As we walked down to the bridge, I froze momentarily catching Arnav’s silhouette. I whispered to Riddhima, “You didn’t tell me he was back.”

She was confused till she followed my gaze. “Oh, him. I didn’t know. Kripa didn’t mention it. I guess he came back early.”

I muttered as we continue walking, “Not just her but her whole family drives me crazy.”

She laughed hooking her arm with mine, ‘Other than the two of them, you don’t even know anyone else in the family.”

I squinted pointing out, “So? Two is enough! I can barely handle that.”

“Sure, if you say so. Now let it go. It’s not like you talk to him anyways. Really… I miss the old you. Remember how excited you used to be for New Years? We’d keep resolutions even though you could never follow through. You’d spend days before New Year making up the entire list.”

That memory seems so long ago and a person I could no longer connect with. But Riddhima sounded so excited talking about it, I didn’t want to ruin it for her. I tried to smile but failed since she noticed and her smile faltered as she stopped talking.

“Things change,” I said half-heartedly the same time she muttered it.

We were used to saying things simultaneously. It didn’t bother us and neither was it weird or creepy. We have, after all, known each other since we were four years old. More than a decade of being best friends and growing up together can do that to you. Honestly, I am lucky that my best friend from school days is still my best friend.

Not all friendships survive. - but I am fairly certain we’ll remain best friends our entire life.

Hope gleamed in her eyes as she suggested, “Lets’ give it a try again. Not everything has to change. We should try.”

“I don’t know…” I wanted to forget my past life even existed. I kept trying to do that but it was simply not possible. It’s not like I could cut ties with everyone I knew. I still had my parents, Armaan, and Riddhima that I love the most and this group of people? I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world.

She insisted, “Oh, let’s just see how it goes. Please? Like old times. We’ll make resolutions for each other and see who can keep it for the longest.”

I sighed. What the hell. For her sake, sure. I already knew I would lose. I always did. I had no hope this time would be any different. Still, she knew exactly which buttons to push. I could never turn down a challenge even if I knew I would lose.

“Fine, what are my resolutions?”

This is how we always played it. we’d pick resolutions for the other. It wouldn’t make sense for us to pick our own, would it? We would then surely pick the easy ones we’d know we would be able to keep. Wouldn’t truly be a challenge then.

She held up her index finger, counting. “Make a new friend - a guy friend.”

I shoot my head, “Not going to happen.”

Another finger went up as she chose to ignore my comments, “Let that guy, or any other guy - I don’t really care who - come close to you. And no, ‘any other’ does not include Armaan or Angad.”

“Riddhima!” I wanted her to stop and listen but she was relentless and kept going.

Third finger, “Wear your old type of clothes atleast once a week.” Add another, “Join sports again and stop tying your hair up all the time. Leave it open.”

All fingers in one hand were up as she stated my five challenging resolutions as I stared at her. Deathly glare, in fact. Who was she? Did she not know me? Did she not know how what happened changed me? Why was she doing this? Was she not my best friend?

Maybe… maybe it’s because she’s my best friend that she’s doing this.

I chose to ignore my conscious and announced, “No, no, and hell no. No way in eternity is any of those things going to happen!”

She smirked, challenging. “Losing already? Without even trying? You know, the punishment is even worse.”

I growled, “It cannot get any worse than that.”

“Oh, trust me. It can. Be grateful I didn’t ask you to get a boyfriend.”

My jaw dropped. This was the limit. The absolute worse.

“Oh yeah,” She added after my expression, “You’re lucky I love you and you’re my best friend. Else, I would have kept that one on top of the list.”

I squinted in accusation, “You planned this.”

She grinned unashamed, “You know me so well.”

First time in years, I feel a flare of my old self. “Fine, wait till I come up with yours then.”

She gushed, confident for her upcoming win, “You should know Khushi. I am not afraid of anything.”

I challenged crossing my arms over my chest, “Sure about that?” I knew a secret or two here and there. I didn’t spend my whole life being her best friend for nothing after all.

What’s a best friend who won’t use your secrets against you?

If I sat back plotting like old times, I am sure I can come up with a couple of good ones to ensure her win would be just as difficult if not impossible like mines.

She didn’t let her confidence falter as she started walking away to join the rest of the group and yelled over her shoulder, “You have till midnight.”

I nodded politely at the group and then turned a deaf ear to their conversation.

This time, I wasn’t being idle. This time, the wheels in my brain were turning. It felt good to be plotting. I hadn’t felt this adrenaline in ages. I had to outsmart her. I had to. I knew I couldn’t win the game… I just had to stall it enough to the point where she would lose first.

Now… how could I make it happen?

It was easier then to pull a prank on Armaan and her. It used to be habitual and almost second nature. Why was it so difficult now? I had let myself get rusty. I couldn’t think of one good thing and my head was starting to hurt from all the thinking.

I refuse to believe, however, that I have lost my touch.

I pull away from the party and walk the shoreline. I figured it would be a good idea to get there first so I wouldn’t have to walk through a crowd later on and also, I could have some peace there right now so that I could think clearly.

Finding a spot to sit, I pulled out my phone and started typing a list of things I knew about Riddhima that she feared, habits I found annoying about her or vices she found it impossible to let go of. Maybe that will help narrow it down to five challenging resolutions I could give. I knew her fears but I wouldn’t use them all against her. I wasn’t as cruel.

Still, I also knew what she couldn’t live without.

. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .