"Why her? Why not someone else?" she calmly asked.

"In my whole life, only two people have asked me out: Rohan and this Bhoomi. Do you think I'm just having fun here? I'm 24 now, and my mom is pushing me to settle down, but I can't figure out my sexuality."

"That was a long monologue. You're ready to date anyone then?"

"Yes."

"Bhoomi isn't that important."

"How many times? There's nothing special about Bhoomi. I just want to date someone."

"Fine."

"Fine? What do you mean?"

"Go ahead, date Bhoomi."

"Don't you have any issues with this?" I asked happily.

"No."

"Are you really okay with this?"

"Don't worry about it. Make a connection, don't let me eat your head. If you want to eat gola, say so."

"Why so angry? I won't make anything today," I said as I sat on the bed.

"Don't make it. Let's go out. Chinese Restuarant ."

"I don't have money. It's so expensive. Tell your mom to send some."

"She won't send anything. She knows I don't have a job. You're the one earning alone. It's a bit of an issue, but deal with it."

"Aadhira, get serious. You're a rich mom's daughter. Start your own business."

"Fine, I'll tell my mom to give me 20 crores, and I'll start something on my own."

"Ask for 21 crores. 1 crore for me. This corporate life has got me down," I chuckled.

"As if she'd give it to me. Don't be greedy," she said, throwing the gola stick into the bin.

"Maybe if I were with Bhoomi, it wouldn't be such a problem," I said.

"Why?"

"I work with Bhoomi. If we start to date and like each other, she's the manager. I'm sure I'll be fine to stay with her"

"Would you leave me?" Aadhira asked.

"Yes, so what? Will we be together for life? You and I have been together since school. We went to college together. You didn't work after college. otherwise, We will work in the same place."

"Is that enough? Me and you?"

"This friendship is not enough for me, Miss Aadhira. I also want to do marriage. I want kids."

"Eww, Bhoomi's ?"

"Is that okay?"

"Does your mother know you're thinking of marrying a girl?"

"No! In India, no one ready to accept what my sexuality is."

"You told me you have feelings for girls, but you never told me who your crush was. When will you tell me?"

"I'll tell you when the time comes."

"When will that be? It's been years since that conversation. I caught you watching gay movies back then."

"I'll tell you," I said irritably.

"Tell me! Is she beautiful? Do you really like her?"

I looked at Aadhira and said, "Yes."

"Look at your smile. You're blushing so hard, you still love her?"

"I don't know."

"Why don't you date her?"

"I don't know what she'll say."

"Do you still think about her? Show me her picture, sweetheart."

"No, Aadhira."

"What's the problem? We're best friends, and I've known everything about you from your underwear color to everything else, but you've never told me who your first crush was."

"You told me? Who was yours?" I asked irritably.

"No one." 

"Who is it now?"

"Still no one," she said softly, slowing down as if she was thinking about something.

"Kiara?"

"Hmm?"

"nothing"

I made dinner while she scrolled through Instagram. After dinner, she went to sleep early. It had been a tough day; I couldn't stop thinking about the kiss. My lips still tingled. She was like a playful cat, never listening to me, always doing what she pleased. As she slept, I looked at her face. She appeared innocent, but I knew she had a dark side. Smiling, I remembered the incredible kiss. Did she have any idea how much I wanted more?

In the quiet of her deep sleep, I leaned closer to her lips, but just as I moved back, her hand rested on my back. She opened her eyes. I felt sacred.

"What are you doing?" she asked seriously, as if she knew exactly what I had been up to.

Forcing a smile, I replied, "Just hugging."

She hugged me back and went back to sleep. Feeling warm, I realized I wanted this feeling forever.

Morning came. I prepared lunch and got ready for the office. She woke up, washed her face, and went to freshen up. I packed my lunchbox as she exclaimed loudly, "I forgot the towel again!"

"Why do you always forget your towel?"

"Just give it to me," she said.

