20

The bus stopped, Meera and Naina woke up, Shahnaz was standing in front of her. Meera got scared seeing this, 'God, you scared me so much, why were you staring so much coming so close?' (She started hitting Shahnaz on her shoulder)

Aahan was also asleep; his head was on Jay's shoulder.

When Aahan opened his eyes, he saw Jay sitting completely shocked, so that Aahan wouldn't wake up. Seeing this, Aahan moved back and said,

"Sorry."

Jay takes a deep breath and says,

"It's okay."

Regular excited & louder tone, "Thank god you woke up, I wasn't even breathing, don't be disturbed, ouch! my shoulder hurts a lot, I haven't moved it for 3 hours."

Jay warms his shoulder to relieve the pain a bit. Aahan feels really bad that Jay had a problem because of him.

Seeing the sadness on Aahan's face, Jay said, "You're my friend, it's not a big deal for me, don't stress out so much, even if you stay for 24 hours, I won't say anything because you're my friend."

Aahan smiled and said, "Let's go have some tea."

Jay's smile grew even bigger.

Aahan got off the bus to have tea. Jay isn't having tea; he's setting up his guitar to play.

Aahan thought, "Jay is a very good person, he's even more than perfect, how can anyone reject him."

Naina washes her face, Meera takes a towel to clean her face. Naina noticed Meera doing this for her. Naina looked at Meera, took the towel a few seconds later, and wiped her face.

Shahnaz and Yukati murmured from behind, "HMMMMMMM"

Shahnaz looked at Meera with an angry gaze. Meera noticed Naina feeling uncomfortable with all this.

Shahnaz asked Yukati, "Will you have tea?"

Yukati started laughing. "Let's go."

Teena asked angrily to Naina, "Don't keep Lalita with me, she snores so much."

Naina said with a smile, "do more make the seat arrangement, send her to me, you sit with Meera."

Teena looked at Meera and said, "Someone should be lucky, we're getting Maggi here, who wants it?"

Naina smiled and said, "Cheese Maggi."

Teena chuckled and said, "I knew you're crazy about cheese, I've ordered it, Aahan must be bringing it."

Naina hugged Teena and said, "You are my Jaan."

Teena asked, "Jaan? Do you love me?"

Naina hit her on the head and said, "What? I said it as a friend, reduce watching Thai shows."

Teena scratching her head said, "Jaan can also use for friends."

It reminded Naina and Teena of something.

Teena said, "I'll be back," and rushed to Aahan.

Naina looked at Meera, who was standing there, she heard it, and Meera wanted to leave quietly from there.

Naina said to Meera, "Let's go to the washroom."

Meera, scared, said, "Yes."

"Naina takes Meera's hand and leads her to the washroom.

"Why did you bring me to a washroom?"

"For taking your advantages, stupid. So you don't run away. Now, tell me, why is my name like that in your phone?" (Naina was speaking softly but showing a little anger)

"Like what?" (Meera was also speaking softly but had a smile on her face)

"JJJ...Aan 'Jaan'? Why?"

"You're the one who just said it, Friend."

"Surely a friend?"

"Why, do you want more than that from me?"

"You can't give a straight answer."

"Can't you speak straightforwardly? What do you want to hear?"

"I want to hear? Are you trying to make me confused?"

"What's wrong with 'Jaan'? I can even say it in front of everyone."

"Noooooo, absolutely not." (Meera quickly responded)

"Jaan Jaan Jaan." (Meera laughed while trying to control it)

"Shhhhhh."

Naina went outside, Shahnaz entered the washroom and saw Meera inside too. Naina seemed quite angry.

Shahnaz gestured with her hand to ask Meera, "What's this?"

Meera said with a small smile, "We're friends."

Shahnaz said, "Good friends. What happened today?"

"You're overthinking it. She still loves Aahan."

Shahnaz said with a laugh, "You both are coming out of the same washroom, what kind of love is Naina's?"

Meera started to leave, "We were just talking."

