Best friends - or Maybe Not

CHAPTER 4: THE DAY IS SPICED UP

Presto! Was this the best time for all this to happen? And OUT OF THE BLUE as well?

"That was ages," said Fareeha. "Looked like you would never turn up. Now can we have your permission to enter the party?"

Saying "no" to a guest is said to be 'bad manners', so I have to let them in.

"Sarah has complete permission to enter," I replied. "But why have you come when things between us are not the same anymore?"

"I have come here to entertain myself," she replied. "And you can't stop me."

She stomped into the room and went up the stairs by herself.

Sarah and I were left alone. I was already feeling irked at Fareeha coming here and then she goes with hitting back at me with her rudeness. Sarah calmed me down.

"It's alright," she said. "Her character has become like that because she is very upset about having lost someone from the inside. She doesn't show she is upset. Losing her dearest grandmother almost made her go insane. And then when Lily left the neighbourhood and not contacting or telling her about it has made her feel to seek revenge."

I felt pity for her but I was still very cross about the way she had treated me back then. I got bullied by her and Lily every single day at the end of school. Although it was verbal, it hurt me a lot from inside out, but I patiently bore it. Then, when they saw that I was never fearful of them, they started fake accounts and cyberbullied me. Well, it was mostly Lily but since Fareeha knew my personal life better, she gave Lily the ideas. After that, I deactivated all of my accounts and have never used them again.

That was until Arhaan saw what was going on and he told me that he would complain about it to the police or even the court. I calmed him down and told him he didn't have to do it. Plus, it might even make things worse. He understood my point but he was furious to see me harmed like that. So the next day, he complained about it to the school. The school took the necessary action and processed her, going through the pieces of evidence. Although she had deleted her account when I had deactivated mine, I still had proof of her doings. That got her expelled out of the school. But she still lived in the same neighbourhood, so she and Lily would hang out every day.

Then suddenly, we got the news that Lily left the community. I felt like the happiest person in the world. I reactivated all of my accounts. But Fareeha had been depressed by her sudden departure. She thought Lily would call her, but she never did. And since then, she continuously depended on drugs. They were prescribed for her only because of her depressed state. After realising that she will never be able to talk to Lily again, she could not stop herself from not using them. She had severe withdrawal syndrome when she did.

I nodded at Sarah's point and went back in with her. 

I just said to myself, Whatever happens, it happens for good. Silence is golden, so I don't need to hurt her even if she hurt me. With that, I calmed myself down and put a smile on my face.

When we entered the hall, where the festivities were taking place, all of the invitees were engrossed in the games they were playing. My brother was blindfolded and he was trying to catch all the other children who were playing the game. He bumped into my sister, but she, the smart girl, ran away, giggling before he could catch her.

"Aww, man, that was super close!" he yelled, and everyone burst into laughter. "You are not getting away that easily next time, Aisha."

I stood there and smiled. Then from the corner of my eyes, I realised that Arhaan was heading for me, guided by the elders' direction. I squealed and ran behind Sarah.