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Flashback Continued:
"I don't understand why they did this, especially Divya. How could she betray me like this? If she didn't genuinely want to be friends, then why did she always come to me for comfort when our classmates hurt or bullied her? She even insulted my brother and physically hurt him. Why?"
Shristi, introducing herself amidst a torrent of sobs, was overcome with a grief so profound it echoed in the stillness of the café. Her voice trembled with raw emotion, each word tinged with confusion and heartache as her tears flowed unbidden, carving paths down her flushed cheeks.
The café, usually alive with laughter and the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee, felt haunted that Friday afternoon. Mira aunty, the café owner, hadn't come in, and with the staff already gone home, I found myself closing up early. The last few customers trickled out, leaving behind whispers of conversations and the soft clinking of empty cups, the atmosphere heavy with unsaid words. Shristi, her brother Vivaan, and I sat at a corner table, enveloped in the suffocating silence, grappling with the weight of Shristi's betrayal.
"It's okay, Shristu. It's not your fault," Vivaan said, his voice steady yet tinged with the tremor of his concern.
He placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, grounding her amidst the emotional storm. "Just forget about it and don't talk to them anymore. Besides, we're leaving this place soon, and you'll make new and better friends at your new school."
Shristi shook her head vehemently, her dark hair cascading around her shoulders like a curtain drawn against the harshness of the world. "No, Bhai, I won't make new friends. In fact, I don't want to make any friends in the future. You three are enough for me," she declared defiantly, her voice thick with hurt yet stubbornly resolute.
My heart ached for her innocence amidst the cruelty of youth. It puzzled me deeply—the intensity of her emotions and the chaotic storm of confusion they found themselves trapped in.
"Can you both please explain why that girl, Divya, behaved this way towards you, especially Vivaan? I want to understand the situation fully. I know I helped you without knowing the entire story, but I did it because I saw the innocence in your eyes. My instincts told me you were not at fault," I interjected, my curiosity finally bubbling to the surface, eager to peel back the layers of this painful revelation.
"Okay, I'll tell you everything," Shristi began, her tear-streaked cheeks glistening like morning dew in the first light. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and looked at me earnestly. "But first, how should we address you? Should we call you 'Di,' or can we use your beautiful name, Ruhanika? Can we call you Ruhanika Di?"
"You can call me Ruhani. Ruhani Di if you'd like. Now, please tell me everything," I encouraged them, eager to hear their story unfold.
"Ruhani Di, we moved here two years ago because our father and uncle wanted to expand their business in Delhi," Shristi started, her voice trembling like the delicate notes of a piano. "That's when I met Divya. She became my best friend, or so I thought. But she always seemed more interested in meeting my brothers than being friends with me. I didn't understand why. I have three brothers: one is much older, 27 years old, and he always advised me to be cautious with new friends, but I didn't listen. He never scolded me, though; he just let me make my own decisions. Then there's my second older brother, Abhimaan Bhai, and this one, Vivaan, who's three years older than me. Vivaan was always around me at school, and all my friends—or rather, ex-friends—were interested in him. I thought Divya was different, but today, I realized she was just like the others. She acted nice in front of me, but her true intentions were revealed today. She and the others only wanted my brother's attention. That's why they tried to blame and insult him. I will never forgive them. I feel like crying, but I don't want to seem weak. I just want to eat lots of chocolates and forget about it. But Bhaiyu will scold me because I didn't listen to him. He'll think I'm a bad girl for not listening."
