Meet Indira Devi, an ambitious 18-year-old from India who secures acceptance into her dream university, The London School of Economics. Leaving behind the comforts of her home country, she sets out on a journey to pursue her passion for economics an...
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7th of September 2024, Saturday
"How long is it from here?" Indie asked, squinting up at the sky, her hand shielding her eyes from the sunlight. The way she looked at me, with a slight tilt of her head, made my heart skip a beat.
"About ten minutes. You good with that?" I asked, glancing down at her.
"Mmm, yeah. I'm fine." She paused for a moment, then added, "You promise you're gonna hold my hand when we jump off?" Her voice was soft, almost teasing, but there was something sweet about the way she asked, a vulnerability that made me grin.
Without thinking, I reached for her hand, intertwining our fingers. "You're like my best friend at this point. Of course, Indie." I gave her a playful nudge, the warmth of her hand sending a comforting buzz through me.
She smiled at that, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Best friend, huh? That's what you're calling it now?" she teased, and I felt heat rush to my cheeks, but I laughed it off.
"Best friend... for now," I said, my voice quieter, more thoughtful than I'd intended. We walked a little further, and I couldn't help but sneak another glance at her. She was breathtaking, in every sense of the word. The sunlight kissed her skin, making her look like she was glowing from within. There was a softness in the way she moved, but also a wildness, like the wind itself had whispered secrets only she could hear.
It wasn't just the way she looked, though. It was how she made me feel. Like the world was a little brighter with her in it. Like every moment, even the small, ordinary ones, were suddenly filled with something more—something electric. And as we walked, hand in hand, I couldn't shake the feeling that this—whatever this was between us—was heading somewhere I wasn't ready to admit yet.
But I'd hold her hand, no matter what came next. I'd jump with her, every time.
╴╴╴╴╴⊹ꮺ˚ ╴╴╴╴╴⊹˚ ╴╴╴╴˚ೃ ╴╴
Indie and I reached the top of the cliff a few minutes ahead of the others. The wind whipped through the air, bringing with it the scent of the ocean, sharp and salty. Indie wandered to the edge, her curiosity getting the better of her, but the second she peeked over to glimpse how far down the water was, she stumbled back with wide eyes.
"You guys did this every summer as kids? Kids?!" She looked at me like I had just told her we used to juggle flaming swords for fun.
I chuckled softly, shrugging. "Mhm. Pretty cool, eh?"
She groaned, throwing me an exaggerated eye roll. "It's a death wish! What if there are rocks? What if the water's too shallow, and I die? What if there's a shark? What if—"
"Enough with the 'what if's,' Indie." I took a step closer, gently placing my hands on her shoulders. "I'll go with you. I promised, remember?" I lowered my voice, my gaze soft on hers. "Just trust me, okay?"
