Ishq Wala Love

~1~

She was unkempt. She was homely. Or at least, that is what Akshu told herself when she looked in the mirror, for she envisioned herself like Anne, a stranger in a new land she would soon call her own. Surely, she'd be forsaken for a while, but that would make the journey all the more enthralling. Akshara imagined so much about her first day at James Madison University that she had already lived it a thousand times.

"Anne, Anne Anne." Aarohi yapped. "You're insufferable. This week, it's Anne; last week, it was Hermoine. Next week, you'll sing Evelyn Hugo's praises like a Church Choir." Aarohi's foot hammered the brakes, and their car jammed into the parking space, mere centimetres away from a fire hydrant.

"Fuck!" Aarohi inched out of the car, each breath weighing on her as she feared for her new car and her Dad's wrath should the tiniest scratch ruin its emerald shine. She sighed and wiped the sweat off her forehead. "Baal baal bach gaya. Chal Akshu, we're getting late."

Akshu was shell-shocked, eyes staring blankly ahead and body as still as a corpse.

Aarohi rushed to Akshara's side, shaking her and yelling her name. "Akshu? Akshu tu theek to hai? Yaar kuch toh bol."

Akshu whirred, but her gaze didn't waver.

"Phirse," Aarohi groaned. She scoured the distance, hoping everyone was already inside; otherwise, their reputations would be ruined before college even started. With one hand covering her ear, she pressed the other on the car horn, letting its blaring scream wake her sister.

"Ahhhhh!" Akshu jolted, screaming. "Band kar Aaru, mujhe bheri baana kar hi haar manegi."

"Akshu tu-" Akshu swatted away Aarohi's pointed finger and got out.

"Tu ye sab chod, aur mere idea sun." Akshu linked their arms together and the swing in her step dragged Aarohi along the sidewalk. Akshu was like a wind-up doll, reset into a bubbly figurine in mere seconds.

"Kyun na main college mein nach thi hua entry maaron!" She created a camera through her hands and gestured like a director. "Haan! Amrita Rao jaise: Chale jaise hawayein sanan sanan, Udhe jaise parinde gagan gagan."

"What?"

"Haan, seniors ki ragging se pehle hi main aapne aap ko introduce karungo aur sab ke dil pe chah jaungi."

"Akshu tu," Aarohi couldn't bring herself to say anything. Akshara's eyes were so lit it would be cruel to extinguish them.

The bell broke them apart. Aarohi held Akshu's hand before she could run off. "Promise me, tu kisi senior se panga nahi legi aur kuch nahi karegi mere begair."

"Ji Maata," Akshu said with folded palms and great respect.

"Akshu, I'm serious."

"So am I." She winked. "Aaru, main tumhari badi behan hui, tu meri nahi.

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