Love.

It's that teeny-tiny, four-letter word that drives you crazy. It's that word that makes you seem like a fool. And it's that word that makes you realize that it's not just a word but an emotion.

She tore off a paper in the day calendar and saw the date: 18 April 2022. Her beloved's birthday. Her Preeta's birthday.

She jumped onto the sofa, took her mobile, and opened Preeta's chat box in WhatsApp. She smiled, reading her last message.

I'll seriously bite off your humongous head if you spend more time with that Akira!

Jealous Preeta was what made her talk like that. Ishika sent a message to her, after editing it 42896 times.

Happy Birthday to my sweetest Preeta! Be happy like this always and have more fun! Hakuna Matata and everything will be yours! Keep shining and smiling, and don't worry about me, I will be there with you as always!

Yours,

Chipmunk...

She locked the mobile and was watching Badhaai Do—which was about a lavender wedding of a gay and a lesbian—while planning how to propose to her love.

***

Two hours later, her mobile pinged, which made her squeal in happiness. She opened and read the WhatsApp message from Preeta.

Awww! Thank you so much, chipmunk! I loved the message.

Well, if you're free today, can we catch up somewhere?

She hadn't expected the offer from her and she hooted aloud. Composing herself, she typed a message.

Yaar, sure! I'm very free today.

But where to meet, dude?

She started to think about where and finally got a chilly place to chill.

How about the Snow Kingdom?

The Snow Kingdom?

Yeah! A nice spot to chill during this hot season.

Well... At what time?

"Yay!" She shrieked and pumped her fist in joy. Finally, the day has come for her.

At 3? Heat would be at peak only at that time.

Okay, then, fixed! See you then!

***

She looked at the heart-headed ring she bought for Preeta and smiled widely. She locked it safely in the ring box, which also had a note.

"Ishika," she heard the voice she was longing for. She turned back and saw the birthday baby look drop-dead gorgeous in her red puffer jacket and torn jeans. Preeta had left her hair free, which looked suitable for her look.

"Happy birthday, Preeta," Ishika said, hugging her one-sided.

"Thank you so much!" Preeta said, kissing Ishika's forehead.

"Come, baby! I heard that the igloo is great here! Let's kill our time there," Ishika said cheerfully, dragging Preeta towards the igloo.

***

They spent two precious hours in the snow park, playing, making snowmen and taking funny pics with it. Ishika, who finally thought that it was time to get into action, spoke up.

"Preeta," she called her, who was making her third snowman.

"Yeah?" She turned back, facing her. They were looking into their eyes so intently that either of them would crash down.

After moments of silence, both of them said in unison, "I need to tell you something."

Both of them muttered a 'Huh', while Ishika proceeded. "Ummm, you go on."

"That's okay, Ishi. You start," said Preeta.

"You go on first, Preeta," Ishika insisted.

"Well, are you sure?"

"Yeah!"

"Ummm, okay!" Preeta said, before letting out a deep sigh and proceeding to speak. "You know, we've been friends for a decade. We have so many great memories together that neither of us wanted to forget. First of all, thank you so much for that! On this special occasion of my life, I feel like you could make it more special. So..." She paused, unzipped her jacket and took a small maroon box from inside.

Then, much to Ishika's surprise, she knelt on the floor, opened the ring box and pointed towards Ishika, saying, "I loved you being a part of the first part of my life. Now for the second part of my life, I feel like I need you. Will you be my other half till the end of our lives?"

Ishika gasped loudly at Preeta's proposal, for that was utterly unexpected from her side. She felt elated and light as she realized that Preeta too has feelings for her, still, something is resisting her to accept her proposal.

Being a mediocre lesbian youth living in a homophobic environment, life was always hell for her. Studying in girls' school and girls' college never resisted her from swooning over cute girls, but it was still forbidden. Though she was planning to propose to her, a part of her wanted it to flop. And though she's undeniably in love with Preeta, she was always afraid of her acquaintances ostracizing her because of that. That's after all the magic homophobes can create.

Hardening her heart, Ishika said, "Preeta, I... I've always seen you as a friend. But this... You know, I do support people like you. But falling for one like that, it's impossible, right? It creates only chaos but no sparks. Still, no worries! Your soulmate will be there waiting for you. Goodbye!"

She was about to walk away, but Preeta held her hand and stood up. She looked up at her, while Preeta said, "Don't you love me?"

