“Everything about her was a lie!”

“I wasn’t mistaken, but I was blamed for it.”

“You’re not wrong, Vineet. But I am afraid of commitments. You know, I am scared that you might leave me if I don’t give you enough time.”

“You know my feelings, right? You understand what I feel for you. You say my eyes reflect what my heart feels; try to understand, Vineet. I am not ready for the commitment.”

Vineet is pacing up and down in his room, her words piercing his heart like a thorn. He harbors deep love for this woman, his colleague and friend, Ruhana Sehgal. He turns towards her; she’s sitting quietly on the bed, her eyes shedding guilty tears for turning him down. A few minutes ago, he had proposed to her, and she had turned down his proposal. However, he has made up his mind to know the truth.

From the very beginning, he has noticed changes in her behavior that are unlike her. Of course, they have known each other for a long time, but in the past two years, he has seen a drastic change in her demeanor. There’s something she’s hiding. He hasn’t pressed her until now, but now he can’t take it. He wants to know the truth, and so he turns towards her.

“Why do you refrain from talking about that incident, Ruhana? What is it? Why do you say, ‘Everything about her was a lie’? What does it mean?”

“I haven’t pressed you so far, but I know there’s more to the story than you have told me. I am not mad at you for rejecting my proposal—NO! But I want to know the reasons for your disapproval,” he says, taking her by surprise.

“I have loved you, Ruhana, and will always do. But I can’t see you suffer; I can’t see you in pain. I am happy being your friend and will always love you, but I need to know the truth. If I can’t be your life partner, I want to be your partner in your healing,” he says, his words earnest and bound to leave an impact on her heart.

For the first time, Ruhana looks up and meets his eyes, which demand answers. Of course, she has hidden the reason for her grief from everyone, but she knows she won’t be able to hide anything from this man. He has been a great friend and is always there to help her. He’s not like other men; instead, he wants to help her in her healing. That’s way too generous of him to say, but doing it is a different matter.

She sighs deeply; she knows that she will need to open the old diary and tell him the anecdotes of the withered roses of friendship.

*****

“Prisha!”

“I never thought she’d become an integral part of my life. I didn’t know that she’d become a part of my soul, and that I’d not be able to live without her.”

“I miss you, Prisha! I don’t know what others have told you, but I still love you, and you still hold the same place in my life.”

“I never dreamt in my life that you would accuse me of something that I didn’t do. You’ve broken me, Prisha!”

Vineet gazes at Ruhana as he reads the text written on the old page of the diary. There’s also a withered rose on the page. She can read the questions in his eyes, and she knows that he demands an explanation for all of this. She sighs deeply and looks at him.

“It started when I joined college. I met Prisha on the first day of college, and we bonded instantly. Okay, I was a little insecure, but Prisha made her way straight into my heart with her talks, her concern for me, and her caring nature. And ever since then, she became my best friend,” Ruhana explains, her tone filled with emotion.

She trails down memory lane, reminiscing the day when she met Prisha for the first time.

****

Elite Academy is a well-known institute, and Ruhana is glad to have the chance to be here. It’s a dream come true for her to find out that the college allotted to her is the prestigious Elite Academy. She’s here to study Arts and English Literature. Her happiness knows no bounds, but at the same time, she’s nervous since it’s her first day at the college.

Every first is special. Today is her first day going to college; it’s all about experiencing a different environment, meeting different people, and having beautiful experiences. However, she’s mainly concerned about making friends. She’s a sweet, calm girl and a bookworm, as her school friends nicknamed her, so she’s worried that people might not befriend her in her new college. It’s not that she doesn’t do anything for fun, but reading books brings solace to her soul, and curating something brings joy to her heart. She always finds ways to keep herself sane. Of course, she had a bunch of friends in school, and she hopes to make some good friends soon, but she’s skeptical about finding anybody on the first day of college.

She enters the college, collects her ID card from the management office, and starts looking for her class. She doesn’t want to be late on the first day. Although she’s unsure if they will have a class today, being a sincere student, she wants to give her best from day one. It’s a habit that Ruhana has kept intact until now. Her first lecture is of the English language, so she finds her classroom and takes a seat in the second row so that she can face the teacher. However, the classroom is empty, and there are only a few students, including her. Meanwhile, it’s time for the class, and the students rush in. Amidst this rush, as the students usher in, eager to take their regular seats, a girl falls over her, startling her. A few moments later, the other girl steadies herself and takes a seat beside Ruhana, who smiles lightly at her. Meanwhile, the teacher starts the class after a brief introduction. Forty minutes later, as the class ends, the other girl turns to face Ruhana and apologizes.

