33

Meera sees her, and as soon as Naina turns back to look at her, Meera stops in her tracks. There's a gentle breeze blowing, causing Naina's hair to flutter. Naina's face is stern, while Meera's eyes hold hope. Meera's flowing hair moves forward, and she stands in front of Naina. Naina, with anger on her face, adjusts the stray hairs on Meera's ear.

Meera asks, "Do you like me?"

Naina starts to ponder, "What revenge is she seeking? What does she want to know? Is it the truth or a lie? Why is this happening after all this sudden? There's no reason for you to like me."

Naina answers after about a minute.

"Are you okay? Meera, I think we're getting late," Naina said as she started to leave.

Meera shouted, "Naina?"

Naina turned and said, "NO."

Naina left, and tears welled up in Meera's eyes, but they didn't spill. Meera sat in the car, wearing dark sunglasses throughout the journey.

Aahan and Jay arrived, but everyone else had already left. Aahan and Jay said their goodbyes and left too.

Next day

Naina is getting ready, applying lipstick, when a question from Meera echoes in her ears.

Naina talks to herself, "It's not my fault. Why is she playing this game with me? I hate you, Meera. Sometimes be honest, I felt so bad. Who knows, if I had just believed your words."

While having breakfast, Naina said, "Mom, there's too much salt in the food."

"Yours has too. Why do you get so angry? What happened with your Meera? You're always angry. Today, I'll give you a piece of my mind. Bring Meera home tomorrow. I want to meet her."

"Mom!"

"What, mom? Just eat quietly."

"Are you my mom or hers?"

"Quiet."

Naina thought, "My mom even finds Meera angelic. If I tell her what mischief Meera has done, she won't like her at all."

"I can never hate Meera, don't overthink it."

Naina looked at her mom in surprise.

Naina thought to herself, "Can my mom read minds? Why? Naina, you think so loud."

After finishing her meal, when Naina reached the office, Meera was saying goodbye to everyone. Meera had decided to manage work remotely.

"Hi Meera! Are you going somewhere?"

HR said, "Meera is going to Delhi now, she'll manage work from there."

"You're shifting to Delhi?"

"Yes, I like India now. I'm leaving today. If you need anything, you can contact me."

Naina said, "Meera, when are you leaving?"

"I have a flight in 5 hours."

"Please come, my mom wants to meet you. She's going crazy if she doesn't meet you."

Meera started smile.

"Sure."

After saying bye to HR, Naina and Meera sat together in a car.

Meera sat quietly.

"Meera, are you going to Delhi because of something I did wrong?"

"No."

"Are you mad at me?"

"No."

"I..."

Naina was trying hard to make Meera stop, even if she had to fight, but without her, her life was just darkness. Naina's eyes welled up with tears as she gazed at the moon alone, feeling sad. She always kept her side of the chair empty. Whenever Naina went to watch a movie, she always bought two tickets. Meera remained a part of Naina's life in memories, everything about Meera lingered in her thoughts. It was incredibly difficult for Naina to sleep on the bed where Meera had first kissed her neck. She often woke up in the middle of the night, crying, trying to go back to her room after looking at the door of Meera's house.

Naina tried to say something again, "Meera... about yesterday..."

"Forget it, it was a joke."

Naina said, "You don't handle jokes properly either."

"What should I do then?"

Naina was trembling, her throat was dry, her hands were shaking lightly. Naina was in a state of shock.

"Meera, please meet my mom, but please don't go. I need a friend in my life."

"You have more friends in your life than me."

"Yes, but they and you are different."

"Friends are all the same."

"You're my best friend."

Meera said in a pained voice, "I don't want to be anyone's friend."

Naina had tried everything, but now she felt that Meera would never come back. She didn't want Meera to leave, but she couldn't think of any idea to stop her. Naina arrived home.

Meera first met her mom and then went to Naina's mom's house. Naina hugged her mom and welcomed Meera. Her mom asked Naina to make tea. Meera's mom talked a lot with Naina's mom. Naina must have been about to bring snacks and tea.

Meera said, "Aunty, you are very sweet."

"Meera Beta, my Naina is a bit childish, forgive her if she does something wrong, she is innocent."

"No, aunty, Naina is nice."

"You were best friends, still are, right?"

"Yes, aunty." (Meera said after a pause of one minute)

Naina placed the tea and then brought the snacks.

"Meera is leaving today," Naina said.

"Meera beta, are you going away forever?"

"Yes, aunty! I'm staying there."

"Have you thought about marriage?"

"Mommmmm!" Naina exclaimed.

Meera smiled and said, "No, aunty, I do not like marriages."

Meera was about to pick up the cup of tea to drink when her mom asked, "What do you think about Naina?"

Meera took a sip of the hot tea.

Naina's mom asked again, "Meera beta, are you alright? Do you think Naina is ready for marriage?"

Meera coughed and said, "If Naina wants to, she can."

Naina said, "Meera, are you okay? Is the tea too hot?"

Mom smiled, started drinking her tea, and said, "Questions sometimes burn the tongue."

Naina said, "Meera, show me your tongue, did it burn?"

Meera looked at aunty's face, she was smiling broadly now. Meera said, "Naina, I'm fine. You go to the office."

Naina said, "Even though the airport is nearby, I'm still going with you."

Meera said, "Naina! (raising her voice slightly and then looking at Naina's mom) Okay Naina, come."

After bidding farewell to Naina's mom, Naina got into Meera's car.

"Naina, tell me one thing, why are you doing this drama?"

"I'm worried about you."

"After so many years, you made a call?"

"Did you?"

"You could've."

Meera became very upset and frustrated as she spoke.

"I need my friend."

"I don't, I don't want to stay with you. I don't want to fight with you."

"But why? What did I do?"

They arrived at the airport.

Without answering Naina's question, Meera started to leave, holding her bag, heading towards the airport. Naina was just watching Meera leave, not crying, so she looked towards the sky. Meera didn't look back at Naina even once, as if she didn't care at all. Naina was waiting for Meera to stop, but Meera didn't. Naina nudged Meera, but she didn't stop. Eventually, Naina got into the car, went to the office, and worked all day, constantly thinking about Meera. When she got home, she sat in her room, sometimes turning the light off, sometimes on, and continued doing this all night.

23 days passed.

Aahan was taking a shower, Jay was cooking, Aahan called out, "I forgot the towel, please give it to me, Jay."

With his eyes closed, handed over the towel. When Aahan saw Jay closing his eyes, he smiled and went inside with the towel.

Naina's call with Meera was scheduled for today to review how everything was going, but Meera was still waiting, Naina hadn't joined the video call yet. Meera was eating green chilies.

Meera called Naina in anger and asked, "Where are you?"

The doorbell rang at Meera's house.

"Wait a second."

Meera opened the door, and Naina had a mask on.

Naina said, "Recognize me?"

"Who are you? Why are you wearing a mask like a joker?"

"Because laughing and making others laugh is our job." (Woman Voice)

Before removing the mask, Meera already knew who it was. Her eyes were so eager, as if waiting for the rays of the sun after a night, when the sun comes and paints the night in its colors, spreading its wings and creating a painting. That painting was in Meera's eyes.