Author's POV:

The night has occupied it's space with the stars and the moon glazing the streets of Hyderabad with a serene atmosphere unlike the noisiness present during the day. While all of them have fallen asleep and are engulfed in the warmth of their dreamlands, two of them are still awake, sitting idle and sobbing over their fates.

Leaning against the bedpost in her room, Neha pondered the previous day events (as it was past midnight the calendar date has changed) and came to the realisation that the reappearance of Adil and Sameer in her life would also bring Sana as well, to whom she is not ready to face.

Recalling her past and her heartbreak, she slowly drifted off to sleep.

Flashback Starts - Five years back

Few weeks after Neha realised her feelings

One day, when she came home from work, she noticed that Sana and he were lounging on the couch together, watching a movie.

"Come on Neha, join us the movie is good," Sana seeing Neha's arrival invited her to join them.

Seeing him, a desire to spend time with him engrossed in her heart, "Let me freshen up and join you guys," she agreed and went to her room.

Taking a quick shower and changing into a comfortable cotton dress that eventually hung down to her toes due to her short height, she wrapped a floral hijab before heading outside. Before going to the living room, she thought to grab something to eat so she went to the kitchen to have some light snacks.

(Neha's outfit)

"Ya Allah, what is this?", When she saw how messy the kitchen was, she thought she had landed in a different place. There was a teapot on the stove that was still burning and the milk inside was scorched , some used cutlery next to the sink, packets of noodles and vegetable peels were scattered all over the platform.

"Sana, Sameer come here in the kitchen right now", Quickly turning off the stove, she placed the teapot in cool water to reduce the smoke from the vessel and called the two culprits who were watching the movie without any worry.

When they heard Neha's yelling, they both looked at each other, stood up, and hurried into the kitchen.

Observing the state of the kitchen, they realised how much of a mess they had made. Suddenly thinking of the milk he had put in to make coffee an hour earlier, he said, "My coffee," and looked over at the stove.

"Oh, it's yours; look at how lovely your 'black' coffee has turned out." Neha sarcastically turned aside to show him the burnt teapot near the sink. With a sheepish smile, he said, "I am sorry," to Neha.

That smile made Neha flushed into a crimson red; she turned her face towards the sink and started to wash those dishes so that neither of them could see her fluttered face.

Following Neha, both of them also started to clean the mess.

"Seriously guys, this much clutter; it seems like it has not been cleaned since a month but in reality it is done in an hour," regaining her composure, Neha began her scolding session

"Actually, this mess has been there since morning," Sana slowly whispered, scratching her neck.

"Whatttttt! Are you guys serious-you both didn't go to your work?"

"I didn't feel like going today."
"My shoot got postponed."
Both of them replied simultaneously, Neha turned towards them and was shocked to see their avatars.

"Really, are you guys 11 years old? Have you both even taken a bath? " Neha asked them as they were dressed in their night dresses.

Sliding their faces towards left and right as a signal of 'No' they kept their face downwards, getting ready to get yelled up from Neha, who is now raging towards these two adults who are behaving as 11 year old brats

"You both go take shower now and meanwhile I will tidy this kitchen", Neha yelled, making both of them run towards their rooms.

Out of fear for Neha, Sana sprinted to her room while he hurried to the living room to get to his flat as soon as possible without worrying about his footwear.

"Let's start cleaning this," Neha rolled up her sleeves and began washing all the dirty dishes.

After few minutes, Sana took a shower and dressed in floral co-ord set came in the kitchen and started to help Neha by collecting all those wrappers and throwing up in dustbin

(Sana's outfit)

When the sun finally set, they finished cleaning everything and settled into the couch.

"Let's order something to eat; I don't have the energy to cook", Neha released a breath

"Don't worry, I have already ordered our favourite dishes; they will be here in 10 minutes," he said as he entered the house after taking a shower, dressed in a black t-shirt and grey paints. He gave Neha a cup of coffee and sipped the other, sitting on the armchair next to the couch.

"For me?" Sana looked towards him and complained.

"You don't like coffee, so I didn't make it; you can go and make yourself your favourite green tea," he shrugged his shoulders and teased Sana.

"Ughhh I won't spare you", Sana got irritated and left for the kitchen to make herself a green tea.

