Beautiful disaster (completed)

Chapter 5 - The Emotional Conflict

Confused and angry, I stormed out of the café, not caring where my feet took me. I walked aimlessly, lost in my thoughts and the chaos that had suddenly consumed my life. How had a simple blind date turned into such a mess?

After what felt like hours, I finally snapped out of my daze and realized I needed to get home. I fumbled for my phone, my fingers trembling with a mix of frustration and desperation. With a few taps on the screen, I summoned a cab to take me home, to a place where I could escape the chaos of my mind.

As I sat in the backseat of the cab, the events of the day replayed in my mind. The driver glanced at me through the rearview mirror, his eyes filled with curiosity and concern. I must have appeared as a lost soul, adrift in a sea of uncertainty. Meeting Kabir had stirred up emotions I had long buried, and I couldn't help but wonder why he had been there instead of Dev. Was it a cruel twist of fate or something more?

The cab ride seemed to pass in a blur, the city melting away as I approached the familiarity of home. The driver bid me farewell, his eyes filled with a mixture of sympathy and understanding. I thanked him, my voice barely above a whisper, and stepped out onto the familiar pavement.

When I entered the apartment, Maya's curious voice filled the air. "So, how was your blind date, Kiara?" she asked, her eyes filled with anticipation. I knew she was eagerly awaited my return to hear all the details.

 I had promised her that I would go on this date, but the truth was, I hadn't actually met Dev. The mere thought of Maya bombarding me with questions and being upset made me feel exhausted.

My heart skipped a beat, and I quickly composed myself. To avoid her I walked towards my room, my mind still reeling from the unexpected encounter I had at the café earlier. Revealing my past to Maya was out of the question. I weighed my options, contemplating whether to come up with a believable lie or simply omit the details. The thought of deceiving Maya made me uneasy,  I didn't want lie to her.

When I didn't say anything. Maya got up from her spot on the couch and followed me. she looked at my face, immediately sensed something was off.

"Kiara, what's wrong?" she asked, concern etched on her face.

I sighed, knowing that I couldn't tell Maya about my encounter with Kabir. I had never shared the details of my past with her. She was my best friend, but some things were better left unsaid. Today, after a decade, I came face to face with Kabir, and the emotions that surged within me were overwhelming. I was furious when he had the audacity to pretend to be my blind date. Thank God for the text from Dev, my actual blind date, stating that he would be late. It saved me from making fool of myself in front of Kabir.

"Nothing, Maya. Just a long day," I replied, forcing a smile. I knew Maya wanted to ask many questions but chose to remain silent for some time.

As I changed into a more comfortable outfit, I couldn't shake off the feeling of anger towards Maya. Her idea of a blind date had turned into a mockery, and I couldn't help but blame her for the whole situation. I knew it wasn't entirely her fault, but in that moment, I needed someone to blame.

"why are you not saying anything?"

Maya's voice broke through my thoughts, her concern evident in her tone. But I couldn't bring myself to tell her the truth, to reveal the tangled web of emotions that surrounded Kabir and me. It was a secret I had kept hidden for far too long, buried deep within the recesses of my heart.

as I lay in bed, my mind began to drift back to the encounter with Kabir earlier that evening. It had been ten years since we last saw each other, and the bitterness and resentment between us was still palpable. I couldn't believe he had the audacity to pretend to be my blind date.

"Come on, Kiara, stop being childish," Maya's voice broke through my thoughts, sounding irritated.

Kabir's mocking words echoed in my mind, calling me desperate. I couldn't bear the thought of Maya seeing me as desperate, as someone who needed to rely on blind dates to find love. So, I made a decision in that moment to ignore her, to retreat into myself and avoid any further conversation.

"Look who's talking," I muttered, rolling my eyes. I knew I was being unfair to her, but I couldn't help it. I needed some time alone to process everything that had happened.

Maya apologized, sensing my frustration, and asked about Dev. She was genuinely curious about him, But I was too exhausted, emotionally and mentally drained from the events of the evening. I simply replied, "I'm feeling sleepy," brushing off her question and teasing her in the process. I didn't want to give her the satisfaction of  that I would appreciate her intervention in my love life.

But why did it bother me so much? I had moved on from our friendship a long time ago, or so I thought. The truth was, Kabir had been my closest friend growing up.  We were inseparable, until one day everything changed. I sighed, my mind replaying the events that led to our falling out. What I did remember was the hurtful words exchanged, the betrayal I felt when Kabir turned his back on me. I couldn't deny the rush of emotions that flooded me when I saw him again. Anger, resentment, but also a hint of nostalgia and longing. It was a dangerous mix, one that I needed to bury deep inside.

I knew I couldn't tell Maya any of this. Instead, I decided to ignore her for the night. I needed time to gather my thoughts and come up with a plausible excuse for what had happened. Tomorrow, I would face her and provide some answers. I would craft a story that would hopefully appease her curiosity and keep her from delving deeper into the truth.

But for now, my social batteries were completely drained. I needed time to recharge, to find solace in the quiet of my own thoughts.

I closed my eyes, trying to block out the memories and the conflicting emotions. I didn't want to think about Kabir anymore. I wanted to focus on myself, on my own happiness. Maya may have meant well, but she didn't understand the pain that still lingered within me.

I made a silent vow to myself that night, promising to never let Maya in on my past. It was a part of my life that I had buried deep within me, a chapter I was determined to keep closed. I couldn't bear the thought of her knowing the truth, of seeing the pain and hurt that still lingered within me.

As I drifted off to sleep, my thoughts became jumbled, blending reality with dreams. I found myself in a world where Kabir and I were still friends, where we laughed and shared stories like we used to. It was bittersweet, a reminder of what we had lost.