The ex

Dimple walked into Shreya’s cabin and found her standing in front of the mirror, trying to tame a few stubborn strands of hair.

“So,” Dimple began, leaning against the doorframe, “how’s life without Ankesh?”

Shreya stopped brushing her hair.

“Dimpi. Please.”

“What? I’m asking a perfectly reasonable question.”

“No, you’re not. You’re looking for an opportunity to insult my ex.”

Dimple placed a hand over her heart. “Shreya Gupta, how could you accuse me of such a thing?”

“Because I know you.”

“Fine.” Dimple pulled out her phone and pretended to examine something on the screen. “I was just thinking about how a girl like you—beautiful, intelligent, and with an entire functioning brain—managed to date a guy like Ankesh.”

Shreya burst out laughing.

“YOU ARE IMPOSSIBLE!”

“Am I wrong?” Dimple asked, looking up. “Honestly, girl, when you first told us about him, I thought there had to be something special about the guy. Some hidden talent. Some extraordinary quality. Something.”

“And?”

“I'm still waiting to discover it.”

Shreya threw a cushion at her.

Dimple caught it, laughing. “Look at you! Defending him even now!”

“I'm not defending him! I'm trying to maintain some basic dignity.”

“For whom? You or him?”

Shreya stared at her for a second before dissolving into laughter again.

“God, I hate you.”

“No, you don't.” Dimple sat beside her and nudged her shoulder. “But seriously, Shreya. You deserve someone who makes you feel like the most important person in the room. Not someone who makes you question why you're even in the relationship.”

For a moment, Shreya's smile softened.

“Yeah,” she admitted quietly. “I think I finally understand that.”

Dimple studied her face before pulling her into a quick side hug.

“Good. Because the next time you bring home a boyfriend, I'm conducting a background check, an interview, and possibly a full investigation.”

“Who made you the head of my relationship department?”

“Your questionable taste in men.”

“DIMPI!”

They both burst out laughing.

Dimple stood, dusted off her trousers, and held out a hand.

“Come on, supermodel. Let's go explore this ship. The ocean is beautiful, the buffet is waiting, and somewhere on this vessel, Somesh is probably eating food meant for twelve people.”

Shreya took her hand and stood.

“And Kai?”

Dimple grinned.

“Kai has his own problems. Namely, a certain girl with long hair and a peach kurti.”

Shreya's eyes lit up.

“Oh, now THAT is a story worth discussing.”

“Exactly!” Dimple declared, opening the door. “Finally, we're moving on to someone with a little more romantic potential.”

And just like that, the Ankesh discussion was officially over.

At least until the next time one of them remembered it.

Shreya and Dimple had barely stepped into the corridor when Somesh appeared around the corner, carrying a plate piled high with pastries.

Shreya stopped.

“Where did you get those?”

“Breakfast.”

“Somesh, it's not even eight-thirty.”

“And?” he replied, taking a bite. “Does hunger follow a timetable?”

Dimple shook her head. “One day, you're going to eat your way into trouble.”

“Then I'll eat my way out.”

He seemed satisfied with that answer. Then, as though remembering something important, he turned to Shreya.

“By the way, how's it going with Ankesh?”

Shreya's smile disappeared.

Slowly, she turned towards Dimple.

Dimple was already laughing.

“Oh, you've got to be kidding me.”

Somesh frowned. “What?”

“Nothing,” Shreya said, taking a deep breath. “Nothing at all. Why does everyone keep asking me about Ankesh?”

Somesh looked genuinely confused.

“Because I haven't asked you yet.”

Dimple bent forward, laughing so hard that she had to hold the wall for support.

Shreya pointed at Somesh. “And what exactly do you want to know?”

He considered the question while finishing his pastry.

“Honestly? I'm curious. You could have dated practically anyone, and you chose him. I've been trying to understand that decision for months.”

“MONTHS?” Shreya exclaimed.

“It's a complicated subject.”

“It's my personal life, not a research project!”

“That's where you're wrong,” Dimple interrupted. “In this friend group, it's a group project.”

Shreya looked between them in disbelief.

“I cannot believe I'm surrounded by these people.”

“Neither can we,” Somesh said cheerfully. “But seriously, are you two still together or not?”

“No. We broke up.”

Somesh stopped chewing.

He swallowed, set his plate on a nearby table, and looked at her with exaggerated seriousness.

“Finally.”

“Somesh!”

“What? I'm happy for you!”

Dimple burst out laughing again.

Somesh continued, completely unbothered. “Shreya, you're a whole package. You have looks, brains, personality, and enough patience to tolerate the three of us. And somehow, you spent all that patience on Ankesh.”

“Are you finished?”

“Almost. I just want to know what he had that made you overlook everything else.”

Shreya folded her arms. “Maybe I liked him, you idiot.”

Somesh blinked.

“Well, that's disappointing.”

Dimple nearly dropped her phone.

Shreya grabbed the nearest cushion from a small seating area and threw it at him. Somesh dodged, laughing, before snatching his plate and retreating a few steps.

“Violence! On a luxury cruise! Someone call security!”

“Keep talking, and I'll throw you overboard!”

“See?” Somesh said, pointing at Dimple. “This is the Shreya we know. The girl has standards. I don't understand how Ankesh got past the security check.”

Dimple wiped tears of laughter from her eyes.

“Honestly, neither do I.”