Tulasi, her eyes, usually twinkling with innocent joy, were now a misty landscape of unshed tears as she clutched her luggage and walked inside. Her squad tried to inject some much-needed 'energy' into her gloomy mood, attempting to coax a smile. "How could he just peace out without a backward glance?" she kept wondering, her heart a fragile thing. The thought of calling Abhi flickered, but her heart fluttered, torn between yearning and the very real threat of Abhi's legendary 'bad boy' temper tantrum.
After the luggage check, they settled into their seats on the flight. Shashirekha, ever observant, sat beside her, noticing Tulasi's quiet sadness. Instead of their usual banter and jokes, Tulasi sat silently, lost in her thoughts.
"What's wrong, Tulasi?" Shashirekha asked gently. Tulasi looked her way, her voice soft with remorse, "Abhi was really mad, Shashi. He planned that whole trip, and now, because of me, he's probably all alone at home. My poor Krishna". Her tender heart aching, she pulled out her phone and dialled Abhi. After two rings, Abhi answered.
"Abhi"
Silence answered her, proving his temper
"we board the flight" she said.
Silence. Not a single word from his end.
"Say something, Abhi," she pleaded.
"Happy journey," he curtly replied, and then, just like that, he hung up.
Tulasi turned to Shashirekha, her voice laced with worry, "poor Abhi, how lonely he must be feeling".
Shashirekha, ever the fierce protector, was absolutely seething.
"OMG, Tulasi is totally smitten with this dude!".she is soo worried ."Like, seriously, how did she get snagged by this dude?" Shashirekha burst out, her exasperation barely contained. "He's the ultimate 'perfect bad boy' package, and she's literally an 'Amul baby' – pure innocence! They're like chalk and cheese, OMG!".
Shashirekha started brainwashing Tulasi as a responsible friend
"Tulasi, you have to snap out of this enchantment, like, stat! Otherwise, my sweet girl ,uou gonna get your heart absolutely wrecked. And 'lonely'? Pfft. By now, he's probably flexing at some club or a pub, surrounded by a squad of pretty girls and living his best life!".
Tulasi stared at Shashirekha, utterly shocked. "You're so wrong about Abhi," she said, her voice laced with a gentle conviction.
Shashirekha pressed on, "Okay, how long have you been staying there?" Then she asked, "Has he ever come home super late at night? Like, beyond Cinderella's curfew?".
"Oh, tons of times!" Tulasi replied innocently.
"Seriously? And where does he go?" Shashirekha questioned.
"Well, our apartment has a gym, a pool, a park... or maybe he hangs out with his friends," Tulasi answered, still defending her Abhi.
"Oh honey, you sweet summer child, do you really wanna know what he's up to?" Shashirekha scoffed, pulling out her phone. She opened Facebook and slammed a video in front of Tulasi.
It was Abhi, chilling at a pub, a girl glued to his side intimately, surrounded by a whole party crew, drinks flowing like there's no tomorrow. Tulasi's eyes instantly welled up, blurring the harsh reality on the screen, as she saw the date.