Yukati also came, "Babe, are you..."

Shahnaz said to Yukati, "Shall we go to the washroom?"

Yukati said, "No, you know I'm very tired."

Shahnaz laughed, "There's good energy here with many people."

Meera quietly left.

After Meera left, Yukati said, "Did you ask your friend to get angry? Apologize."

Shahnaz said lovingly, "Alright."

Jay is singing, Naina is eating Maggi, Aahan and Teena are not seen.

Lalita has just woken up and is getting off the bus."

"Where's Teena?"

Teena and Aahan are talking, Lalita was about to say something to them but then she saw Jay.

"Jay is singing."

Naina was feeling cold, it was evening time and they were near the mountains. Lalita goes to get her jacket. Meera asked Naina,

"Are you feeling cold?"

"Yes, my jacket is placed on my seat, I'll go get it."

"I'll get it, you enjoy the music."

Lalita rushes to get the jacket and brings it back, Meera calmly gives Naina the jacket.

Lalita tells Naina, "For you."

Naina smiles and says, "Thanks, but I have my own jacket."

Meera gives her the jacket.

she looks quite upset.

Jay says, "I'm feeling cold too, give it to me, Lalita."

Lalita had a light pink jacket in her hand by then, and Aahan and Teena had returned.

Teena says, "Shall we play truth and dare?"

Lalita says, "Here? Let's stop at a hotel, we can play there."

Meera says, "Teena is right, the fun is in adventure."

Lalita was getting very angry with Meera.

Jay said, "This game is no good. Let's all chill. I'll sing, and everyone can dance."

Aahan looked worried. Jay glanced at Aahan. Since Lalita is a very good dancer, she started dancing. Lalita was doing a very hot type of dance, then she grabbed Naina's hand and invited her to dance. Naina and Lalita were dancing as a couple. Meera was typing on her phone when Shahnaz said,

"Meera, I'm sorry I said too much."

Meera gave Shahnaz a small smile and continued typing on her phone.

"Meera, will you dance with me? Our friendship is still there, remember how we used to dance to the song 'Have you ever loved someone?' and create memories?"

Meera smiled and said, "Let's go."

When Meera and Shahnaz came to dance, Naina's attention shifted to Meera. At first, she was lost in the dance, but now she was gradually smiling as she looked at Meera and Shahnaz. Yukati asked Jay to sing.

When Meera and Shahnaz started dancing, everyone started cheering. Yukati was recording videos of both of them. Meera also saw Naina dancing with Lalita, how Naina's hand was on Lalita's shoulder. Meera placed her hand on Shahnaz's shoulder. Seeing Naina place her hand on Lalita's waist when she saw Meera, after Meera left from there.

Meera looked very sad as if tears were about to come. Shahnaz started dancing with Yukati. Lalita sat down tired, Naina had a smile like a winner. Aahan and Teena were sitting alone, lost in thought. They weren't having any fun; both of them were upset.

Jay put the guitar aside and asked Aahan, "Wanna dance?"

Aahan smiled and said, "The music band is gone, let it be."

Jay brought a speaker from the bus.

"I have the solution to everything," Jay said.

laughing, Aahan was thinking to himself, "Who is this guy? He seems like a cartoon character, always showing off tattoos, he must be an angry person. He keeps joking around all day long."

They played a party song, and Aahan and Jay started dancing. They were dancing like crazy, trying everything from the Naagin dance to Punjabi Bhangra.

Lalita shouted, "Jay is good at lap dancing!"

Everyone cheered loudly. Aahan was feeling shy because he had never felt like this before.

They made Aahan sit on a chair, Jay held Aahan's face with one hand, Jay face had charming and handsome expressions. As the song started, Aahan closed his eyes in fear. Everyone was laughing at Aahan's expression. Naina noticed that Meera wasn't here. Naina looked around, Lalita saw Teena and went to sit next to her.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, Lalita. I just feel alone. Naina doesn't spend much time with me anymore. It feels like there are friends and people in love in her life, but even though I'm here, I feel like no one is with me."