(His outfit)

As Sana went out of the living room, Neha suddenly felt the room temperature had increased, her sitting with him alone and drinking the coffee made by him was overwhelming.

She tried to distract herself and got up to sit far from him, but it was of no use. She was unable to stop those butterflies that were dancing in her stomach.

"After dinner, let us go to Marine Drive; it has been a long time," his words made her face him.

At the same moment, a few tiny drops of water fell onto his forehead from his partially wet hair worsening her flushed condition more. Nodding her head as agreed, she looked at the coffee cup, slowly sipping the coffee and paying close attention to its design-the slight crack on the edge of the cup intrigued her more than looking at him.

Later, they had their dinner and went to marine drive to enjoy the peaceful breeze with an icecream.

That day, Neha felt that she could no longer consider him as a friend anymore; she had fallen in love with him, and he was the one with whom she could live the rest of her life. However, she was ignorant of the existence of something greater known as destiny, which can serve as a roadblock or a means of access to her anticipated life.

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Few months later

It was the 20th day of the holy month of Ramadan and all four members-Neha, Sana, Sameer and Adil-decided to to experience the delicious delicacies of famous Mohammad Ali Road (the place is famous for lip smacking varieties of food stalls and many more eateries during the month of Ramadan) for Iftari (the meal eaten by muslims to break their fast after sunset)

"Ya Allah, what is this rush?" that was their reaction when they saw the number of people there and made the decision to break their fasts first and explore the area later.

After making Neha and Sana sit at a secure place, Adil and Sameer went outside to bring some dates and water to break the fast. Later, as decided they had many delicacies like malpua, Mohabbat ka sharbat, kebab rolls, tandoori platter and ended their journey with rabdi jalebi and returned to their apartment.

Praying the obligatory namaz, all four sat in Sana and Neha's apartment. Adil, Sameer and Neha were sipping coffee, while Sana was having her green tea.

"So, what are the plans for Eid?", Sameer asked, facing everyone

"I have shoot the next day in Mumbai, so I will be staying here," Sana answered sadly while he looked sceptical towards Sana's answer but didn't say anything.

"Even I can't go home; my manager is on maternity leave, and the temporary manager is extremely strict and is not allowing to take leave for more than one day," Neha murmured sorrowfully.

"It's fine, dear. I understand that even last time you were unable to go home due to training, and this time you were eager to go home," Sana placed her hand on Neha's shoulder to comfort her.

Seeing the girls sad, even boys decided to stay here for Eid to give them company and having friends during the festival celebration felt like an exciting experience.

It was a day of Eid ul Fitr; boys got dressed into kurta pyjamas and were about to leave for the Eid prayers, but Sana called them to have Sheer khurma (sweet made from semolina mostly during Eid) made by Neha and go for the prayer.

Hearing sheer khurma, their mouth salivated and they quickly dashed upstairs to the flat of Sana and Neha

"Wow, Neha the sheer khurma was amazing thanks for making it," he complimented her

"Oh Hello, even I helped her thank me even", Sana came in front of him and demanded

"Whoah, I am honoured to learn that, Miss.Sana has also put her contribution in making sheer khurma. Is it sufficient, or do you require more?" He asked before getting up to head to the prayer, causing others to chuckle and enrage Sana.

As the guys left for Eid prayers, Neha and Sana also got up and changed themselves in Eid outfits and offered Eid prayer in the home itself.

"Assalamualaikum Eid Mubarak." After the Eid prayers both Adil and Sameer came back and greeted Neha and Sana who were sitting in the living room and were discussing about the lunch.

"Waalaikumassalam Eid Mubarak to you too, Now give me my Eidi (it is money given to younger ones by elders during Eid)", Sana replied and forwarded her hand infront of both of them

"Huh, are you a child, Why will we give Eidi to you", he retorted back

"Haww, there is no such rule that only child can ask Eidi. Give me Eidi fast; I don't have much time".

Meanwhile, Neha got a call from her parents so she went to her room to answer it and greet them Eid wishes.

"Ok Pappa, Ammi Allahafiz, talk to you later." She disconnected the call after having a heartfelt talk and getting emotional, she left the room.

