Aira was trying to focus on herself.
She wanted to find herself again.
To understand who she was—
without her.
But still—
she wanted to talk to Aarohi.
To share everything.
Her happiness.
Her sadness.
Her boredom.
Her small discoveries.
Every little thing—
that once felt special—
only because she could share it with her.
She didn't expect anything in return anymore.
No long replies.
No special attention.
Just—
her presence felt enough.
But one day—
she couldn't control herself.
So she texted.
Aira, "Hey. How are you?"
Aarohi, "Good. What about you?"
Aira, "Good."
A small pause.
Aarohi, "Aira, you love the wrong person.
Seriously."
Aira stared at the message.
Aira, "I don't think so… and I can't do anything now."
Aarohi, "But I think you should. Love someone else."
Aira, "I don't like anyone. And I don't want to like anyone. What can I do?"
Aarohi, "Why? I'm just an online person. Love someone offline."
Aira, "No. I don't want to love anyone else but you."
Aarohi, "You are mad."
Aira smiled faintly.
Aira, "Yes, I am mad."
After a moment—
Aira changed the topic.
Aira, "Do you know about blue poppy flowers?"
Aarohi, "Yeah."
Aira, "They are my favourite flowers."
Aarohi, "Oh. My favourite flowers are roses and any kind of wild flowers."
Aira paused.
Aira, "So now I am going to describe you."
Aarohi, "Okay."
Aira:
"Tum vo phool( blue poppies )ho mere liye
Jise main kabhi todna nahi chahti,
Jo Himalaya ki unchaiyon par khilte hain,
Jo meri duniya mein kabhi nahi khil sakte.
Agar main kisi tarah wahan pahunch bhi jaun,
Tab tak koi unhe tod chuka hota hai.
Jab un phoolon ko toda jata hai—
Mujhe dard hota hai.
Main bas unhe door se dekhti rehti hoon.
Woh phool mere haathon mein kabhi nahi aa sakte,
Par main unhe dekh to sakti hoon."
Aarohi, "It is really beautiful. And you are really mad."
Aira, "Hmm."
Aarohi, "Aira, see… I can't be yours. Sorry. I am your forever friend."
Aira read that line slowly.
Aira, "I don't want to make you mine. I will be your forever friend."
Aarohi just liked the message—
and left.
Aira stared at the chat.
The screen felt empty again.
This time—
she didn't cry.
But she didn't feel okay either.
She just wanted to stay in her life.
Even if it meant—
staying as just a friend.
Because losing her completely—
felt worse than anything else.
After that—
the chat went quiet again.
No "take care."
No "goodnight."
Just a like—
and silence.
Aira kept staring at the screen.
As if—
something more would appear.
But nothing did.
She slowly locked her phone.
And leaned back.
It felt strange.
Not painful like before—
but heavy.
Like something inside her
was finally settling.
For the first time—
she didn't feel like running behind her words.
Didn't feel like explaining herself.
Didn't feel like asking—
"Why not me?"
Because somewhere—
she already knew the answer.
And maybe—
she was tired of questioning it.
Days passed—
nothing really changed.
They still talked sometimes.
But it wasn't the same.
No excitement.
No waiting.
No late-night conversations.
Just simple texts.
Like two people—
who once meant everything—
trying to act normal.
Aira noticed it.
Every small change.
The way Aarohi replied.
The way she left the chat.
The way she didn't stay anymore.
But this time—
Aira didn't question it.
She didn't ask—
"Why are you like this?"
Because she already knew.
And maybe—
she was tired of hearing the same answers again.
Slowly—
Aira understood something.
She was no longer part of Aarohi's important moments.
Not the first person she shared things with.
Not the one she waited for.
Just—
someone in her life.
And that hurt.
But it also made things clear.
So Aira started changing.
Not suddenly.
Not completely.
But slowly.
She stopped checking her phone again and again.
Stopped waiting for her replies.
Stopped building conversations in her head.
But still—
she loves her...
Quietly, deeply and without expecting anything back.