Chapter 22

"What on earth should I wear?" Meera's annoyed voice echoed around the flat.

"Why don't you try that white dress I told you about. Wear that?" Ananya said.

"It doesn't fit. I need to go shopping."

Naina walked into the flat after grabbing some groceries when she heard this banter and smiled. She arranged her groceries then walked to Meera's room. "You look pretty." She teased.

Meera gave her a stare, "We'll see when it's your turn. Ruk tu!"

"I'm not coming." Naina said, "I thought about what you all said and it doesn't fit me. I'm better off staying at home."

"Naina," Ananya said entering the room, "I'll hit you with my shoe now. Get ready fast."

Seeing as though there was no point in arguing, she went to her room and tried to pick an outfit. Opened her wardrobe, she was greeted with mostly what she liked to wear: sweatshirts.

Should she just wear those?

As if Ananya heard her thought, she yelled from the other room "Don't even think of touching your sweatshirts, Naina!"

She groaned slowly and left it, moving to a new section. There was a nice jeans, it came till her heel and wasn't a very high waist one. But it was a good and simple jeans. She picked it and put it on the bed.

Time for a top, she thought.

Scouting through her wardrobe, she found a nice full sleeves top and took it out. Satisfied with her choice, she went ahead to change but was stopped by Ananya, who walked in, "No way!"

She looked at her analyzing her clothes, "Why?"

"Naina," Ananya said, "You can't wear this to a party. You wore it last time we didn't say anything. Now some, this time wear something more feminine and sexy."

"No no no! Not sexy please. I don't like it."

"Naina, I'm not saying go show your cleavage to everyone. Just wear something different to your regular jeans and teeshirts."

Naina sighed and followed Ananya to her room. She browsed through her wardrobe and picked out a skirt with a spaghetti strap top. Giving it to her, she smiled, "Much better."

Naina stared the outfit. The last time she wore this was at Meera's birthday. There was no guys then, "But, it seems too... revealing."

"It's just a skirt and top. Wear your stockings underneath if you want. But you are wearing the top." Ananya said, smiling.

"Fine." Naina gave in and took the outfit to her and closed the door.

She got dressed in it. Wow, she thought. She didn't know she could look this good. Maybe it was because she never tried to.

Her hair opened and came till just under her chest. The skirt hugged her figure and her curves were beautiful. The spaghetti top exposed the small mole she had on her neck and gave her bare neck some attention with was shared by the necklace she wore. It was modest. It was a little backless but overall, it was modest.

Naina wore her stockings underneath and held her trench coat in her hand. A good and stylish coverup, she thought. She didn't her basic makeup and soon, she stepped out, ready.

"Wow!" Ananya and Meera chuckled, "I always get surprised seeing Naina like this. I forget that  it's our Naina."

Naina smiled and they left the building.

Downstairs, they called the cab and then drove to the party. Naina had a very tingling feeling about this. She was going to a party where she was going to see the one man she didn't want to, in the same environment again. She didn't trust herself in parties anymore. Don't drink, no matter how odd you feel, she kept repeating to herself.

Soon, they arrived and they could hear the loud music even before they entered the villa. The loud music threw Naina off guard as she felt a sense of hesitation to enter.

Meera and Ananya noticed Naina's hesitation and held her hand, "We got you. Don't worry."

Naina smiled and the three of them entered the party. It was loud. Very loud. People were all around, everywhere. Everyone was jumping, dancing, fueling with too much energy.

Naina noticed meet and Ananya holding back their urge to dance so she leather hands go and looked at them, "You two babysit me all the time. I don't want to hold you back now. Go and let loose here. Enjoy. I'll manage."

Meera looked at her, "No we said we'd stay with you. We are here don't worry. Let's find—"

Naina gently interrupted, "I know you're with me. But if you only stay with me you'll also be sitting on the edge of the party. You two don't belong there, you belong at the center.... Now, go both of you, enjoy. I'll be around. If you can't find me, just text me, I'll mostly always be on my phone." She chuckled.

Meera and Ananya smiled, "Alright. Stay safe, a don't drink and kiss someone else. And if you do plan to, text us before you run out." They teased.

Naina glared jokingly, "Very funny."

Meera and Ananya hugged their friend then went to join the crowd in their comfort zone. Naina smiled at their friend's antics and then started to find a comfortable place for herself for the next few hours.

Not near the dance floor, she thought. Turning around, she looked at the bar, definitely not there. Her thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice, "Looking for the fireplace?"

She turned to see Shaan standing there. She smiled, "I guess you can say so."

"I have to say, you look stunning." He smiled.

She felt a small blush creeping. But it didn't feel the same way when Ayaan said it, she thought. Brushing her thoughts away, she replied, "Thank you. You look nice too."

"Come," he said guiding her, "This place is in the party but also not too close to the bar and the people dancing. I think it'll be perfect for you."

She smiled slowly and followed him. They reached a place which wasn't too far from the dancers. She could still see Meera and Ananya dancing, and it was away from the bar. Thank God, she thought. "Thank you." She smiled.

"So," he said, making himself comfortable, "I'm glad you came. I wasn't expecting it tbh."

"I'll be honest. I wasn't going to. It was—"

"Peer pressure." He chuckled and finished her sentence. She smiled and nodded. He carried on, "I think you need to be put in peer pressure at some points. It pushes you."

"I agree, but sometimes."

"Maybe we should have a cup of—"

"Hey. I need to borrow Naina for a second. If you don't mind." A deep, slow and low voice interrupted him. They looked to the source of the voice and Naina's heart started pounding in her chest.

Ayaan.