It felt like everything had ended.
Not loudly.
Not suddenly.
But slowly… quietly… like something inside Areeba had stopped breathing.
The kind of silence that comes after a storm, not because everything is calm—
but because nothing is left to break.
The next morning, Areeba didn't go to college.
She stayed in her room, curtains drawn, phone silent.
Her eyes were swollen from crying.
Her head ached.
Her chest felt heavy.
She didn't call Noor.
She didn't call Safa.
And they didn't call her either.
That silence… said more than words ever could.
In college, when the professors noticed her absence, they asked Noor and Safa.
"Where is Areeba?"
Both of them replied the same.
"We don't know, sir."
Maybe they really didn't.
Or maybe… they chose not to.
At around 12:14 PM, Areeba's phone rang.
It was Safa.
Areeba stared at the screen for a long time before answering.
She picked up… but didn't speak.
"Where are you?" Safa asked.
"Why didn't you come to college?"
Areeba's voice was weak.
"I'm not feeling well… I won't come today."
What she didn't know…
Was that the phone was on speaker.
The entire class was listening.
Even the History professor.
Suddenly, his voice came.
"Areeba?"
Her heart skipped a beat.
"Y-yes sir…"
"What happened? Why aren't you here?"
"I'm sorry sir… I can't come today."
"And your presentation?" he asked firmly.
"Do you want to fail? You know I only give one day."
Areeba froze.
"I… I didn't prepare, sir."
That answer shocked everyone.
She… didn't prepare?
The same Areeba… who always came ready… always stood first… always confident?
The professor paused for a moment.
Then his tone softened.
"We are all waiting for you."
"Come. I'll give you another day."
"But sir—"
"No 'but'. Come in 5 minutes."
The call ended.
Areeba stood still for a moment.
Then slowly… she got up.
She wore her uniform.
Her hands trembled.
When she looked in the mirror…
She couldn't recognize herself.
Her eyes were red.
Swollen.
Dark.
Anyone could tell she had been crying for days.
She splashed cold water on her face again and again.
But nothing helped.
So she wore a mask.
Lowered her gaze.
And walked to college.
The moment she entered, everyone looked at her.
She stood near the door.
"May I come in, sir…"
Her voice trembled.
The professor nodded.
"Come."
She walked inside slowly and sat down.
Then he asked,
"Why weren't you prepared?"
Areeba looked down.
"Sorry, sir."
She couldn't make eye contact.
Not with him.
Not with anyone.
Not even with Noor… or Safa… who were sitting there.
Then the professor said sharply,
"Remove your mask."
Areeba froze.
"Sir…"
"I said remove it."
With shaking hands, she removed the mask.
"Look at me," he said.
The moment she lifted her eyes…
Her tears fell again.
Uncontrollably.
Like something inside her had finally given up.
She tried to hide it.
But she couldn't.
The professor's expression changed.
His voice softened.
"Tell me what happened."
"Like you always do."
"Maybe we can help."
The entire class was watching.
But Areeba couldn't speak.
Her voice was lost somewhere between her tears.
The professor looked at Safa.
"Look at her eyes. Does she look okay?"
Safa lowered her gaze.
"No, sir."
The professor sighed.
"Class dismissed."
Students slowly left.
Areeba stood up too.
But before she could leave—
"Sit," he said gently.
She sat again.
Now the classroom was empty.
Just her… and the professor.
"Tell me."
And this time…
She did.
"I had a misunderstanding with my friends," she whispered.
"I said things… I shouldn't have said."
"And when everything cleared… I realized I was wrong."
Her voice broke.
"Now I can't face them."
"I don't know what to do."
The professor listened quietly.
Then he said,
"If you know you were wrong… then go and tell them."
"They will understand."
He smiled softly.
"You are brave."
"I've seen many people in my career… but very few have the courage to admit they were wrong."
Areeba shook her head.
"No, sir."
"I already messed everything."
"Trust is important in friendship."
"Once it's broken… nothing can fix it."
"I betrayed them."
"I don't deserve friends."
Her tears fell again.
Then the professor asked gently,
"Was it because of a boy?"
Areeba immediately shook her head.
"No, sir."
"They are my female friends."
He nodded.
"Tell me their names. I'll talk to them."
"No!" she said quickly.
"I always mess things up."
"Maybe their lives will be better without me."
"I'll handle it."
"I'm sorry for making you worry."
And with that…
She stood up.
And left.
Outside the class, Safa was waiting.
The moment she saw Areeba, she walked toward her.
"What did sir say?"
"What did you tell him?"
Areeba slowly lifted her head.
Her eyes…
Had no trust left in them.
Only emptiness.
"I told him I had a fight with my friends."
"Don't worry… I didn't mention your names."
Safa looked at her silently.
Areeba continued,
"I know I messed up."
"But trust me… for the last time… I will never reveal your names to anyone."
"You should trust me at least this much."
Then…
She saw Noor standing far away.
Watching her.
Areeba looked at both of them.
For the last time.
Then turned…
And walked away.
That walk felt endless.
Her steps were slow.
Her face was blank.
She didn't lower her head this time.
She didn't hide.
But her tears…
They kept falling.
Like a silent confession.
Everyone watched her.
Until she disappeared from sight
When she reached home, everything felt empty.
Mili wasn't there.
She had gone to the city.
Only Sameer was home.
Areeba didn't say anything.
She just went inside.
Finished her assignments.
Cooked food for Sameer.
Told him to sleep.
And waited.
Until the house became quiet.
Late at night, she opened her diary.
Then closed it.
Then opened it again.
And started reading from the beginning.
Every page.
Every memory.
Every moment she had written.
She wanted to feel it again.
The laughter.
The happiness.
The bond.
But instead…
Each word felt like a wound.
Then suddenly—
She remembered.
The recordings.
Her hands froze.
The same recordings Mili had insisted her to take.
Her heart started beating faster.
Sameer was asleep.
She quietly covered him with a blanket.
Then slowly walked upstairs…
To the rooftop.
The night was cold.
The sky was silent.
Areeba sat down and opened her phone.
Her fingers trembled as she played the recording.
At first…
It was just normal conversation.
Her own voice.
Noor's voice.
Safa's voice.
Then—
She heard something.
A moment.
A pause.
When she wasn't there.
Her phone… had been left behind.
And they were talking.
About her.
Areeba's breath stopped.
She leaned closer.
Listening carefully.
Every word.
Every tone.
Every silence in between.
And as the voices continued…
Something inside her began to break.
Not loudly.
Not suddenly.
But slowly…
Like a truth she was never meant to hear.
A truth that would change everything.
And this time—
It wasn't just a misunderstanding.
It was something deeper.
Something real.
Something that would rewrite every memory she had…
Of friendship.