SISTERHOOD AND STRENGTH COME IN PAIRS

I walk towards Christy, who is clearly confused. I ask her to move and sit beside her. She does not resist but does not reciprocate, either. I turn towards her. “I am sorry. I should not have behaved rudely with you. I shouldn't have lost my patience without confirming my suspicions,” I say. She doesn't reply. She just stares at the wall behind me.

“I thought you helped Samir stalk me. I thought you were the one trying to gain pleasure by upsetting me. I am sorry; I shouldn't have behaved that way, or at least I should have discussed it with you,” I say, not meeting her eyes.

She shakes her head dismissively but still utters nothing. “Please say something,” I plead.

“Why did you assume I helped Samir?” she asks finally, settling in her seat while still maintaining her distance from me. Her eyebrows are arched as if the question has been posed eternally for me to answer. “Why?” she asks again.

“The gifts. Didn't you drop them inside my bag?”

“Not them, just one.”

“So, you did help him sneak one of his gifts inside my bag, didn't you?” I reply impulsively.

“Relax. I did put a gift inside your bag. But I never said it was from Samir.” she says and stops hesitantly. I look intently at her as she fiddles with her notebook.

“It... it was from me,” she says, still looking behind my shoulders.

“I was guilty the entire time for insulting you. I missed the way we used to be. I missed the times we used to spend. I know we torment each other, but we also are friends. I mean, we were. I wanted to show that I was remorseful and get back. But… never mind. This is good,” she says, and suddenly, I am out of words. I realise how much Salim had clouded my conscience that I missed taking note of everything else. I open my mouth but fumble. I remember breaking it into pieces and dumping it in the dustbin before her. Oh, what a fool I have been! And I went to her and beat her up for the same. I realise how much I have messed everything up. Maybe there's no chance we will be normal again. 

 

“I... I am sorry,” I offer the only words that seem acceptable and pick myself up.

“Where are you going?” she asks. I show her the seat in the last row without uttering a word.

“So, you are going to let Samir go? For stalking you and then creating all this mess to spoil your reputation?”

“What can I do? He hasn't showed up after the last warning he received. I think I should let go and try to find peace.”

“Until you find that Samir was the one to track down your emails and paint graffiti on walls,”

“What? It's him? How do you know?”

“Little Ms. Know it all, I have people who talk, gossip, and carry news. I was so furious when I found out that I wanted to break his skill open. But you know, since we aren't on the same boat right now, I let it pass,” she says nonchalantly.

“I guess I will let it pass, too.”

“Are you sure?” she asks as I try to slip past her.

“Yes, what can I even do? Alone and broken?”

“You know, in case you try to stand him up, I will be there on your side,” she says, and taps her hand on the seat next to her asking me to sit and I obey. I feel a sudden overwhelming love for her. Are we besties again?

This is a part of BlogchatterA2Z 2025

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