Anika was sitting in her room and working on Shivay's assignment, for this week she had not only taken up his assignments, but had also taken to getting him proxy attendance. Shivay was hardly ever in class, his audition was due the next day, and he was practicing with his heart and soul. Now that he and Anika had become somewhat friends over text messages (they were still awkward in front of each other) he had generously invited her to his practice sessions when she was free, but thanks to the approaching finals and truckload oh her and Shivay's assignments, she never managed the time. Also at the back of her mind was Somz, he had been acting strange ever since the day they had gone for the movie - Anika thought things were okay between them, if so, then why was Somz always in his room? Why hadn't Rudra turned up even once in the entire week? She initially thought she should give her time, she would open up by herself, but its was almost a week now, and still no trace of Somz opening up - Anika decided to talk to her that night, after she was done with her assignments.

As Anika entered Somz's room quietly, she saw Somz notice her and suddenly grab a handful of things and shoved it in his drawer before turning to her - clearly he was hiding something.

"Somz, what's wrong, you're not behaving right somehow" whispered Anika.

"No, er..no I am fine, could you please excuse me for sometime?" she replied. Anika was taken aback and decided not to intervene, in fact she was just walking out of the door, when Somz got up to lock the door behind her - it was then Anika noticed something that made the ground below her shake in astonishment.

"SOMZ!!!!! You are wearing a SKIRT????????" she almost shrieked and to her surprise Somz gulped air unnecessarily and mumbled something like, "found..wardrobe..clothes for wash". Anika knew there was something wrong, she barged back inside and demanded to know what it was, and Somz having ben caught off hand, couldn't come up with an excuse that was convincing enough, so she confessed to her the truth.

"Anne, I er..know now - the truth"

"What truth Somz?"

Somz looked at Anika for a long time before replying, "Soumya's truth"

Anika stared at her for a while, before the meaning of the statement hit her.

"You mean...!?!?! How??" she asked breathlessly. Somz sighed once and went about telling her everything that happened that fateful night in the football field. Anika's jaw dropped in shock. Even when she gave him the advice, she never thought Somz would take it so damn seriously!

"Now?" she asked him, still in shock.

"Now what? Rudra hasn't spoken to me ever since - he has avoided my messages and my calls, the one day I went to class after that, he pretended he couldn't see me."

Anika felt guilty now, of course she wanted him to realize his true identity, but she never understood how important it was for Somz to be recognized as a guy by all - it was so important, that he didn't think twice before even kissing a man? His best friend? Now because of her, his best friend was avoiding him. The guilt brought tears in her eyes.

"Somz, I am so sorry Somz, I never wanted to push you this hard to prove that you're a man, because of me you lost Rudra, I am so sorry, I will talk to Rudra, I will tell him, you are a man alright, it was my doing and he should punish me" whimpered Anika, as Somz looked at her in shock - Anne had got it all wrong of course! That was not why she was lamenting of course!

"Anne, listen to me, calm down. You got it all wrong. I am not upset because Rudra recognizes me as a girl now. I am upset because he still doesn't! I am not Somz, Anne. I am Soumya - I have understood myself for the first time in ages - I enjoyed kissing him Anne. You were right, my body did things, I never thought I was capable of doing. I cant be gay, because my mind and body both seeks a guy, so I have to be normal right? Which means I am Soumya not Somz. And I want Rudra back" she finished.

Anika stared at her in numb disbelief. Did Somz just say all that? Oh that explained him wearing the skirt - he was trying to accept Soumya. Anika took a deep breath and asked her, "Who wants Rudra back? Somz or Soumya?"

"Anne ever since that night, after arousal of those feelings, Soumya seems to predominantly overshadow Somz. I want Rudra back. And I am Soumya" she replied not meeting her eyes.

Anika smiled, Somz never realized himself how deep her bond with Rudra was, but now that the mess in her head was clear, she would make sure, Somz got what she desired - Rudra.

"I will help you Soumya" she promised.

"You will?" she asked hopefully, "Then I have one month for study leave before our exams, help me mould into a girl before I see Rudra next?" she pleaded. Anika looked at her for a second, and nodded her head, "I promise I will help you Soumya" and hugged her tight.

***

Rudra was sitting in his living rom couch and watching football, gosh it was no fun without Somz - but the moment he thought of him, he changed the channel and diverted his mind. He was straight, he explained to himself the nth time this week. Maybe he did enjoy kissing a man sometime back, but it was only momentary, he wasn't gay or anything - he was with Priyanka, and he enjoyed her company, so he was straight. True Priyanka was no fun during watching a football match, in fact she had innocently asked him only the other day, "Baby, these players they are so rich, cant they buy one football each and be happy? Why so many of them need to run after one football?" Rudra felt like jumping off his terrace hearing it - his instinct told him to call Somz and crack up over it, but no, he couldn't, did he forget the incident at the football field? He considered that maybe Somz had a rationale for doing this, he could give him the benefit of doubt, but not to himself, he couldn't lie to himself that he enjoyed their intimacy and couldn't help notice that beneath the shirt, Somz was filled up in all the right places, umm wrong places - there was something wrong with him, hence getting in touch with Somz seemed risky - He was sure, he wasn't gay. He was sure right?

***

When Anika returned to her room, she found her cell phone lying on the bed, she picked it up to see a lot of new messages, she was surprised. She read them one by one and with each one her jaw dropped.

OM: "Hey Anika! Guess what I have two good news for you. 1 - I have found someone, and you will be surprised to know whom. 2 - Shivay and Tia aren't ever going to be together now, you have free pass - CONGRATULATIONS!"

