Karan felt the sudden shift in weight, and his breath caught, eyes widening as panic flickered across his face. He clamped his arm tighter around Rudraksh's waist, voice breaking in urgency. "Rudraksh, stay with us, buddy!"

Rudraksh's head sagged forward, chin sinking to his chest, strands of his long hair falling across his pale face. A weak exhale escaped him, warm against Karan's collarbone, before his body slackened further into dead weight.

Siddharth moved fast, slipping to the other side with practiced steadiness. His hands braced Rudraksh's shoulder, fingers pressing hard, trying to keep him anchored to consciousness. "Karan," he murmured, "Let's get him to my place. It's closer."

Their pace turned into a half-drag, half-carry, shoes scraping against the uneven pavement. Karan's breath grew ragged, muscles burning as Rudraksh leaned heavier onto him with every step.

The street stretched ahead, washed in the faint orange haze of dying streetlamps. Somewhere in the distance, a lone horn cut through the silence, followed by the fading growl of an auto rickshaw. A stray dog trotted across their path, pausing to sniff the air before vanishing into the shadows.

When they reached Siddharth's house, the porch light hummed faintly, spilling an amber glow that carved long, uncertain shadows across the steps. The pillars of the two-tiered home loomed above, silent witnesses. Karan adjusted his grip once more, his shirt damp where Rudraksh's weight pressed against him.

Siddharth caught the flicker of strain tightening Karan's jaw, and with a short nod he shifted closer. His palm steadied against Rudraksh's wrist, thumb unconsciously pressing the flutter of a faint pulse, before he looped it carefully around his own shoulder. A silent breath of relief escaped him-his parents weren't home tonight. He wouldn't have to stumble through explanations with Rudraksh hanging between them.

"Sid, you go. Open the door," Karan said, shifting Rudraksh against his shoulder. One arm cinched firmly around his friend's slack waist, the other rose instinctively, fingers spreading protectively to cradle the heavy weight of Rudraksh's head so it wouldn't loll back.

Pressing his lips together, Siddharth walked towards the main gate with silent footsteps. The lock clicked, and the door creaked open, releasing a faint, musty draft from the darkened interior. Siddharth looked over his shoulder, and nodded, gesturing for Karan to come inside.

Karan forced a crooked, boyish smile. "Sid, help?" he whispered awkwardly.

Siddharth's eyes went round. "Oh, yeah." His head moved restlessly as he moved near Karan. The neighbourhood felt half-asleep yet watchful, as if shadows themselves had ears.

"Don't make a sound," Siddharth breathed, his voice barely above the hum of the porch light.

He slid Rudraksh's limp arm over his own shoulder, tightening his grip around the deadweight torso. The shift drew Rudraksh closer, his breath shallow against Siddharth's shirt. Every step inside seemed too loud, shoes brushing against the mosaic floor.

Karan mirrored the motion, his own shoulder dipping as he aligned with Siddharth's rhythm. The two moved in a quiet, clumsy unison, each step deliberate-like two dancers carrying a partner who could no longer move.

Behind them, the night sighed shut as Siddharth eased the door closed, locking out the world and sealing the three of them in the dim hush of the house.

💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥

With a synchronised effort, they gently lifted Rudraksh up the stairs, their movements slow and deliberate to avoid jostling their unconscious friend. Siddharth pushed open the door to his bedroom with his one leg. They stepped inside, welcoming by the cozy familiarity of the room.

Together, they laid Rudraksh down on the bed. His face looked drained even in sleep - pale, drawn, a flicker of pain etched into the lines around his forehead and bearded mouth.

Karan knelt to untie his shoes, hands steady but unusually gentle, like handling something far more breakable than leather and laces.

Siddharth unfolded a soft white blanket, tucking it over Rudraksh's shoulder, smoothing it down with quiet care.

They stood silently for a moment, just watching him. The stillness in the room pressed in, questioning the depth of their friendship. Outside, a scooter buzzed past and faded into the night. In this quiet, peaceful place, Rudraksh was safe surrounded by people who cared for him without any terms and conditions.

Karan's voice finally broke the hush, rough and low. "You were always right, Sid." His eyes fixed on Rudraksh's sleeping form. "If this is what love does to someone..." His voice faltered. "I'd rather die alone than end up like this."

