I wouldn’t have come even if you invited me.

"Hello, Adhira," my teammate greeted as I entered the room. The workplace was a mess.Not that I'm complaining — I'm a mess myself.

"What are you listening to?"

"I don't know why but with you, I'd dance / In a storm in my best dress — fearless," I shouted the lyrics, snapping my fingers and shaking my head.

Anaya, my other colleague, grabbed the spare earbud and joined in.Swifties will rule the world one day, I thought to myself.

Just as I tried to pause the music to focus on work, a WhatsApp notification popped up."Hey, how's life?"

It was her — the girl who posted that Instagram picture with my high school crush.Here comes the devil. I'd seen that coming miles away. My intuition never misses.

I'm going to ghost. I ignored the message.

Ting. Another notification.This time — the crush himself.

"Hello Adhira."

I stared at it.

"Hi," I replied.

F... f... Why did I reply?! I cursed myself.

The scent of coffee drifted toward me. The office helper placed a hot cup on my desk — like a gift from the gods. I sipped it slowly and felt human again.

After that, the meeting started.

"Indian mythology, combined with 2D and 3D, all NPR technique — it'll be a hit," the manager said enthusiastically."We come up with the idea, and we do our part."

"Surya, we understand," Anaya responded. "But not everyone likes mythology."

The game concept was still up in the air — mythology-based or superhero-themed.The Indian gaming market isn't great, yet games from other countries are quit famous here

I half-listened. My attention felt too valuable to waste on ideas that were clearly going nowhere.

Later, I called my roommate during lunch, still grinding away on 3D models.

"Nisha, please pick me up in the evening," I pleaded. 

"Come by bus."

"Only this time." I begged"

I have to travel twenty more minutes just to get you."

"I swear — from tomorrow, I'll take the bus."

"I'm bringing my boyfriend."

Click.

"Great, I'll go by bus." I muttered

I'm not jealous of her. For the 100th time — I'm not jealous of her.It's just… I'm not a fan of relationships anymore.I don't want to pass sarcastic comments or cringe silently while watching them act in love.Better to take the bus and go home.

I stood inside the crowded bus, headphones on, letting Taylor Swift be my therapist again.

Another notification. Two missed messages on WhatsApp.

I opened it.

Nivin - a contact name with the heart on the side

Saved years ago — never bothered to change it. I had a crush on him once.Now? Not even a flicker.

"Riya forgot to invite you to the wedding. I forgot too. Sorry about that."

I nearly scoffed out loud in the middle of the bus.

I wouldn't have come even if you invited me. Kudos to an ex-friend who dated a guy she knew I liked — and married him too.

I sent a thumbs-up.It's not the age for mind games, silent treatments, or passive aggression — but still, the thumbs-up said everything:I don't have time for your little marriage drama.

Once I got down at my stop, I went straight to the cake shop and ordered a slice.I don't think I had a bad day.I just needed something sweet — because clearly, I was annoyed.

"Do people really forget to invite someone to their wedding? Is that even possible?"Some people are just… mannerless.

When I reached my room and opened the door:

"Nisha?" I called out.

"I'm here!" she shouted from the kitchen.

"What are you cooking?"

"I don't know. I saw this recipe—"

"Let's just cook dal rice," I interrupted.I really didn't want to survive another Instagram-inspired disaster.

While setting the table, I swallowed hard and said,

"Well, Nisha… I'm going to move out."

"With who?""Stop it." I rolled my eyes.

"I just think I can't bother you anymore. But I'll come by now and then. I'm moving out next month, okay?"

"I'm okay with it, honestly. But… did you get a new boyfriend?""No," I laughed. "I just want to be closer to the office. Travelling from Central to Guindy every day is a nightmare."

"I get it… We won't see each other often then, huh?"

"Call me anytime. I'll come over and keep you company."

"Yeah, thank you," I said, already feeling the weight lift a little.

Nisha smiled — and then ruined it.

"By the way… my boyfriend's here. Can you sleep on the sofa tonight?"

I stared at her.

"Can't you guys get a hotel? Thank god I'm leaving."

"What do you mean? Hotels are expensive!" she said, like I'd just asked her to buy a house.

That night, I told her the full story — about my high school crush, and the ex-friend who married him.She crushed them with one line:

"Leave it. They're not worth your time."

Friends like this are rare.I'm going to miss her more than I admit. But still, I'm excited about what's coming next.

New place.New people.A new chapter.