"Who was that pretty girl you were talking to?" My mom asked before i could even sit down.
"That is Shivani. We just met" i said.
"My daughter is making so many friends now-a-days" my mother said, looking at me fondly.
Little did she know.
Nevertheless, I loved it when she doted on me. So I drank it in.
"Can you get me a roti and sabzi?" She asked.
I sighed.
"Sure"
As I put one roti on a plate, I saw Shivani. But she wasn't alone. Some guy was talking to her.
Suddenly she threw her head back and laughed her pretty laugh. The guy gave her a big smile, seemingly proud of himself
Seeing this made my blood boil. I wanted to make her laugh too.
I quickly put aside my jealousy and walked towards the table where my mom sat.
"Thank you!" She beamed at me as I put the plate in front of her.
"I want to use the washroom " I announced all of a sudden.
"Oh it's right down that hallway" my mom said.
I thanked her and made my way to the washroom, the thoughts of Shivani snd that boy still niggling the back of my mind
I stood in front of the mirror of the washroom, examining myself. My eyes looked tired and the bags under my eyes were getting darker. I realized that i needed to comb my hair because it looked a little frizzy. I dug through my pouch but I couldn't find my comb
"Where the hell is it?" I mumbled, my annoyance very evident.
"Here" i heard a voice say.
I jumped up in shock. I had no idea that there was someone else beside me in that washroom. It was a girl, a little older than me. She had chestnut brown hair that was no longer than her shoulder.
"I don't think i should borrow your comb" I spoke timidly.
"Oh that's okay. This is a spare. I always carry two. You never know when someone might need it" she winked at me.
I blinked once. And then twice.
"O-oh okay" I laughed a little while taking the comb from her hands.
"So, i hear you are Naya?" She asked me as I combed my hair.
I paused for a second as I wondered how she knew. But i brushed it aside.
"Yes. And you are?" I asked
"I am Divya. Nice to meet you." She smiled at me.
"Nice to meet you too." I replied. "So do you carry a spare for everything? "
"I do, but not for everything." She laughed a little. "Can never be too careful"
"That is true. I used to carry one to school. Everyone called me crazy for doing that." I said.
"Really? Seems pretty normal to me. Probably because I used to carry one too." Divya said, giggling softly
"You can never be too car-" i was cut off by a loud clatter.
It was Shivani staring at both of us as though she had seen a ghost.
"Heyy Naya!" She smiled, but this smile didn't have any warmth like the ones before. "What are you doing here?"
"Um combing my hair?" I replied, a little confused.
"Great! Hey you know what? I am hungry. Care to join me for some food?" She didn't wait for my reply, but took me by my wrist and dragged me out of there.
I turned around to look at Divya, who just grinned widely at me whole giving me a thumbs up.
"The choices are really great today. I am starving and I really wouldn't mind eating some dessert. Speaking of, did you know they have arranged for five kinds of dessert? That is so cool!" Shivani rambled.
"I heard one of the aunties say-"
"Shivani wait." I said, a little loudly. Shivani stopped walking. She suddenly dropped my hand as if it had burnt her.
"What is going on?" I asked her,my voice soft.
She took a few deep breaths and turned to me. She looked me in my eyes, a move that made me speechless. She then averted her eyes, looking at the ground instead.
"I don't know, it's like something took over me."
I squinted at her.
"Were you...jealous?" I asked, expecting her to deny.
" I guess I was." She admitted, much to my surprise.
"Really? Of her? Why?" I asked, genuinely curious.
Shivani looked up at me, her eyes meeting my own.
"You really don't know, do you?" She asked, cocking her head to the side.
"Know what?" I asked her.
She looked away for a second, contemplating whether to speak or not. She finally turned to me.
"Don't you know beautiful you are?"
YOU ARE READING
Moon (Completed)
Romance(Short Story) Naya is a girl who doesn't socialize unless she absolutely has to. When her mother forces her to come to a wedding, she realizes she doesn't have much of a choice anyway. Just when she has almost made up her mind about social gathering...