His words vanished in the air, raw and unfiltered, under the tired blades of the ceiling fan. They stayed by their friend's side - present, wordless, and aching.

Karan turned to Siddharth, his face contorting. "Look at him, Siddharth. What has he become? Love was supposed to be beautiful, something that lifts you up. But it has destroyed him."

Siddharth's eyes lingered on Rudraksh's pale face. He had seen the damage unfold, bit by bit, heartbreak carving its way through their friend like rust on steel. The pain, the silence, the slow collapse of everything that once made him glow. It was all there, written across his features.

Karan's expression hardened. His jaw locked, teeth grinding. "I'll kill that bitch," he whispered. "She toyed with our friend's heart like a puppeteer. Twisted him into this mess." His outstretched hand trembled, as if synchronizing the said words.

Siddharth's eyebrow lifted slightly, but remained calm as ever. "Karan, cool down." He reached out a hand, placing it gently over Karan's trembling shoulder.

"She ruined him, Siddharth." Karan widened his eyes at Siddharth, as if couldn't believe the words that just filled the silence. "She took our carefree Rudraksh and left this."

Siddharth stepped closer. "I know," he said gently. "But let's not talk about her. Right now Rudraksh needs us. We help him heal. That's what matters."

Karan's shoulders slumped. The fury drained slowly from his face, leaving behind only exhaustion. He nodded, eyes still fixed on Rudraksh.

Siddharth peered at his wristwatch, and his face tightened slightly. "It's been more than four hours." His eyes locked onto karan's. "You should head home. Your aai and Kanak must be worried for you."

Karan glanced at Siddharth, then again at Rudraksh. He nodded slowly, but a part of him did not want to leave Rudraksh's side, fearing his friend might need him.

Siddharth's eyes lingered on Karan's face as if had understood the unsaid emotions. "I'm here," he said, smiling. "I'll take care of him. You go home, get some rest, and come back tomorrow, okay?"

With a heavy sigh, Karan moved slowly, as if weighed down by the emotional burden his friend carried. He glanced for the last time at Rudraksh's sleeping figure, and his eyes filled with deep sadness before turning to Siddharth. "Call me if anything happens," he murmured.

Siddharth nodded, following Karan as they walked out, their footsteps echoing faintly through the quiet house, leaving behind a trail of worry and concern.

Siddharth locked the door after karan's departure, returning back to his bedroom where their friend lay serene. Rudraksh lay still, his breathing even but shallow, as if even in sleep he was bracing against something unseen.

Siddharth sank into the couch across the room. The fan spun above, groaning softly. He kept his gaze on Rudraksh's face - so familiar, yet changed.

Siddharth had always approached life with logic. He had mocked Rudraksh's secret soft heart, teased him for daydreams and poetries. Love and romance had always felt abstract, something that belonged to books and movies.

But seeing his friend so broken, so vulnerable, stirred something within him. He felt a pang of empathy, a sense of responsibility to help Rudraksh through this dark time.

As the silence stretched out, Siddharth's thoughts turned to the events that had led them here. Her departure had left Rudraksh shattered, and Siddharth couldn't help but wonder-what had really happened between them.

He wasn't really a fan of her, neither was Karan. But Rudraksh was happy, and that's what mattered.

But again, what happened?

His face contorted, fingers tracing the roots of his hair as he snapped his eyes shut. His thoughts drifted back to three years ago, when Rudraksh had first introduced his girlfriend, now ex-girlfriend, to both his best friends.

FLASHBACKS

The café was tucked into a quiet corner of Hauz Khas, a gentle blend of old walls and modern glass, where the past met the present over shared cups of coffee. A soft ghazal by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan floated through the air, drawing occasional smiles from patrons who closed their eyes to feel it deeper. Outside, drizzle threaded the south Delhi air, tracing lines on the glass walls, blurring the world into watercolor.

Siddharth sat by the window, sleeves of his light green shirt rolled up to his forearms, a magazine open in his hand. His eyes moved steadily across an article about recent judicial amendments, when the soft sound of approaching footsteps caught his attention.

Karan returned from the counter, two coffees balanced in one hand, and a warm brownie in the other. "Here, Barrister Solanki," he announced, setting the cup down in front of Siddharth with a low bow.

Siddharth smiled, pushing the magazine aside. "Thank you."

Karan dropped into the chair beside him. "You know," he said, stirring his coffee, "you and I, we've done okay. For two people who had no idea how to talk to each other without him around."

