Caught in a web of deception and heartache, Kiran's life veers off course after a malicious prank and a crushing betrayal. Amidst the turmoil, a mystical encounter transforms her friends into distant shadows of their former selves. Seeking refuge in...
She tore through the soccer field, sweat streaming down her face like liquid determination.
With a flick of her wrist, she brushed away the strands of hair that dared to obstruct her vision. Her eyes blazed with fiery resolve.
In a heart-pounding moment, she seized the ball and launched it toward the goal with the ferocity of a storm. The goalkeeper leaped in a futile attempt to block her shot, but the ball danced past him, caressing the net with a triumphant embrace.
TRING! TRING! TRING!
Kiran groaned. That dream was too intoxicating to end. She snatched her phone to check the caller on this lazy Sunday morning at 7.
It was Kajol Aunty, the perpetual disrupter.
With a hint of sass, Kiran answered, "Well, hello there, Kajol Aunty. What's the gossip on this fabulous Sunday morning?"
She heard an impatient grunt before Kajol Aunty snapped, "You and your beauty sleep, always the drama queen!"
Kiran rolled her eyes as Kajol Aunty continued, "Listen up, I'm swooping in ten minutes. Get ready."
Kiran asked, "Where to, Aunty? And why the crack-of-dawn call?"
Kajol Aunty shot back, "Madhuri, Sangita, Shivansh, Pragyan, Arnav, and you are coming with me to the swimming pool. So, shake off your slumber, got it?"
The call ended, and Kiran groaned as she sat up. "So much for sleep," she muttered.
She freshened up and slipped into a sleek black t-shirt and white shorts. Then, she packed a swimsuit, towel, essentials, a change of clothes, some snacks, AirPods, her phone, and, after a brief pause, a first-aid kit (because, you never know).
Ten minutes later, she stood on the porch, waiting as Kajol Aunty's van pulled into her driveway like a chariot of mischief.
She settled beside Madhuri, her partner in crime affectionately known as Madhu, and they set off toward the pool Kajol Aunty had mentioned.
"Mom, what's the name of the pool? And where is it?" Sangita—Geeta to me, my other partner in crime—asked.
Kajol Aunty glanced in the rearview mirror and replied, "It's called The ShiftStream Oasis. It's about an hour's drive from here, so you guys can stir the pot till then."
As we dished out the latest gossip, I couldn't shake the feeling of being scrutinized.
Glancing behind me, I caught Pragyan whispering something to Arnav and Shivansh, all three of them casting furtive glances my way. Pragyan's face flushed, and Arnav and Shivansh exchanged knowing smirks.
The blushing, whispering, smirking, and ogling made me squirm. Heat surged to my cheeks and ears, my pulse racing like wildfire. Even Madhu and Geeta were in on it, grinning like they held all the secrets.
Madhu nudged me hard in the ribs. "Spill the tea, darling," she teased.
I smacked her on the arm with my backpack. "None of your business," I hissed, my face turning redder than a ripe cherry.
"What's got you blushing?" Geeta asked, her voice ringing clear.
I felt everyone's eyes on me, savoring my discomfort as if it were the hottest gossip in town. My only escape was drowning it out with music and pretending to be nonchalant. But deep down, I was burning with embarrassment. "Women, get a grip!" I told myself.
All my friends in the car knew about my crush on Pragyan—the 6'3" jock with a smile that could charm the pants off anyone.
However, amid his clique of towering boys, I hesitated to reveal my true feelings. Sure, he's tall, dark, and dangerously handsome, with hair that begged to be tousled and eyes that could melt glaciers.
But how long could I keep playing the secret admirer with a guy who's always surrounded by admirers and seems to excel at everything without even trying?
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