text: I haven't had many friends, even during my childhood days. Ive never been able to make friends easily. The only friend I have is Srishti. She has been my best friend, my only friend since I was a little kid. Her family shifted to my neighbouring house when I was five. It started as a simple 'Hi' to each other every morning in the school bus and grew into the best friendship bond of my life. We were practically inseparable during our school years; even though we were poles apart. Srishti thrived on people as we grew up, she was always surrounded by them and I was the one who enjoyed solitary time reading a book or sketching whatever inspired me. If I was on the introverted side of the seesaw, she was on the other extroverted side trying to keep me up and out of my solitude. She was my protector in school from all the bullies who thought I was some sad and gawky girl, she was the only being who I could trust and be myself with. But yes, school friendships take a toll when you enter college and it gets more complex when you are in different cities. We went our separate ways for our graduation, she went to Mumbai and I continued in Delhi. We wrote and called each other quite frequently in the early days but then days turned to weeks and then months. I tried keeping in touch but she was always busy with either a college event or a play or just hanging out with her new friends. She was occupied with her new and thrilling life and here I was always missing her and being updated with her life events only through social networking sites. I travelled to Mumbai various times to meet her when she completed her graduation, when she got her first job and even when she got a promotion. We mostly went for lunch and she largely spoke about her, I was never a topic of discussion. But then there was nothing great happening in my life. I was into coding which required hours and hours of working on a computer in confinement with no need of human interaction. She was into event management and every project had interesting and funny anecdotes which was amusing to hear. Hence I didn't mind at all to have conversations which centred around her. I did feel hurt though when I received her wedding invitation via an email, she had planned a grand five day wedding in Goa on the 15th of the next month which was only 25 days away. Well, I deserved a personal call from her at least. Or was it too selfish of me to think about myself, she would undoubtedly be busy with her preparations and would have forgotten to call. After all I am her best friend and she would have expected me to understand. There was no doubt that I needed to attend this wedding. I was pulled out of my thoughts by some baby's shrill. This flight was taking longer than I expected. Delhi to Goa is a 2.5 hour journey but thanks to the noisy bunch of aunties in the back, this flight seemed like a never ending torture. The couple sitting beside me were trying to pacify their new born and of course annoying the hell out of me. Yes, I hate babies and grown ups as you know by now. I cannot stand people of any size. They are bearable if they are in their own space but these small ones are just pure nuisance. I looked out of the window and sighed. It was upsetting to think that Srishti had not answered any of my calls I had made since receiving the invitation. Of course, she must have been really busy. Come to think of it, going for her wedding is awkward. She would be tied up with her wedding ceremony, what would I do there as a guest. It's a full fledged five day wedding and Srishti has invited many of her friends. Thinking about seeing that many people is daunting and my social anxiety is screaming. But I can do anything for Srishti and this was her big day and I couldn't miss it at any cost. Finally, the flight has landed and a little excitement builds in me, after all I am seeing my friend after so long. I quickly take a cab to the five star resort where the grand wedding is being held. Her haldi ceremony is already in progress and Srishti is glowing in the floral jewellery and the yellow silk saree. I wave her from behind the crowd but she definitely cannot see me. She is surrounded by her family and relatives who are taking turns to apply turmeric and oil on her face, hands and feet. I enjoy sitting in a corner and looking at the beautiful bride, now dancing away on the sound of live dhol players. The ceremony comes to an end and I finally muster the courage to meet her while she is surrounded by her numerous friends. However, all anxiety goes into dust when she smiles and hugs me. She is as excited to see me as I am to meet her. She introduces me to Anay, the groom and as I turn to talk to Srishti, there are a new bunch of friends who pull them away for some dance practice. I turn to my room to freshen up for dinner and cocktail party in the evening. I come out of the room in the evening and stand in the balcony to bask in the beautiful string lights and lanterns put up in the garden area. And the beach view in the background makes it look picturesque. I look out for Srishti to accompany her downstairs when I hear yelling and screaming from a room on the left. I walk towards the source to understand the commotion when I recognise Srishti's voice. She is screaming and I can overhear words like 'betrayed' and 'trust' from the room. I sneak in towards the room and crack open the door slightly and see Anay and Srishti arguing. I walk towards Srishti who is sobbing and Anay is just staring at her blank faced. I hold her hands trying to console her when she looks at me and drops herself on the bed."What's the matter, Srishti", I ask. She thrusts a mobile in my hand which has a messaging app open. I quickly glance at the long chats between Anay and a woman, Neeti. A small glimpse is enough for me to know this is not a friendly chat, the messages are outrageously flirty filled with kissy and heart emojis. I look at Anay who seems completely dumbfounded. He kneels in front of Srishti, "Babe, this is not me. I have never heard of that name before in my life. Let us call back on that number and get this clarified. I am begging you" "Anay, look at the messages. You have expressed your love numerous times to her, you have even met her at hotels; I don't know why are we getting married if you have no interest in me." I am still looking at the chats when there is a notification from an app. "What the hell" I shout loudly and Srishti turns and looks at the mobile phone. Its a dating app. Srishti takes the phone and goes through the dating app chats. Anay was having similar conversations with various other females. "You are sick. Now how many women am I supposed to call and clarify." "What are you talking about" saying this Anay takes the phone and goes through the chats "Oh fuck, this is not me Babe. I have never had this app in my phone. You have to believe me, I have only loved you and never even thought of anyone else. This is some kind of a joke. Please trust me, this is all fake" "Trust you??? What trust? Get out of my room and get out of my life. I don't think I even know who you are" Guests have started gathering outside the room looking with concern. Srishti's parents hurriedly enter the room alongwith other close relatives. Srishti is shaking with anger and shock. She has held my hand so tight that I think my palms are going numb. The same messages and app chats are now being read by her parents and they are looking at Anay with disgust who continues to plead that he is innocent. Everybody has something to say and various sessions of discussions take place but eventually Srishti has the last word. She gets up and leaves the room declaring the wedding is cancelled. Anay runs behind her but everyone knows by now that its in vain. She has made up her mind. By morning, Srishti has packed her bags and is now ready to leave the resort. The air is glum and filled with tension. I have packed my bags too as there is no point in staying back now. I sneak in behind Srishti and whisper "I cannot let you go alone to Mumbai like this, let me accompany you for a few days and then I will leave for Delhi". Srishti turns towards me "I was in fact planning to go to Delhi along with you, I cannot go back to Mumbai right now with all this emotional baggage" We get into the cab and leave for the airport. Srishti shuts her eyes and goes to sleep as we sit in the airplane to Delhi. There is a baby yelling behind us but that doesn't bother me anymore. I am elated with this turn of events. A little coding got the fake messages and dating app chats installed in Anay's phone. It was so easy to break into that moron's phone. He was such a fool that he didn't even realise that his phone had gone on update mode several times and had unknown apps installed. Srishti is better off without that halfwit. Finally, we will be back in Delhi and I will protect her from all such morons. I, too shut my eyes as its time for some sound sleep.