A quiet chuckle escaped Siddharth as he brought the mug to his lips. "I gave you a hard time opening me up."

Karan laughed, the rim of his cup grazing his smile. "Brother, I made Rudraksh open up in two months. You were a cakewalk." He raised his cup in the air, eyebrows raising, and a smirk tugged at his lips.

Siddharth smiled back. A comfortable silence settled between them. Two people who had spent years of phone calls echoing across different places, glitchy video calls and shared screens-always with a third voice threading the gaps-were finally getting used to this after their third meeting in person.

Karan took a bite of brownie, chewing slowly, his eyes flicking toward the café entrance every few seconds. "He's late," he muttered.

Just then, the bell above the café door tinkled.

Karan's eyes snapped toward it, and Siddharth instinctively followed his gaze.

Rudraksh stepped in, the drizzle outside had fallen over his hair like tiny glistening pearls. His brown shirt and blue jeans were slightly damp at the edges. Lifting a hand, he waved enthusiastically in the air, his face carrying a boyish smile that rarely made appearances. His steps turned urgent, measuring the distance between them.

Beside him, a girl in deep maroon frock, calf-length, struggled in keeping pace with his long strides. Her wrist was wrapped firmly around Rudraksh's fingers. The sound of heels clicking against the sleek marbled floor and her bright laughter cut through the soft hum of ghazals like a misplaced note.

"Sorry for the delay, guys." Rudraksh smiled, pulling a chair for the girl before sliding into the one next to her. "Had to pick the love of my life from her love-" he laughed, turning his face toward her, "-the beauty parlour."

The girl laughed softly, caressing his cheek with the back of her fingers. "Love, I do these things for you," she whispered, tugging some strands of hair behind his ear.

Rudraksh's eyes dropped to her hands on his lap, the shy smile still in place. His thumb gently brushed the back of her hand, before he lifted it slowly near his bow-shaped red lips, and planted a soft kiss there.

A throat clearing sound startled the couple, snapping them back to the present.

Karan was looking at them with a polite smile, that didn't quite reach his eyes. His gaze glued to the girl, eyes narrowing, fingers clenching around the arms of the chair.

Siddharth dipped his head in greeting, murmuring a neutral, "Hello." His gaze lingered on Rudraksh for just a second longer than necessary.

The girl leaned forward, scanning Siddharth and Karan. "So these are the friends you've been hiding from me?"

"Hiding is a strong word," Rudraksh muttered with a lopsided smile. He averted his attention back to his friends. "Guys, meet my girlfriend," he slid an arm around her shoulder, "Sanam Grover."

Karan's eyebrows shot up. His chest heaved, eyes flickering between Rudraksh and Sanam before setting back on the coffee in his hand.

Siddharth's fingers rested gently on rim of his coffee cup, his observant eyes lingering between the boy and girl before him. He didn't dislike her. He didn't even know her. But there was something... off. It looked too shiny on the outside, too rushed. His instinct wasn't loud, just quietly disapproving, like a cold draft slipping in under a locked door.

The rain outside softened to a mist. Inside, laughter and clinking cups continued. But something about the air had shifted. The ghazal, still playing softly in the background, had moved to a more melancholic verse.

FLASHBACKS END

Siddharth stood, moving closer to the bed. The once-radiant face looked hollow now, skin drawn and tired, like a flame extinguished by the harsh winds of fate.

The captive smile that used to mesmerize all who saw it once was now a distant memory, replaced by a haunting emptiness. The boy who once lit up rooms with his reckless laughter; the one they called fireball for his boundless energy-now lay still. His emotions reduced to a mere flicker of grief and silence.

Siddharth's gaze lingered, his lips pressing into a line as he shook his head. He watched, helpless, his mind swirling. "Are we really just puppets?" he whispered into the dim room. "Tugged by fate... or our own hands?"

The only answer was the steady sound of Rudraksh's breath. With one last glance, Siddharth turned away, that quiet question echoing long after he left the room.

A/N: Hello, lovely readers!

I hope life has been treating you kindly - filled with joy, success, and love! How did you enjoy the latest update? Please share your thoughts in the comments below!

1. How's the flashback? Any comment on Rudraksh-Sanam relationship?

Wishing you all happiness, harmony, and fulfillment!