𝐒𝐊𝐘𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐒

Chapter-9

We got ready for the evening disco night. It was the first day, and we'd spent it participating in various activities and indulging in great food.

I saw Vanie only in the evening—our schedules had been completely different. When we reunited, we got dressed together. I helped her drape a beautiful pink saree that brought out the warmest glow in her.

I quickly put on my own saree, and we both stood back to admire ourselves. Vanie did this adorable makeup look that I really loved, and we shared the same lipstick shade.

We took a million pictures—peak girlhood moments—and I loved every bit of it. We left the room smiling and giggling like we owned the night.

The auditorium was stunning—decorated in a desi yet sophisticated theme, with fairy lights and drapes cascading down the ceiling.

I saw Prajakta and others who looked beautiful in sarees, but as always, they passed a look of bitterness to me. I ignored it until they advanced toward us. They were good friends with Vanie now, and I didn't want to ruin it for her due to my past issues.

Prajakta approached me. "By any chance, are you ignoring me, Samayara?" she asked innocently, as if the EarPods incident never happened.

"No, I just didn't see you here," I quickly dismissed, not wanting to give her any reason to stir up trouble. People like her could flip at the slightest comment, and I'd rather the earth swallow me whole than cause a scene on such a beautiful day.

"I see. And oh, you talk pretty smoothly now," she commented, her tone implying otherwise, before leaving. She always liked seeing me at a loss for words and stuttering.

But today, I felt too pretty to care.

The saree made me feel ten thousand times more beautiful, and the vibe of the desi disco was fulfilling one of my desi dreams. I was too happy to think about anything else.

Vanie was engrossed in a deep conversation with others, so I informed her and went to grab a drink.

"You look lovely," Pratyusha complimented, taking a drink from the counter.

"So do you! I love this shade of yellow," I reciprocated, smiling ear to ear. She looked absolutely adorable in a pastel yellow saree with brown borders that perfectly matched her warm, golden-brown eyes. She wore it lower than most, confidently showing off her soft curves and natural folds in a way that was both bold and beautiful.

She was chubby, yes — and she owned every bit of it with a kind of quiet confidence that made her stand out. There was something effortlessly hot about her, like she didn't need to try. If beauty had a face, she and Pratyusha would've been the front-runners — stylish, fierce, and totally themselves.

Just then, Evaana walked in—draped in the exact same shade of lilac saree as me.

She didn't just walk—she arrived. Pratyusha's bestie might've shared her spotlight, but where Pratyusha was soft, sweet, and adorably chubby—the kind of girl you'd want to hug—Evaana was pure fire. Tall, leggy, and sculpted like she'd stepped off a runway Vogue hadn't earned yet.