A boy and a girl can never be friends! Yes, you might have heard this dialogue in most of the Bollywood movies. It’s not always true, as many of you may agree. But it’s not always false, as many of you may agree.
They say friendship is the true foundation of love. But what if love ruins the friendship itself?
This fear have led to some incomplete love stories. And some to hurt themselves for a lifetime, maybe.
The wedding season had brought friends and family together, and Riya couldn’t contain her excitement. Her best friend was getting married, and as the bridesmaid, she had a dozen responsibilities. Dressed elegantly, she stood by the bride, scanning the buzzing venue, when her eyes froze.
“Vinay?” she muttered under her breath. Her childhood best friend stood across the hall.
He saw her too. They waved, exchanged surprised smiles, but amidst the festivities, they didn’t get a chance to talk. The next day, they reunited at another ritual, shared a few laughs, and swapped numbers. It was casual at first—a few texts, some pictures from the wedding. But by the following morning, their conversations had deepened, filling their days with texts, phone calls, and laughter.
For Vinay, however, something had changed. He couldn’t stop thinking about her. Every little thing she did made his heart race—her quirks, her fiery temper, even the way she rolled her eyes at his jokes. But as his feelings grew, so did Riya’s unease.
One evening, Vinay sent her wedding photos, and their conversation flowed effortlessly. Yet when Riya put her phone down, her thoughts spiraled. She sat on the floor, her heart pounding as she stared at his messages. Her hands were cold, her breathing shallow. Her box of medicines sat on the table, a stark reminder of the battles she hadn’t shared with him.
“Vinay,” she typed.
“Yes? What happened?” he replied almost instantly.
She hesitated. What if she was wrong about his feelings? But what if she was right?
“Can we meet tomorrow?” she finally asked.
“You do know we’re in different cities, right?” Vinay sounded puzzled.
“Right, of course,” she backtracked, embarrassed. “Sorry, I guess I’m just tired. I’ll go to sleep now.”
Vinay couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was wrong. Meanwhile, Riya’s mind raced. “I need to talk to him. I need to stop him before it’s too late,” she thought.
The next morning, the doorbell startled her. Groggily, she opened it, grabbed the milk basket, and shut the door. But as she reached in, her fingers brushed soft petals. Pulling out a bunch of white roses, she froze.
“He remembered,” she whispered, her voice breaking.
She threw open the door to find Vinay standing there, his grin unmistakable.
“Ma’am, may I come in?” he teased.
Riya let him in, her emotions a mix of joy and dread. “You came all this way… for me?”
“Of course,” he said, settling onto her couch. “Now, tell me, what’s wrong?”
Riya sat across from him, her hands trembling. Her heart was a storm of emotions. “Do you love me?” she asked, her voice barely audible.
Vinay leaned forward, his expression soft. “Riya…” he began, but she cut him off.
“Don’t,” she said, tears streaming down her face. “Not because I don’t care about you, but because I can’t. I’ve lost the ability to love. My heart is broken. Please don’t hurt yourself by loving me.”
Vinay noticed her trembling hands and the box of medicines on the table.
“Riya, do you need one of these?” he asked gently, pointing to the box.
She nodded and took a pill, her breathing slowly evening out.
“Riya, listen to me,” he said. “I like you—a lot. But if you don’t want me to cross that line, I won’t. I’ll be your friend first, always. But you can’t stop my heart from loving you. And you don’t have to love me back.”
Riya’s tears fell freely as she whispered, “I need a friend, Vinay. Not a lover.”
“And why not a lover?” he asked softly.
“Love fades,” she said firmly.
“So does friendship,” he countered.
“Love seeks perfection. Friendship accepts you for who you are. Love can become judgemental. Friendship doesn’t judge you. Love seeks quarrels, friendship solves them. Love requires equal efforts, and I dont have the strength to put any efforts in any relationship.”
Vinay was stunned. This was not the Riya he knew from his childhood. Riya was scattered, he could tell by looking at her. He wanted to be there for her.
“Riya, I know it might look another way, but I’ll be your friend first. I don’t know what you are going through, and honestly it’s okay even if you don’t tell me. I just want to be there for you, as a friend. You are right, love can put conditions and expectations on the relation, but friendship won’t! So Riya, here I am, your most loyal and trustworthy friend.”
He thought his lies assured Riya.
His words eased the storm in her heart, even if just for a moment. They spent the day together, laughing and talking like the old friends they were.
But as Vinay prepared to leave, Riya stopped him at the door.
“Vinay,” she said, her voice soft but resolute. “The eyes… they never lie.”
He turned to her, his brown eyes filled with unspoken emotions.
“I know you love me,” she whispered.
He smiled gently. “And I always will. But for now, I’m your friend. And that’s enough.”
He left, leaving Riya standing at the door. She didn’t know if she had lost a friend or gained something deeper. But as the sunlight filled her room, she held onto the hope that one day, she might heal enough to love again.
In the delicate balance between love and friendship, Vinay and Riya chose the latter. Time would test their bond, but for now, it was the promise of unwavering support that carried them forward.
