Chapter 5: Shattered, but Not Broken
After my meeting with Riya, I walked alone down a gulmohar-lined street, sunlight filtering through fiery blossoms, the Delhi heat sticky against my skin. The emotions I’d bottled up all day finally spilled over.
My voice trembled as I called my best friend, Sneha.
“Arjun is going to marry someone else.”
Sneha sounded busy, her TV’s saas-bahu drama blaring in the background. “Then break up. Next one will be even better.”
“But Arjun and I’ve already… you know…”
My voice was barely louder than a mosquito.
Sneha sounded like she rolled her eyes. “So what? You people are impossible.”
I heard her flipping a magazine, slightly irritated. After I finished, she was silent, then said, “Priya, how about… we finish this job first?”
“It’s not like you have to take this client, but I feel bad for you.”
“Why let them make a fool of you?”
“Miss Sharma said if she’s happy, besides the planning fee, you get an extra three lakh.”
“After company costs, all profit is yours.”
“Don’t be silly. Love ke alawa roti bhi chahiye.”
I sniffled, wiping my cheeks, but finally agreed. Sneha, after a pause, sent me a meme on WhatsApp—a silly dog with sunglasses and the caption: ‘Mood thik kar le, drama queen.’ It made me laugh through my tears.
Arjun, I’ll plan you a shaadi no one will forget.
Even if my heart’s broken, I’ll make sure the world remembers this day.