The Ties That Bind

Read The Previous Part Here!   SHREYA I feel fuzzy. My mind keeps telling me that it is a wrong time to call Arjun. But something in me prompts me to call him. Vaguely I realize that I am leaving for my country in a day. Five months rushed by. When I look back, I think only two things kept me on my feet – my work and my video calls and messages with Arjun. It is so strange that we were more in touch when there was space and distance between us. I cannot wait to see him. It is a physical ache – this longing for him. I dial him over video, ignoring my mind’s feeble reminder that I am a bit drunk now and should not call him. I want to see him right now and nothing can stop me. He attends the call. There he is, my heart, my life, my everything. From the looks of it, he is in his office. He smiles and gestures to me to wait as he clips on his headset. “Hey Kiddo...” He looks at his watch and frowns. “You are up late. It would be around midnight there now. Come on, go to sleep....

    Read The Previous Post Here                                                                                                                   ARJUN Even in the midst of grief and longing, time has a crazy way of speeding up. It has been a month since Kiddo left for New Zealand. The past month has been both trying as well as satisfying. Trying, in the sense that, I am missing her to this extent that I feel incomplete, as if a part of me has been taken away. Satisfying, because I feel I and Kiddo are more in touch than we used to be when she was here. I call her over video every day. We exchange tons of messages. She keeps me updated about her day while I share every trivial detail about min...

  Read The Previous Post Here! ARJUN I do not know how I made it to home. The dinner was a disaster. I and Abhimanyu ate our meals in silence. I tried my best to act casual with him but I was unable to focus. How could I let Kiddo go?? Why did it take me so long to realise that I am in love with her? I groan as I realize that she, in the meanwhile, was nursing a heartbreak over someone whom she loved but didn’t love her back. All kinds of insecurities creep into my mind. I am older to her by a decade! How can I love her? But then, my mind also asks – how can I not love her? I have known her all her life, and for most of mine. She is the only one with whom I am my original self. She is the one with whom I have spent most of my time, apart from my family. She is the one with whom I share all kinds of news first. She is - my everything. She means the world to me.  I miss her so much that I feel a physical ache within me. How will I survive the next six months? Why did it t...

  Read The Previous Part Here ARJUN “Sure you have everything you need?” I ask Shreya. I do not remember how the night flew by. We are at the airport – myself, Shreya, her parents and Abhimanyu. The cab has dropped us outside the airport and I want to both delay her departure as well as to hasten it. How does that make sense!? “Yep. I have everything.” She says, not quite meeting my eyes. She hugs Aai who is sobbing. “Aai, you promised me you won’t cry!” She says in a choked voice. Aai releases her from her hug and hurriedly wipes her tears. Baba is much more composed and pats Shreya on her back with a simple and heartfelt ‘Come back soon; we will miss you.’ Then she hugs Abhimanyu. “You are almost as tall as me! When I return, you would have probably crossed me in height!” She remarks with a watery chuckle. “Keep practicing your drawings okay. I will see you over video-calls. Show me your drawings then.” When it is finally my turn, she just stares at me, looking so lost,...

  Read The Previous Part Here! SHREYA Time seems to fly faster when you are dreading something. It feels like just yesterday when I told Arjun and my family about the approval of my Visa, and here I am, the evening before I am supposed to leave, sitting on my cot, surrounded by huge bags. I groan when Aai comes with another ‘small’ paper bag. “What is this now, Aai?” “Just some home-made masala which you can use in your food. Try to cook as much as possible and avoid eating junk food.” She says sternly. The bell rings. When Baba opens the door, I can hear Arjun’s voice. It feels like someone has placed a cold palm on my heart. How can I say bye to him without breaking down!? Baba calls me out. Taking a deep breath, I step out of my room. The sight of Arjun makes me want to break down. There is a strange look on his face. He looks lost. Say it once, Arjun. Just say that you don’t want me to go. I can leave everything for you. “Hey Kiddo… all set for tomorrow?” He asks ...

  Read The Previous Part Here! ARJUN When I wake up, I check the spot beside me on my bed and suddenly sit up, all sleep vanishing when I realise that Abhimanyu is not beside me. Then I hear voices from the kitchen – Mom scolding Dad for something and Abhimanyu laughing. It stirs something in my heart to hear the child laugh for the very first time. I sit back and close my eyes, savoring the delightful sounds of a child’s laughter in the home. For a while, I am lost in blissful happiness until I am reminded about something that bursts my happy bubble. Kiddo is leaving. I won’t be seeing her for six long months. She is the only friend I have, if I may refer to her as a friend. I have always viewed her as a kid whom I adored (still do). But then Mrs. Sharma had to spoil my relationship with her that particular Holi, when I hugged Kiddo and Mrs. Sharma told me it was wrong of me to do that. I have never thought about Kiddo in any other way except as a child. Distancing myself ph...