...Kashish sat at her desk, staring at her phone....
...It had been two days since the video call, and things felt... different....
...Not in an obvious way....
...Not in a way she could explain....
...But in a way that made her stomach twist whenever she saw Zaid’s name pop up on her screen....
...They had seen each other. Really seen each other....
...And she didn’t know what to do with that....
...Her fingers hovered over their private chat. Their last conversation still lingered there—Zaid’s unexpected compliment....
..."You looked nice."...
...She had reread those words too many times....
...Which was ridiculous....
...He had just been polite. It wasn’t a big deal....
...And yet—...
...A message popped up before she could overthink any further....
...Zaid: Do you ever just want to disappear for a few days?...
...Kashish frowned. That was... an odd way to start a conversation....
...Kashish: Bold of you to assume I haven’t already disappeared into my bed for the last 48 hours....
...Zaid: That’s not what I meant....
...She hesitated....
...Something felt off....
...Kashish: What’s wrong?...
...A long pause....
...Then—...
...Zaid: Nothing. Forget it....
...Kashish scowled at her screen....
...Oh, so that was how he wanted to play it?...
...Kashish: Zaid....
...No response....
...Kashish: You know I’m not going to forget it, right?...
...Still nothing....
...She huffed, shifting in her chair....
...Kashish: You don’t have to tell me. But you started this conversation, so now you have to deal with me annoying you until you do....
...Three dots appeared....
...Disappeared....
...Reappeared....
...Then finally—...
...Zaid: It’s just... people expect too much sometimes....
...Kashish blinked at the message....
...That wasn’t what she had expected....
...Kashish: Who? Your friends? Your family?...
...Zaid: Everyone....
...Her chest tightened....
...Zaid wasn’t the type to talk about personal things. He was the logical one. The one who made sarcastic remarks and acted like nothing ever got to him....
...But now, he was letting her see a glimpse of something else....
...Something real....
...Kashish: You don’t have to be everything for everyone, you know?...
...Zaid: Easier said than done....
...Kashish: Yeah. But it’s still true....
...There was a long silence....
...Then—...
...Zaid: You’re annoying....
...Kashish smirked....
...Kashish: And yet, you keep talking to me....
...This time, there was no response....
...But something told her he was still there....
...Still reading....
...Still listening....
...And somehow, that was enough....
...---...
...Later That Night – Group Chat...
...Maryam: GUESS WHAT, LOSERS....
...Harry: What now?...
...Maryam: WE’RE DOING A TRUTH OR DARE NIGHT....
...Jack: We are?...
...Saba: This sounds dangerous....
...Archie: I vote dare only. No one wants to hear your tragic life stories....
...Zaid: I vote to not participate at all....
...Kashish: Aww, Zaid’s scared....
...Zaid: Of you? Never....
...Maryam: TOO LATE. WE’RE STARTING. EVERYONE JOIN THE CALL....
...Kashish sighed, shaking her head as the video call link popped up....
...This was either going to be hilarious or an absolute disaster....
...Probably both....
...She clicked on the link....
...---...
...Truth or Dare – The Chaos Begins...
...The moment Kashish joined, the call was already a mess....
...Maryam was practically bouncing in her seat, eyes gleaming with mischief. Archie looked like he was ready to cause trouble. Saba looked resigned to her fate. Jack, Harry, and George were lounging on a couch, watching the chaos unfold....
...And Zaid—...
...Zaid looked like he regretted every life decision that had led him here....
...“Alright!” Maryam clapped her hands. “First victim—Saba! Truth or dare?”...
...Saba groaned. “Truth.”...
...Maryam smirked. “Who in this group would you date if you had to?”...
...Saba choked on air. “WHAT?!”...
...“You heard me.”...
...Everyone leaned in....
...Saba buried her face in her hands. “This is evil.”...
...“Answer the question,” Archie said, grinning....
...Saba hesitated, then mumbled, “Jack.”...
...The entire group erupted into laughter and chaos. Jack simply raised an eyebrow. “Huh. Noted.”...
...Saba groaned. “I hate all of you.”...
...“Next!” Maryam pointed at Zaid. “Truth or dare?”...
...Zaid leaned back, expression unreadable. “Dare.”...
...Maryam’s grin widened. “Oh, I’ve got a good one.”...
...That was never a good sign....
...“I dare you,” she said dramatically, “to say something genuinely nice about Kashish.”...
...The call went dead silent....
...Kashish froze....
...Zaid didn’t react at first. His expression remained calm, unreadable....
...Then, finally, he sighed....
...“You’re not as annoying as I make it seem,” he said simply....
...Kashish blinked....
...That was it?...
...“That’s it?!” Maryam demanded. “Be nice! Not just slightly less mean!”...
...Zaid rolled his eyes. “Fine. Kashish is... persistent.”...
...“That’s still not a compliment!” Saba complained....
...Kashish, however, was struggling not to laugh....
...Because this?...
...This was classic Zaid....
...“I’ll take it,” she said, smirking....
...Zaid gave her a look. “Like you had a choice.”...
...Archie groaned. “Ugh. This is painful to watch.”...
...Maryam grinned. “Alright, next victim—Archie!”...
...And just like that, the game continued....
...But Kashish—...
...She couldn’t stop replaying that moment in her head....
...Because even though Zaid hadn’t said much—...
...Even though his words were simple—...
...There was something different about the way he looked at her when he said them....
...And she wasn’t sure what to do with that....
...---...
...Private Chat – Zaid & Kashish...
...Later that night, after the game had ended and everyone had logged off, Kashish’s phone buzzed....
...She wasn’t expecting a message....
...And definitely not from him....
...Zaid: You know I was just messing around, right?...
...Her lips curled into a small smile....
...Kashish: Which part?...
...A pause....
...Then—...
...Zaid: The truth or dare thing....
...She stared at the message for a long time before replying....
...Kashish: Of course....
...She wasn’t sure if she was lying....
...Or if he was....
...But either way—...
...Something between them had shifted....
...And there was no going back....
...---...
...To Be Continued…...
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