I was still in Armaan's arms, trying to calm down, when I whispered:
Why did this happen? Who were those two boys? Why did Preet just leave?
Armaan paused.
There was a flicker of hesitation in his eyes—like he was deciding whether to tell me or not.
Then finally, he said it.
"Woh… woh mere friends the."
My breath caught.
"Kya?"
I stepped back, staring at him in disbelief.
"Tumhare friends? Tumne bheje the? Kyun, Armaan?"
He looked away for a moment, then back at me, guilt all over his face.
"Main bas Preet ko daraana chahta tha… uski aukaat yaad dilani thi."
"Woh baar baar tere around ghoom raha tha. Mujhe gussa aaya. Main… overreact kar gaya."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"Tumne use scare karne ke liye log bhej diye?! Armaan, he was my best friend!"
"WAS," he snapped, before softening again.
"Main sirf tumhare liye possessive ho gaya tha. Mujhe laga… woh tumhare aur mere beech aa raha hai."
My head was spinning.
So all of it—the drama, the fear, the panic—was planned.
By Armaan.
The guy who just hugged me like he was saving me… was the reason I was breaking down in the first place.
I sat down on the bench outside the class, completely silent.
Armaan stood beside me, waiting for me to say something.
I didn't.
I couldn't.
Because at that moment, I didn't know who to be more hurt by—Preet Or Armaan