When Masks Crack

The evenings had taken a lighter hue these days.

Arsh and Kunal had grown closer — exchanging jokes, teasing each other like old friends who had fought a hundred battles side by side.

But under every playful text Adarsh sent from the fake account, there was a growing uneasiness, a lump in his throat he couldn't swallow.

One evening, Kunal messaged:

Kunal: "Yaar, I'm just checking... Arsh seems nice na? I mean, for you, Adarsh. You deserve someone good."

Adarsh stared at the message, a tight knot forming in his chest.

He forced a smile and replied casually.

Adarsh (as Arsh): "Haha, bro! Of course, I'm nice!"

But Kunal wasn’t satisfied.

He decided to test Arsh a little more —

not to hurt, but to protect Adarsh from a wrong person.

Kunal: "If we ever meet, I’ll give you a hug so tight, you won't be able to breathe."

Arsh: "Haha... can't wait, bro!"

Kunal: "And who knows... maybe even steal a kiss if you’re too cute."

Adarsh’s heart raced, his fingers trembling.

He laughed it off again —

not knowing whether to be scared or hurt.

Later, Kunal messaged Adarsh separately:

Kunal: "Bro, seriously... I flirted a little and Arsh was kinda... stupid about it. He didn't seem serious enough. Not your type. You deserve someone better, mature. Trust me."

Adarsh chuckled, his smile bitter, broken.

He nodded even though Kunal couldn’t see it.

Kunal: "Pagal hai yaar Arsh. Full bewakoof. You need someone who understands you deeply, Adarsh."

Adarsh: "True bro, true."

He laughed along with Kunal’s jokes,

even as his heart quietly cracked under the weight of truth.

For a while, everything stayed easy, smooth.

The world outside their chats felt lighter.

Until, without thinking much, Adarsh dropped the bomb, almost casually.

Adarsh: "Kunal... Arsh was me."

There was a long, painful pause.

The typing dots blinked... disappeared... blinked again.

Kunal: "Stop joking, idiot."

Adarsh: "I'm not joking..."

Silence.

Adarsh attached the screenshots —

cold proof of a warm lie.

Minutes passed.

Then, finally, Kunal replied.

Kunal: "You made a fool out of me."

Kunal: "I was trying to find someone who would love you truly, bro. I tested Arsh to protect you. I was fighting for your happiness. And you..."

Kunal: "You turned it into a joke. You broke the one friendship that would've stayed for life."

Kunal: "You lost a true friend tonight."

Each word hit Adarsh like a slap across his soul.

He wanted to scream, to explain, to apologize —

but nothing he could say would glue the broken pieces back.

Kunal: "Goodbye, Adarsh."

And then —

Blocked.

Just like that.

No more typing dots.

No more 'Kunal is online'.

No more anything.

Adarsh stared at the screen.

Eyes wide.

Breath shallow.

He sat there in the dark, holding his phone like it could somehow bring back the boy who had once called him his best friend.

The room felt smaller now.

The walls are closing in.

He tried smiling —

because that's what you do when you have no right to cry.

But even his smile betrayed him, trembling, broken

And sometimes, the saddest goodbyes... are the ones you cause yourself.

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