Veiled Hearts

Chapter 3

Aarya POV:

Waking up with a heavy heart, I groggily rubbed my eyes and attempted to get out of bed. However, my foot got tangled in the blanket, and I clumsily tumbled to the floor, my face meeting the ground with a gentle thud. "Wow, Aaru, what a great start," I mumbled, acknowledging my tendency for a bit of clumsiness. Wait, I think forgot to tell you that I am a bit clumsy only a bit okay.

After managing to stand up, I headed to the kitchen, lost in my thoughts, only to cut my finger while preparing breakfast. The day was turning out to be quite eventful, a series of little mishaps one after the other. With my breakfast and a cup of coffee in hand, I moved to the living room, but once again, I stumbled and coffee fell on my hand, resulting in a minor burn. "Mai bhi toh sochu, 2 din mai bina chot lagya kaisa rha li," I chuckled to myself, applying ointment to both the cut and burn marks before finally settling down to enjoy my breakfast.

Despite the clumsy start, I decided to approach the rest of the day with a sense of humor. Laughing off the little mishaps, I continued with my routine. The aroma of coffee and the comfort of my breakfast helped lift my spirits.

I had my breakfast while watching cartoons. I love cartoons, especially Shinchan, Doraemon, Pokemon, and Ben 10. They bring me so much joy. Eating just feels a bit dull without the playful company of these friends.

The usual routine of dressing up and grabbing my bag made everything feel normal. As I stepped out, the morning sun added a pleasant touch to the day.

Upon reaching college, I met my bestie, Pari, and we exchanged cheerful greetings. Since our schedules didn't align today, we parted ways, each heading to our respective classes.

After a series of classes, I finally made my way to the cafeteria, and there was Pari, already seated and waving me over. With a smile, I joined her at the table, "Hey girlie, the class became boring without you," she said with a hint of sadness.

As we settled in, Pari couldn't contain her excitement and shared two pieces of good news. "Firstly, tomorrow is Saturday, and Abhimanyu is hosting a party. The entire college is invited, and guess what? We're invited too!" she announced with a sparkle in her eyes. "And secondly, in just four days, there's a fresher party. Can you feel the excitement? I'm thrilled!" Her infectious enthusiasm infused a burst of joy into the ordinary college day, and the upcoming events suddenly became eagerly anticipated highlights on the horizon.

Listening to Pari's excited announcements, I couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm. However, when she looked at me expectantly, waiting for a reciprocal burst of excitement, I hesitated.

"Sorry, Pari," I began, "but I'm not much of a party person. I enjoy my alone time, surrounded by books and my own thoughts. It's not that I don't appreciate the invitation or your excitement, but I prefer spending time in a quieter setting. You go and enjoy the party; don't worry about me. I just like to keep things low-key and not involve myself too much with people I barely know. Hope you understand," I added gently, hoping she wouldn't take it the wrong way.

Pari looked surprised at first, but she quickly shrugged it off with a smile. "No worries, Aarya. Everyone's different," she said. However, her excitement didn't fade. She leaned in, insisting, "Come on, Aaru, it'll be a blast! You don't have to stay long if you don't want to, but at least drop by. It's a chance to have some fun and create memories. You won't regret it, I promise!"

Despite Pari's persistent enthusiasm, I held my ground with a gentle smile. "I appreciate the invitation, Pari, and I'm glad you're excited about it. But trust me, I'm more at ease with my books and solitude. Parties aren't really my scene," I explained.

Pari, undeterred, continued to insist, "Come on, Aaru, it's just one night! You might surprise yourself and have a good time. Plus, you'll be with friends. What do you say?"