“Just do it, Nisha! There’s no one here. No one to witness your weak moment. No one to judge you. Cry all you want and I promise I’ll hold you through it. Trust me, Nisha.”

One tear slipped. Two. Three. And then she was sobbing. For all the times she had wanted to cry. For her father’s death. For her grandparents death. For every injury that hurt. For the way she had to pretend brave when she was breaking inside. For when that man tried to violate her. For all the times she was scared. 

She cried. Broke down in his arms. And he just held on tighter. Fulfilling his promise of holding her. He rubbed her back and head, kissing the side of her head. 

Her body shook with the amount of sobs that raked out of her body. He held her tighter, and rubbed her back, giving her comfort and warmth.

She didn’t know for how long she cried when she finally stopped, it felt like years of burden has been lifted off her chest. She felt free. She felt lighter. 

Yash felt her getting quieter and calmer and slowly let loose. She sniffed and wiped her tears. They sat in silence for some time. He gave her time. Time to process what she was feeling.

He looked ahead and smiled. He felt her trembling palm over his and looked at her with a soft smile.

“Th-thanks.”

“Shhh!”

He whispered and pulled her in a side hug. Involuntarily, he moved forward and placed a kiss to the side of her forehead. 

That night changed something between them. The two felt closer emotionally. Nisha became his confidant. And Yash became her safe space. Someone she could confide in. 

The daily terrace meets changed to dinner meets at each other’s places. Yash had been taking Nisha’s advice seriously and meeting new people.

He still felt bouts of sadness remembering Sona sometimes.

“It is because you’re still not allowing yourself to move on.”

She said with a shrug, stirring her curry while he scowled.

“That’s not true.”

“Is it? When was the last time you looked at someone and felt interested in them romantically? Maybe just a crush. And not felt like you were cheating on someone or felt guilty for feeling that.”

Yash was tongue-tied. She sighed and he knew that she was right.

“Yash! I know it will take time to actually move on and see someone again. But agar tum koshish hi nhi kroge toh kabhi move on nhi kr paaoge. You need to allow yourself. Tell yourself that it is not wrong to see anyone else.”

(But if you don’t try at all you won’t be able to move on.)

He was silent for sometime. And then he nodded.

“You’re right. But how do I do that?”

She bit her lip thinking for sometime. 

“It is just a suggestion but you can try dating apps. I mean you don’t have to go on dates just yet. But talk to people with the prospect of going on one. Allow yourself to do that. Flirt. Have fun. And go on dates if you like. You don’t have to date someone. Just enjoy the dates.”

“How can I go on dates without dating someone?”

He asked confused and she hit her forehead with her palm.

“Yash yaar! Dono different cheezein hai na. When you date someone, you commit to them. When you go on dates, it’s like going out with friends, but date pr it is someone you meet who could be your potential partner. Just not there yet.”

(Both are different.)

He nodded in understanding and unlocked his phone. He passed it to her, taking the ladle from her hand and stirring.

Nisha chuckled and downloaded the app for him. She started making his profile.

“Oyee! Tumhari koi hot pictures nhi hai kya phone mai?”

(Don’t you have any hot pictures of yourself in your phone?)

He turned to look at her incredulously.

“Hot pictures? Wo kya hota hai bhai?”

(What do you mean by that?)

“Arre! Hot pictures! Jisse dekhe toh ladki dekhti reh jaayega. Matlab dekhke ye feel aaye ki kya maal hai yaar.”

(Something that girls will keep on seeing. I mean the feeling that comes is what a piece of meat he is.)

He was scandalised. He opened his mouth like a fish a few times before closing them each time and finally shook his head.

“Aisi-aisi koi pictures nhi hai meri. Koi simple si daal de na.”

(There are no such-such pictures of mine. Put some simple ones.)

She twisted her lips and shook her head adamantly.

“Ye pakti rahegi. Time lagega isme. You come with me. We need to get your pictures clicked.”

(This will cook. This will take time.)

She simmed the gas and pulled him along. They entered his room and she immediately started rummaging through his almirah. 

She pulled out a white shirt and then turned to look at him. He was already wearing a black jeans. She passed it to him and asked him to change it.

He wordlessly obeyed her words and came out 2 minutes later. Nisha sighed seeing all the buttons closed.

She started unbuttoning the top buttons, making his eyes widen and he jumped back. She looked at him in surprise and he looked at her shocked.

“Kya?”

(What?)

She asked.

“K-kya?”

(W-what?)

“Arre pictures click krni hai na. Mujhe kaam krne de Yash.”

(I have to click pictures. Let me work, Yash.)

She said and took a step forward. He gulped when she started unbuttoning his shirt. She undid the first three buttons and then messed up his hair. She then gave him his phone after setting the camera with the desired affect. She dimmed the lights of the room and pushed him in front of the mirror.

Nisha guided him with the angle and position of the phone and safe to say, the pictures came out super hot. She grinned seeing the result.

“Good. Ab dusri picture ki baari.”

(Now time for the second picture.)

She again attacked his almirah and he frowned at her.

“Abhi aur bacha hai?”

(There are more left?)

“Abhi ek hi picture hui hai. We need at least three good thirst traps.”

(It’s just one picture.)

Yash was starting to reconsider this whole dating app idea. He was still contemplating when he felt a cloth being thrown at his face. He looked at his grey sweatpants. He waited for her to throw a shirt too but when she didn’t and waited for him, he asked.

“Shirt?”

“No shirt. Ye pehen.”

(Wear this.)

He nodded thinking she meant that the white shirt would do. So he changed from the jeans into the sweatpants. When he came out, she sighed.