Lalita thought for a moment and then said, "Everyone is here, come with me. I've heard there's a great market nearby."

In a very persuasive tone, as if Teena wasn't interested in anything, "No."

Lalita pulled Teena's hand and said,

"Your stubbornness won't work. I know you don't like me, I can't replace your Naina, but it won't be boring for sure. Come on now."

Lalita asked the people nearby for directions to find the market, while Teena checked Google Maps.

Teena, in frustration, said, "If we get lost, I'll push you off the next hill we come across."

Lalita chuckled and replied, "You can take my life then, but for now, look ahead."

Teena looked and screamed said, "This is a burger shop!!!."

Lalita chuckled and said, "Yes, you like it a lot, right? Well, I also like it very much. Shall we go eat?"

Both of them became very excited to eat burgers. Food is heaven for both of them. They ate each bite with delight, saying "Yummm yumm."

Teena happily said, "You're the best person in the world. No one has ever treated me to so many burgers before."

Lalita smiled lightly and said, "You're a foodie. I realized that day when you were looking at my burger with so much love."

Teena chuckled and said, "You look like a witch but you're not a bad person."

Lalita said with a slightly sad face, "Is it wrong to want something? I can't be a little selfish for myself? I know people think I'm very wrong because I speak what's in my heart, even if it's bitter. What did I do wrong? I don't find good people; I've gotten used to being with such people, to being selfish. Good people don't even want to be friends."

Teena, sipping her Coke, said, "You're very emotional. There's so much pain in your voice; it seems like you've revealed a lifetime of pain today."

Lalita looked around as if holding back tears and said, "Why don't we get what we want? What sin did I commit?"

Teena, thinking about someone, said, "Some things are not in our hands; we can only be happy in their happiness."

Lalita started crying at the thought, then Teena got up and sat beside Lalita, wiping her tears with her sleeve.

Tears were also welling up in Teena's eyes as she said, "You're not alone in experiencing this; everyone feels helpless at times. Love isn't in everyone's destiny."

Seeing Teena's eyes wet, Lalita asked, "Why are you crying? Did I make you cry?"

Teena chuckled and said, "You're terrible! You ruined all the burgers; my burger high is gone."

Lalita chuckled and said, "Greedy... (after looking at Teena for 7-8 seconds, she smiled and said) It's the first time I've felt so comfortable speaking my mind with someone. It's the first time I feel like no one is judging me."

Teena pulled Lalita's cheek and said, "Stop buttering up now, let's go, they must be worried about us."

Lalita touched her cheek and said, "You're so mean, it hurt."

Teena laughed. Teena was walking ahead when Lalita came running and grabbed Teena's hand.

"Walk slowly, I have short legs compared to you."

"You're on a panda's leg, cute little ones. If I hug you, you'll reach my heart."

Lalita looked to Teena's heart side & quickly hugged.

Teena said, "You're sticky."

Lalita felt peaceful hugging and said, "Can we stay like this a little longer, please?"

Teena felt awkward, then she gently patted Lalita's head and said, "Let's go."

Lalita, teasingly, said, "No, let's stand like this for a little while longer. Besides, no one is around, so it feels good."

Teena, annoyed, said, "Move, bubblegum."

Lalita laughed. Teena started to walk away, and Lalita chased after her. "Where are you running? Wait!"

After searching, Naina for a long time, Meera found her. Meera is feeling cold, standing alone without a jacket. In the soft embrace of night, where shadows play and dreams take flight, swirling clouds mirror Meera's inner whirl. Her hair, a dance in the breeze, whispers secrets to the moon, shielding her from the cold's cruel swoon.

Naina, lost in reverie, first casts her gaze to the stars, then to Meera, a vision on the mountaintop.

With a sigh, Naina's fingers brush the air, a shiver of anticipation lingering there. Each step towards Meera, a journey through dreams untold, shedding her jacket, a silent ode to the night's hold.