The morning felt unusually still.
Not peaceful—
just… empty.
Areeba walked towards the college gates, her steps steady, her face calm. Anyone looking at her would think she was fine.
But she wasn't.
Not anymore.
Something inside her had gone silent last night.
And that silence… was louder than any scream.
As she entered the campus, everything looked the same.
The same trees.
The same benches.
The same corridors.
The same place where laughter once echoed.
But today—
It felt unfamiliar.
Like a place she once belonged to… but no longer did.
She spotted them.
Noor.
Safa.
And Wisha.
Standing together.
Talking.
Just like always.
For a moment—
Just one moment—
Areeba's heart hesitated.
A memory flashed.
Of laughter.
Of shared secrets.
Of late-night talks.
Of "forever."
Then it disappeared.
Just like everything else.
She walked towards them.
Calmly.
Without anger.
Without tears.
Without expectations.
They noticed her.
The conversation stopped.
Silence spread between them.
Areeba stood in front of them.
Looked at each of them.
And then spoke.
"I want to ask something."
Her voice was flat.
Controlled.
Unfamiliar.
They didn't respond.
So she continued.
"What you said… in the recordings…"
A pause.
"Was it true?"
For a second—
No one spoke.
Then Safa stepped forward.
"What recordings?"
Her tone was defensive.
Almost irritated.
Areeba didn't react.
She simply looked at her.
Waiting.
"Noor?" Areeba shifted her gaze.
"Did you say those things?"
Noor shook her head immediately.
"No. We didn't."
Safa crossed her arms.
"At first you blamed Noor…"
"And now you're blaming me too?"
A bitter laugh escaped her.
"Trying to clean yourself by putting dirt on others?"
Areeba stood there.
Listening.
Emotionless.
"You're just blaming your so-called friends and trying to walk away like nothing happened."
Safa's voice rose.
"That's not gonna happen."
Still—
No reaction.
No tears.
No anger.
Areeba finally spoke.
Softly.
"What else… do you want to blame on me?"
A pause.
"Are you done?"
Her eyes were dry.
Empty.
Silence.
Areeba nodded slightly.
"Okay."
She took a small breath.
"Let's leave everything else."
Then she looked at Noor.
"Tell me one thing…"
Her voice remained steady.
"How am I responsible for your breakup… a year ago?"
Noor's expression changed.
Slightly uneasy.
"Areeba… you told your sister… and Hary about our relationship."
"And I don't know who else you told."
Areeba raised her hand slightly.
"Stop."
"Just answer this."
"If you knew… that I was the reason…"
"Why didn't you tell me a year ago?"
Silence.
"Maybe you misunderstood me…"
Her voice softened for a second.
"But why now?"
"Why after all this time?"
Noor hesitated.
Then replied quietly—
"Because… I didn't want to hurt you back then."
For a moment—
Areeba almost believed it.
She was about to speak.
To explain.
To fix things.
But then—
She saw it.
Noor and Safa—
Looking at each other.
And smiling.
That smile—
It wasn't kind.
It wasn't soft.
It wasn't friendly.
It broke something inside her.
Completely.
Her chest tightened.
Her breath hitched.
But her face—
Remained calm.
"Wow…"
Areeba whispered.
"You didn't want to hurt me?"
A faint smile appeared.
"What a beautiful excuse."
She stepped back slightly.
"The truth is…"
"You were just using me."
Safa's expression turned angry.
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
Areeba continued.
"You said I blame my friends for everything…"
A pause.
"But the truth is…"
"You're the ones who blame others."
She looked directly at Noor.
"If you really think I told your secrets…"
"Why don't you call and ask?"
Her voice grew firmer.
"Or is it easier to make me your scapegoat?"
"When did we even say that?!" Safa snapped.
"Stop putting your blame on us!"
Areeba laughed softly.
A broken, tired laugh.
"If I hadn't listened to those recordings…"
"I would still be in the dark."
Safa frowned.
"What recordings?"
Areeba took out her phone.
Unlocked it.
And pressed play.
The voices filled the air.
Laughter.
Words.
Accusations.
Everything.
Areeba didn't look at them.
She just listened.
But then—
She raised her eyes.
And looked at their faces.
Shock.
Silence.
Guilt.
"We all know…" Areeba spoke quietly.
"Who said what."
She swallowed.
"If someone else had told me this…"
"I would've never believed them."
Her voice cracked slightly.
"But I heard it myself."
She looked at Noor.
"And you…"
"I treated you like family."
"Like a part of me."
Her eyes softened for a second.
"I told you everything."
"Because I thought transparency builds trust."
A pause.
"But you proved me wrong."
She took a step back.
"One more thing."
"I don't have your ex's number."
She looked directly into Noor's eyes.
"So if you think I was behind everything…"
"Call him."
"Ask him."
Noor tried to speak—
"Areeba, I—"
"That's enough."
Areeba cut her off.
"Not today."
She exhaled slowly.
"Let's not meet again."
Silence fell.
Heavy.
Unbearable.
"You live with your truth."
"I'll live with mine."
Areeba's voice softened.
"I blamed myself…"
"For not trusting you."
"But now…"
A faint, tired smile.
"I'm glad I asked."
She took out her phone.
And sent the recordings.
To each of them.
"I've sent you the proof you wanted."
She picked up her bag.
Turned around.
"Goodbye."
They called her.
Tried to say something.
But Areeba didn't stop.
Didn't turn back.
Didn't listen.
Wisha stood there.
Silent.
Watching everything.
She didn't say a word.
And just like that—
Four years of friendship…
Ended.
That evening—
Areeba opened the group.
The one she created years ago.
With all their initials.
She scrolled through pictures.
Memories.
Messages.
Laughter frozen in time.
Her fingers paused.
Then—
She left.
No goodbye.
No message.
Just… left.
Two days left for exams.
So she sat down.
Opened her books.
Tried to study.
But her mind—
Refused.
That afternoon—
A message popped up.
From Noor.
A voice note.
One view only.
Areeba tapped it.
But it didn't play.
Network issue.
She tried again.
And again.
Nothing.
An hour passed.
She gave up.
Turned off her phone.
She never got to hear it again.
Later—
Safa called.
Once.
Twice.
Again.
Again.
Areeba finally picked up.
Before she could speak—
Safa started shouting.
Cursing.
Blaming.
Areeba closed her eyes.
"So… you heard the recordings."
More anger.
More words.
More pain.
Areeba listened.
For a few seconds.
Then—
Cut the call.
When Safa called again—
She blocked her.
Blocked Noor too.
Removed them from everywhere.
Silence.
That night—
She opened her diary.
Every page—
Was them.
Their talks.
Their memories.
Their laughter.
She found a sketch.
Four girls.
Smiling.
Together.
She remembered—
She was making copies.
One for each of them.
As a keepsake.
After graduation.
Her hands trembled.
She gathered everything.
The diary.
The sketches.
The memories.
And took them outside.
She lit a match.
For a second—
She hesitated.
Then—
She let it fall.
The flames rose slowly.
Eating everything.
Page by page.
Memory by memory.
Areeba sat there.
Watching.
No tears.
No expression.
Just silence.
Until everything turned—
Into ashes.
She stood up.
Walked inside.
Opened her books.
Tried to study.
But her mind…
Was still there.
In those flames.
Days passed like that.
In college—
She ignored them.
Completely.
Wisha tried to talk.
But Areeba…
Stayed distant.
Because now—
She didn't know who to trust anymore.
And soon—
The exam day arrived.
A new chapter of life.
Or maybe—
Just another test.