Mahika and Amoli can't stand each other, but that's not the only thing they have in common.
Mahika treats Amoli like she's childish. Amoli thinks Mahika is a stuck-up prude. But Mahika's best friend and Amoli's brother are getting married, so they c...
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˗ˏˋ dark clouds and blurry moons'ˎ˗
➷
Amoli sits on the terrace couch with her knees pulled up to her chest, eyes focusing and then periodically unfocusing on the moon.
It looks particularly pretty today, a little brighter. Happier. Clearer. Amoli had briefly wondered if the universe was subtly mocking her. Since the weather had been cloudy for the past few days. And now that it's clear, she thinks it's because the clouds are hovering over her head instead.
I can't be friends with you, Amoli.
Heaving a sigh, she settles her chin on top of her knees.
Amoli understands why Mahika had said that. God, of course she understands. She might have been the one to carefully pluck out the subject of friendship amongst the sea of heartstrings between them, but how she felt about it wasn't very far off from how Mahika did.
The more she thinks about it, the more ignorant, foolish the idea seems. Friends? She had wanted to be friends with her? With the girl she physically ached to hold hands with? With the girl who had breathed permanently resident butterflies inside Amoli's belly with just one kiss?
Not one, her subconscious points out, and she feels her chest as well as her face warm at the reminder. It wasn't just 'one kiss'.
It was two years worth of longing tying itself into an undoable bond between them. The second they had allowed their fears to be pushed aside, they had also shattered any possibilities of ever becoming 'friends'. And no matter how desperate Amoli is to not let go of Mahika's hand completely, it doesn't seem to matter.
She might be selfish enough to try, but the universe too, is cruel enough to fight her every time she does.
They've been back to square one over and over.
"Counting stars?"
Amoli jumps in surprise at the sudden voice, eyes widening comically before she takes notice of who it is. She squeezes her eyes shut and shakes her head in exasperation at Naina's form now standing near the stairs.
"Don't sneak up on me like that."
Naina looks amused as she makes her way over to where Amoli is sitting. "I didn't sneak up on you, Amo. In fact, I was pretty noisy." She gestures at the space beside Amoli with her chin. "Mind if I join you?"
Amoli thinks back on the incident in the car and her heart begins to pound inside her chest in anxiety. But it's not like she can make up an excuse and run away now. And frankly, she's too tired to.
"Of course, not."
The space beside her on the couch dips and then there's silence between them.
