Next morning and before I left, Prateek handed me a Pride wristband, rainbow colors gleaming in the lamplight.
The silence that followed felt endless. Then he pulled out a rainbow wristband. "I know, idiot. I've known since college." His smile was sad but genuine. "I loved you then. I love you now. Just differently."
Mom came and asked, "Sab yaad se pack kar liya na? What's this rainbow gift?"
Prateek answered, "Rainbow means happiness in seven colors, so I got it for her."
"Then get one for me and your uncle too," Mom said. I laughed, and Prateek was trying to hold back his laughter.
As I prepared to leave, Agni appeared with one last box of homemade Kaju katli. Her eyes caught the pride band on my wrist.
"Is that a pride band?" She asked, looking puzzled.
Prateek looked to my mom and in hurry, grabbed my bag and said, "Hey, we're running late. Bye, aunty, I'll drop her off."
Everyone said their goodbyes, including my dad and mom. There was no cab outside, so he called a friend, got the keys, tossed them at Prateek.
Agni, scolding him, said, "Pakyaa! It's pride, not a rainbow band...dumb... Neetu, have a safe journey."
When she looked at me, she seemed a little anxious, but she waved goodbye from afar. I wanted to hug her but wasn't sure if she noticed. For some reason, I felt like something was slipping away as I left with a slightly heavy heart.
"Agni!" She turned back at me.
"Come with me to the airport," I said impulsively.
She came over and got into the car, and as Prateek started driving, long silence there.
He said, "So, bitch, you didn't tell me—she's the one you were staring at across the door yesterday, right?"
I widened my eyes and thought, "What? BC! fuck ! No!"
I turned to Prateek and said, "You idiot, you ruined everything! I didn't tell her anything. There's nothing like that between us, Agni.....Fuck! You asshole, Kill...You...sorry Agni" I scooted back a bit in my seat from her.
Two hours felt like an endless silence, as if it would never end. I felt so dumb for telling Prateek and ruining everything before it even began. Two hours felt like two months—or even two decades. I want to talk to her, to say sorry... but how?
We reached the airport, and Prateek got out to get my bag from the trunk. I quickly turned to Agni and said, "I...,"
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Unwelcome Emotions
Short StoryIndian Sapphic Short Stories collations. S01 - An accidental meeting between a rich kind lady and an angry woman. Their eyes meet and they start fighting. S02 - While I was looking around, a Female's voice said, 'I'll send tomorrow.' I then screame...
