MARRIED 'SINGLES'

PARTY

Happy reading......

Bela came down after freshening up and found Mahir transformed into a laid-back look: a plain white loose t-shirt, denim pants, and a denim cap. He looked effortlessly handsome, helping his friends unpack a mountain of food packages. The rest of the gang was similarly dressed, with the girls donning denim shorts. She couldn't help but notice the uniformity.

"Why are you all dressed the same?" Bela asked, curiosity evident in her tone.

Ruhaan beamed. "Oh, it's our party tradition! We always wear a dress code. Each party, one of us gets to decide the theme."

Bela's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Really? That's... interesting."

Tanya, ever the instigator, grinned. "So, if you're part of our gang, you should join in! We can find something for you."

Bela looked perplexed, glancing at Mahir for guidance. He simply blinked at her, signaling that she should do whatever felt comfortable. Raima, observing their silent exchange, smiled to herself, sensing an unspoken connection between them.

Pratham, ever the voice of reason, chimed in, "There's no pressure, Bela. It's just Ruhaan's crazy rule. You can totally ignore it if you want. It's not that serious."

Ruhaan shot Pratham a mock glare. "Hey! It's not crazy. It's fun."

Their friendly bickering put Bela at ease. She decided to embrace the spontaneity. "You know what? I'd love to join in your crazy traditions. I can be a bit crazy myself."

Mahir just suppressed a laugh, thinking his friends had no idea how crazy she's.

Ruhaan and Daksh's eyes lit up in unison. Daksh gave her a high five, declaring, "Welcome to the club, partner in crime!"

Tanya clapped her hands. "Perfect! I have a spare outfit in the closet. Come with me."

Bela followed Tanya, still a bit shocked at the realization that the group kept spare clothes at Mahir's place. As they walked, she glanced around, noticing the comfortable familiarity the group had with the space.

"We often hang out here," Tanya explained, as if reading her mind. "We even have a guest room all for ourselves. Sometimes we end up crashing here after parties."

Bela chuckled. "That sounds... cozy."

They reached the guest room, and Tanya pulled out a denim dress from the closet. "Here you go. This should fit you perfectly."

Bela held the dress up to herself, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. "Thanks, Tanya. This is really nice of you."

"No worries," Tanya said with a grin. "You're one of us now. Go change, and we'll see you back in the living room."

Bela changed quickly and returned to the living room, where the group was now setting up drinks and snacks. She received a round of approving nods and smiles.

Despite the group's warm welcome, Bela couldn't help but feel a bit shy in the outfit. The denim shorts felt unfamiliar, reaching just mid-thigh. While she wore modern clothes back home, this was the first time she felt so casual, so free. Growing up in a traditional city, she had always been mindful of her attire, wary of drawing unwanted attention from her relatives who were quick to judge. Her father never restricted her choices, but she preferred to stay under the radar, avoiding gossip and speculation.

Now, standing among new friends in a city far from her home, she felt an exhilarating sense of freedom. She realized she could finally enjoy these little things she had always craved. Life had handed her an opportunity to live without the constant scrutiny of her hometown.