THE FRIENDS WHO DESERTED

THE FRIENDS WHO DESERTED 

Why do the most beautiful of friendships end up broken? Why do the people who promised to remain the same forever, change?

‘RINGGGGG…..’ , rang the school bell.

It was time for the morning assembly. Everyone started moving out. Beside the stairs stood a young girl of 12, waiting for her friend to arrive.

“Neha! There you are. I was waiting for you. Hurry up or we’ll be late. It’s the first day of our new session. I’m so excited!” exclaimed the girl whose name was Aria.

“Oh let’s go. I can’t wait to spend the day with you. We’re going to rock it together.” Said an excited Neha.

Aria and Neha were best friends. They had been for the last two years.

The girls headed to the auditorium, turns out they had a new classmate, her name was Sonakshi. Sonakshi was a beautiful girl. She seemed sweet too and so the girls approached her.

“Well hello there. I’m Aria and this is Neha. We’re in 7th-C. Which class are you in?” “Um.. hi. I’m Sonakshi and I’m in 7th-C too.” Replied the new girl shyly.

They shook hands and that was the start of a beautiful friendship and of two hearts being happy and of one ending up broken.

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“Oh but you have to be there. I won’t celebrate without you, Aria. I’ll convince your mom.” yelled Sonakshi.

“Yes, she’s right. You have to come, Aria.” Added Neha.

“Okay don’t worry. I’ll try to convince my mom.” Replied Aria, trying to calm them down.

Their friendship was just a year old and yet they were so close. They called each other ‘sister’ affectionately. They had promised to be there for each other forever.

But empty words were useless. Things started to change soon after. Their shells faded away and their true selves were revealed.

“Wait up! I’m just grabbing my lunch, wait for me.” Shouted Aria from one end of the classroom. She started looking inside her bag only to look up and find the classroom empty

They had left.

“Ah” she sighed.

They did this again. For the past few months, they were acting aloof. Well, not to each other but to Aria. They always left without her. She had tried to catch up each time. She had tried to start many conversations but failed miserably. She had called their names countless times and yet they never looked over their shoulders to spare her a glance. How her ‘best friends’ had changed. Huh.

Now the only time they spoke was when they needed something. It was the term end and all they cared for were Aria’s notes. They felt that she was obliged to give them the notes. Aria though had had enough.

“Give me the notes for Physics, will you?” demanded Sonakshi. “Oh, and I need the civics ones.” Added Neha.

“No,” said Aria.

“what? What did you say?” they both demanded in unity.

“I said, NO. No, I won’t give you any notes. Neither the classwork nor the homework. If you want, you can both do it yourselves.” Replied Aria in a perfectly leveled tone.

“No… but-“

And they were cut off by the school bell. It was the lunch break.

Aria closed her books and took her tiffin. She walked past the two yelling girls, who she once considered her friends. How fast they had changed. Aria had tried to love them and they had rejected. But now, she won’t hate them. They were undeserving of her emotions. She didn’t look back. Instead, she walked with a confidence she had never known before.

“But come back here. You-“ “Aria! Aria! Wait a minute.”

She smiled. She was not going to wait for them. She had waited enough. She wasn’t going to forgive them for the betrayal for betrayal doesn’t deserve forgiveness.