Am I being unreasonable?
“That doesn't matter as long as he doesn't misbehave, and I don't care about his feelings. Also, he was just being considerate, checking my well-being a few moments ago, but you meddled with your sharp tongue and dragged me away.” She screeches back, matching my fervor, and I really pressed her nerves, I guess.
“I don't want you to land in trouble, Ames.” My tone comes down, but she doesn't even look at me.
“I am not four, Rey. And don't ever make decisions for me without my consent! I don’t want to disappoint my batchmates, and I am going back to them.” She pivots back, each powerful step of her boots scraping the ground with a loud, creaky friction.
She really hates it when someone takes control over her life! She can be very stubborn about certain things.
“Please, Amy! I am in no mood to go back. Let's just go home.” I mumble in a soft tone, and I hear her footsteps coming to a halt.
“You really are good at convincing me, Rey.” She slowly ambles back to me, and I pull off a short smile. I know it well. My ‘Amy’ and my soft and vulnerable tone are her weaknesses. Her stubborn stand a moment ago turns into an endearing softness.
“Thank you, Ames.” I link our arms immediately in joy, and we reach the exit amidst laughs and funny chatter. I rush into the parking lot to bring out my most precious possession—my red Kawasaki Ninja sports bike, my companion for the past six years. I still remember the day I first laid eyes on it in the showroom, and how I fell in love with it instantly. Since then, I’ve treasured it as if it were a human.
“Hop on!” I roar the engine to life and wait for Amyra to adjust in the back seat.
“Hold on tight, Ames,” I command as I worry my speeding may hinder her safety. When Amyra’s hands rise to rest on my shoulders, I pull them around my waist instead and give them a gentle squeeze before starting the ride.
This feels perfect, knowing she’s safe behind me.
The ride from the university to our house is barely thirty minutes, though it always tests my self-control. My hands itch to push the clutch and unleash speed, but with Amyra riding pillion, I stay mindful.
That’s when it hits me!She’s the only girl who’s ever sat on this bike with me.
The ride stays silent, the wind flowing past us, until the Bajaj Mansion comes into view. My fingers tighten, thrashing the brake lever. Through the mirror, I watch her climb off before turning around to share what I need to tell her.
“Good night, Rey. Are we meeting tomorrow?”
“Not tomorrow, but this Sunday. My family and I will be visiting the Bajaj Mansion,” I declared, the excitement in my voice barely contained.
She arched an eyebrow, skepticism etching her features. “Don’t we do that almost every day? What’s so special about this Sunday?” I take a breath, knowing I have been reluctant to share my news until the right moment. “I have an announcement planned for Sunday. I’ve been postponing it until we graduate, and now feels like the perfect time since our fathers will both be home.”
I glance her way, hoping to catch a hint of understanding. Instead, her face remains a mask of confusion. “What have you been hiding from me for so long?”
“As I said, I was just waiting for the opportune moment, and now it has arrived… this Sunday,” I reply, my heart racing. A glimmer of anxiety crosses her face as she presses, “I can’t endure this mystery for the next three days, Rey. You have to tell me what it’s about!”
Looking at her, the honest determination in her eyes makes it impossible to hold back any longer. “It’s about time we take our friendship to another level.” I wink playfully, the words slipping out along with a surge of adrenaline. Without waiting for her reaction, I zoom off down the road, my thoughts racing just as fast as the car, and pull into the Thakur Estate nearby. The weight of my feelings forherbecame too serious to bear in silence any longer.
Chapter 3
Amyra
Okay, let’s stick to this floral frock, I mumble to myself as I admire myself in the full-length mirror. I’m sure it looks nice on me…but is it too plain for the occasion?
“Relax, Amyra,” I remind myself, attempting to quell the flutters of anxiety in my stomach. “It’s just a family gathering, nothing out of the ordinary for the Thakur-Bajaj household. There’s no reason to feel nervous.”
Yet, a small voice in the back of my mind whispers, what if tonight turns out to be something special for Reyansh and me? Stop overthinking. A second opinion can help ease my mind.
I quickly reach for my phone, dialing Sanchi’s number for a video call. Within moments, her familiar face brightens my screen.
“Hey, Amy! What’s cooking? Feeling a bit jittery, I see?” she teases, her laughter ringing like music, and I can’t help but shake my head in reluctant agreement.
“First, tell me if this frock works for the family meeting tonight.” I display my outfit, watching as her eyes sweep over it with keen scrutiny.
“This is just perfect, Amy. Classy, chic, and elegantly understated. Go for it!” She gives me a confident thumbs-up, and a wave of relief washes over me.
“Thanks, San. I’d deny it if you asked, but I’m really on edge about this evening. What could it be that Rey wants to announce in front of everyone?” The more I mulled it over, the more my mind spun with possibilities. The past three days had passed like a blur. Reyansh and I hadn’t visited one another, and while I couldn’t speak for him, I had intentionally kept my distance. What if he sensed my anxiety and pressed me into confessing the very reason I wished to keep under wraps?