“I am sorry; someone pushed me, and so, I fell on you. I hope you’re not hurt,” she inquires.

“I am fine. I understand. Anyway, it seems like this is your seat. Do you want me to change my seat?” Ruhana asks, her tone earnest and honest.

“No, please sit and be comfortable,” she says, looking at Ruhana, her tone concerned, and asks her to introduce herself. 

“I am Ruhana Sehgal! And you?” Ruhana asks.

“Prisha Malhotra. I’m glad to meet you, Ruhana,” Prisha says, extending a hand of friendship towards Ruhana.

Ruhana praises her for her name, and soon they discover that they follow the same stream, so most of their classes will be conducted together. Ruhana feels a sense of joy washing over her, glad to have found Prisha. However, she’s oblivious to the storm that’s brewing and will come with her friendship with Prisha.

*****

As the days passes by, their friendship grows stronger. One fine afternoon, after college, the two friends are sitting in CCD, enjoying their cappuccinos and reflecting on their life at college.

“Oh my God, Ruu! I wonder, if I hadn’t found you, what would I have done?”

“I thought no one would like to befriend me. I am a chatterbox, I need people by my side, and mostly, people can’t commit. But then, I found you. It’s been six months, Ruu...”

Prisha’s voice cuts through the silence in the café and brings joy to Ruhana. She reaches out to hold Prisha’s hands on the table. She feels mutual affection for her friend and smiles back at her.

“Mutual feelings, Prisha. I was also thinking that no one would have tried to befriend me. However, I was skeptical because I came here leaving my family behind in Delhi, and then I had no friends here. So, I didn’t know how I would survive college. But then I met you!”

“Really, Prisha! I didn’t see it coming. I mean, I never thought we’d last this long, and you know what? If we’ve survived six months together, we’ll be together for the next sixty years, you know.” Ruhana jokes, causing Prisha to giggle.

“That’s true, Ruhana. I mean, even I didn’t know I’d get a best friend in you. Yeah, there are some differences, but our vibes match. Also, you are always there when I need you,” Prisha says, her tone laced with love and admiration.

“I feel the same, Prisha. You’re my home in this city. I always come to you when I feel homesick, so yes, I can say we met by chance, but we bonded by love and our mutual efforts,” Ruhana says, her eyes filled with love for her friend.

“Right, we must celebrate these six months of our life. We’ll do so after our semester exams.” Prisha suggests, and Ruhana agrees.

They relish their coffee with chit-chat about their lives, ambitions, and more. However, what seems pleasant to them is a reason for hate for some people at the college. Both Ruhana and Prisha remain oblivious to the storm that’s looming near them.

*****

With Prisha around, Ruhana feels lively all the time. She had not anticipated her college life to be so fun-filled. However, there’s one thing that keeps bugging her, and she knows that it's part of Prisha’s demeanor. Over time, Ruhana has learned that her best friend wants to keep her close, and every day, it seems like she has to report to Prisha, and then she decides their schedules. However, Ruhana respected it, for she didn’t want to say something to her or blame her. There’s nothing wrong with bringing people close to yourself, but with time, Ruhana starts feeling overwhelmed, and she feels it as a responsibility to meet Prisha and be available as she pleases. Every time she brushes this thought away, it settles in her chest again, knocking at her soul, that something is wrong. But, ignoring the calls of her heart, she continues trusting Prisha and their bond of friendship.

Well, three years of college pass by in a blink. As they say, to maintain a relationship, you have to ignore some things and accept others. Ruhana has accepted Prisha’s possessive and impulsive behavior. After all, the girl loves her with all her heart and shares every little thing with her. And as she embraces all her flaws, the friendship between Prisha and Ruhana has become strong, and people around them adore the bond that the two girls have made. It’s their final year, and now, the two girls have chosen their subjects for specialization, which has led them into different groups. However, it never hindered their relationship; they only got a little more gossip to share with each other. In short, they believed in having fun together, and they never had the goal to hurt anyone. However, they didn’t know that a storm was looming nearby, that too, in the face of their friends.

