The Wrong Indian Flag | LGBTQ+[ON HOLD]

|6| ok, so maybe i'm not imagining things as much as i think i am

"Holy shit, that was phenomenal! Congratulations to making it to the finals, Tara!" I wrap my arms around Tara's curvy waist, pulling her into a tight hug. She returns it with equal fervor, smiling against the crook of my neck.

"Thank you, Alisha!" Tara pulls away with sparkling eyes and a large grin. She jumps into Shilpa's arms next and the two-swing side to side, squealing.

Tara truly was ethereal on stage. I was transfixed by the way her voice carried a soul of its own and the way she swayed her body slightly to the music. Her expressions matched the depth of the song to perfection, every word hitting its blow right where it hurt. After Nisha, this was a song I played on repeat and hearing Tara's intense rendition of it brought back all those nights spending crying and hurting so much to a point that it felt that my heart was being repeatedly shattered into a million pieces and then a million more.

As much as I try not to think of Nisha, I cannot. Shilpa with her round nose, slightly too-big eyes, thin eyebrows, and too-small lips looks like a near carbon copy of Nish. Except Shilpa is q little less classically gorgeous and has a more asymmetrical face compared to hers.

I have a type, clearly.

Shilpa nudges me with her shoulder, giving me a slight gap-toothed smile. "Hey, you there? You seem to have zoned out. Tara asked us if we wanted to get pizza for dinner as a celebration and then head on home with Raj. My mom rarely lets me go out and stay beyond 7 anywhere but since I am with both of you and Raj is somewhere in the Infinity mall, she agreed. We have to leave by 8 though."

Although I wanted to come to the mall with my driver, Shilpa's and Tara's mothers did not agree and required for a known male consort to come with us, which made sense in this country. Thus, Raj became our official chaperone though he disappeared minutes after dropping us off.

I nod, slipping my hands into the pockets of the jacket Shilpa lent me. Even in the mall outside the studio, it is freezing. The jacket smells like her, smells like fresh neem, and rose. I inhale it in, soaking in the wonderful sensations it sends through me. "Sounds good. I am down for a pizza."

Tara whoops. "Great. Let me just change out of this dress and we can go to the food court. Shilpa, my clothes?"

Shilpa pulls the small knapsack off her shoulders and digs through it, handing Tara a pair of navy jeans and a long-sleeved, green blouse with pink flowers.

"Ok. Adios bitches. I'll meet you in front of Dominoes on the fifth-floor food court alright?" Tara dramatically waves at us and disappears into the long hallways with brightly lit stores on either side, presumably to find a bathroom.

"You have your phone with you and the GPS turned on right?" Shilpa calls after her as she awkwardly tugs at the bottom of her maroon top.

"Yes, Mom. I won't get kidnapped but if I do, you can find me!" Tara hollers back.