The air around me was cool and humid with the smell of the infinite ocean. I hadn't felt this loose-limbed and relaxed in a long time. Stretched over loungers that overlooked the sea, the three of us sipped on our lemonade. We had been soaking up for a while now, arriving only an hour before the sun began its slow descent.

To my right, Rakhi held up her phone and looked at me. "What do you think? Turquoise or emerald?" She asked. Her phone screen lit up with a picture of two bikinis. I considered them for a moment, before nodding towards the emerald one.

She frowned before turning away.

"Honestly, I could die here, and I'd die a happy girl." Mitali sighed, contented.

Shaking my head, I said, "I prefer the Himalayas. Much more peaceful. Here my soul would probably freak out during music festivals."

Rakhi and Mitali laughed.

"Wait, you never told us much about the guy in the restaurant." Rakhi chirped all of a sudden.

"There's nothing to tell. I met him the day I got back from New York, and then ran into him again a few days later." I shrugged it off. "He mentioned backpacking though, and I thought it'd be cool so I called you guys up to see if you were free."

"So we've got him to thank for our untimely vacation. My boss looked ready to murder me when I asked him for two weeks off." Mitali chuckled. "His eyes looked like they would pop out of their sockets, but he had to give me two weeks off because I haven't missed a single day in a long time. So I deserve it."

"Yeah, well, I've got my head chef handling everything at the restaurant so I don't need to worry. Although there will be a lot of work once I get back. I've got to finalise a new location because we're branching out. I was hoping inspiration would hit me on this trip. I'm out of ideas." Rakhi groaned, rubbing her face.

The two of them looked expectantly at me, waiting for me to add to their conversation. But I didn't know what to say. They were trustworthy, that wasn't the problem. But it felt more real when I admitted it out loud.

"I'm kind of on a break," I said. A half-truth.

Nodding slowly, they exchanged glances before turning back to look at me. I shrunk under their gaze. They were my closest friends, but I didn't have the courage to face the truth. I didn't have the courage to admit that I'd run away the moment I found out that the agency was dropping my campaign. I could have stayed. I definitely would've gotten offers. Possibly a better one, but I didn't have it in me. I didn't have that same passion, that same thrill that came with being on stage and presenting someone's designs.

I turned away from my friends, pulling my knees up to my chest, and just stared at the distant horizon. I didn't know where I stood anymore. I didn't know what I wanted to do.

Closing my eyes, I leaned back and let the cool breeze wash over me. For Mitali, this trip was a break, a kind of reunion. For Rakhi it was a source of inspiration. But I didn't know what it was for me.

I just hope that it wasn't yet another impulsive decision that would leave me in a free-fall. Again.

"You're okay right?" Mitali asked softly, causing me to look at her.

I didn't want to lie or evade the truth. I was tired. So I replied, "I don't know. I don't think I am. But I'll be okay. I know it."

They nodded with soft smiles on their faces before Rakhi jumped up. "Okay we're getting too damn emotional and it's only our first day here. Let's go out and have a few drinks. Then we'll head to the beach for the festival,"she grinned.

Nodding, I grabbed my belongings and followed my friends to the bar.

I wasn't okay. I was far from it. Ever since that night years ago, ever since I grasped onto my dream like a lifeline not realising that that was not what I really wanted. No, my dream had been my anchor. A constant in my life when everything around me crashed and burned. I'd held onto that and forgotten myself. And I was back where I started, a speck of dust lost in space with no sense of position or direction. Just floating about, waiting to be swept away.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't realise when someone stood in front of me, blocking my path. Startled, I took a step back and looked up—

Only to see Akash grinning at me. "Hey you." His voice was light. Happy.

I smiled in reply.

"I was wondering if I could take you to the beach tonight? And since you love food, we can check out those stalls," he suggested.

I paused. Behind him, my friends made wild gestures and were looking at us with wide smiles plastered on their faces.

"Uh.." I hesitated, glancing between him and the two crazy idiots behind him. He must have noticed my attention slipping elsewhere because he turned slightly to look. The pair immediately ceased their staring and turned away, feigning indifference.

Chuckling under his breath, Akash turned to look at me again.

"So?"

I asked him to wait before heading over to my friends. Before I could say a word, the two hissed in unison, "Say yes!"

"You don't even know what he asked me," I said incredulously.

"We're not dumb. Just agree to it. We'll be fine. I don't even know how you're standing here and talking to us." Mitali sighed and looked at him dreamily. "I would take him to a corner and have my way with him every chance I'd get."

Shaking my head, I laughed before returning to Akash's side. "Yeah, I'll come with you." I smiled.

"Cool." He grinned. "Meet me here in two hours?"

I nodded before he took of, turning back only once to wave goodbye.

I couldn't fight off the smile that took over my features. When I returned to my friends' side, they grinned at my smile. "Looks like someone has a date!" Mitali sang, handing me a glass. I laughed at the excitement ebbing from her before downing the drink which left a pleasant burn at the back of my throat.

"I think I shouldn't drink more. Or I'll probably blabber his ears off." I said, laughing. "Oh, and it's not a date."

Rakhi and Mitali jumped up from their stools with stern expressions on their faces. Although Rakhi had looked slightly apologetic unlike the other idiot I called my friend. "Well, whatever it is, let's get you ready for this non-date." Mitali declared, before pulling me by my arm and dragging me towards the elevator.

I only grumbled in exasperation.