chapter 22

Aarti was in the middle of watering her plants when the doorbell rang. She set the watering can aside and rushed to open the door, knowing exactly who it was.  The moment she unlocked it, Riya stepped in, dragging her suitcase behind her and dramatically throwing her arms wide. “Aarti! Your favorite person is here!”  Aarti laughed, pulling her into a tight hug. “Riya! You look the same. Which means you haven’t been eating properly.”  Riya rolled her eyes. “And "you" look suspiciously happier than usual. What’s going on?”  Aarti quickly turned back toward the kitchen. “Nothing. Chai?”  Riya narrowed her eyes. “Something’s up.”  Before Aarti could change the subject, there was a knock on the balcony door.  “Aarti, taste test time! I made—oh.”  Kabir paused mid-sentence as he noticed Riya standing there, her eyebrows shooting up in curiosity. Aarti sighed.  “Kabir, this is Riya, my best friend. Riya, this is Kabir, my—”  “Neighbor,” Kabir finished with a grin. “And your "official" chai partner.”  Riya’s lips curled into a smirk as she looked between the two of them. “"Neighbor", huh?”  Aarti shot her a warning look, but Riya ignored it, stepping forward and offering her hand. “Nice to meet you, Kabir. I’ve heard nothing about you.”  Kabir chuckled, shaking her hand. “Then clearly, Aarti’s been hiding all the good stories.”  “Oh, I plan to hear them all,” Riya said sweetly before turning back to Aarti. “And I have so many questions.”  Aarti groaned. “Don’t start.”  But Riya was already on a mission. She walked straight to the balcony, eyeing the fairy lights, the shared plants, and the undeniable comfort between the two of them. She raised an eyebrow. “So, you two just happen to have cozy balcony movie nights and cook fusion food together?”  Kabir smirked, leaning against the railing. “She also critiques my cooking and forces me to appreciate vegetarian food. It’s a very balanced relationship.”  Riya gasped dramatically. “Oh no. She’s corrupted you?”  Kabir grinned. “Completely.”  Aarti groaned again. “Can you both stop?”  Riya ignored her, nudging Kabir. “Tell me something—does she stare at you when she thinks you’re not looking?”  Aarti’s eyes widened. “Riya!”  Kabir pretended to think. “Hmm. Now that you mention it…”  Aarti picked up a cushion and threw it at him. He dodged it, laughing.  Riya clasped her hands together. “Oh, this is going to be fun.”  Aarti covered her face. “I regret letting you visit.”  Kabir leaned over the railing toward Riya. “Stay as long as you like. This is the best entertainment I’ve had in weeks.”  Riya winked. “Oh, don’t worry. I plan to.”  Aarti groaned again, but despite herself, she smiled. Maybe having Riya around wouldn’t be so bad—if she could survive the teasing.. To be continue...