Aadhira asked, "Why do you want to date a girl so badly if you never liked dating, all those 'sona-babu' things?"

I hesitated. "Aadhira, I just want to understand how love works."

"Why did you choose her?"

"She's nice. I find her funny and kind."

"You think I'm not kind? Oh, I know, I'm not kind, actually. You're right, but I'm better."

"There's no comparison, and I can't date you."

"We're best friends."

"Yes, but that's not enough for me," I said, feeling stressed.

"Kiara, so what do you need from me?" she asked calmly.

I ignored her question.

"Then break up with Bhoomi. She's not a good girl. I heard she's using you." she said.

"No, she's not." I replied.

"Why don't you trust me? She's manipulating you."

I snapped, "You're saying this? You know, that night when Rohan wanted to date me, what did you do? You kissed him. Then you started having fun with him. Is that nice? Rohan was in my school. Then you broke up with him after two weeks, saying you had no feelings? You played with that boy. You don't have kindness."

"I was just protecting you. Rohan wasn't good enough. You can't date someone like him."

"You're always making decisions for me! You never ask what I need."

She remained calm, not angry, just talking. But I felt desperate. We talked today, we fought, but this time I was angry, and she was still chill, talking to me like it was just a normal discussion. It was so irritating. "You never know what is right for you," she said.

I know what's right for me, but she's not ready to accept it. I'll show her. I am a responsible person.

"I'll prove it. I will."

"If you date her, I'll knock Bhoomi's teeth out."

"What's your deal? She's right. You're a jerk. Cut it out."

"Focus on your job and forget about dating anyone. Remember what I said."

I got up and left the room.

I never had the guts to tell her how I felt. She's never really dated anyone before.

I heard the bell of the gola vendor and hurried over, grabbing an orange-flavored gola. I smiled.

School Memories

Summer vacation is almost here, and they're loading us up with homework. Just looking at it makes me sleepy. When are we supposed to have fun if we're always working?

Aadhira's spinning her pencil, first one way, then the other. I asked her,

"Aadhira, today's the last day. We won't see each other till summer."

Aadhira gave me a blank look. "So what? Every day's a vacation for me."

I smacked my forehead. "Yep, you never take life seriously."

"You like serious people?"

"Hmm, who doesn't like successful people?" I said, packing my bag.

Aadhira stopped spinning her pencil and took a drink from her water bottle. That's when Rohan used to come to see me. He had a crush on me because he'd come by every day to say goodbye. He was from Class D, wore glasses, and was super smart. He'd wave from the classroom door, and I'd wave back. I kinda looked forward to seeing him; it felt nice being liked by someone. It's the first time anyone's shown me so much love.

Rohan's smile turned into a scared expression, and I glanced back at Aadhira. She was sitting there calmly, like a boss. Why was Rohan suddenly scared?

"What did you do?" I asked to Aadhira

"I didn't do anything." she replied.

"Rohan looks scared. Did you do something?"

"No, I didn't," she said, hiding a smile. I knew she must have gestured something to make Rohan disappear. I stood up.

"Let's go, let's party! How about having 'kala-khatta' Gola?"

She got up and swung her bag over her shoulder.

"Rohan isn't a good guy."

"Hmm, I don't know much about Rohan. He seems nice."

"Smart, like Einstein? Bloody Einstein."

I smiled. "Yeah, he's too smart. Seriously, I have no clue how to date anyone. Many girls have boyfriends."

"You're overthinking. Just focus on studying," she said, tapping my head lightly. 

"Hey, that hurt!" I tapped her back a bit harder. She gave me a blank look, but I'm sure she felt pain. 

She yelled, "Wait, wait! Let me show my strength!"

I burst out laughing and ran, and she chased after me like a tiger. I caught her, and she grabbed my bag.

I warned "Hey, my bag strap's tearing. Don't drag it!"

Aadhira smiled a bit. "I'll let you off this time, but don't be too smart next time."

I tapped her again and started running. I was laughing, and she stopped in the garden. She sat down.

"What's wrong? Let's go, you're spoiling the mood."

"Kiara, I'm tired."

"Who's saying that? You loved all that fighting."