DAKSH: "Hey Annu, please don't be mad at me. Mallika must have told you? Listen, it wasn't going to work out between us anyway, we were young and silly when we wanted this - I want the best for her as well as me. I have found what I was looking for - Tia. Lets still be friends, I don't want to lose you. Please?"

MALLIKA: "Err..di, Daku and I are history. Don't worry I am not upset, you study well. I can take care of myself you know nah? Even Piku is here along with another friend. I am happy. Gosh di, lots to tell you, finish you exams soon! Xoxo"

SHIVAY: "Anika, needed a little bit of your help. I plan to propose to Tia tomorrow, just before I go in for auditions. Can you arrange for her to be at the venue? Mind you she doesn't know anything about the audition. Thanks! If all goes well, I owe you a massive treat Anika! And thanks for everything!"

Anika stared at the phone for a while, for the life of her, she didn't know how to react. Mallika was okay with her and Daksh's break-up. Infact she was cheerful. Daksh dumped her for Tia. Tia was Mallika's roomie. Om has found someone and Shivay wants to propose to Tia amidst all this, that to before his audition tomorrow - Oh Dear.

She slowly typed a reply to each.

SHIVAY: "Shivay, I don't think it's a good idea, why don't you wait till your auditions are over? I mean, Tia isn't exactly running away is she?"

MALLIKA: "Malli, I don't know what you're upto, but forget him, there are better fishes in the sea. I will come to see you as soon as I can. I am sorry to hear it baby. Here's a hug from me."

DAKSH: "I don't know what to say Daksh. I hope you know what you're doing. Just never ever even think of returning to my Malli. All the best and yes, friendship between us may take time to resurrect."

OM: "CONGRATULATIONS OM!! Who is the lucky girl? When do I get to meet her? And why does Shivay not know that Tia is with Daksh? He plans to propose to her tomorrow."

Only Shivay and Om replied to her instantly.

SHIVAY: "Guess I expected too much from you Anika. Anyway, don't bother, I will manage to get her here, with or without your help"

OM: "Thanks Anika! And I haven't told him that's why he doesn't know. Let him propose to her and get rejected - only then he will never ever think of going after her - it makes life easier for you! And I am doing this because, I don't think anyone can love or understand Shivay more than you. All the best Anika!"

As much as Anika was dejected at Shivay's cold message, she was more alarmed at Om's idea - true, Om was only looking out for her in the first place, but it could affect Shivay in the wrong-est way! Winning the talent hunt was Shivay's age old dream, it shouldn't be affected by Tia's whimsical behavior or her liking for him! She couldn't blame Om, after all he didn't know about the talent hunt at all, but how could she save Shivay from being affected before the auditons? She had to do something, anything - but what?

She thought for a while and decided to approach the matter in the only way possible - she wasn't sure it would work, but it was worth a try. She texted Tia.

12:57a.m. [Hi Tia, Congrats! Daksh just told me about you guys. But I guess Shivay doesn't know about all this? He wants you to be there at Imera Auditorium tomorrow at 11a.m. Please be there? He will propose to you - it's an important day for him - for the sake of his friendship, just say yes to him? You can tell him the truth by evening. But please bear with him in the morning? He is your friend, you can do this right? It would mean the world to him]

1:05a.m. [Thanks. Sorry babe, I have a movie date with Daksh tomorrow. Why don't you tell him about us?]

1:07a.m. [Tia, it's a big day for him. Please don't ruin it, do it for the sake of friendship? Please don't tell him about you both till evening and accept him in the morning?]

1:12a.m. [Not happening babe. I don't care if it's an important day for him. It's my and Daksh's first movie date after we got together]

Anika was furious, how horrible could Tia be? Until and unless Daksh was around, she would fawn over Shivay like a bee, now that he was around, even a crises couldn't melt her to help Shivay? No she wasn't going to let this selfish woman ruin Shivay's dream.

1:23a.m. [Tia, this is not a request. If you don't turn up tomorrow and say yes to him in the morning, I will tell Daksh all about how you hovered around Shivay all this while - I will tell him you were almost two-timing. And guess what, Daksh will believe me. We are best friends from childhood, he knows that I don't lie. Think, what is important, a healthy relation with Daksh or a movie date?]

Anika felt guilty for blackmailing Tia thus - she somewhere deserved it for breaking Mallika and Shivay's heart - the two people she loved the most - but even then, if Tia had agreed to her request, she could have saved herself from doing this - but right now she was desperate. She couldn't let anything come between Shivay and his dream.

1:32a.m. [Fine, I will be there in the morning, and pretend, so that whatever important he has, it doesn't get affected. But you don't open your mouth before Daksh. Deal. And yes, I won't be there to explain things to him later - you do that."

1:33a.m. [I won't open my mouth before Daksh. Deal. And thanks.]

Anika smiled with satisfaction. Now at least his audition wont be affected. True he would be hurt later, but that was still manageable - she would be by him. She smiled in peace and texted Shivay before going to bed.

1:40a.m. [Okay don't breathe out fire on me now. It's done. She will be there and I will be there too, and all the best.]

Anika smiled, true she will be hurt seeing Shivay proposing to Tia, but she had to be there to ensure, Tia kept her part of the bargain and to ensure that nothing went wrong - she felt bad thinking she will herald the bad news to Shivay in the evening, but at least his performance will be done by then. She sighed and went to sleep when Shivay replied back.

1:46a.m. [ANNE YOU'RE THE BEST - LOVE YOU!!]