As I was preparing to wrap up my work, tidying up the scattered papers on my desk, and shutting down my laptop, the ringing of my phone broke the silence. It was Niya. I smiled as I swiped the screen to answer. "Hey!! What time will you be reaching home?" Her voice sounded bright and familiar, a comforting reminder of the bond we shared.

I glanced at my watch, a habit I always did before giving any estimate of time, especially on days like today when the traffic was always unpredictable. "I'll reach in an hour, knowing how shitty the traffic will be!" I chuckled, shaking my head in resignation. Niya laughed in response, the sound of her laughter was always a little bit contagious, making me smile even more.

"Sounds like a plan," she said, agreeing instantly, as we both decided to meet before heading back home. Even though the day had been exhausting, the thought of seeing her brightened my mood. Niya and I have known each other since childhood. We'd gone through so much together, from school days to college and even into adulthood, and we made it a point to meet up at least once a week. No matter how busy life got, we always found time for each other.

As I climbed into the cab, the city skyline in the distance, I settled back into my seat, looking out at the bustling streets. The driver was weaving skillfully through the traffic, honking occasionally as he nudged past other vehicles, and the rhythm of the radio in the background provided a soft soundtrack to my thoughts.

But as the familiar tunes played, my mind wandered, drifting back to the emotions that had been lingering with me recently. Ever since my parents decided to shift back to the countryside for their retirement, I had been feeling an unfamiliar sense of emptiness. They had always been a constant presence in my life, their voices always in the background, whether they were offering advice or simply chatting over dinner. Now, with them so far away, I felt like a piece of me was missing.

And then there was my elder sister. She had gotten married a few years ago, and now she was fully immersed in her family life, managing her kids and household. As much as I loved her, I knew it would be different. The occasional phone calls and the rare weekend visits just weren't the same as when we lived under one roof.

I sighed quietly, feeling the weight of isolation creep in. There were days, especially in the evenings, when I came home after work to an empty apartment, the silence almost deafening. There was no one to share my day with, no one to talk to about the little things that made up my routine. In a city full of people, I had never felt so alone.

The car took another sharp turn, and I was jolted back to the present. The city was as chaotic as always, but it felt quieter in my mind. I looked at my phone for a moment, seeing a text from Niya, "Can't wait to see you!" It made me smile again. In a world where everything seemed to be changing around me, she was a constant, a grounding presence that kept me tethered to something familiar, something real.

I stared out the window, waiting for the moment to pass, as I thought about our upcoming meet. It was one of the few moments in the week where I could truly relax, laugh, and just be myself. And that was exactly what I needed right now. A little warmth, a little friendship to cut through the coldness that had begun to settle inside me.

As I reached our usual caf� spot, nestled in a cozy corner of the street, I spotted Niya almost immediately. She was sitting by the window, her gaze fixed intently on her phone screen, her brow furrowed in thought. She looked deep in concentration, as if the screen held the answers to some unsolved mystery. I couldn't help but chuckle to myself, knowing that this was how she often looked when lost in her thoughts, usually about something important.

I made my way over to her table and greeted her with a lighthearted, "What is making you think so seriously?"

Her eyes flickered up to meet mine, and her lips curled into a small smile before she responded. "Bhavin and I are having a hard time getting through our small disagreements. I was just wondering about that," she said, the weight of her words clear in her tone.

I could see the tension in her expression. Niya and Bhavin had been together for a while now, and like any couple, they had their share of ups and downs. But seeing her this pensive, her thoughts tangled around something that was clearly bothering her, made me feel a pang of concern for my best friend.

I settled into the chair across from her, offering a sympathetic smile. "You guys will figure it out. Disagreements happen, but it's how you work through them that matters, right?" I said, trying to offer some comfort.

She nodded slowly, but the concern still lingered in her eyes. "I know, but sometimes I just get lost in my own head. It feels like there's always something new we're working through."

As she spoke, I motioned for the server, who came over promptly. "I'll have a hot chocolate, please," I said, needing something warm and comforting to settle the quiet restlessness that had begun to creep in after a long day. The server nodded and left, and I turned my attention back to Niya, trying to lighten the mood.

"Look at us, both of us so serious today. I think we need a sugar boost," I said, grinning at her. "Hot chocolate should fix everything."

Niya smiled in response, though it was a little weaker than usual. "You're right," she said softly, her gaze drifting out the window for a moment as she seemed to collect her thoughts.

I knew Niya well enough to understand that she wasn't one to share her struggles easily. She was strong, always trying to hold things together, but lately, it seemed like the weight of everything - work, her relationship, and even the changes in her own life - had been taking its toll on her.

