Part 2
 

WHEN WE FIRST MET AGAIN


Yes, we met again but it was like we met first time. After my 9th vacations over we had a talk once over a phone. I didn’t know who called but I still remember that we had a conversation about that last day thing which was a fun made by her father.

‘Hello, how are you Rudra ?’ She asked me formally as we ask anyone on phone.

‘I am fine. How’s you ?’ I also replied with a formal tone. ‘Why were you so angry on last day of vacation ?’ She was coming on point that also offended in her eyes.

‘It hurts me that you were also laughing with your father and uncle. I didn’t like it.’ I told her in straightway cause I was dying to tell her about that incident.

‘I had no other way to do so. If I didn’t laugh they would create a misunderstanding about us.’ She was explained like I am a child.

It would be in vain if I stretched that topic so far, so I preferred to talk about other normal things and then hung up.


In May, there was a birthday coming of Rajiv uncle’s daughter. Though it was her first birthday since she was born my uncle thought to throw a little birthday party. So he invited us to come Goa for two days. We were also ready cause it was a vacation. That was the day when we met second time but it was felt like first time because of a gap of one year.

 

19th May, 2011

 

We reached in evening a day before her birthday. Radhika had not come yet. Rajiv uncle was going to market for some shopping of vegetables for dinner and he told me to join him. We went to Radhika’s home. I really didn’t expect that. We reached around four in evening and she already knew that we were coming for picking her up. So she changed her clothes, put some make up on and ready to come shopping with us. I was so timid that I didn’t talk to her and even not looked at her. She was doing the same.


We went to big vegetable yard. Then we shopped some potatoes, tomatoes, cabbages etc for Paubhaji. Our conversation began with her fall. Yes ! a Fall... She fell down at the yard cause her leg stuck between the bag which she was carried. I was not cruel as I was also carried one big bag.


‘Are you okay ? Did you get hurt or something ?’ I asked her with helping her bag and picking vegetables which were scattered on ground.

‘No, I am fine’ She replied with uncomfortable smile.

From that incident to reaching at home we talked so much remembering the vacation moments and everything.


 

20th May, 2011


Today was Sanaya’s birthday, my Rajiv uncle’s daughter. Everybody was ready early in morning as we arranged cake cutting programmed in morning. So many relatives arrived yesterday night. Everyone’s ready with their own gifts and wanted to be frame their photo with Sanaya like an award ceremony. Event was held in yard of my Grandma’s home. Everything was decorated by balloons, colored stripes and glittery things. Sanaya was looking like a small baby princess. Then it was time for cut the cake. Me and Radhika was standing near with a good distance from everyone to get a nice glimpse of cake and Sanaya.

After cutting the cake everyone clicked their photos with Sanaya, including Me. Then everyone making fun and scattered around with their work, gossips for ladies, preparation for lunch, games for children, Auntie’s sisters were busy with the birthday girl. I  enjoyed a moment when everyone was taking bites of cake; I didn’t get a perfect piece of cake. Besides perfect piece I got a piece but not the perfect one. Then suddenly a voice came from a right side.

“Take this piece.” Radhika said with a piece in her hand and offering me to eat it. Probably that was the last one.

“No, I don’t want.” I didn’t know why I had said that. Actually I wanted that cake piece, plus I was getting bonus cause she was offering. But maybe I was scared of everyone around us. I didn’t want anyone make imaginary thoughts about us.

“Take it Rudra, Radhika is offering you. Take it take it.” My auntie’s younger sister was teasing me standing behind me. I was felt uncommunicative and just smiled at her. I thought that she caught me. But wait, for what ? I didn’t do anything wrong. Still, that was my feeling that moment. Then everyone left one by one. We also left in the evening. As Radhika and her family also. That was a little but valuable meeting for me. I had seen her second time after a long time. After our conversations I got to know that I like her company and she likes my company too.


Then the education started, that doesn’t mean I was not studying but I was going to study diploma in Delhi after my SSC board result. I didn’t want to choose Diploma but destiny      wants. That is a different long story !

Then started a long-distance friendship of us. Of course, first step of love is to become friends.

Yes ! Love is a friendship...


THE FIRST STEP


My admission was done in Institute of Delhi in 2012 August. I was not alone; I have my frenemy named Karan. Yes, read it correct! Frenemy. Well, it’s another story. I was going to live in hostel. We visited college’s hostel that is why we decided not to stay there. By means of ‘We’, I meant my parents and Karan’s parents. Karan and I was in same school. He was in B division and I was in A. But we got to know each other in tuition classes. Somehow we decided to study Diploma in Mechanical Engineering and so we were here. Mine and Karan’s hostel were twenty steps away. Our study started on sixth August and I barely managed to adjust there, specially with Karan. Life was going normal in hostel and college. I was not enjoying it. Felt so bored and like I was on a new planet.

Then Diwali came ! Vacation ! Holidays ! I was finally happy cause I could go home and would enjoy everything. I was so impelled to meet my family. Urged to going everywhere in Mumbai with Satvik. A person who was my best friend in my Village. Still he is my best friend. We were in same class in school for three years after that we became more close as our homes are near. I returned home on Diwali and Rajiv uncle invited me to celebrate Diwali with them. I accepted his invitation and a day after I left for Goa. Like déjà vu we went to Goa for picking her up as she was also invited to celebrate Diwali at her uncle’s home. My joy was at its beyond ! I was so delighted after she came at Goa and we met after long time without any contact.


We enjoyed crackers, Anars, Sutli Bombs etc on Diwali night. We spent quality time with each other. In fact we exchanged our numbers too. That was the best moment and I felt that this was the starting of something. After two days we were on our places. She was at her home and I was mine. Then I left for Hostel.


One day, my phone ranged and the name displayed on screen was Gaurav uncle. I thought he just wanted to know about my hostel and food etc.


‘Hello, Rudra ?’ A female voice said my name with hesitation.


‘Yes, Are you Radhika ?’ I asked as I recognized the voice. 


‘Yes, How are you ?’ She said with a happy tone.


‘I am fine. How about you ?’ I was just waiting to finish the formalities and wanted to come on the point. Well, on funny note there was no point !

‘Just sitting on sofa while watching TV and no one has home so I called you. How’s your study ?’ She explained the reason behind the call. As it was her first call so wanted seem just reasonable, she had a thought why would she call anyone without any reason ?

‘Study is fine. How’s yours ?’ I replied with another formality. Then it went on.

Like this, our conversation ended up with only formalities. After some days she called second time, then third time and then counter was on. Our conversation were on next level now above the formalities. We were became friends, Then best friends. Now I was adjusted in hostel. I was happy with the atmosphere of Hostel and college also. Basically I got the reason, I got a best friend who could talk with me without being tired, without being bored, without any hesitation she was sharing everything to me and so was I. Now we had became so best friends that I was so sure that she likes me. I started liking her too. We used to talk about relationships, friendships, love stories etc.

We talked almost daily night. We became jealous as I started talking about any other girl or she talked about any of her male classmate. We were going to became more than friends. We were just acting like we would not go beyond friendship.

I was also felt the same thing which movies showed us. Pure filmy ! You like everything on earth when you like someone. You feel like you were the dumbest person on earth who doesn’t know how to live life and then suddenly someone comes into your life and teach you everything, with her perspective you feel world so good and full of nice people. I was also in that thing. We were best friends till seven or eight months and I felt first step is over now !

Then one day the whole thing changed...

To be Continue...