"Should we order biryaaaa?", Neha was approaching the living room to discuss the lunch plan when she stopped in the middle seeing the view infront of her.

Her heart broke upon seeing what was in front of her; Sana and he were embracing each other, and he was whispering something in her ear, to which she responded with a smile and kept her head close to her chest.

She was broken and did not know how to react. Tears were welling up in her eyes, and she was resisting herself to stop from shedding.

She made a quick U turn to go to her room, closed the door, and sat on the floor, leaning against the door to gaze at the ceiling, still holding her tears.

Don't know what was the reason but she did not wanted to shed a single tear.

Maybe the experience had not completely broken her yet, maybe she still had hope for him, maybe she needed to face more, and this was just the beginning.

After sitting idle for a while, she got up, washed her face, put on a fake smile and went outside

"Thank God you arrived, we were waiting for you. Let us have lunch; Adil has placed an order for kebabs and biryani." Sana came forward and dragged her towards the kitchen for unpacking and serving.

"Where are they?" As Neha couldn't find the guys she asked

"Oh, they went to their flats to change their outfits, they could not even wait for sometime. Seriously, they are so rubbish, can't they even wear their new outfits for a day", Sana was complaining about them but Neha felt irritated about her whining.

"Why are you always annoyed with them? They are not as annoying as you claim," she angrily retorted.

"And do not overstate how annoyed they are-you know they are not that irritating-then why do you constantly criticise them in front of me?" Neha continued and went of from the kitchen, taking the bowl of biryani which she transferred from the packets, leaving shocked Sana.

Sana didn't understand why Neha was behaving like that as it was not the first time she was complaining about the guys. Every time she whined about them, Neha used to respond by laughing and used to roll her eyes, but today she has unusually yelled back.

"Oh wow, food has arrived come on let us dig in." Sameer's excited voice made Sana divert from the situation, thinking of confronting Neha later she shrugged her shoulders and took the bowl of kebabs and came to the dining area.

The lunch was light-hearted with usual Adil and Sameer's playfulness and Sana's challenging comebacks, contrary to all of this Neha was distant and sad, normally she eats her food silently, but today she was not only quiet but was not reacting to any of the banter.

"Neha, why are you not eating have some biryani and kebab", Adil asked looking at her plate which was almost empty and she was just gazing at her plate and was not taking anything

"No I am almost full, I am not feeling well I will take rest for sometime", she ate the remaining food from her plate and took her plate to the kitchen later went of to her room.

"What happened to her ?" He asked looking at Sana

"Don't know she is behaving strange since she come out talking with her parents. May be some family issue", Sana voiced out her worry and later she herself came to the conclusion.

Later as time passed Neha started to distance herself from everyone and one day when Jennifer, who came on behalf of Monica, to Mumbai for an event saw the potential of Neha and offered for the position in New York thinking it as a good escape and also a good opportunity a double win she accepted it.

Flashback Ends

Sometimes we get attached to someone that when they go far away or you think they are about to get distant we get shattered and try to distant more from them so that you get saved from the heartbreak and this is a wise move this tells us that your mindful and alert.

But is it always a wise decision?

Is it a wise decision to give up without trying?
Is it a wise decision to not confront the others and move out of their lives?
Is it a wise decision to assume and predict the things before hand and make a decision?

Sometimes it could just be a misunderstanding and just a normal communication would have solved the situation easily without getting into a complex situation as of Neha.

Now when she had a made a decision and moved on from their lives her past entered royally as it could making her life more tangled.

She controlled herself from shedding tears since five years but today when she saw him, she was unable to control herself she weeped till she heard the call for Fajr prayers and later she got up prayed Fajr namaz, getting relief from it she slept of till afternoon.

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Please do let me know your opinions about this chapter?

It has not come out as I planned though 😐

This chapter was supposed to be for both Neha and Saniya's emotions but it was becoming so lengthy so I cut it into two chapters and wrote about only Neha's emotion.

Do let me know about her behaviour.
Do you guys agree to Neha or she has just overreacted?

Pic credits:

The above outfit pics of Sana and Neha are of a clothing brand, initially I have taken those screenshots for myself to buy and when I was looking out for appropriate pics to be uploaded I saw these screenshots and felt these are appropriate for the context so I uploaded those.

Don't forget to vote and comment