Prologue: ‘Jab koi sache mann sein chahta hein pura qayamat uska saath detha hein’ Aakash thought this was just a filmy sentence but never did he knew it would hold for him.
Aakash was babbling and gazing apprehensively at the watch on his left wrist for an hour, “I had messaged them to be here by 11:25 A.M. and it is 12:20 P.M. now” in a skeptic tone. “Sandeep noticed me he would be late, so did Geetika. What about Rohan? Why isn’t he picking up his mobile? He must be driving or did changed his plans? He would have told if the latter was true. I should have taken Sneha’s number” filled with anguish he continued “I have to wait at least for Sandeep and Geetika now, they could be here anytime” his lips curled upwards as his despair turned to amusement at the thought of meeting them all or couple of them.
Aakash began to roam hither and thither on the steps, jerking his head in odd angles in hope see to someone. Then his glance drooped over a girl who got down from her car. Girl was trotting towards him in her scarlet cloak with a pink colored bag hanging on her shoulders, realizing he was standing on her way he slide away. Aakash felt an urge to talk to her, but he was weary of despondence as his memory began to float back 5 years when they have met for 1st time.
After a short summer break Aakash was geared up to meet his friends and making new ones. As per regular schedule Aakash was down there eagerly waiting for his auto. Auto was on time, as he reached it, people in it were making space for the new entrant. Auto like any other had two rows to sit. Sponge cushion was more relaxing than the rectangular wooden plank fixed to metal rod. As the auto uncle revved engine, Aakash was ready for his 1st day second time.
Every-one was trying to make their seats comfortable and silence in the auto was put to an end as all of them quizzed about holidays and where about. After traveling no more than a minute the auto stopped in front of a home where a tall girl in her blue school uniform with tidily folded shawl hung around her neck in a V-shape was waiting for them. Again the people in the auto self adjusted with slight smugness so as to make the new girl feel as comfortable as possible.
As soon as she seated she introduced herself as Geetika. Then a round of introductions began with Sushma, Roopa, Sandeep,Aakash and finally ended Rohan. Amidst of blithe of meeting everyone after a month Aakash forgot to notice the guy who was sitting at the other side of auto with his back slightly bent and facing outwards as being unconnected with the inside babble. But, it was just for few minutes. People in the auto were involved in vivacious discussions that they failed to notice that auto has stopped again and another girl was standing impatiently in front of auto to get seated. As there wasn’t space left, Rohan took the honors by himself to take the seat beside auto-uncle. It was best way to be away from the raucous in the auto. On being asked the new girl introduced herself as Sneha. Finally they were on their way.
As the name began to reverberate inside him, Aakash was immersed with shock and exuberance as he realized the girl who has passed just by him was Sneha. As he tried to move forward to her Rohan and Sandeep were their simultaneously, parking their vehicles and stepping forward with wryness. Aakash mustered enough courage and moved towards girl whom he thought was Sneha. Luckily the girl responded positively and in next couple of seconds they were seated on chairs waiting for Rohan and Sandeep.
They began to reminisce their evenings to and fro trips, brawls in the auto for cushion-seat, about each-other antics, teachers, endless topics but it was no more raucous. Amidst of all this they were waiting for Geetika too. Whenever a lady enters they try to search Geetika in them but their quarry didn’t turn up. Finally they all left the place joking about chameleonic skills and her omnipresence at that place
For Aakash it was still unbelievable that it happened. For long he wanted to meet them. But neither remembered names or knew their where-about for 5 years. But it was last week when accidentally they found each-other on facebook and rest was a fairy tale.
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