Shadows of Elegance [MeenBabe]

Chapter 6: The Old Ways

Both women enjoyed a thoughtful silence while clutching their tea cups, each immersed in their own thoughts. Meena broke the silence by expressing gratitude, her face filled with joy. "Whatever the future brings, Char, I'm grateful to have you as a friend. "Your support means everything to me," Meena said truly.

Charlotte embraced Meena in a swift but warm hug. "Good night, Meena. You should get some rest too; tomorrow's tripawaits," Charlotte recommended with a friendly smile.

Meena nodded, thanking her friend for the gesture and concern. Each retreated into their own space, basking in the tranquility of the room. With a gentle sigh, Meena surrendered to her weariness, closing her eyes and letting her dreams transport her into a realm of possibilities and discoveries.

Back in Thailand, Meena and Aoom found themselves with a rare two-day break before diving back into a hectic photo shoot, aimed at promoting their new series. Following the incident in Myanmar, their relationship had taken on a comfortable yet contemplative air. Despite being surrounded by an atmosphere of ease, neither had taken the initiative to resume the conversation since they left the airport.

Feeling the need to bridge the gap, Meena decided to reach out to Aoom, hoping to reignite their once-effortless conversations. As her fingers tapped away on her phone, she composed a message, "Hey, how about I swing by to pick you up? We could grab some coffee to go and catch up." The soft chime of her phone resonated in the background as she hit send, having just finished a refreshing shower.

Aoom's reply came promptly, marked by an enthusiastic acceptance of the proposal. "Absolutely, sounds fantastic! I'll be ready in a few minutes. Any particular coffee spot in mind?"

Meena's lips curled into a satisfied smile as she read Aoom's reply. She swiftly typed back, "The one next to the studio would be perfect. See you shortly." Ending the exchange, Meena felt a wave of contentment wash over her, glad that thefamiliarity they once shared seemed to be returning.

Meanwhile, Aoom was caught up in a frenzy of preparations for their outing. Amidst the rush, her beloved cat, Bombay, observed her activities with a curious gaze from the comfort of his carrier. Aoom couldn't help but smile at the idea of bringing Bombay along to the photo shoot. "Well, Bombay, it seems you're joining in on the adventure today," she remarked affectionately, running her fingers through his fur.

Fully aware of the importance of consulting Meena regarding Bombay's inclusion in their plans, Aoom decided to send her a quick message before heading to the studio. "But first, we must check with your auntie, Meena, if it's okay to bring you along in her car," Aoom pointed out, taking into consideration the well-being of her furry companion.

Meena, already in the parking lot of her apartment, received the message just as she was about to depart. "Would you mind if I bring Bombay with us?" Aoom inquired, well aware that Bombay held a special place in both of their hearts.

Meena's response was swift and enthusiastic, "Of course, not at all! Firstly, Bombay can come to my place if he'd like. Secondly, I've been living with a rabbit for two days, so I'm already contemplating the idea of leaving you my cats for a couple days, because they don no get along well." Meena chuckled and added, "Poor Phalo, he does like them," sending an infectious laugh as an audio message to Aoom.

With Bombay now part of the day, Meena settled into the car with an infectious smile, anticipating a day that held not only productivity in the studio but also the promise of shared laughter and special moments with Aoom and Bombay.

Getting to Aoom's apartment, Aoom handed the carrier containing Bombay to Meena. The excitement in the air was palpable as Meena couldn't resist showering Bombay with affection. "Hey, my babyyyyy, how's the most handsome boy on the block?" Meena cooed in a sweet, endearing tone, addressing Bombay as if he were the cutest baby. Aoom, already in her seat, couldn't help but smile at the heartwarming interaction between her friend and Bombay.