When we came back, Zoya seemed to be in a better mood than she was in the morning. The aerobics was over for good and now everyone was busy with weaving something which looked like garlands. Zoya was sitting in the middle of a group of kids, all yelling for her attention at the same time.

Riya however looked at my tired face with some asperity and asked me if I was coming down with something.

"I knew walking all the way to that market place would be too much for you. But no! Always you have to do the extraordinary, achieve the impossible or some nonsense like that."

And Riya, of all the people was saying this! I just shrugged as Reyansh and I went to sit on the two empty seats on either side of her.

"What is all this?", I asked in an effort to change the topic.

Riya pursed her lips and, "This is a marigold Mishti. That is another marigold. And this is your boyfriend", she said gesturing at Reyansh.

"What's with the garlands?", I asked Reyansh.

"They said it's for..er..Varsha Porapu", Reyansh replied.

"Who is that Varsha now? I thought Sulochana was trouble enough".

"Not Varsha, it's Varsha Porapu", Riya yelled, "That's what they call Tamil new year. Will you stand there in attention for the rest of the afternoon or will you come and show me all the things you guys bought?"

Considering this as a good topic, I brought out the shopping bags to display everything to Riya.

•••

"I don't know what stupidity Sanam is planning but she shouldn't say it failed because of us", Riya said. Sanam and Ameesha had suggested that all of us could go down to the next concert of the Enchanted Stone which took place that night.

I was not at all keen especially with the Josh-Zoya-Rahul drama going on. Also, I remembered all the chaos the last time, we went together to see a movie. But Riya didn't want to say 'no' to those two and we ended up agreeing. Laksh was still caught up with his mother's birthday celebration and couldn't come.

I didn't know why Riya was so keen to be in the good books of two girls whose faces we would never see after this trip. But then, opinions always mattered a lot to Riya.

•••

I flung the eyeliner pencil down, in frustration. It fell on the dressing table and then rolled down onto the floor and landed with a plop. I think it committed suicide.

Today was one of the bad wing days where I knew it just wouldn't happen. Not by my hands at least. I glanced at the sloppy black mess on my left eyelid. I grabbed a tissue from the stand and started wiping it off.

The door opened behind me, "Hey Mishti". It was Ameesha.

"Hey", I said hastily chucking the tissue out of sight, "Are you looking for Riya?"

"No I just came from Riya's room", Ameesha said "I asked Riya and Zoya if they would like to do a makeover with us but they declined. Just thought I would ask you too".

I had no reason to say no. Besides I was a little bored of getting ready with my best friends. Riya, Zoya and I dressed up together a hundred times every year which involved each of our birthdays, Diwali, Navratri, Eid, New Year and a dozen other occasions. Besides, my eyeliner was being a bitch today.

My loyalty switched as I got up and followed Ameesha out.

•••

Having been around Riya for so many years, I was not new to makeovers but this was something else.

I looked at the mirror. Sanam and Ameesha had done my eyes and face much better than the parlour lady had done for our school farewell. I thanked them and went back to my room to grab some water before joining Riya and Zoya. They would probably go and beg Sanam and Ameesha tomorrow to get their own eyes done.

I had just walked in and closed the door when it opened again.

Reyansh came in and looked at me in surprise. I clenched my teeth and grinned.

"Where is Mishti?", he asked playfully as he stared around the room and then picked up a pillow and looked under it.

"You're sweet", I said.

"Did you do all this by yourself?", he asked.

"No it was all Sanam and Ameesha", I said, "Why are you here anyway?"

"We're getting late. Everyone's waiting...so I just thought I would find out what you're upto", Reyansh said.

"I'm ready. Come on", I said, gripping his hand and pecking his lips.

•••

Inspite of feeling probably the prettiest, I had ever felt in my life, it was the most awkward thing I had ever been a part of. Josh, Zoya and Rahul all in the same scene.

Zoya clung to Josh's arm like a parasite, while staring at Rahul like a forlorn puppy. Her defiance seemed to have vanished. I felt sorry for her. The poor thing. She had agreed to go out with Josh simply because that Rahul had dumped her. How would she know that our hero would come back? Rahul and Josh were staring at each other. 

As I had expected, Riya wriggled out of the scenario, by saying she had to empty her bladder. The bitch. She took Sanam with her to hold her stupid designer sling bag while she peed.

As far as I knew she would just stand inside the stall for a few minutes and come back.

"You should congratulate my Zoya", Josh told Rahul "She's been doing an excellent job at the volunteer program".

Josh was bold. Calling her my Zoya and all that.

"Well done", Rahul muttered to the ceiling.

"Thanks", Zoya mumbled.

"She's a perfectionist", Josh continued "You should see her working with kids. She'll make a wonderful mom".

If only my shirt pulling deal with Josh was still on.

Rahul said nothing. For a few seconds, nobody said anything.

Reyansh who was standing next to me made his usual attempt to cool down things, "Err...guys, can we all go and dance?"

"Were you giving birth inside?", I asked as Riya stepped out after me knocking the bathroom door two dozen times, "Or were you masturbating?"

"Neither. Oh thanks babe", Riya said getting her bag from Sanam.

Sanam left the washroom abruptly. It was a little weird. They were the ones who had called us but they had hardly paid any attention to us. But maybe, she realised there was some big drama going on here among us and she didn't want to pry.

I grabbed Riya's hand and dragged her out. Maya and Reyansh were dancing with utmost gusto. I saw Josh holding Zoya as they moved around in graceful circles. Josh's eyes on Zoya. Zoya's eyes unfocused. And Rahul's eyes on both of them from the stage. 

Riya and I joined Maya and Reyansh. We all moved around doing silly steps and making faces.

The whole thing went on for another half an hour, till the concert paused and everyone ran to get refreshments.

The bar was overcrowded, so our lot moved to the soda stand and ordered orange juices.

It was while having my third glass of juice that Rahul made a beeline for us. It almost scared me, how fastly he came straight to us.

"Zoya, that's it. I'm done", he said with an air of finality.

"Done with what?", Zoya asked, "And why are you making a scene?"

"Done with you and your drama. You come here with another guy and you go all out...what are you thinking? I can't take this anymore. I'm leaving right now. My bandmates will complete the rest of the concert", he said. He then turned and walked out of the hall abruptly. Riya and I stared at each other in shock.

Some of the other people who had come to the concert looked at Rahul leaving the hall with surprise and curiosity.

Zoya looked at the doorway through which he had walked out, worriedly. 

Josh came upto her and put his arm around her shoulder, "You love him don't you?", he asked.

"Huh..what?", Zoya stammered.

"You heard me", Josh said.

"Don't be stupid Josh. Have I not been dancing with you?"

"Come on Zoya. Do I look like a kid? I see the way you've been staring at him since we came here", Josh's tone was gentle.

"Josh..."

"Life is short Zoya. We have to live while we're young. Don't lie to yourself", Josh said.

I have to say, Josh totally surpassed all Bollywood heroes.

"I'm not lying to myself", Zoya said quickly "I do love him".

"Then what are you waiting for? Go get him". 

"Josh, are you kidding?"

"Not at all", he said "Now, go get him before it's too late".

Zoya's eyes turned moist as she looked at Josh.

"Josh...Josh you'll always be my friend", she babbled, clutching her glass tightly, "You're amazing and..."

"Go"

"You're one hell of a guy....you deserve a girl who.."

"Zoya just go!"

Zoya didn't need to be told another time.

Riya and I watched with all the other hundred and fifty something people inside the hall as my best friend slammed her glass on the table and raced out of the hall with a speed that would've shamed any professional athelete.

A/N : Not me writing corny-as-hell chapters and being proud.