It’s a fine day, Prisha is in the canteen with her friends, Aditi and Myra. These two know the bond Prisha shares with Ruhana, but they’re envious of their bond. Most of the time, Prisha stays with them, but even if she takes an hour or two off just to meet Ruhana, the girls feel offended. Prisha’s laughter rings amidst the silence of the canteen; she’s looking at her phone, maybe reading a message from Ruhana.

“Woah! Is it Ruhana?” Aditi asks.

“Prisha, even when you’re with us, you’re talking about ‘Ruhana’. Why can’t you concentrate on us?” Myra asks, her tone sarcastic.

“Hey, I am here already. She just sent a message, and it’s my courtesy to respond, isn’t it?” Prisha says, her tone playful.

“Yeah, but you always talk about her, and as far as I have heard, she doesn’t talk about you as much as you do. I don’t think she mentions you in front of her friends, as you mention her before us,” Myra says, her tone sarcastic, anger seeping through her words.

“Hey, it’s her decision. Why are you telling me this?” Prisha asks, surprised at the turn of events.

“Because you’re always talking about her. You never talk about us, Prisha. And Ruhana! She never talks about you when she’s with her other friends. I bet she’s happy when she’s alone with them,” Anjali says, trying to brainwash her.

“You two are mistaken! It’s not like that. I know what I mean to her, and she knows how much I love her and adore our friendship. And no more discussions about this,” Prisha says, her tone firm, leaving no room for discussion.

She tells them that she needs to head to her class, and so she leaves the canteen while Anjali and Myra fume in anger as they watch Prisha leave. They’re determined to prove their views on Ruhana right, and prove that Prisha has been in the wrong company until now. 

*****

Friendship is not a raw thread, and Ruhana and Prisha have proven this. Despite Prisha’s habit of seeking attention, her untimely calls, and demands that are hard to cope with, Ruhana has maintained her composure and kept their friendship intact. Yes, at times she feels overwhelmed by her friend’s demands and straightforward nature, but her love overpowers it all. There are times when Prisha says things without realizing that her words can hurt someone. She keeps speaking her heart out, but Ruhana feels that there are other ways to express things. You don’t need to lash out at people or blame them openly. Some mistakes can be corrected if we talk things through and help others understand. However, Prisha doesn’t grasp this, and she persists in her impatient ways. Sometimes, Ruhana gets irked by this, but she doesn’t want to ruin her friendship for such a minor reason. Sometimes, you need to overlook certain things to preserve your relationship. Ruhana is doing just that; she’s preserving her relationship with Prisha because, after all, what matters is the sweet bond they share. However, Ruhana is unaware of the storm that’s looming over her.

Their college term comes to an end. Both Ruhana and Prisha secure their desired jobs, though they have to part ways. Ruhana is glad that Prisha has her set of friends from college and that they’ll be together, while Ruhana will be alone in her workspace. But that’s the nature of life, isn’t it? It keeps changing. Ruhana and Prisha meet each other before their exams; they’ve already secured good jobs, and now they’ll be busy preparing for the final exams, after which they’ll start a new chapter in their lives. They share a heartfelt hug.

“I am going to miss you, Ruhana.”

“I will miss you too, Prisha, but that’s the nature of life. However, I promise that we will keep meeting whenever we are free. And we’re still meeting until the exams are over,” Ruhana says, her tone laced with emotion.

“Sure, Ruhana. I will be waiting to meet you; we will have so much to gossip about,” Prisha chuckles.

“Haha, yeah, and we will have people about whom we’ll gossip!” Ruhana says, her eyes twinkling with mischief, causing Prisha to giggle.

The two friends part ways after a little chit-chat, and Prisha has planned a lunch date with her friends Anjali and Myra, so she goes with them. She is oblivious to the heinous games that are bubbling in the minds of her friends. For Myra and Aditi, it’s a chance to brainwash Prisha against Ruhana. Over the past three years, they’ve tried umpteen times to mold Prisha’s feelings but failed, so now is their opportunity. Aditi and Myra share a knowing smile, while Prisha remains unaware of their plans.

*****

Vineet glances at Ruhana as she stops narrating the past memory. There is a fondness in her eyes, maybe for her long-time best friend. The way she speaks her name suggests that she still holds a lot of love for her. However, Vineet is unable to understand why she is distant from her best friend and what it has to do with her trust issues. He looks at her, seeking an explanation, while she sighs deeply before looking into his eyes. She already knows the question that is ready on his lips.

