"What happened?" Aadhira asked, covering one ear.

I sent a message on the phone. I gestured for her to check her phone.

She read it aloud, "That night?"

"What night?"

"Drunk night..."

She replied aggressively, "You know nothing happened. How many times will I repeat this?"

I didn't say anything.

What did you think? If I knew, would I be asking? This idiot! Calm down, my mind is messed up for asking Aadhira, who is herself a troublemaker, what the truth is. My head started hurting again.

Aadhira typed and said,

"Ohh! You're putting so much pressure. Do want to have ...(wink emoji)"

I hit her on the shoulder, hitting her two to four more times. Aadhira started laughing loudly. Everyone was watching us. We both went quiet. I stepped outside. She followed me.

"Let's go home, we have to pack."

Aadhira didn't say anything, nodded, and we sat in the car and went home. We started packing. We didn't shop enough, so we had to wear what we had. Today is just a bad day.

We reached the place. We sat on the bus. Everyone was already seated. I guess we were late. Urmila came from her seat.

"Aadhira!"

"Yes?"

"I'm Urmila from HR."

Urmila asked, "Another person is coming, is that okay?" There are three seats, so it doesn't matter. I was sitting by the window. Aadhira sat next to me. I said, "Yeah, it's fine."

Aadhira asked, "Who is it?" "Urmila," came a voice, and when we looked, it was Nisha.

Urmila said, "This is my best friend, Nisha."

"I know, Aadhira and Kiara...the cutest." Nish replied.

Nisha sat next to Aadhira. This troublemaker is here too. Someone give me a gun so I can shoot her right now. Aadhira asked, "What surprise is this, you here?"

Nisha laughed and said, "I didn't know either, but when Urmila asked, I said OKAY. It's good, right?"

Then Bhoomi came and said, "Kiara, come sit in the back with me."

"What? I don't want to sit there," I thought to myself but couldn't say it out loud.

Nisha asked "Bhoomi, you want my spot? Anyway, you're the manager, right?"

Bhoomi said angrily, "Yes! And who are you? by the way.. I'm Kiara's girlfriend."

Aadhira chuckled. Bhoomi said, "You think this is funny?"

Aadhira said to Nisha, "They're just dating, Kiara  never said she's Bhoomi's girlfriend."

Bhoomi looked at me, "Dead-hearted zombie..." She angrily sat in the back. Now, what should I do? Who should I sit with? I can't leave Aadhira alone, Nisha is too clingy. I told Aadhira, "You want the window seat, right? It'll be good for your smoking."

Nisha said, while Aadhira started to stand, "I'll get bored. Stay with me, Aadhira," holding onto Aadhira's arm.

I said, "Aadhira, window seat..." Aadhira looked at both of us, then stood up and went to sit in the back. No one was sitting next to the window seat.

Nisha followed and sat in the back, then Bhoomi came and sat next to me. Aadhira looked at me, and when I looked back, Nisha was holding Aadhira's arm, talking to her. Bhoomi looked at me and asked, "Let's go upstairs, we can sleep there."

The bus had cabins for every two people. Nisha and Aadhira were also going to the cabin. The bus started. Urmila was talking to her husband. Aadhira was going to the cabin, and I couldn't understand Aadhira's expressions. 

I didn't want to sleep with Bhoomi. I told Bhoomi, "I think..." Aadhira was climbing up to the upper cabin, and I held aadhira's hand, "I think you'll be more comfortable with me, you cannot fall asleep quickly with strangers."

I know she has a habit of sleeping with strangers. What am I even saying? Aadhira looked at me and nodded. Bhoomi looked to Nisha, Nisha looked at Bhoomi and said, "Let's go." Nisha thought for a moment and then said, "Let's go, it hurts to sit anyway."

In the cabin, Aadhira and I lay together, enjoying the view outside the window. Aadhira was busy on her phone. I asked, "Are you bored here?"

"You know everything." Her irritated expression.

"What should I do? I don't know any jokes." 

"You're a joker yourself." She smirked.

"That was offensive," I showed a little anger. 

She put her hand and my pinch on my kurta, "Aren't you feeling hot in the kurta?"

What is she thinking? Nothing much. Kiara, calm down.

"Aadhira, can you give me one of your t-shirts? I didn't get a chance to change. I forget to pack those t shirts." 

Aadhira handed me a free-size t-shirt, "Here, change."

This girl....never understood. (angry) I said, "Close your eyes."

She closed them, and I changed. Changing in a small space is difficult. I said, "You can open them now."

"What should I open? Your heart?"

"I'll throw you off the bus if this version of Aadhira shows up again. Your charm works on other boys and girls, I'm not your fan." I showed anger.

"Oh, you don't like me at all?" She so confident for that.

"No!" I said angrily. We were lying in the small room. She looked at me and said, "Let me flirt a little." (puppy eyes)

"No," I said very angrily. I have to be angry, otherwise, I'll melt and look like a fool like others.

She turned towards me and asked, "What were you saying? .....Sleeping and .....all?"

"What sleeping? It's night, go to sleep." (Scared.)

"You said We should try? You and me..." (she explains through fingers You and me, pointing to me & her)

I interrupted, "I was joking. It's easy for friends to date!" (It's very difficult) "You and I will have fun." (What fun...don't take it the wrong way)

"Then let it be! You're the first girl I've asked out for dating."

"I know, that's why..."

"That's why what? You know Without dating, I've kissed 69 times. Even with dating, it feels weird. You're so shy, I feel like we won't even hold hands."

"It's not like that," (looking closely at my hand)

"What are you looking at? Luck Lines?"

"No!" I extended my hand. Looking at my hand, I thought, Kiara, you have to muster the courage. If not now, then never. You should have courage. I need to keep Aadhira with me, open the doors of her heart for me. 

Dating is the only way. Whatever Aadhira says, I have to agree to it. Whether I like it or not. I need to change a little for her, which isn't bad because my happiness depends in her happiness.

She looked into my eyes, understanding what I wanted. Is this friendship or something else? She intertwined her fingers with mine. I was already blushing, feeling like I couldn't handle more. I wanted to close my eyes but kept them open to hide my feelings from her.

"Have you decided? There's no way back now."

She sat up, and before I could say anything, the bus jumped, There are many potholes on the roads in India, and everyone will remember this swing! (Jhule), Aadhira fell on top of me. Her face was so close to my heart.

 She might have heard my heartbeat which felt like it was leading me to a fever. She lifted her face a little and looked at my cheek. I should make eye contact, but I was too scared every second. Aadhira raised her hand, it was heading towards my cheek but then moved towards my ear.

"Your earrings are nice," she smiled. I tried hard to show a natural smile. I might faint. She's so close. Her eyebrows and eyelashes look so beautiful. Someone controls my feelings. She's still looking at my earrings, my lips were moving towards her eyelashes and then...