The lack of air conditioner in the room woke her up in the middle of the night. She wiped the sweat clinging onto her neck and forehead with the back of her palm. The walk from her bed to the window was dreadful even if it was just an arm distance when she was seconds away from falling asleep. She opened the window, closing the mesh door to prevent any insects to welcome themselves uninviting.

The cold breeze felt like a blessing the moment it fawned her face, cooling the temperature down. She promised she would bring the electrician and fix the air con first thing in the morning. The heat levels are insufferable this year and she regrets choosing a thick wool duvet to sleep in today. Pushing the duvet away, she cuddled her stuffed toys in an attempt to sleep through the beyond tolerable warm night.

                                     .

    Hearing the soft ting of the Air con made her achieve the highest levels of nirvana she could, when her room wasn't hot anymore and she could get some sleep without waking up in the middle of night gasping and wiping the sweat off her face and hair. Closing the door of her room, she moved to the kitchen to prepare lunch for herself before heading out to meet her friends.

With the music playing in the background, she chopped onions, bell peppers, mushrooms to prepare the white sauce pasta recipe she has been making since she started cooking, making it the recipe she's a specialist in. Her hips swayed to the tune, while taste testing the sauce. She added the cheese and the pasta water to thin out the sauce and let it cook before adding the boiled pasta.

                                    .

"You saw the picture I sent you?" Inaya asked her sister on facetime whilst getting dressed for the evening. "It turned out so good."

"I did," Hiba, her sister replied pouting, earning a sly chuckle from her. "You never make the pasta when I'm there and somehow end up making it look good if it's just you alone. I hate you."

"Please," She rolled her eyes, applying the bright pink gloss on her lips, closing the lid with a pop. "You would've had it whenever you wanted if you just didn't move miles away from me. Your loss, if you ask me."

"Obviously it's my fault for moving away to earn money which by the way I spend more than half on you." Hiba shrugs, eating the takeout she ordered, while Inaya's stomach grumbles.  "No more designer bags, fancy cafe visits and your requests to send you money."

"You wouldn't dare, Hiba."

"Yes I wouldn't, Inaya, kyunki I love you."

"And, I love you. I am also aware of the fact that you put up with me because you don't have any friends!" Inaya laughs, looking at her sister's glare, assuming that she would have whacked her head if she were with her.

"Hey! That's not true, I have friends!"

"Please, Shibra and your little sister's friends and your boyfriend don't come under that category, alright?" Inaya tells her, shoving her lip glosses, wallet and lip liners in her bag which Hiba gifted her on her last birthday. "Now, now, Aapa, I will give you a call tomorrow since I'm going out with my friends." She stated in air quotes, grinning at her not-so-amused sister.

"Please, don't bother, I know you wouldn't and you remember that I'm flying back home next weekend right and the surprise that I asked you to plan?" Hiba enquiries, biting into the last chip and guac she ordered from chipotle.

"Yes, I remember. Don't worry I have everything in control and get the things on my wishlist. I would ruin everything if you don't get my things." Inaya's sarcastic smile made Hiba roll her eyes and nod her head.

"Yes, you little psycho, I got everything on your wishlist. Be safe when you're out. Don't be out late and get back home safe, okay? Tell Aria and Sumukhi hi from my side."

"Yes, I will." With that, Inaya ends the call and checks her bag and the doors before leaving the house. She gets to her car parked in the garage and turns on the engine heading to Aria's place to pick her up.

                                  .   

Inaya pretends to hear what her friends are talking as she lazily glances over her surroundings, nursing the whiskey in her hands. Don't get her wrong, she loves her friends to death but sometimes she's grateful for the fact they're a group of three — she can zone out while the other two entertain themselves. The pub they chose for the night was bustling with the people of different age groups, engrossed in their own things. The little group diagonal to her, were seated on the sofa taking shots, clicking pictures and laughing at something the guys were saying. She shakes her head at the couple opposite her making out, while the conversation behind her was intriguing to say the least.

  "Fuck if I know what I actually want. You think I would sit here like a loser? Be rational, Shameer." She overhears the conversation, as her nosy side takes charge.

"I am being rational, Aakash," His friend states. Inaya fawns over his deep voice and she couldn't help but try to peek at him, wondering if his appearance matches his voice. Their heads would touch if either of them leans on to their back and she almost wishes he would. "You are getting married tomorrow and here you are at a bar, crying over the girl YOU left because you weren't sure."

"Don't remind me," Aakash says, dejected. She almost wanted to turn her head back and look at them, but chose not to just for the sake of her dignity.

"Inaya!" Aria's voice makes her look at her who in turn raises her eyebrow questioning her lack of participation in their conversation. "Where did you zone out to?"

"I am listening to your conversation. You were talking about Zaheer, weren't you?" Inaya gulped down the remaining whiskey in her untouched glass and put it on the table.

"No?" Aria replied back as Sumukhi laughed at Inaya's cheeky smile. "Zaheer ghosted me, you ignorant asshole! I am talking to Zaid."

"What is your obsession with people who wanted you first, goes over to any corner to have you and then get so repulsed by you that they chose to ghost you without giving any closure? And also their names starting with Z?" Inaya scoffs in frustration when her best friend continuously gives the multiple guys a chance to treat her poorly and forgive them.

"It's not my fault I have daddy issues, Inaya. Go ask my beloved father." Aria shrugs, chugging their tequila shots with Sumukhi.

"Your self awareness will be the end of you one day, Ari." Sumukhi tells her, shaking her head. In the midst of her friend's chaotic story, she glances behind to find the spot empty and the two guys left already.

Turning her head back to her friends, she wonders if she could ever know what happened after with them. For the rest of the night, Inaya makes conspiracy theories with her friends of what Akash and his friend, Shahmeer would do next.

                                .
author's note:

here's the chapter one and a small glimpse of Inaya's life. Please leave the reviews below of what y'all think about this. <3

lots of love,
kalachashmas.