Veiled Affections : "His Loyal Heart, Her Hidden Love "

CHAPTER 5 🎀

Heer's POV✨

Heer stepped off the plane, her heart racing with excitement. The moment her foot touched the ground at JFK airport, she couldn't help but feel a wave of joy wash over her. New York, she thought to herself. The city of dreams! After collecting her bags, she pulled her suitcase along, the wheels making a soft rumbling sound against the shiny airport floor.
As Heer made her way out of the airport, the cool New York air greeted her with a refreshing embrace. But that wasn't what made her pause in her steps. No, it was the sight of a familiar figure standing a few feet away, waving frantically.                                                                                                          
"DISHUU!" Heer screamed, almost dropping her bags.
"HEERAA!" Disha ran toward her, practically jumping into her arms, both of them spinning as they hugged tightly.

"Oh my God, look at you!" Disha said, stepping back to take in Heer's appearance. "You're glowing, girl! New York hasn't even worked its magic yet, and you're already shining brighter than Times Square!"
Heer laughed, her eyes misting up as she playfully wiped away a tear.
"Shut up, Dishu. If I'm glowing, it's only because I'm finally seeing you after ages!"
"I've missed you so much!" Disha exclaimed, pulling her back into another hug.
"I missed you too!" Heer said, squeezing her tight. "I can't believe we're finally here! Together! In New York!"
They both laughed, Disha dramatically pointing towards Heer's outfit.
"And look at you! Even after a long flight, you look like you stepped right off a runway. What is this magic?"
Heer rolled her eyes.
"Please, you know I was struggling to keep myself from falling asleep. I must look like a zombie."
"Zombie, my foot! You're looking amazing! But hey, first things first," Disha grinned, wiggling her eyebrows,
"Did you find your knight in shining armor on the flight?"
Heer chuckled, shaking her head. "Ugh, don't even start! No knights, just a snoring guy and a crying baby. But trust me, my search is still on!"
Disha laughed. "Girl, you have no idea how happy I am to see you! Finally, someone who understands me. New York has been fun, but it's been missing my crazy sidekick."
"Well, the sidekick has arrived! Now, where are we heading?" Heer asked, grabbing her suitcase.
"Wait, wait!" Disha interrupted, grabbing Heer's hand and looking dramatically into her eyes. "Before we go, tell me this, is your heart racing because of New York or because you're finally with me?"
Heer smirked. "Definitely because I'm with you. New York, you've got competition!"

They both burst into laughter, their voices blending with the bustling crowd around them. As they loaded Heer's bags into the cab, the excitement bubbling in Heer's chest hadn't faded. This was what she'd been waiting for—her new adventure in a new city with her best friend by her side.
As they drove off towards the city, Disha excitedly pointed out every little detail about New York, but all Heer could think was how lucky she was to have a friend like her.

"Yaar, Disha, I think I'm going to love it here," Heer said softly, staring out at the skyline in the distance.
"Of course, you will. Because we're going to make this city ours!" Disha replied, giving her a reassuring smile.        
New York had just begun, and Heer felt like she was exactly where she was meant to be.

*****

After the drive through the buzzing streets of New York, the cab finally pulled up to Disha's apartment building. Heer stepped out, stretching exaggeratedly, and glanced up at the building with wide eyes.                                                                                                                                                                               
"Wow," Heer gasped, dragging her suitcase behind her.
"Is this where you live? It looks like one of those fancy places you see in movies! Girl, are you secretly a millionaire?"
Disha chuckled, flipping her hair dramatically.
"What can I say? New York brings out the rich vibes."
Heer raised her eyebrows. "Right, rich vibes or rent that'll make you cry every month?"
Disha laughed, slapping Heer's arm playfully. "Shut up and come inside, drama queen!"
As soon as they entered the apartment, Heer dropped her bags, threw herself onto the couch, and let out a loud, theatrical groan.
"Heee bhagwan! My feet! My poor, tired, jet-lagged feet! I think I've aged 50 years from that flight!" ("Oh God!")
Disha leaned against the door, watching Heer with amusement.
"Oh please, you flew business class, missy. Don't act like you just ran a marathon."
"You don't understand!" Heer sat up dramatically, holding her head.
"I had to walk through the entire airport with all those people, Disha. And my bags? Ugh, so heavy! My poor arms are about to fall off!"
Disha couldn't help but burst out laughing. "You're such a drama queen! Come on, get up. Let me make you some coffee, and we can catch up like normal people."
"Normal people?" Heer sat up, pretending to be offended. "Excuse me, I'm far from normal. I'm extraordinary, and I demand extraordinary treatment!"
Disha shook her head, chuckling as she made her way to the kitchen. "Fine, you extraordinary weirdo. I'll make you the best coffee you've ever had."                                                                                                  
Once they both had their mugs in hand, they settled onto the couch, sinking into the comfortable silence that only best friends can share.
"So, tell me everything," Heer began with a glint in her eye. "What's been happening here? How's New York been treating you? Spill all the tea, girl!"
Disha grinned. "Oh, you want tea? There's plenty. First off, remember that guy I told you about, the one from work?"
Heer gasped, sitting up. "Wait, wait! You mean the one who kept giving you those puppy dog eyes?"
"Exactly!" Disha nodded, eyes sparkling with mischief.
Heer slapped her knee, leaning closer. "No way! What happened? Tell me everything!"   
                           
And just like that, they fell into their usual rhythm, gossiping and catching up like they hadn't been apart for months. They laughed about old memories, shared embarrassing stories, and threw in plenty of inside jokes that only the two of them could understand.                                              
"Yaar, Disha, you know I was so nervous about coming here, but now that I'm with you, it feels like no time has passed," Heer said, her voice softening.
Disha smiled warmly, patting her hand. "I know what you mean. It's like we never missed a beat."                                                                                                                            They continued talking late into the night, sharing every little detail of their lives since they had last seen each other. Heer's exhaustion slowly faded away as the familiar comfort of her best friend filled her heart.                                                                                                                                      As Heer yawned, Disha nudged her with a grin. "Okay, drama queen. It's time for you to sleep. Tomorrow's a new day, and we've got a whole city to explore."                     
"Fine," Heer sighed dramatically again, standing up. "But remember, I'm only doing this because I need my beauty sleep. Jet lag is real, yaar."
"Whatever you say," Disha laughed, rolling her eyes as she showed Heer to the guest room.
Heer collapsed onto the bed, her heart full. This was exactly what she needed—a fresh start, in a new place, with her best friend by her side.                                                                                                                 
As she drifted off to sleep, she couldn't help but smile. New York was already feeling like home, and she hadn't even seen half of it yet.