“Lame,” snorts Anaya.
“Idiot.”
“Oh, you haven’t heard the best part.”
We all wait expectantly.
“He was trying to figure that out by leering at her ass.” Leaning back, she flicks her hand. “Like I said, you dodged a bullet, Aru. So, no more wasting time over him.”
I fight back tears. “It’s not that easy.”
They all sober up.
Anaya rests her hand on mine, squeezing. “But you need to try. We don’t want to see you sad. You’re our bubbly girl. Let us help you bring her back.”
“Please, Arya,” sighs Misha.
“I didn’t fly out here to stare at these four walls,” teases Noor to lighten the mood. “If not for you, come for me. You know that I hardly get to flirt with cute guys at bars with Kabir breathing down my neck back home.”
She isn’t exaggerating.
Kabir Shah is as protective as a big brother can be.
“Is he still dating that girl?”
“Eleanor? Yes.” Rolling her eyes, she complains, “Talk about double standards. He’s happy with his girlfriend, but won’t let me date a guy without his approval.”
“He’s just being protective,” reasons Misha.
“Oh, please, you’re saying that because you have a big crush on him.” Anaya grins, making twin spots appear on our friend’s cheeks.
Noor raises her hand. “We’re getting sidetracked.”
The trio snaps their attention back to me.
“We’re going clubbing,” announces Noor. “So, get your ass off the dirty couch and get dressed. No buts or excuses.”
I gaze at their hopeful expressions and acquiesce. “Okay. Let’s go.”
“Attagirl.”
A smile breaks free on my lips.
“Wait.” Anaya halts us, mischief sparking in her eyes. “There’s something very important we need to do first.”
“What?” the rest of us probe.
***
Half an hour later, we’re all standing over the toilet seat in the bathroom.
I swear only Anaya can come up with such absurd rituals, which she learns from TV shows and movies. Tonight, she’s suggested the crazy one.
Squinting at her, I mumble, “Tell me again how this is supposed to help me.”
“It’s about letting the anger out into the universe…”
“The toilet.”
