"Priya, please, just listen to me! I didn't do anything!" Arjun's voice cracked as he tried to explain.
"I don't want to hear another word, Arjun," she shot back, tears burning in her eyes. "I should've known you'd never change. It's not even been a month since we got together, and already you've broken my trust. I'm done. I'm going back right now."
"Priya, please! I swear on everything—I didn't do anything wrong!"
She glared at him, trembling with anger. "And what about what Vijay and I saw? Was that a lie too? You think we imagined you with that girl this morning?"
"I—I don't even know how that girl got into my room! I'm telling you, nothing happened! Vijay, come on, you know me—say something!"
Vijay crossed his arms, his expression hard. "What do you want me to say, Arjun? I told both of you before—he's always been like this. But you didn't listen, Priya. Now deal with it."
Arjun's chest tightened. "Vijay, I swear on our friendship—I had nothing to do with that girl!"
Vijay scoffed. "Enough, man. Don't drag friendship into this. I saw it with my own eyes."
That was the final blow. His knees weakened, and he sank onto the edge of the bed. His head dropped into his hands as if someone had poured molten lava into his ears.
The friendship he once believed sacred now felt like a blade cutting through him.
He sat there, hollow, until Priya's voice broke through. "Vijay, I'm leaving. Right now."
Arjun lifted his head and stumbled toward her. "Priya, I've made mistakes—many. But since the day I met you, I've never looked at anyone else. Please, believe me."
"How can I believe you?" she whispered. "What should I trust, what I saw or what you're saying? The truth's right in front of me, Arjun. If you'd just admit it once, say you made a mistake, I'd forgive you… but you can't even do that. You—"
"I won't apologize for something I didn't do!" Arjun shouted, voice breaking.
Vijay stepped in, his tone pleading. "Arjun, please. Don't throw away years of friendship just because of your ego. Say sorry, even if it wasn't your fault. What's the harm?"
"Enough," Arjun said, standing now. "Don't say another word, Vijay. If friendship doesn't come with trust, then what's the point? You two can leave. I'll find the truth myself."
"Come on, man," Vijay said, frustrated. "Stop being stubborn. Let's just book a flight and go home before this gets worse."
"I'm not leaving without answers," Arjun replied quietly. "You two go."
Vijay looked helplessly between them, but Priya had already made up her mind. "Fine. We'll leave tonight," she said, and walked out.
Arjun turned to go after her, but Vijay stopped him. "Where are you going now?"
"To find that girl," Arjun said coldly. "If I can't prove my innocence to my best friend, then what was our friendship worth? From this moment, we walk separate paths."
He stormed out into the night, searching every corner of the city for the mysterious girl. But by dawn, he had found nothing—no trace, no explanation, only silence.
When he finally returned, exhausted, he found Priya sitting on his bed, packing his bag.
He knelt beside her. "Priya," he said softly, "I've been with many people in my life, but I swear to you on everything sacred—I didn't do what you think I did."
Priya paused, her hands trembling over the zipper. "Arjun… I've known you since we were kids. I know your good and bad sides. And when you say this with such honesty, a part of me believes you."
A flicker of hope lit up in his eyes as he reached toward her—but she stopped him. "But after what I saw this morning… I can't feel the same anymore. Maybe my love for you died there. What's left is friendship—like it used to be. Nothing more."
Arjun smiled faintly, though his heart felt shattered. "If your love died, then I guess I'm dead too. And a dead man can't be your friend, can he?"
He stood up and walked out without another word.
Her voice brought him back to reality, "You're alive, Arjun…"
He looked at her.
"…Then maybe our friendship is alive too?" she asked softly.
He looked away. "Time will tell."
"I'll wait," she whispered, before hugging him tightly.
It was Priya—the same woman he saw yesterday on airport. And from a distance, Vijay watched, silent and guilty. But Anaya, stood further back, anger and confusion swirling in her eyes.
When Priya finally let go, she said, "Do you know, I blamed myself all these years? I thought you left because of me."
"It wasn't your fault," Arjun said gently. "Looking back… maybe fate just wanted it that way. Anyway, you're a reporter now, right?"
She laughed. "Yeah, gossiping has always been my favorite hobby. And by the way, I want an interview—don't you dare give it to someone else first."
He smiled faintly. "I'm not ready for that yet."
"That's fine. Whenever you are ready."
For a moment, silence filled the space—soft, heavy, familiar.
"I was scared to meet you," she admitted. "I thought you'd hate me."
"I tried," he said, chuckling softly. "But when I saw that big goofy face of yours, all the anger just… ran away."
She smacked his shoulder playfully. "You haven't changed at all."
"Not for my friends," he said.
"Then forgive Vijay too," she murmured.
"Let's just eat," Arjun said, brushing it off. "No point holding onto the past."
They joined the others for dinner, talking about old times but never once mentioning those eight long years apart. When everyone finally left, Arjun noticed Anaya heading upstairs. He followed.
"Hey, Anaya," he called softly. "Where are you going? Come, let's talk for a bit."
"I'm sleepy," she said, not turning around.
He caught her wrist gently. "Please. I want to talk."
He led her into his room and sat her down on the bed, kneeling before her. "What's wrong? Are you mad at me?"
"Why would I be mad?" she asked, her tone cold. "Did you do something I should be mad about?"
"Then why have you been avoiding me since I came back?"
"There's nothing to talk about," she said flatly. "You were gone for eight years, Arjun. I got used to the silence."
"Anaya… please forgive me. I wasn't here, but don't think I ever forgot you. You were always close to my heart."
"But you lost your memory, didn't you?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
"Even if I lose my memories or my life I could never forget you."
For a moment, Anaya's expression softened, but then she straightened, forcing calm into her tone. "I'm tired, Arjun. I should sleep. Goodnight…."
The last word cut deeper than a blade. She stood and left, leaving him frozen.
Arjun exhaled, changed his clothes, and walked to his old trunk near the wardrobe. As he opened it, the memories of what once was flooded back…