As the server returned with our drinks, I passed her a cup of hot chocolate, the steam rising in delicate curls, filling the air with the rich, comforting scent of cocoa. Niya wrapped her hands around the cup, drawing warmth from it, and finally seemed to relax a little.

"Tell me about the disagreements," I said, taking a sip from my own cup. "I'm here to listen."

Her eyes softened as she looked back at me, grateful for the space to share what had been on her mind. "I don't know, sometimes I feel like we're not on the same page, and it gets exhausting trying to figure out how to fix things."

I listened intently, letting her speak without interruption. I could tell she was struggling to voice all the feelings that had been swirling around inside her, but I also knew that talking about it would help her find clarity.

As she continued, I couldn't help but reflect on how much we both had changed over the years - how our lives had evolved, how our relationships had grown more complex. But despite everything, we still found ourselves sitting across from each other, the same best friends we had always been, offering support when it mattered the most.

As Niya finished laying out her list of concerns, her voice softer now, her eyes still reflecting the weight of her thoughts, she shifted her attention to me. Her gaze was searching, as if wanting to know if I had been carrying a similar burden. She tilted her head slightly, a soft concern in her eyes as she asked, "How is it with you and your solitude?"

The question caught me off guard for a moment. I hadn't expected it, but in hindsight, it made sense. Niya knew me well - she always had an intuitive sense for when something was off, when the cracks in my facade were starting to show. I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the silence between us before I responded.

I sighed heavily, the air escaping my chest like a release I hadn't even realized I needed. The question had opened a door I'd been trying to keep closed, a door I hadn't been fully willing to face. "I'm not sure how much more I can take this loneliness," I admitted, my voice low, almost lost in the words themselves.

There was a quiet pause as my words hung in the air. I looked down at my hot chocolate, watching the steam rise, trying to find the right way to explain the emptiness that had been slowly creeping into my life since my parents moved away and my sister became fully immersed in her own family. I swallowed hard, trying to steady my emotions before continuing.

"It's just? this feeling of being alone, you know? Not in the physical sense - because I'm surrounded by people at work, on the streets, everywhere. But it's the kind of loneliness that makes everything feel distant, like I'm fading into the background of my own life. When I come home, it's so quiet. I don't have anyone to talk to, to share my day with. It's like I'm carrying on, but there's this part of me that just feels? empty."

I glanced up at Niya, meeting her eyes. She was sitting quietly, listening intently, her expression soft with understanding. I could see the compassion in her eyes, and it made me feel a little less burdened, just knowing she was there.

"I've been trying to deal with it," I continued, "but there are days when it feels like it's too much. Like I'm just going through the motions without anyone to truly connect with."

Niya didn't speak right away, letting my words settle in the quiet space between us. I appreciated that. She didn't rush to offer solutions or try to fix it. Instead, she took a moment, probably reflecting on what I'd said, before she gently replied, "I get it. I do. It's hard. The kind of loneliness you're talking about? it's not something that goes away quickly. But you know, you don't have to carry it alone."

Her words were simple but packed with meaning. In that moment, I realized how much her friendship had always been a lifeline for me, even if I hadn't always acknowledged it in the rush of daily life. "I know," I said quietly, the warmth of her presence reminding me that I didn't have to shoulder everything by myself.

"I guess it's just been tough lately," I added, my voice a little steadier now, feeling a bit lighter. "But talking about it with you helps more than you know."

Niya smiled softly, offering a small but reassuring nod. "I'm always here for you, you know that, right? No matter what, we'll figure things out, one step at a time."

Niya, after a brief pause, leaned forward slightly, her fingers wrapped around her cup of coffee, her tone thoughtful as she suggested, "How about you look for someone through online dating? I would have suggested you go on a date with Shiv, but you seem to consider him just as a friend and nothing more. So I won't pursue you on that matter."

Her words caught me off guard, and I burst out laughing. Niya always had a way of throwing out ideas that were both unexpected and hilarious at the same time. "In case of Shiv," I managed to say between chuckles, "we fight like cats and dogs. We don't see eye to eye, forget about dating. It's heaven's blessing that we are still friends."

Niya raised an eyebrow and smirked, clearly amused by my response. "Well, I figured, but still... he's your type, isn't he?"

I shook my head, still laughing. "No way. He's the best at pushing all my buttons. If we ever dated, we'd probably end up trying to strangle each other in the first week."

