BRIDGING HEARTS

{28}

Just as I entered the room, I spotted Saniya and Pari Di all ready with snacks and sheet masks for our girls' night, their faces lighting up when they saw me.

“Jeia, come! We were waiting for you for our PJ night in,” Pari Di chimed.

I forced a smile, trying to keep the hurt at bay, but Saniya was quick to notice something was off.

“Kya hua, Jeia?” she asked, concern evident in her voice.
(What happened, Jeia?)

“Nothing, nothing,” I replied, still smiling, trying to lighten the mood.

“That smile, Jeia, it’s not genuine,” Pari Di said, her perceptive eyes narrowing slightly. I was genuinely baffled at how she managed to see through me, even though I’d known her for only two months.

“Exactly,” Saniya agreed, nodding.

I tried to brush it off. “Seriously, guys, it’s nothing,” I said, waving my hand dismissively.

Saniya and Pari Di exchanged knowing looks before smirking mischievously. They moved toward me with an air of conspiracy.

“Kya kar rahe ho?” I asked, suspicion creeping in as I backed up a little.
(What are you doing?)

Without a word, they pounced, and before I knew it, they started tickling me relentlessly. Laughter bubbled out of me, and for the first time since Mr. Singhania’s harsh words, I felt lighter, even if only for a moment.

“Stop! Stop!” I gasped between giggles, but they weren’t letting up.

“Not until you tell us what’s really going on,” Saniya said, still tickling me.

I squirmed, trying to escape their grip, but the laughter that filled the room was too contagious. It wasn’t until I was breathless that they finally let me go.

“Okay, okay!” I said, panting, tears of laughter in my eyes. “You win!”

We all got up and sat down in a circle on the bed, the snacks now at the center of our little gathering.

"Okay, so spill," Saniya and Pari Di chimed simultaneously, grabbing the snacks.

I gave them a genuine smile this time. "I just let someone's opinion of me get to me, that's all," I admitted, reaching for a bag of chips.

"Who?" Saniya asked, munching away on her chips, curiosity lighting up her eyes.

"Let it be, it's not important. I can't let their harsh words dull my mood, right? Especially when I have you both and our little girls' night. So, let's just forget it," I said with a smile, trying to brush it off and opening the chips packet.

“There it is—the genuine cute smile!” Pari Di exclaimed, her face stuffed with chips, looking ridiculous.

Me and Saniya couldn't help but laugh at the sight of her puffy cheeks full of food.

“By the way, I know who you’re talking about,” Pari Di added once she managed to swallow her chips.

“Vihaan Bhaiyya, isn’t it? I saw you go upstairs, and I’m damn sure Shasha wouldn’t have upset you. It has to be Vihaan Bhaiyya.”

I sighed and nodded in agreement.

“Oh, Jeia, just forget him. He’s always like that—khadoos,” Pari Di said, rolling her eyes as she badmouthed her own brother.
(Grumpy)

“True facts,” I said, eating another chip, feeling a little better already.

"Banda Adolf Hitler toh nahi tha pichle janam mein? Ya phir Pankaj Udaas ka fan hai?" Saniya joked, her laughter filling the room.
(Was the guy Adolf Hitler in his past life? Or is he a fan of Pankaj Udhas?)