7 Day Writing Challenge: An Old Memory

Do you have a best friend turned enemy?

Taru, a twenty-six-year-old lady, a soul honest by heart and kind by nature, had a friend who turned into an enemy, an enemy, as in a friendship that choked due to toxicity. 

Taru used to live in a one-RK studio apartment in a metropolitan city independently. Two years back, she lost touch with her best friend due to insecurity and toxicity, or a reason unknown would be the most suitable to admit. Initially, she tried to reach out to her but received no response. Taru started recalling the incidents where she felt exploited. 

In her hectic schedule, in a day or two, she would remember the days when everything seemed perfect. With time, she started understanding some friendships should end before people bound by them choke. She analyzed her past incidents with her best friend Sakhi, where she felt like a commodity more than a friend. 

After a few years, an unexpected happened. Taru never wished to run into Sakhi ever again. Taru had to visit a city for a reunion with her friends in Pune. She was excited as this reunion was long-waited. After her friends moved to different cities, they could keep in touch with them only via phone. Meetings became a challenge due to work commitments. But now was the time they decided to plan a reunion in Pune. 

The trio Taru, Simran, and  Rahul booked an Airbnb in Pune for three days to relive the moments of their times being neighbors in a 1-RK studio apartment building. They explored the city and nearby places the whole day, went cafe hopping, and gossiped about everything. They would spend time on the balcony of their Airbnb, discussing plans, checking on each other on how life was treating them, and much more. When they are together, there is no room for boredom. 

The three days went into the air without realizing the time to bid bye came. They were not ready to separate again after so long. They decided to extend their holiday for three more days and traveled to Goa, the city of beaches. Taru told her friends that she had to visit the mall to get some beach wear as she did not come prepared for the same. She insisted Simran and Rahul stay back and finish their work, and she would manage.

On her friend's recommendation, Taru visited Nucleus Mall. As she entered the mall, she noticed decorations in red, the color of love. She reminded herself that Valentine's Day was in the next two days. The mall's center had an oversized banner with love written in red. Balloons adorn the walls from all sides. The stores she visited had a red theme. Stores also offered special discounts due to Valentine's week. Taru came out smiling out of the store as she bought colorful beachwear and footwear for herself at a reasonable price.

Before leaving, she went to the food court to grab a bite. She ordered vada pao and cold coffee in Haldirams and relished her time eating her meal silently. While shopping, she did not realize it was already 6 pm. She rushed for a taxi. But after multiple trials, she could not book a ride. She thought to book it offline.

Taru held five bags, so it was challenging for her to handle stuff. As she saw the taxi, she opened the gate and sat inside. She did not realize another woman was sitting. Before she could get a chance to apologize, her eyes met with the woman. Taru choked for words and started rushing out of the taxi, holding her stuff. Bags slipped from her hands, and she was hysterical, finding it challenging to open the gate. 

The other woman in the taxi was Sakhi, her best friend with whom she lost touch. Taru did not want to spoil her mood. She tried to get out and walk her way. But Sakhi held her hand as Taru started getting out. With her similar puppy face, Sakhi tried to pull Taru towards her. Taru was about to melt soon, realizing she could not be weak at this point. It has been years since Sakhi walked out of her life without notice.

Sakhi pleaded with Taru, but she did not give heed to her. Taru's phone rang, and it was Simran's call. In this rush, Taru's phone connected, and Simran could hear everything in the scene. She got worried as she knew how Taru felt when Sakhi left her. Worried, Simran kept yelling Taru, Taru on the phone, but Sakhi's voice did not let her hear. 

Soon, Taru noticed Simran on call and talked to her. Simran's voice alerted Taru that she knew what happened to Taru. She tried to console Simran and said, "I would be back. Please do not worry. Everything is fine. I will manage." Taru disconnected the call. 

She firmly told Sakhi to let her go. With tears welling in her eyes, Taru bombarded Sakhi, "You know what, when I needed you most, you disappeared. You tried to break my friendship with my friends. You maltreated them. What do you want now?" Sakhi knew her mistake and could not say a word.

Taru got off from the taxi, boarded another, and went to the Airbnb. As she reached, Taru found Simran and Rahul waiting for her outside. Simran already gave an account of what happened with Taru to Rahul. She ran into them and cried, hugging them. Taru said, "What does Sakhi want from me now? Why did she meet me? I do not want to rekindle her. It was over then. Can we please check out and leave this place? I do not wish to run into her again." Simran and Rahul consoled her and promised they would leave the place at the earliest.