**Winner 2024 Amby Awards**
Fiza has everything planned-medical school, a respectable future, and an engagement she never wanted. Determined to escape a loveless match, she creates a checklist to find the perfect husband her father will approve of.
...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
I found myself back at the hostel without fully realizing how I'd gotten there. My mind was in complete chaos. Alan's pleading eyes, his whispered words, my feelings for him. But it all came down to the decision I was too scared to make.
When I pushed open the door to my room, I found Shahana, Varsha, and Priya already inside, sprawled across the beds. Shahana gave me a small wave.
"We were just discussing something," Shahana began, her excitement barely registering in my current state. "We were thinking of planning a trip during our study holidays."
I managed a weak smile. "Count me out," I said, shaking my head.
"Come on!" Priya urged, her voice full of enthusiasm. "It'll be so much fun."
A heavy sigh escaped me. "You guys go ahead. I don't think I would be able to enjoy vacationing so close to exams. I'd just end up bringing everyone down."
"Maybe we should consider planning something for next year," Varsha suggested pragmatically. "I'm not sure my parents would fund me to take a trip during study hols anyway."
"Fine then! We'll plan something for next year," Priya conceded, her face falling with disappointment.
Then Varsha looked at me. "What's been going on with you lately?" she asked. Her eyes scanned my face, then dropped lower, locking onto the side of my neck. She pointed, her tone shifting to one of blunt surprise. "Is that a hickey?"
I glanced at myself in the mirror, and a hot flush of embarrassment spread across my face. Another hickey. And of course his mother had seen it. That explained the pointed questions!
"So you stay at Alan's house with his parents there, and they don't say anything?" Varsha asked, her voice thick with disbelief.
I floundered, trying to explain. "Well... I slept in the guest room..."
Varsha rolled her eyes. "But obviously, you're making out with his parents right there."
The blush deepened, burning my cheeks. After a heavy moment, the words tumbled out. "His mom said something really weird today. She said that they would be okay with Alan marrying... me."
"What!" Shahana and Varsha exclaimed in unison. Shahana immediately wrapped me in a tight hug. "So, are you two a couple now?"
"Wait, aren't you already a couple?" Varsha asked, her confusion genuine. We'd never corrected anyone who assumed we were together... unless they directly asked us.
I shook my head, the familiar lie leaving my lips. "We're just friends."
Varsha laughed and pointed again at my neck. "Friends with benefits, you mean!"
I didn't find it funny. "We just lost... lost control," I admitted, not knowing what else to say.
"But why aren't you two a couple?" Varsha pressed relentlessly.
