25

Naina paused for about 4-6 seconds, then chuckled and said, " She did not give me the opportunity to think."

Meera asked, "Naina, why don't you sit next to Lalita?"

Naina replied with a smile, "No, I want to avoid making her jealous. I'm fine with sitting beside you."

The bus stopped, everyone picked up their bags for tracking, getting ready for the adventurous journey ahead.

Naina held Meera's hand and said, "Let's go!"

Naina thought to herself, "Meera's touch feels so different, comfortable, and lovely, as if I should always stay like this."

Meera glanced at Naina and smiled slightly, then started climbing the hill. Meera was ascending comfortably while Naina fell behind. Aahan went ahead comfortably, but Jay stopped and joked, "Are you going to stop? I won't go any faster."

"Come on, Jay, don't give up," Naina encouraged.

"My heart said that stopping for a while wouldn't change anything, anyway, this isn't a race."

Naina stopped.

"Your heart said? What happened to your heart now?" (smiling)

"Now, it's not a heart anymore, it's turned into stone."

"Why?"

They both sat down.

"People forget, I'm also human, they want to use me and throw me away. Lalita didn't do that, but she thought I was crazy. We never understood each other's thoughts, now there's no hope, no one will understand."

"I didn't know you were such a sad person."

"The ones who laugh the most are often the saddest."

"Why are you troubled? Aahan left you alone, didn't he?"

Jay joked, "He never leaves, in our friendship, I stand as a lone friend."

Naina had a smile on her face as all the memories flooded back to her. "Aahan isn't bad, he just used to love me. Whatever happened between us, he must be trying to forget. He's a very loving guy, Aahan."

Excitedly, Jay said, "Let's leave Aahan behind!"

Naina chuckled and said, "Wait, keep calm, Meera has also moved ahead."

"You're not sad that your friend left you behind?"

"No, because she must be waiting ahead for sure. It's her habit to go ahead and then watch me coming."

"You both look like a couple." (Naina and Jay are walking)

"We're dating, for now."

"No way, since when did Meera say yes to you?"

"Why are you so shocked?"

"She seems very attitude-filled to me, she doesn't talk to anyone except Shahnaz."

"It's not like that, Meera doesn't make friends quickly, she only talks to a limited number of people."

"Well, I didn't know that. Come on, your girlfriend is waiting for you."

Meera stood up, waiting for Naina, and overheard the conversation. "Girlfriend?"

Naina playfully pinched Meera's cheek and said, "Yes, Jay knows that we are dating."

Aahan playfully hit Jay on the back, "Boom!"

Jay shouted, "Aahan!"

Jay started running behind Aahan.

Shahnaz and Yukati were also taking pictures nearby, Lalita and Naina were making a video.

Meera remarked, "It seems like everyone has found their partner, everyone is spending more time with their partners than the group."

"Who knew, Teena and Lalita would become friends?"

"When did that happen?"

"Look at this."

Teena was smiling in the video, holding Lalita's hand.

"You're posing incorrectly, Teena."

(Teasingly) "Lalita, why are you filming me? With all this going on, the couples are over there."

(Lalita whispered very softly) Lalita whispered, "Don't say it loudly, they are watching us."

Meera, watching, said, "Yes, that's right, they've become really good friends."

Naina said, "I think Jay is perfect for Aahan."

Meera said, "Do you know he's bisexual?"

Naina looked at Meera. "I know about you too."

Meera came closer to Naina and asked with a smile, "What do you know?"

Naina controlled her smile and said, "You're bisexual too."

Meera immediately stepped back.

Naina said, "Taken aback? You were questioning me unnecessarily that day, whether Aahan is gay or not, you knew everything, didn't you? You made me feel crazy."

Meera controlled her laughter and said, "You're the crazy one." (said softly)

Naina exclaimed, "Did I hear that right? What did you say? Do I look like an idiot to you?"

Meera started walking ahead, and Naina hugged her from behind. After that, something happened to Naina, happiness seemed to run through her veins. She said something to Meera, and then kissed her on the cheek.

It was their first kiss in front of everyone. A smile appeared on Meera's face, then she looked at Lalita and left.

Naina said to Meera, "Wait, I want to know a lot about you."

Meera asked, "What do you want to know?"

Naina asked, "Did you have any boyfriend?"

"No."

"Any... girlfriend?" (asked very softly)

"No."

"Who's your favorite person?"

"You're not going to become my girlfriend, why are you asking?"

"Okay okay, don't answer." (Naina is walking alongside)

"You, (Naina looked surprised) you are weird."

Naina smiled.

"Stop showing your teeth." (Meera is somewhat annoyed)

Naina closed her mouth.

Naina is crying inside, "What's happening? It was easy in front of Aahan, why is it so difficult now? Meera is thinking, she hasn't spoken since then."

Neither Naina nor Meera are saying anything, it's evening now, the sunset is happening, everyone is sitting down, tired. Naina keeps looking at Meera, smiling, but Meera doesn't even look at Naina.

Naina is sitting next to Lalita, and Lalita's shoulder accidentally touches Naina's. Meera notices the shoulder touch. Teena rests her head on Lalita's shoulder. Meera looks up and sees the shoulder touch, then looks towards Naina, who was already looking at her. Meera looks away.

Aahan messages Naina,

"Naina, kiss her."

Meera accidentally glances at Naina's phone. She moves a bit away from Naina.

Naina looks at her phone and types,

"No, she is in shock."

Naina whispers in Meera's ear,

"I need to go to the washroom."

Meera responds,

"Wait, where? Alright, let's go."

Naina and Meera start walking. They go behind some bushes.

"Naina, sit here." (Meera looks away)

Naina responds,

"I want... want, want..." (taking a deep breath)

Naina said with a laugh, "I don't think I got it."

Meera started walking away without saying anything. Naina felt bad, she seemed very sad. Naina thought she should tell her the truth. Naina felt a tension, she is so not good with words, so she is trying to prove her love with her action, so she grabbed Meera's hand and spun her around. Naina kissed Meera. Meera immediately smiled, about to kiss Naina back when she noticed Lalita is coming. Tears welled up in Meera's eyes. Meera left. Naina thought, "She was sad, crying... (in a trembling voice) I broke our friendship, I broke our friendship. Meera doesn't love me." (Tears were flowing from Naina's eyes, Lalita hugged her as she looked at her.)

Teena noticed that Meera was sad.

"What happened? Meera."

"I'm leaving, you guys continue the rest of the trip."

"Why? Is it just a one-day thing? What happened?"

"Nothing, I'm feeling fine."

Everyone ate tamarinds and headed back towards the hotel. Meera is sitting in her room, and Naina is also sitting in hers.

Naina said, "I'm so sorry."

Meera didn't say anything.

Naina couldn't muster the courage to speak again. She was feeling a lot of regret. The trip ended, but there was no conversation between Meera and Naina.