Finding you in the crowd

There was a time when Deepika and Renu were inseparable.

They weren't just friends — they were like sisters.

From school days to their growing years, they shared everything: secrets, jokes, dreams, and even fears.

If one got hurt, the other cried. If one laughed, the other laughed louder.

They used to sit for hours talking about their future — about love, marriage, career, and what kind of wedding lehenga they would wear.

They were always there for each other — in every high and every low.

People used to say, "If you see Deepika, Renu will be nearby."

And that was true — until things started to change.

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The Entry of Someone New

As they grew older, Renu became close to another girl — her cousin-sister.

At first, Deepika didn't mind.

She thought, "It's okay. We all have other people in our lives too."

But slowly, this new girl became more visible in Renu's daily life.

Renu started going out with her more often.

She started calling her for little things — for shopping, for chai, for family functions.

She began sharing her thoughts with her more than with Deepika.

Deepika noticed it.

She didn't say anything at first. She tried to stay calm, thinking maybe it was just a phase.

But inside, she felt something shifting.

She wasn't jealous — she just missed her best friend.

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Unspoken Distances

The more Renu got close to her cousin, the more Deepika felt distant.

She began to feel left out of conversations.

Sometimes she would find out about things Renu had already shared with someone else.

Plans were being made — but without her.

Still, Deepika didn't confront her.

She thought, "Maybe I'm overthinking."

But the silence between them started growing louder.

The calls became less.

The messages became shorter.

And the laughs they used to share? They came less often.

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When Renu's Wedding Was Announced

Then came the big news: Renu's wedding was fixed.

Deepika was happy. Truly happy.

They had dreamed about this moment together — Renu in her bridal lehenga, Deepika dancing by her side, laughing through the rituals.

But something felt off.

Even though she was happy, Deepika felt she was no longer a big part of it.

Renu was too busy — not just with the wedding but also with the people around her.

There were discussions, plans, functions… but Deepika often found out after things were already decided.

That hurt.

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The Bachelorette Party Incident

Five days before the wedding, Renu threw a small bachelorette party.

It was meant to be a night of fun — laughter, music, and memories.

Deepika went with a hopeful heart, wanting to feel close again.

But when she reached, it felt like she didn't belong.

Renu was busy with her cousin and other friends.

There were inside jokes Deepika didn't understand, songs she wasn't part of, and photos taken without her.

She sat there, smiling outside, breaking inside.

The girl who once knew every corner of Renu's heart now felt like just another guest.

That night, when she came home, Deepika cried.

Not out of anger.

But because she felt like she had already lost her friend — even before the wedding.

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Unseen Hurt

The night ended. People left with happy photos and funny memories.

Deepika left with silence in her heart.

She didn't cry on the way home.

She just stared out of the auto-rickshaw, wondering if she had imagined it all.

Maybe it was just her emotions. Maybe she was being sensitive.

But deep down, she knew — something had changed.

The next morning, Renu sent a text:

"Thanks for coming last night. Hope you had fun!"

Deepika typed, deleted, and typed again.

In the end, she just replied:

"Yeah, it was good. You looked happy."

That's all.

What Renu didn't know — and perhaps still doesn't — is that the bachelorette party wasn't just a fun event for Deepika.

It was a realization.

That her place in Renu's life had quietly shifted.

That their friendship had taken a turn.

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Renu Had No Idea

Renu, on her end, was completely unaware.

She was busy in the flow of wedding excitement — planning, dancing, laughing.

She had no idea that Deepika felt hurt.

No idea that her best friend cried herself to sleep that night.

No idea that Deepika felt ignored, replaced, and forgotten — all in the space of a few hours.

It wasn't Renu's fault entirely.

She wasn't being cruel.

She was just… too caught up in the moment.

And sometimes, we hurt the ones closest to us not with bad intentions — but by forgetting their place in our joy.

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A Quiet Goodbye

Weeks passed. The friendship didn't end with a fight.

It ended with quietness.

Deepika didn't block her.

Renu didn't stop loving her.

But they no longer shared their hearts the way they once did.

And that's how most real friendships fade — not with explosions, but with slow silences.

Deepika still wishes Renu all the happiness in the world.

Still thinks of her when a certain song plays or when she passes their favorite chai stall.

But now, those thoughts come with a gentle ache — not anger, just longing.

Because the truth is:

Renu didn't even realize that she broke Deepika's heart.

Not with cruelty.

But with forgetfulness.

And sometimes, that hurts more than anything else.