she will disappear if I lose my grip.

"Aveer, are you really angry with me?"

As soon as I hear Aveer's name, I snap back to reality. I release my hold and step back from her. She mistook me for Aveer. For a moment, I genuinely thought she was addressing me.

I step inside and open my bag, pulling out a bottle of alcohol. I take one gulp; the burn in my throat is intense, but it's nothing compared to the ache in my heart. I have to keep myself together. I can't show my feelings and ruin their happiness. I've caused enough damage to their lives-no more. After this marriage, I will go far away from here.

ughh

That's why I was keeping my distance from everyone. I sat in the chair on the balcony, drank from the bottle, closed my eyes to relax, but the memories of her flooded back.

**Flashback: Two Years Ago (On My Birthday)**

"beta sham main jaldi aja na, we will go to shopping together"Mom is shouting from the kitchen.

"[Son, come home early in the evening!"

"Okay!" I reply to her.

I was their adopted child, but they loved me more than their own. Sometimes, Aveer and I get into fights about that. No, not real fights, but friendly banter. I always tease him by saying, "Mom and Dad chose me because I'm cute, and you? You're the unwanted child who came into our lives without any invitation."

My parents always agreed with me and said, "Yes, he is right." Aveer would always cry after that.

I opened the car door sat in the front seat and smacked Aveer sighed and said, "Let's go now, we are already late, idiot." I really love to tease him, and I also know that he really loves me too.

"Aah, my hair!" He tried to fix his hair, but I, being me, messed it up again.

"Bhai, what's wrong with you? bimbo"

He calls me that because once my mom showed him a photo of me dressed like a girl.

My blood boiled "shut uppp" I got angry.

He chuckled and started the car. We are heading to university for our class. Time flies faster than we thought. We came home, picked up our mom and grandmother from the house, and went to the mall.

At the last moment, Aveer backed out and ditched me, saying, "I have to submit an assignment." We all know which assignment he really means-it's probably about taking his girlfriend out on a date or going to some club for a party.

Meanwhile, my mom and Dadu are wandering around, and I'm following them like a lost puppy. I'm feeling really bored. Suddenly, I got an idea to escape for a little while. I stopped my mom and spoke to her in a serious tone.

"Mom, I think I left my phone in the car. I will be back quickly. You can keep shopping, and I will call you when I'm on my way."

She nodded and said, "Come back fast."

I felt relieved for a moment. I decided to take a nap in the car.

I walked into the parking lot, and it was completely empty except for me. My attention was immediately drawn to a drunk man near a pillar, rambling to himself. I approached him to see if he was actually engaging with anyone.

Suddenly, I stopped in my tracks when I spotted a girl standing alone, visibly shivering. I could see her outline clearly. The drunk man was moving toward her, trying to touch her and making unwelcome advances. "Stop, please," she firmly said, but he ignored her completely. I felt a surge of anger rising within me.

I took three long steps to get there before he could go farther and gave him a punch in his jaw. He fell to the ground.

"Mister, you should stop when she says so." I jerked my hand to alleviate the pain. She was standing behind me, still pressed against the wall. I was about to turn around when the drunk man grabbed me by the collar and pushed me against the wall, causing me to land on her. "Aahh!" she hissed in response to the sudden action.

She held my shoulder to support me before I could do anything. He retrieved his knife and swung it at my stomach, but before it could make contact, I managed to dodge it, I confidently grasped the knife with my bare hand.. Blood dripping nonstop. He twists the knife to cause more. I pushed him backward with my leg and stanched the knife. Threw it somewhere and punched his face again. He fell again on the ground.

I turned to see if the lady was okay or not. I glanced at her face, my eyes widening in shock. Anger coursed through my spine. How dare he want to touch her?

I didn't witness anyone seize him by his collar. And started beating him again with all my strength. My knuckles got numb by the interaction of his face but I didn't stop. More like I couldn't.

She holds my hand to stop me. I stop with her touch, but my focus lands on her tears. She is crying because of this motherfucker. I stood up and kicked him in his nuts.

She again pulls me by my hand. "Stop, please! He will die," she pleaded with her eyes.He again pulls me by my hand. "Stop, please! He will die," she pleaded with her eyes.

"Get lost before I call the police," I shout louder. He flinches and runs away.

"Ughhh! If I hadn't come, something terrible could have happened." I kicked the ground in anger.

"Are you okay?" she asked with her soothing voice. I looked at her, and all my anger disappeared.

She is fine. I sigh in relief.

She looked at my left hand. She came closer and held my hand gently. I felt my breath catch in my throat.

"We should go to the hospital," she said. She took her handkerchief from her bag and pressed it on my wound. I watched her the whole time. "It's okay, it's nothing," I said to comfort her.

"But it's bleeding,"

She looked at me with concern in her hazel eyes.

"Wait, I have a first-aid kit in my car. I can help with your injury," she replied.

I nodded and followed her. I stood by the front of her car while she went inside and came back with a first-aid kit. She placed the kit on the hood of the car.

First, she took a cotton pad and applied some medicine to clean my wound, looking at me with confusion. I felt confused as well. She gestured for me to give her my hand, smiling at me. Uff, that smile-someday it might be the reason for my demise. "Ahhh," I hissed as the cotton touched my injured temple.

" oh sorry, dhuka kya" she asked. [is it hurting]

" nahi nahi, maja aya" I smile at her. [no, no, I am having fun]

She chuckled and gave a gentle blow to my hand to ease the pain while tapping the cotton slowly. When she finished cleaning, she began dressing my temple.

"You shouldn't hold that knife with your bare hand," she whispered, but I heard her clearly.

" yeah I shouldn't, I should have wait till the knife would create a hole In my body, shouldn't I?" I asked sarcastically.

She stopped doing my dressing and looked at me with wide eyes. I smiled, and she sighed and pouted at me.

"Sorry, I didn't mean that," she bit her lower lip, and my heart skipped several beats.

"I'm done," she said as she let go of my hand, and I felt the warmth of her touch disappear.

"Thank you for saving me. I am really grateful to you, and you got hurt because of me," she said, glancing down at her leg.

So she feels guilty.

"Hmmmmmm..." I pretended to think.

She looked at me with amusement.

"If you feel guilty about my condition, then you have to do something for me," I said with a serious expression.

"And what is that?" she asked, confused.

"First, you have to promise you will do it!"

After a long pause, she nodded.

"Words."

"Yes, I will do it," she said with hesitation.

"Will you be my friend?"

***Flashback ends.**

I wish I could rewrite our destiny and erase the part where I fell in love with you.