Shumaila walked across the soft sand, her heels in one hand, her other arm wrapped around herself as the night breeze brushed against her skin. She exhaled slowly, her mind still reeling from everything that had just happened between her and Hamza.
But as she approached the beach bar and saw Sneha sitting there, looking utterly lost in thought, her focus shifted.
Sneha, the girl who always had something to say and a joke ready, was now sitting in complete silence, staring at the empty glass in front of her.
Shumaila placed her heels down and slid onto the barstool next to her. "Okay, what's with that face?"
Sneha blinked, turning towards her. "Huh?"
Shumaila raised an eyebrow. "You look like you're plotting someone's murder. Should I be worried?"
Sneha let out a short, humourless chuckle. "It's nothing."
Shumaila hummed, studying her. "Oh, so this has nothing to do with Rudra confessing to you?"
Sneha froze.
Her head snapped towards Shumaila so fast it was a miracle she didn't get whiplash. "How do you—?"
Shumaila smirked, resting her chin on her palm. "I know everything."
Sneha narrowed her eyes. "Who told you?"
"No one," Shumaila shrugged. "It was obvious."
Sneha scoffed. "Obvious? Rudra barely shows emotions."
Shumaila gave her a knowing look. "He barely shows them to you. To everyone else? It was as clear as day."
Sneha opened her mouth, then closed it, her shoulders slumping slightly. "...Was it really that obvious?"
Shumaila nodded.
Sneha groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Damn it."
Shumaila chuckled. "So? What's going on? What did you say?"
Sneha sighed, looking down at the counter. "I… didn't say anything. He just confessed and then...left."
Shumaila tilted her head. "Why?"
Sneha hesitated. "Because I didn't react. I just… stood there."
Shumaila didn't say anything, waiting for her to continue.
Sneha sighed deeply, her worry evident. "Shumaila, I'm feeling really lost right now. I have such strong feelings for Rudra. He's not just my best friend; he's been a constant presence in my life since childhood. He's the one person I can always count on, and that makes this all so complicated."
Shumaila listened carefully, not interrupting.
Sneha's voice dropped lower. "But that's the problem. I don't want to ruin it. What if we try this and it doesn't work out? What if we break up and things aren't the same anymore? I'd rather have him as my best friend forever than risk losing him completely."
Shumaila took a deep breath. "That's fair."
Sneha blinked. "Wait, you're not going to tell me I'm overthinking?"
Shumaila smiled slightly. "No. Your fears are valid. Relationships are a risk, especially when there's friendship involved. But…"
She turned fully towards Sneha. "At the same time, what if you're holding yourself back from something that could make you really happy?"
Sneha frowned slightly.
Shumaila leaned against the counter. "Look, I get it. Change is scary. But I also think you're underestimating Rudra. If you both care about each other as much as I know you do, then no matter what happens, you'll figure it out."
Sneha looked down, playing with the rim of her empty glass.
Shumaila nudged her gently. "You never know, Sneha. He might just be the one for you."
Sneha exhaled through her nose. "That's a heavy thought."
Shumaila grinned. "I never said I was lighthearted."
Sneha shook her head, chuckling. "God, you're so dramatic."
Shumaila placed a hand on her chest mockingly. "Excuse me, I prefer the term 'theatrical genius'."
Sneha snorted. "You're an idiot."
Shumaila gasped. "This is how you treat your favourite person?"
Sneha rolled her eyes but couldn't stop the small smile forming on her lips. "You wish you were my favourite."
Shumaila smirked. "Don't lie. I've been your favourite since 11th grade."
At that, Sneha actually laughed.
Shumaila grinned. "See? You're remembering it now."
Sneha shook her head, a nostalgic look in her eyes. "I swear, 11th grade was something else."
Shumaila leaned forward. "Oh? Remind me, what was your nickname again?"
Sneha instantly groaned. "Shut up."
Shumaila cackled. "No, no, what was it? Miss Chipkali?"
(Chipkali = Lizard)
Sneha buried her face in her hands. "I hate you."
Shumaila laughed even harder. "You were so insufferable. Always the dramatic character. And I still can't forget how you, like a cartoon character, went to check if our classmate was wearing that thing around her neck!"
Both of them laughed at that memory.
Sneha peeked through her fingers, smirking. "And you were the annoying seatmate who never stopped talking during lectures."
Shumaila gasped. "Excuse me! I was simply keeping you entertained."
"More like keeping me distracted."
Shumaila flipped her hair dramatically. "Same thing."
Sneha chuckled. "We really were something, huh?"
Shumaila smiled. "Yeah. We were."
For a moment, they simply sat there, immersed in their memories.
Then Sneha suddenly stared at Shumaila.
Shumaila blinked. "What?"
Sneha didn't answer.
Instead, she squinted, her gaze dropping to Shumaila's lips.
Shumaila shifted uncomfortably. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Sneha smirked.
Shumaila frowned. "What?"
Sneha leaned closer, inspecting her. "Wait a minute…"
Shumaila's brows furrowed. "What?"
Sneha's smirk widened. "Shumaila."
Shumaila gulped. "Y-Yeah?"
Sneha pointed at her slightly swollen, slightly red lips.
Shumaila's eyes widened.
"Oh. My. God," Sneha gasped dramatically. "You kissed him."
Shumaila's face exploded in red.
Sneha's jaw dropped. "NO WAY."
Shumaila covered her mouth with her hand. "Shut up."
Sneha cackled. "YOU TOTALLY KISSED HIM."
Shumaila hid her face in her hands. "I hate you."
Sneha grabbed her shoulders, shaking her. "TELL ME EVERYTHING."
Shumaila groaned.
Sneha gasped again. "OH MY GOD, HE MADE THE FIRST MOVE, DIDN'T HE?"
Shumaila was burning alive, she muttered, "No."
Sneha laughed loudly, clapping her hands. "I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS."
Shumaila peeked through her fingers, glaring. "Shut. Up."
Sneha wiggled her brows. "Oh, we're so talking about this in the morning."
Shumaila sighed. This was going to be a long night.