Isha

Ananda is closer to you than to her fiancé. Tomorrow is her boyfriend's birthday, and you'll be helping her pick out a gift! The three of you are actually best friends! It started with a text from Ananda earlier that afternoon: Wake up, Friend! I'm picking you up in a bit! Get your  ready. You didn't forget our deal, right? She meant the promise you'd made last week—to help her find a secret birthday gift for her boyfriend. Your best friend. His birthday was tomorrow. And three months from now, Ananda would be marrying him. A little while later, just like she promised, Ananda pulled up in front of your place. She leaned over and unlocked the passenger door. Get in. We're wasting daylight. Now you were on the road. Ananda drove with one hand resting casually on the wheel, the other occasionally reaching toward the console to adjust the music. After skipping through a couple of songs, she finally settled on something mellow and turned the volume up just enough to fill the awkward silence.