"What a day!" I stretched my arms after finishing my shift as a head chef at one of the most prestigious hotels in the land of Mumbai.

From childhood I was a free spirit. I never had a plan like "I'll become this. I'll become that!" All I wanted to earn something which I was doing now. I was on my own feet, being happy but one person wasn't happy with me. My dadu.

I came out of the five star lavish hotel. I looked up. My dull face immediately lightened as I saw the sweet shop across the road. I immediately ran towards it. "You opened the shop finally! Where were you these days!? Give me one dahi vaada! No no! Give me four!" I said in excitement and joy.

"Aree. Aree beta. Calm down! I went to my village for festival. Now I'm back. You missed me?" The elderly man smiled as he gave me, my food.

"Of course I missed you! You know how disappointment I was when you didn't open your shop for days!" I grumbled. I took bites of the dahi vaada as a smile of satisfaction tingled on my lips. "I missed it."

"You missed it? You're a good chef at such a prestigious hotel. But you missed my food?" The elderly man chuckled.

"Uncle. My food can never reach the affection and love you have in your food. " I smiled as I finished the food and paid the bill.

"Whatever you say beti." The man chuckled, taking the money. The day, when I first came here, I was there at the hotel for the interview for the job. It was a hassel. I didn't have much money as I was working part time beside my MBA. Dadu was always against my profession as he thought I would be joining his business and take the control of the school.

So, even if Dadu paid for my college, I never bothered him to do anything extra for me. It's not like I didn't love him. I did. And so did he. After my parents were gone in the accident, he was my everything . But due to my determination, there was a little crack in our healthy relationship. But I knew it would heal again.

Paying the bill, I turned to leave as my eyes widened.

"Divansh!" I exclaimed as I went to give a hive five. He did the same with his calm smile as our hand clapped. "Hi." Divansh smiled firmly.

"Sup bro!" I smiled. "I didn't disturb you yeah?" I asked which he shook his head and chuckled, "Since when you're so practical with me?"

I gave him a done face as I scoffed, "Don't act like I forced you. Don't act like we don't meet every day after work. By the way. How is your company going?"

"Good. How is your job?" He asked while walking.

"Good." I nodded.

We were like this, Divansh's company was near to my hotel. So we had a habit of walking on the streets after our work to relax. We didn't have much friends. It was always him for me and me for him. Just talking. Same talking. We never got bored. At highschool, after highschool, it's always been us. People said we were best friends but we never gave our relationship a name. It was nameless. I mean, does it really need a name? Why? Why when both of us are comfortable?

I got out of my thoughts hearing his words," Ms. Radio is silent today."

" I was thinking..... " I trailed off. "What? New ways to poke me?" He chuckled. "Bro!" I pushed him slightly while walking.

"No. I was thinking of going to the reunion of our school." I said as he halted his steps. I knew the memories were still haunting him.

"Divansh?", I called him as he turned to me with his darkened face. He tried to hide his discomfort as he said,"I see. Enjoy."

"You won't come?" I asked. He stayed silent before he said, "Chaya. You know-". His words were cut by mine," Forget it. Let's not talk about it."

"What about your blind dates? Uncle was very frustrated last time we talked. He complained how you rejected girls." I added.

"You just picked up my one insecurity to bury the other one." Divansh sighed.

"Insecurity? About what?" I asked in confusion. "You know it's about what." He said. I stayed silent before I understood him.

"You can't be serious!" I said in disbelief. "Bro! It's been 10 years. You're still holding onto that?"

Divansh was silent for a moment before he daid, "It's not easy to trust and forget." "Come on man! Not everyone is like that kutiya." I sighed. "There are better girls! Who won't use you!" I added.

"It's easy for you to say." Divansh kept his eyes lowered before he turned to me with his tired eyes. The man looked so strong yet he couldn't help but be so vulnerable in front of me.

"I can't trust people Chaya. I'm afraid of getting mocked again. Of getting used again. How will a person judge me if they came to know about the shameful incidents of my past." He said.

"You aren't at fault for it." I said, trying to reason his situation.

"Chaya. World is a motherf@cker. It won't understand I was a victim. Once it'll know what I faced during my childhood. The intimidating person I'm today was a scared kid at school! Who had zero friends at highschool cause of his weird looks." He said in hurt as we stayed silent.

"Telling lie isn't my option but the girls I met till now, My guts said that they weren't the one who will understand me. They weren't the one to be my emotional support. They just need a social statues. They want money. I'm not opposing it. But I'm scared of getting humiliated, heartbroken again. I am scared how I'll be judged once any girl knows about my past." He said in distress.

I stayed silent before I gestured him to walk. I started to walk as I fell beside him.

I said,"Divansh. Healing takes time. Don't worry. Your wounds will heal. You came to this position after so much fight. You fought against school, you fought against your insecurity. I can understand that you're afraid that you'll be judged. Girls want you for your fame and current look. And the world is a motherf@cker. But remember. In this motherf@cker world Your dad and I also live in. Now you can't say we're like others."

I paused as he looked at me in confusion and said, " What do you mean? "

"All I mean is. We're here in this world too. Who support you without judging you. You found me. You'll find the one when it's time. So stop overthinking." I smiled at him.

"I don't want to get married." He shook his head. "Marriage isn't scary!" I retorted in feign frustration.

"As if you have so much experience." He scoffed. "Well. I want to gain experience. And I know! Unlike being a hopeless like you! I'll find the one for me. Who won't judge me being a weirdo!" I shrugged my shoulders.

"Then I'll be alone again." He sighed. "It's not bad to be alone." I joked which he gave me a done face. "No need to be grumpy! You'll find someone!" I said nudging him with my elbow. "Sure." He scoffed.

"Come on! It's not like the world is ending! You'll find one! I can't miss your wedding! I'll wear my white lehenga there." I said.

"Similar to Aishwariya's lavender lehenga?" Divansh asked. "You still remembered!?" I asked with big eyes. "Why not? You're so much whiny about it during school days!" He sighed fake.

I gave him a done face before I ran to him and tried to push his large body to a side with my tiny figure before running away. It caught him off guard as he gave me an amused smile.

"Oye! Wait you little minx!" He laughed as he ran behind me, as if we both returned to our childhood.