Mr. HansH (Ishq Mein Marjawan)
My True Friend

And, just then I realized Neha was looking down with a clear circle inundating her eyelids.

"Hey, Neha? What's up?" I asked when HansH had returned to his place.

I was sad to see him sad. I extend my hand to Neha's arm as we used to do when we showed concern for each other.

"Come," he said. "I just...."

"You can tell me. Hmm?"

"I'm so moved to see your relationship. But I'm sad too. I'm rattled. My relationship with my girlfriends has always run aground. Is there something wrong with me? I don't get it. Stev said he liked me, but in the end he said that our relationship didn't work out and that he had found someone else. Guys didn't seem to want to linger with me after the chase in the beginning. Is there something wrong with me, Alisah? I mean, am I ugly or what?" Tears glistened at the corners of his unusually large brown seed eyes.

I didn't see my best friend so sad and desperate. I moved to get closer to him. Sit next to her and embrace her. I felt her shoulders tremble as tears began to fall, traversing her cheeks profusely. "Neha, don't cry. You don't have to be sad like this. I'm sure your soul mate is out there for you. He's probably closer than you think. You just have to focus on what makes you happy until he comes, that's all. Don't despair, okay? You're not alone. There I am here."

He sobs. "I knew. I just want to have a boyfriend I can keep, you understand, right?"

Right at that moment, I knew exactly what he meant. "You just haven't found it yet. But he must be there. He will come into your life someday. Believe it."

Neha smiled. She wiped the tears and said quietly, "You're exactly like my best friend. Zia's. He was always there for me. But right now, I don't know what happened to him. He could not be contacted. I feel like I see him inside you."

You can feel my presence, Neha. It's really me.

"Attent."

"Emm?"

"You...?"

Neha's suspicions were again provoked. I pulled my arm and he noticed the scar on my upper arm.

"How can you have this scar?"

Oh my God, that detail Neha was watching me.

"Tell me-"

"Shhh..," hissed. "Neha, please, lower your voice." I started to panic.

"I don't care" he replied slowly. "Now explain to me how the scar is exactly the same as the scar on Zia's hand? Are you...?"

Neha looked at me. I know he remembers exactly that scar, the razor-scratched mark when we were kids. Neha accidentally hurt me as we ran together. The sharp razor she held accidentally hit my hand until it was scratched. It was when my blood splattered until I cried out in pain while Neha was frightened, then she ran to one of the nearby stalls near where we were playing. He bought plaster for me. Without any treatment or medical measures, he covered the wound on my hand with the plaster until finally after a few days, the scar instead left a mark that poked on the surface of my skin like a horizontal line that could not be lost. The scar did not make me uncomfortable, it always reminded me of how long our friendship was and never erased like I never erased the scar on my hand.

"Here.emm.I accidentally hurt my hand."

"Impossible." Neha shook her head. "I don't believe."

"Yes, that's the truth." I glanced around and felt everyone was busy with their respective groups. I whispered, "I knew Zia had a scar. I just don't want HansH--"

Glegs!

Unable to resist, speechless, and unable to do anything, I complied as Neha dragged me to the toilet.

"What do you want?" I asked as Neha slammed the toilet door and she stood in front of me.

Neha scares me. I struggled to swallow in panic.

"Open your jacket."

"Neeha?"

"Open up! I'm not sure if you also know Zia has a mole on her back. I want to see how far you've imitated my best friend."

No. gabe. I know you're doing this on purpose to prove I'm Zia or not. Not to accuse Alisah of copying Zia in detail.

"Alisah, open!"

I'm shaking. "I don't have a mole on my back" I lie. "And how could I possibly know that Zia-"

"Show me I'll believe."

"But, Neha, for what? I don't copy it to that detail. Hansh can't possibly know, either, right?"

"But I know. I'm starting to suspect you and I want to be sure of the truth. Show me... Zia."

I'm shaking. Tears started to sting and my cheeks were burning.

"If I were your best friend, you'd show me who you are. You're gonna tell me what happened to you, how heavy a burden you kept until all this happened. Hm? Please...? My Zia doesn't keep any secrets from me. You're my best friend, right? Isn't that right, Zia?"

I'm keeping quiet. Neha knew me too well and I knew Neha too well. Although I can try to avoid it, but he will not stay silent, he will continue to find out and it will only complicate my position. He will definitely investigate this truth through others and it will provoke the suspicion of others as well towards me. Then I just resigned. I open my jacket and Neha turns around.

Standing behind me, Neha sobbed. I was wrapped in a hug and we cried together.

"Tell me everything, Zia. There are no lies. Would help?"

I'm nodding. "I'll tell you everything. But not now, Neha. The timing is not right. It's gonna take a long time. You can wait, right? Can you give me some time? Would help?"

"Yeah, of course."

I twisted my body while releasing Neha's embrace and we faced each other. "Don't tell anyone, including Brother Sanjeev? Promise me, I beg you?"

"Yes, it won't. I promise, I won't tell anyone. You can trust me. I promise."

Thank you, Neha. You're my true friend. I trust you so much. But I have to figure out what reason I should give you. You mustn't know that Sanjeev's sister is behind all this. No one should judge his actions as a crime. Can't do. Because he's my brother. Beloved brother.