“I know you’re thinking, why don’t I talk about Prisha anymore, or why I am not ready for any commitment? It’s all because of her, Vineet. She blamed me for a petty reason, ignoring my efforts to be with her,” she responds, while he looks surprised.

“Oh, and what did she do?” he asks, his curiosity piqued.

“I never thought in my wildest dreams, Vineet, that she would blame me for not attending to her or not giving her time because I was busy with my own life. I don’t know why. And when I tried talking to her, she didn’t understand her mistakes. In fact, she further blamed me for everything that happened with her during that period,” Ruhana explains, trailing down memory lane.

*****

During the final semester, everyone is asked to submit a project, and both Ruhana and Prisha decide to work on a project based on a classic English novel. However, they also had started their jobs. The real issue began when both friends started their respective jobs, and their time to meet each other lessened.

One fine day, Prisha and Ruhana decided to meet for their project. Since Prisha had a half day, she arrived at the café early and started working on her project. By chance, Aditi and Myra passed by the café and spotted Prisha inside. Thye meet her and take seats beside her. THey knows she’s waiting for Ruhana, so Myra puts forward her question. 

“Waiting for Ruhana?” She asks, her tone laced with sarcasm. 

“Yeah, she will be here by six p.m.; she had some urgent work,” Prisha responds. 

“Oh yeah, her urgent work is to meet someone and not you,” Myra replies, her tone convincing.

“Yeah, we saw her in the mall with some of her friends. I don’t think she remembers that she has to meet you,” Aditi continues, knowing this was a good chance to manipulate Prisha.

“Must be some work, Aditi! She will come on time, I know,” Prisha says, not affected by their words.

“Yeah, she has more important things to do than meeting you, Prisha. And you still think that she’s by your side. No, she is happy being away from you. She’s enjoying with her new friends, and you’re here waiting for her,” Myra says, her tone envious of the bond Prisha shares with Ruhana.

Prisha glances at them. The girls thought their work was done, but she lashes out at them for speaking badly about her best friend. She also asks them to leave. The two girls felt offended but left the place, and soon Ruhana joins Prisha, and they work on the project.

However, life doesn’t always go as planned. The same became true for Prisha. After the initial argument with her friends, Prisha encounters similar arguments many times until she starts believing that Ruhana is not giving her enough time. Finally, she decides to talk to Ruhana and make her realize her mistake.

On the the other hand, Ruhana also feels Prisha’s behavior is changing, however, she didn’t say it on her face, but she too wants to talk about it to her best friend. 

*****

With the goal of talking to Prisha and lessening the distance between them, Ruhana visits Prisha’s home, where she finds her busy with Myra and Aditi. The two girls smirk upon seeing Ruhana and take their leave from Prisha. Ruhana hugs Prisha but feels that the hug isn’t reciprocated. She pulls away and looks at her best friend.

“What happened to you, Prisha? Aren’t you happy that I came to meet you?” Ruhana asks, her tone concerned.

“You found time after a whole month? And you didn’t even call me once,” Prisha says, her tone accusing.

“What are you saying, Pri? I did call you, and we’ve talked and chatted. I’m really sorry, I had an urgent project to submit,” Ruhana says, her tone soft and convincing.

“I’m telling the truth. You’ve become so busy that you’re not responding to my calls. And when you do, you disconnect abruptly. You’ve got new friends now. Why would you care about me?” Prisha says, her tone furious, and Ruhana is shocked.

“It’s not like that, Prisha. You know I’ve been a little busy. How can you think like this? Don’t you know me well? I am always there for you, and you say that I do nothing for you…” Ruhana yells at her friend.

“Yes, yes, that’s exactly what you’ve been doing for quite some time, Ruhana. I think Myra and Aditi were right. You’re so engrossed in your new friends and your new job that you’ve forgotten me. And now you say that I don’t make time for you…” Prisha says defensively.

“Prisha, please, don’t force me to list all the things you’ve done. You’re the one throwing tantrums, and now you’re blaming me for something I didn’t do. Wow! Is this how you define friendship?” Ruhana says, her tone filled with anger.

“You’re the one doing it. After college, you’ve forgotten me. And I don’t throw tantrums. It’s you who has become choosy and now you complain. I was always there for you, even after we parted ways due to our jobs. But you’re enjoying life and forgetting me. And let’s not forget the advice you gave me! You told me how I should behave and what I should do. I felt like you were trying to prove that I’m a loser, that everything I did was wrong,” Prisha accuses, her voice trembling with frustration.

