EIGHTEEN

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It had been a month since Nayab had returned from the wedding, but she still felt as though a part of her was missing. She had tried to slip back into her routine, but everything felt different. The fourth year classes had started, but she couldn't concentrate. Her mind kept wandering back to that evening, to the moment when she had left a piece of herself behind.

Before the wedding, Nayab had been reserved, but content. She was comfortable in her own skin, happy to observe the world around her without feeling the need to participate in it. But something had shifted in her during that week. She had started to enjoy not planning things and doing stuff unplanned.

But then it was over, and she was back to her old life. Except she wasn't the same person anymore. She was quieter, more introspective. She spent hours staring out of windows, lost in thought. Her friends noticed the change, but didn't know how to reach out to her.

“Nayab,” Ishaan snapped, making her daze break.

“Huh?”

Jyoti sighed and looked at Ishaan.

“We’re planning to visit a cafe after college. Are you up for it?” Ishaan repeated.

Nayab shifted on her chair and shook her head. “No, I don’t feel like it.”

“How long is this going to go on?” Jyoti spoke up.

“Go on what?” Nayab asked and looked at both her friends.

“This..” Jyoti moved her hands around, “You, behaving so lost and hopeless. I mean, if Danish meant that much to you then just call him and try to make it work.”

“It won’t work. And I don’t have his number anyway.” Nayab was now playing with her bag.

“Listen, if you want to reach him, we’ll find one way or the other.” Ishaan said.

“I don’t.”

“Then you have to try to move on. Having you here just physically hurts us. We don’t like seeing you like this.” He genuinely sounded hurt.

Nayab blew air out of her mouth. “You guys are right, I need to pull myself together.”

“And we’re always here to help you.” Jyoti reached out for her hand.

Nayab smiled at her. “So, which cafe are we going to today?”

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“One hot caramel macchiato for Nayab,” The barista shouted. Ishaan stood up and offered to get her coffee.

“Hot guy, 3 o'clock.” Jyoti said while drinking her chocolate milkshake.

Nayab rolled her eyes and made no move to see him.

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