I sat next to her. We were sitting at a garden table, and she rested her head on my lap. It felt awkward.

"Get up, someone might see us. They'll get the wrong idea." Looking around nervously, I whispered,

"Why?"

"Isn't this a couple thing?" I hesitantly asked.

"No, it's a best friends thing. It's our thing."

"Okay, but why are we doing this?"

"Finally, I feel like I have a best friend."

"Really. Am I your best friend?"

"Yes," she said, looking up at the sky.

"So, aren't we late? Let's go home."

"Let's have a sleepover."

"What?" I asked, shocked.

"Don't you invite your best friend over to your home?"

I never really thought of Aadhira as a Best friend. We hung out a lot, but I never imagined we'd become best friends. Did she really think of me as her best friend?

"Yeah," I said, feeling a lot of pressure.

She started laughing. "You're stressing out like I'm your girlfriend or something?"

I blushed. "Girlfriend isn't a thing for girl?"

"Never heard of lesbians and gays?"

"What's that? Trans people?"

"No, it's about sexuality."

"Sex...?"

"Oh god, in India, they never teach us about sexuality in 8th grade. Listen, sexuality is about how you feel."

"Oh, so it's not about trans people? How many genders are there in humans?"

"Besides male and female, there are 72 other genders," she said and My eyes wide in shock.

"Wait, I don't want to know that. Just tell me what it has to do with having a girlfriend?"

"Lesbian is when two girls fall in love. That's called lesbian."

"Oh, what's your... I mean..."

"Sexuality?"

"Yeah, sexuality, right." she looked me for a sec.

"Let's go, we're getting late. We have to have 'Kala-khatta.'"

We ordered two Gola (shaved ice) treats, and she asked if I wanted to taste hers. I said, "I know you like orange."

"Yeah, do you want to taste it?"

"No, Aadhira! I love my 'kala-khatta.'"

She teased, "I want to taste yours..."

She licked my gola ice and enjoyed it while I held hers.

"I'm not giving this back. It's yummy." she said.

"Cheater." 

"Yep," she grinned.

Rohan came up to me. "Kiara, I want to talk to you alone," looking really scared.

"What's up?"

Aadhira gave him an angry look and said, "No, you're not talking to her alone."

"Kiara, I just want to say..."

"Yes, Rohan?"

"Can I have your orange Gola (shaved ice)?"

"That's not..." I am saying

Aadhira interrupted, "Yes, you can, Rohan. Give it to him."

I raised an eyebrow at Aadhira, and she winked, like she enjoyed teasing him. I smiled back, taking it all in no big deal.

Back present day.

"Where are you?" Aadhira asked.

"First of all, promise me you won't break Bhoomi's teeth," I replied.

"Okay," (she sighed heavily.) "You will date her for only 7 days. Decide if she's right for you or not."

"That's so short." I yelled.

"You can't kiss her. No sex." she continue giving her instructions.

"Wait, that's unfair. You kissed me, didn't you?"

"Yes, I can do whatever. I'm your best friend."

"Yes, you're my best friend. Just don't do it again." I said irritably.

"Are you eating gola?"

"How did you know that?"

"I know you're smiling?"

"Wait, do you have a camera on me?"

"Yes," she said.

"Buy me a 'kala khatta' then," she continued.

"I'm not paying for that."

"Kanjus. (Cheapskate)"

"You're rich, and you're asking me to pay?"

"It's just 10 rupees. Don't you have a heart?" she teased.

"Alright, fine, emotional blackmail," I decided and hung up the phone.

"Bhaiya, make a 'kala khatta' too," I said to the vendor.

I handed the money to the vendor, took the 'kala khatta' gola, and went back to my room. She looked at the gola and started having it.

"It's so mouthwatering."

"You're such a annoying kid."

"Excuse me, are you talking to me? I'm too busy enjoying my dream gola."

"You have such an Bhola face. I'm dating Bhoomi, no rules, that's final."

"Are we going through this again?" She said, frustrated.

"I don't want to be single," I said loudly, tired of this topic.

"Why her? Why not someone else?" she calmly asked, not seeming to care. She licked her gola.