The Classy Thirteen

"Happy Holi 💝"

Ayra's POV

Morning in Normandy looked illegal.

There's genuinely no other way to explain it.

The sea looked too blue. The breeze felt too cinematic. The sunlight hit the beach villa in a way that made everything look like a Pinterest board created by rich emotionally stable people - which was ironic considering we were about to occupy the place.

Rakshita and I had reached way before everyone else because somebody in this friend group had to be responsible.

That somebody was unfortunately me.

And thankfully Rakshita had agreed to come early because there was absolutely no way I could prepare the entire Holi setup alone while dealing with Reyan's inevitable stupidity later.

We stood near the music setup outside the villa, checking everything for the tenth time.

The huge speakers? Ready.
Colours? Arranged beautifully in bowls.
Water balloons? Hidden strategically for future warfare.
Snack counters? Perfect.

The breeze moved softly through the open lawn area while the sea crashed gently in the background. Honestly, if our group wasn't coming, this place could've healed me spiritually.

But peace was temporary.

I turned toward Rakshita seriously.

"Snacks?"

"Check."

"Sweets?"

"Check."

"Colours?"

"Check."

"Water balloons?"

"Check."

Then I lowered my voice dramatically.

"Special ingredient?"

Rakshita immediately grinned.

"Check before everything else."

I nodded proudly.

"Perfect."

We both looked at the arranged pani puri station and started laughing like criminals.

Because the "special ingredient" in question?

Very questionable bhang mixture.

Not enough to kill anyone.

Just enough to ruin dignity.

Scientifically speaking, Holi without controlled chaos is just coloured powder and nationalism.

It was around 10:01 when we finally heard distant car sounds approaching the villa road.

Rakshita immediately grabbed my arm dramatically.

"They're here!"

I looked toward the entrance road where multiple cars slowly appeared one after another.

The rest of the circus had arrived.

Rakshita and I had come in her car earlier, which was still parked near the side of the villa.

I nudged her.

"Waise... did you invite Aviraj too?"

She tried acting casual immediately.

"Yeah."

"And?"

"And I don't know if he'll come or not."

Liar.

The way she fixed her hair after saying that told me everything.

Both of us were twinning today unintentionally - white kurtis with baggy jeans. Very effortless. Very aesthetic. Very "girls who pretend they're chill but took forty minutes getting ready."