Ishika felt so desperate to say yes but controlled it. Plastering a sugary smile, she said, "Of course, I love you, bestie!" and took her hand off, walking away from Preeta, carrying guilt and desperation.

***

Preeta never wanted to lose a girl like Ishika, so she decided to follow her and apologize. As she reached the parking lot, she saw Ishika's car slowly vanishing from the lot. She quickly drove her Vespa and vroomed in it.

She kept on blowing her horn to gain Ishika's attention but it went in vain. Preeta didn't want to give up either, so she kept following her.

Panic was running in her while a yellow lorry which came faster than lightning gave more panic and fear in her, as it dashed on Ishika's car and the car slid far away from its initial position. Preeta stopped driving the Vespa and ran towards Ishika's crashed car. She saw the car's position pathetic, crashed and crumbled like a papad and Ishika's condition was even more pathetic. Blood was flowing through her nose, forehead and left ear. Preeta dialed the ambulance and poured some water on Ishika's mouth, without any delay. But she didn't seem to drink it, which scared Preeta more.

Unlike the usual, the ambulance seemed to reach within two minutes and the attendants carried Ishika away, while Preeta followed them inside.

She didn't fail to hold Ishika's hand, while fits of sobs escaped her mouth. Though she could barely hold her mobile because her hands trembling, she managed to call Ishika's parents and tell them everything. Except for her proposal.

"God! Please save her. Please punish me but not her," she mumbled.

***

Ishika's parents reached Godrej Memorial Hospital, where Preeta already admitted her there. Ishika's mother, unable to control her feelings, hugged Preeta and cried aloud, while Ishika's father stood there crying silently. All they had hoped for is one thing: To see their Ishika alive as blood and flesh.

After half an hour of prayers and desperation, they saw the doctor coming out of the room, as a ray of hope.

"Doctor. What happened to my Ishika? Is she alright?" Ishika's mother went running towards the doctor. But the doctor remained mum, which wasn't something they expected. "Doctor! What happened to my daughter!?"

"I'm sorry, ma'am." That one phrase gave clues for the forthcoming devastation. "We tried saving your daughter, but... She died already. On the spot."

Then followed the huge cries of Ishika's parents, while Preeta stood there frozen. She wanted it to be a dream and to fade off soon, but it's the reality of not fading off. She felt tears rolling down her cheeks but was least bothered about it. She took slow steps behind and walked absent-mindedly to the restroom.

She faced her devastated self in the mirror and started to cry aloud as guilt resurfaced with full force. Hadn't she asked Ishika out, she wouldn't have lost her. At least, hadn't she proposed to her, she would have kept her closer.

She cried aloud and allowed it until her mascara smudged, her tears dried up, and she was fed up crying.

***

Ishika's parents went to the hospital canteen to get beverages for both of them, under Preeta's insistence, while Preeta sat outside Ishika's ward, her mind rewinding the golden memories with her. But the trance was soon broken by the nurse who approached her.

"What is it, ma'am?" Preeta asked, standing up.

"Here are the victim's belongings, ma'am," the nurse said, giving her a plastic bag containing Ishika's belongings, and left. Preeta opened the bag and saw a yellow top stained with blood, white torn leggings, a black sling bag, and a beige ring box.

The ring box gained her attention, so she quickly took it outside. Meanwhile, she saw Ishika's parents coming towards her. So she slid the box inside her pocket and waited for them to come.

"Ummm, what was that, Preeta?" Ishika's father asked her, noticing the plastic bag.

"Uncle, that's... Ishika's belongings," Preeta said, giving the bag to him. "Well, Aunty, please wait here. I'll be back."

As soon as she got Ishika's mother's nod, Preeta ran to the restroom.

***

She stared at the ring box for straight two minutes and finally decided to open the box. She opened the box, only to see the biggest shock of her life.

She saw a heart-headed silver ring inside the box, along with a handwritten note on a small piece of pink paper. She took it out and read it.

Pyaar is a five-letter word and so is death. I need to experience these two with you. Will you allow me to do that?

Preeta's eyes were brimmed with bittersweet tears as she realized that Ishika too was in love with her. Just as she thought that life is over without her, she remembered one of the quotes Ishika used to quote.

"Those we love don't go away, they walk beside us every day. Unseen, unheard, but always near, still loved, still missed, and very dear."

Word Count: 1714 words