Time heals?

Begin again...?

As I was slipping into my date-night outfit, my best friend and roommate, Shaya, walked into my room. She glanced at me critically before suggesting, "Go with the black option. It's classic." She added a few styling tips while leaning against the doorframe, her tone casual but reassuring.
Shaya has been nothing short of a blessing in my life—the kind of platonic soulmate that life rarely gifts you. I never forget to count my blessings, and Shaya is always at the top of that list. We met in college, studied together, interned side by side, and shared everything—from our deepest, darkest secrets to our happiest, most carefree moments.
But life had other plans for us. Shaya had to leave abruptly, and I was left to complete the rest of my college years without her. It was a bittersweet chapter of my life, missing her every single day. Shaya is now a full-time baker and the proud owner of her own bakery. Her creations frequently feature in various media under the "Places to Eat" dessert section.

As I stood before the mirror, Shaya's voice pulled me out of my thoughts. "You okay? What's on your mind?" she asked, her brow furrowed slightly.
I smiled faintly and replied, "Nothing."
She wasn't convinced. "You need to move on, Prisha," she said, her tone soft but firm. "You deserve to be loved the right way. Give yourself a chance."
"I know," I said with a sigh. "I'm trying, Shaya. Otherwise, I wouldn't have said yes to this date. Even though I feel like backing out right now, I won't. I promise."
I reached for the black dress, added the finishing touches to my makeup, and kissed Shaya on the cheek as I said goodbye.
At the restaurant, I sat across from Ankush, my date, with a nearly empty glass of wine in front of me. My cheeks were warm, my face hesitant but smiling. Ankush was introduced to me by a mutual friend, Sid, at a New Year's Eve party a few weeks ago.
That party was unforgettable—for better and worse.
It started with a minor disaster: someone bumped into me, spilling wine all over my dress. Embarrassed and desperate to escape the crowd, I tried to make my way to the bathroom. That's when someone appeared beside me—a tall figure with calm confidence. He effortlessly guided me through the throng, parting people out of the way until we reached the bathroom door.
I thanked him hastily and disappeared inside, locking the door behind me. When I came out, he was still there, waiting.
Before he could say a word, I blurted out, "Look, I'm grateful you helped, but I'm not one of those people who hooks up with random strangers at parties."
He raised an eyebrow, but instead of taking offense, he simply handed me a towel. That's when Sid appeared, laughing as he introduced us.
"Prisha, meet Ankush Meyer, my flatmate and friend. Ankush, meet Prisha, my college buddy," Sid said.
Mortified, I muttered an apology, but before Ankush could respond, someone called his name from the kitchen, and he excused himself.
Later that night, I found myself on the kitchen balcony, devouring slices of fresh jalapeño pizza straight out of the oven. The living room balcony was filled with couples, and I wasn't in the mood to watch what felt like a kissing marathon.
As I bit into another slice, I heard the sliding door open but didn't bother to look. "Can you find somewhere else to smoke? I'm eating!" I said, irritated.
A calm, amused voice replied, "I was just lighting a candle. I don't smoke."
I turned, and there he was again—Ankush. He stood holding a candle, its soft glow highlighting his sharp features and striking yellow-green eyes. For a moment, I was taken aback. He had a lean, well-built frame, strong shoulders, and a face that could easily make anyone forget how to speak. But I quickly turned back to my pizza, determined not to let the distraction ruin my meal.
He lit a few more candles and sat at the other end of the balcony. Turns out, this was his favorite spot during parties—a quiet corner to escape the crowd.After finishing my pizza, I finally mustered the courage to apologize. "I'm sorry about earlier," I said. "Someone else made a comment, and I was already annoyed when I said what I said. I was looking for you to apologize, but you were busy." He smiled. "It's okay. I get it. But if I'm honest, I was hoping you'd thank me for the towel. That would've been my chance to flirt," he teased, his smile widening.
I couldn't help but laugh.
He told me how he met Sid at work. "It was my first day," he said. "I thought I'd joined the marketing team, but halfway through the day, Sid told me I was in sales. We laughed about it for ten minutes straight and have been friends ever since." He ended with a question: "So, how did you and Sid meet?"
Before I could answer, someone slid the door open, letting in a burst of music. A woman called out to Ankush, urging him back to the party.
Just minutes later, Ankush returned to the balcony with a pizza box and two cans of soda, and sheepishly pulled a bottle of wine the pocket of his cargo pants.
"For you," he said, smiling.
I smirked.
"I noticed earlier," he said softly.
We continued talking—about food, stars, and everything in between—until Sid interrupted us, groaning about needing help cleaning up.
Ankush and I exchanged a look, sighed, and got to work. By 1:15 a.m., we were lounging on the couch, exhausted but content. A game of Monopoly turned into a Garfield movie marathon, and by the time it ended, it was nearly dawn.
Ankush suggested grabbing idlis from a street vendor he loved. "She's at the station," he said.
Before he could finish, I was already grabbing my shoes.
We talked non-stop, from eating idlis to sipping hot filter coffee, until he dropped me off at Shaya's house.
As I texted Shaya to unlock the gate, Ankush turned to me. "I enjoyed tonight," he said, his tone sincere. "I feel like we still have so much to talk about. If you're free tomorrow..." He hesitated, then added, "Yes, I'm flirting with you, but only because I genuinely enjoy your company."
Before I could respond, the gate clicked open. I smiled at him and said goodbye. He returned the smile, put on his helmet, and said, "I'll see you soon, Prisha. It was a pleasure meeting you."
So here I am now, all dressed in black, with my date Ankush. After three weeks of running into each other, he finally asked me out. Shaya's words echoed in my head: You deserve to be loved the right way.