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I changed out of my damp clothes and slipped into my comfortable pjs, feeling the exhaustion of the day settle into my bones. Collapsing onto my bed, I let out a deep sigh. Just as I closed my eyes, my phone buzzed with a FaceTime call from Anaya and Kiara.
“Hey, Ruhi!” Anaya's face filled the screen, her excitement palpable. “Tell us everything about the date!”
Kiara chimed in, “Yeah, we want all the juicy details!”
I groaned playfully. “It wasn't a date, guys. Just a weirdly eventful day.”
They both laughed, and I couldn’t help but smile. I reached for my bag, wanting to unpack the stuff I had collected during the day. As I rummaged through it, something metallic clinked against my fingers. Pulling out the object, my eyes widened in surprise.
It was the pair of white bangles I had admired earlier at the amusement park.
“Whoa,” I muttered, holding them up to the camera. “I wanted these so badly but couldn’t buy them because the shop didn’t accept online payment, and I didn’t have cash.”
Anaya’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “Looks like someone has a secret admirer!”
Kiara nodded, grinning. “It has to be Ayaansh. Who else could it be?”
I shook my head vehemently. “No way. Ayaansh? He’s too proud to do something like this.”
“Maybe he’s starting to soften up,” Kiara suggested, her tone teasing.
“Or maybe he’s just good at pretending he doesn’t care,” Anaya added.
I looked at the bangles again, a strange mix of emotions swirling inside me. Ayaansh had been infuriating today, but this… this was unexpected. After a few more minutes of banter, I felt my eyelids grow heavy.
“I’ll talk to you guys tomorrow,” I mumbled, barely able to keep my eyes open.
“Sweet dreams, Ruhi!” they chorused before I ended the call and drifted off to sleep, the bangles still clutched in my hand.
I was blissfully asleep, dreaming about the day I didn't have to deal with bridezillas or corporate divas, when a sharp knock jolted me awake. I groaned and pulled the covers over my head, determined to ignore the world a little longer.
"Ruh, wake up!" came my brother's annoyingly cheerful voice from the other side of the door.
"Go away, bhai," I mumbled, my voice muffled by the blankets. Seriously, who was up at this ungodly hour by choice?
The door creaked open, and I could hear Arav's footsteps approaching. "Come on, sleepyhead. It's already seven. You promised we'd have breakfast together before you head to work."
"Did I really promise that?" I squinted up at him, my vision still blurry from sleep. Great, another day of pretending to be a morning person.
Arav chuckled, clearly enjoying this way too much. "Yes, you did. Now, up you get. We've got a lot to catch up on."