She laughed too, but I could tell that there was a part of her that genuinely believed in the possibility of us being something more. "Alright, alright," she said, giving up on the Shiv idea. "Then maybe you should think about online dating. You never know what might click."

I felt a slight hesitation creep in at the mention of online dating. The whole idea felt unfamiliar, like entering a new world I wasn't sure I wanted to navigate. But at the same time, I couldn't ignore the fact that my loneliness had been growing, a quiet, persistent ache that I couldn't shake off. Maybe it was time to try something new, even if it made me feel slightly uncomfortable.

I met Niya's gaze and sighed, "I think I will need your help to set things up for me. I have no idea where to even begin with that stuff."

Niya's face lit up immediately, her excitement practically contagious. "Of course, I'll help! We'll make sure your profile is perfect. Don't worry; I'm an expert at this by now." She leaned back in her chair with a playful grin. "Consider it a fun project for the two of us. You deserve to meet someone who actually gets you, not someone who makes you want to pull your hair out like Shiv."

I laughed, feeling a little more at ease knowing I wouldn't be tackling this new venture alone. Niya had a way of making everything feel less intimidating, even the things I wasn't sure about. "Alright," I said, raising my cup of hot chocolate in mock surrender, "Let's do it. But you're doing most of the work. I'm just here for the ride."

She grinned, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Deal. First step: picking a good picture. You need to look like the kind of person someone would want to swipe right on."

I rolled my eyes but couldn't suppress my smile. "Oh, I'm sure you'll work your magic. You've got this."

And as we both laughed together, I realized that maybe this was the first step in breaking out of the loneliness I had been feeling. Whether it led to anything or not, the fact that I was willing to try something new felt like a victory in itself. With Niya by my side, I had a sense that, no matter what happened, I wouldn't have to face it alone.

And just like that, my profile was set. Niya had worked her magic, crafting the perfect balance of fun and sincerity that she knew would catch someone's attention. We'd spent the better part of an hour selecting just the right photos, each one chosen carefully to reflect who I was - nothing too staged, but enough to give a glimpse of the real me. We had written a bio that was lighthearted but honest, making it clear that I was open to dating, or maybe even a long-term relationship, depending on how things went.

"Alright," Niya said, giving me a sly grin as she hit the final 'submit' button. "You're officially out there. Let the guys know you're ready for action."

I sat back in my chair, feeling a strange mix of excitement and apprehension. There was no turning back now. I had just opened a door I hadn't even fully considered before. It felt like an invitation into a new world, one I wasn't entirely sure I was prepared to enter, but it was too late to hesitate.

Niya leaned back and raised an eyebrow, her hands clasped together as if she had just finished an important mission. "Now all you have to do is wait for the magic to happen."

I shot her a playful glare. "The magic? You make it sound so easy."

"Oh, it's easy when you've got the profile skills like me," she said with a laugh, her tone dripping with mock confidence. "Now, we just wait. You'll get a flood of messages soon enough. And if not, we can tweak it a little - add something mysterious, make you sound more elusive."

I let out a nervous laugh, unsure of what to expect next. The thought of opening myself up to strangers was both exciting and overwhelming. What if no one was interested? What if the whole experience felt like a waste of time? Or worse, what if I was still just as lonely at the end of it all?

"Don't overthink it," Niya said, as if reading my mind. "The point is, you're putting yourself out there, and that's the first step. Besides, even if nothing comes of it, it'll be a good experience. You deserve to feel like you're not stuck in a rut."

I nodded slowly, appreciating her encouragement. She was right, in a way. This was a step, even if it felt like a small one. I had spent so much time wrapped up in my own thoughts and isolation, convincing myself that I didn't need anyone else. But perhaps the truth was that I did - just a little bit. Maybe it was time to open myself up again.

We spent the next few minutes chatting idly about other things, and though I couldn't shake the nervous excitement buzzing in the back of my mind, there was a sense of relief in the air. At least now, I was taking action. For the first time in a long while, I felt like I was stepping out of the shadows of my solitude, ready to face whatever came next.

As I glanced at my phone screen, now buzzing with the notifications of my new online dating venture, a small smile tugged at the corner of my lips. Maybe, just maybe, this would lead to something more. Maybe I'd meet someone who could fill the empty spaces in my life. Or maybe it would simply be an adventure, something to break up the monotony of feeling stuck.

Either way, the door was open now, and I wasn't walking through it alone. With Niya by my side, ready to navigate this new chapter with her usual wit and wisdom, I felt a little more hopeful, a little less lonely, and a lot more open to whatever came next.