"I'm trying to move her head from my arm," Neel said softly. Tori had been holding my head, so Neel carefully shifted away and slipped a sofa pillow under it.
By morning, I returned home, but Mom and my sister were still at Uncle's place. After my Chinese class, I went home again, only to find they still hadn't returned. My sister called, asking me to go back to Uncle's house since they wouldn't come that night. I refused and hung up. Soon after, Mom called. I didn't answer. Then Uncle's wife called, saying she was sending Anin to pick me up because I couldn't stay home alone.
Minutes later, I heard a horn outside. From my balcony, I called down to Anin, "I'm coming."
When I arrived, I heard that Tori had suddenly gone back to his city due to an emergency. The news washed over me like relief. Finally, I could enjoy the gathering without unease.
That evening, I suggested, "Let's have a BBQ on the rooftop tonight." Everyone loved the idea. The atmosphere turned warm and lively. Anin, though shy, was coaxed into singing, and his voice surprised us all. Neel and my cousin Taran, the wild and funny duo, kept the mood lighthearted.
As the night deepened, we made a plan: before Neel returned to his city, we'd go to Cox's Bazar to see the sea. My heart raced with excitement—it would be my first time seeing a beach. We agreed to leave Wednesday night so Taran and I would only miss one day of university.
The journey began with a night bus. I sat beside Anin, while my sister sat with Taran. Neel and Mily paired off in the back. Being the youngest, I felt cherished, as if everyone looked out for me. Still, a small ache lingered—I had dreamed of visiting the sea with my best friend Sayma, but her strict father never allowed it.
I fell asleep early on the bus, but the others kept trying to wake me to look outside. Dawn painted the horizon when I finally opened my eyes. The view was breathtaking—our destination was near.
At the hotel, we freshened up quickly. I couldn't contain my excitement; my heart pulled me toward the beach. The moment I saw the water, I ran. It was as if the waves themselves were calling me closer.
I saw it—the sea. My first sea.
Its beauty overwhelmed me. I didn't even remove my shoes before stepping into the water. Taran and Neel soon joined, splashing and laughing. I tried to drag my sister along but gave up, settling instead for taking pictures and videos for Sayma. I wished she could be there.
That night, we returned to the beach. To our surprise, a free concert was happening nearby. I begged the others to join, but they were too tired. They said they wanted to enjoy the night here. Just when I thought I'd go alone, Neel stood up.
"I'll come," he said simply.
Together, we entered the crowd of young people swaying to the music. Neel leaned close and murmured, "Stand in front of me. That way, I won't have to worry about you."
I did as he said. I wanted to record the moment, to capture the wild energy of the concert.
As I held up my phone, the music thundering around us, Neel leaned in from behind. His breath brushed my ear as he whispered—
"Your hair smells good."
My heart froze.