I closed my eyes and handed it to her. She looked at me and asked, "Why do you always close your eyes when you're in my washroom?"

"I don't want to see you naked."

"Why? I have a good body."

"I don't care."

"Just open your eyes," she teased. "I don't have time. I'm running late."

I left the bathroom, closed the door, My taxi arrived. Went to the office and I started working on my laptop. Monday mornings were boring, especially after a turbulent Sunday—kissing, fighting, patching things up, and then peacefully sleeping in each other's arms.

Bhoomi glanced at me and called me into her office.

"Morning, Kiara," she greeted.

"Good morning, Bhoomi! I'm really sorry. I'll email you today. Can you please postpone the dates?"

"Don't worry, we have time for that. Relax, I'm not going to ask you about that," she reassured me.

"So?"

"Let's go on a date."

"Today?"

"No, not today! We're pretty busy. How about next Sunday?" she looked her laptop.

"Okay, fine."

She smiled and asked me, "We can kiss, right?"

"Yeah," I forced a smile.

"When?"

"On the date?"

"Wait 6 days for a kiss?"

"No, no, no. I mean, I'm not ready."

"But you were ready to kiss Aadhira. You liked it, right?" 

I didn't say anything. She continued, "You like Aadhira?"

"What?" I looked shocked.

"No, that's not the case."

"How can you be so deeply involved when she kissed you?"

Trying to change the topic, I said, "That was just a normal thing. It was a truth or dare game. She kissed me."

"Dead-hearted zombie a good kisser but she's a devil. No manners, she hurts you. I hope you're doing okay with your roommate."

"She's nice. Don't say things like that. You also knew her from college."

"I never liked her. She always had a weird face, a zombie face, like she wanted to kill me. We rarely spent time together in college. She always stuck to you like glue. Everyone was scared of her. She fought with 33 people. She doesn't have good grades. At least you're working hard for your future, but what about her? She hates her mom, who fights with her own mom?"

"Bhoomi, don't talk about her like that. Her mom is bitch. I know her, so never say anything like this."

"You seem so interested in her. Do you think she'll give you her wealth? Why are you defending her?" Bhoomi said calmly but with a hint of anger.

"You seem jealous. Maybe we can talk later," I said, leaving her office.

Finally, after six days, Bhoomi and I patched things up and planned our date. I wore a red dress and was getting ready. Aadhira, sitting on the sofa with a headache, had taken a tablet and watched me do my makeup.

"Date?" she asked.

"Yes."

"Bhoomi?"

"Yes."

"You look gorgeous."

"Thanks. You know, Bhoomi finally said sorry. She was really angry when you kissed me. She seemed jealous, and the next day she gave me a bouquet of white lilies."

"You hate lilies. You like yellow roses."

"So what, I accepted them."

"That's so annoying."

"She's nice. Accept it."

"No, I won't. Don't go with bitch. I'll feel lonely here. Sundays are boring, and I spent the last six days alone."

"Why don't you start working? Last Sunday, I did the same. I canceled the date, and a bunch of us played games."

"Yes, let's do that again."

"You're greedy. You never think about me. I can't cancel the date."

"Don't kiss her." she warned me.

"No, I will. I already promised her."

"When?"

"Six days ago."

"Seriously? You're telling me this now?" she yelled

"Yes, because I knew how you'd react. I'm not a kid, so calm down."

"You're my bes—"

"Best friend. Yes, I know. Just stay here, watch a movie, or do something else. I need to find someone who cares for me, loves me, and... kisses me. I feel lonely too."

"You decided that dream girl is Bhoomi?"

"Maybe. If I don't try, how will I find out?"

"That's so unfair!"

I grabbed my bag and slung it over my right shoulder. I could see she was feeling little sad. I thought she was just worried for me. As I am started drinking water, she called out.

"Kiara."

"Mm?" I mumbled, drinking water.

She's looking at me, like she wants to say something. Then she finally said, Say something.....

I Spilled water on her face and started coughing.