Chaos of Hearts | ✓

02

She stood in front of the mirror, applying kohl under her eyes before stepping back, and taking one last look at herself in the mirror.

The slip dress fit her like a glove, ending just below her knees. She paired it with a pair of heels.

Taking a deep breath, she gave herself a once over before picking up her purse and walking out of her apartment, locking it behind her.

Aditya left the same day he was kicked out of the house, leaving her in a dilemma as to what to buy as a gift. After thinking about everything, she bought Adi's favorite perfume, an expensive bottle of wine for his father after confirming with him, and lastly, a pair of cufflinks for the birthday boy.

As much as she wanted to avoid the useless expenses, it was her best friend's day and she wanted to be there for him.

As if on cue, her phone rang the moment she stepped inside her car.

"Yes?" She answered, putting the phone on speaker before buckling the seat belt.

"Where are you? Should I send a driver? The party has started and it's almost time for the announcements, be here in five minutes or I'm-"

"Okay, hold your horses, Aa rahi hoon." She hung up, shaking her head at his impatience.
(I'm on my way.)

To say she was nervous would be an understatement, she was going to meet his parents for the first time in seven years that too at a party of all places.

A part of her was very cool about it but another part was afraid of the judgement.

There are always people who are questioning everything, over the years, there were a lot of people questioning Haya and Aditya's friendship over the years, none of them paid attention to what some outsiders said but she just wanted his parents to understand like hers did.

A man and a woman could be just friends without having romantic feelings for one another.

"...cause baby, I could build a castle
out of all the bricks they threw at me..."

She sang along to the song playing through the speakers, she was already at the venue but the song wasn't over yet.

Checking her make-up one last time in the mirror, she turned the ignition off once the song ended.

"Fancy." She murmured, looking at the building in front of her. Grabbing her wallet and the bag of gifts, she got out of the car.

Walking inside the banquet, she put on a smile on her face.

As she anticipated, the party was luxurious but it lacked one thing, faces with genuine happiness. everyone seemed to be there just for the sake of it.

Spotting Adi in the crowded room, a relieved look exchanged places with the anxious look as she walked towards him. As if sensing her presence, he looked in her direction, waving enthusiastically as he excused himself from the person he was talking to.

"Zindagi me pehli baar insaan lag rahi hai." He said, stopping a step before her.
(Looking humanly for the first time in your life.)

"Wish I could say the same for you." She smiled back, stepping on his toes.