“No, Prisha, that’s not it at all. I gave you that advice because I wanted you to become a better person and friend. I saw how some of your actions were affecting your relationships, and I thought it was important to help you see that. I wanted you to grow and be a better version of yourself, not to make you feel like a loser,” Ruhana says, her voice filled with emotion.

“And another thing, Prisha, your possessiveness is driving a wedge between us. You want to control every aspect of my life and how much time I spend with you. I understand that you miss me, but I need to live my life too. I can’t be available to you 24/7,” Ruhana continues, trying to address Prisha’s possessive behavior.

“What are you talking about? I’m not being possessive. I just want to be a priority in your life. Is that too much to ask? You’re the one who’s changed, not me. You’re the one who’s found new friends and left me behind,” Prisha retorts, her voice sharp.

“It’s not about being a priority, Prisha. It’s about understanding that I have other responsibilities and commitments. You need to accept that I have a life outside of our friendship. I’ve always been there for you, but your constant need for reassurance and your jealousy of my other friendships is not healthy. I’m trying to balance everything, but you’re making it very difficult,” Ruhana says, her voice tinged with frustration.

“I’m only reacting because you’ve shut me out. I see you with others, and it feels like I’m being replaced. Every time I try to express how I feel, you turn it around and make me the villain. I’m just trying to hold on to what we had,” Prisha says, her voice breaking.

“I’m not trying to replace you, Prisha. I care about you, but I also need to set boundaries. Your possessiveness is suffocating, and it’s affecting how I feel about our friendship. I want us to be able to talk openly and honestly without these constant accusations and demands,” Ruhana says, her eyes brimming with tears.

“I know, Aditi and Myra have filled your mind with all such crap, Prisha, and that is why you are accusing me. Instead of praising my efforts, you are blaming me for the mess in your life! How could you? If you have a life, I also have it. I am not bound to entertain you all the time, Prisha.” Ruhana says, hurt by the blunt accusations from her friend. 

“You’re always there when you need help, otherwise, you’re busy with your work. I have noticed it all. So, please stop blaming. And yes, tell Myra and Aditi, that they  have succeeded in breaking our friendship, and it’s your mistake that you believed them more than me and our bond. You’ll regret one day, Prisha! You will!” She says, tears streaming down her eyes.

The rift between them wides as they stand on the opposite sides of their fractured relationship, each losing an important part of their lives. Glancing at Prisha for some moments, Ruhana walks out of the house, unable to hold her tears, and the sting of Prisha’s accusation weighs heavily on her heart. 

******

“She accused me of something that I didn’t do, Vineet. She didn’t want to understand that I had other priorities too. How could I just please her?” 

“If I would force you to be with me, if I don’t let you meet your friends, won’t you feel suffocated, Vineet? I felt the same. You know it was like she wanted me to just concentrate on her, and no-one else.” 

“She has made me feel that if I get into any relationship, be it friendship or a love relationship, I’ll be the one making efforts, and the other one won’t do anything. This is why I am not ready for any relationship. She believed her friends more than me. They were always envious of our bond, Vineet. Now you tell me, if I was wrong?” Ruhana asks, her tone laced with emotion and eyes full of hope. 

Vineet takes a few seconds to contemplate everything and then he cups her face. He has understood her fear, he wants to reach out and comfort her and assure her that he’s not expecting only her to make efforts. 

“Ruhana, I understand. I know that a relationship takes effort from both sides, but with your story, it was only you who put in the effort, while Prisha didn’t make any effort. But it’s not your mistake, Ruhana. Don’t delve into the grief of that past memory.” He explains, his tone filled with concern. 

“I just can’t forget it, Vineet.  All of those accusations come haunting me, the more I want to forget it, the more it plays in my mind. I am tired.” She says, her eyes watery and her tone heavy. 

“You have to come out of it, Ruhana.” he says, trying to provide some comfort. 

“I am trying my best, Vineet. But I feel that I have lost a part of myself in that trifle with Prisha. A part of me has gone with her, because I put my heart and soul in everything I do, be it a job, or a relationship.” Ruhana says, her tone heavy with emotion. 

Vineet says nothing, he understands her inner turmoil, and therefore, he knows she can’t bring back the lost piece of her soul. He embraces her in his arms, trying to provide the much-needed comfort. Though he did little to provide her comfort, he silently vows to not hurt her again, and love her with all her flaws.