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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 take her absence to make me realise my true feelings for her?

I find Abhimanyu sprawled over the bed, his hands at the back of his head while he looks at the ceiling, lost in thought.

“I am sorry I was not myself today, buddy.” I tell him as I change into tracks and put on a shirt. “I… I just…”

“I can understand. You are missing Shreya Didi. I miss her too.” He says. “I also miss my friends from the orphanage. There are many to whom I had to say goodbye, knowing that I will probably never meet them again.”

My heart breaks even more.

“But you will meet Didi again. She will be returning here.” He says with a slight smile and I realize in despair that this is a child who had to grow up before his time.

I sit beside him and ruffle his hair.

“I felt horrible when I had to say goodbye to my friends while coming here.” He looks at me. “But I had you. And that made me feel much better.” He sits up suddenly. “So, I want to say that you have me, and I hope I make you feel better.”

The lump in my throat makes it difficult for me to say anything. I pull the boy to myself and hug him. When his thin hands wrap around me, I feel my heart would not take it anymore and would break with the intensity of the moment which is giving both pain and happiness in equal measure.

“You make me happy, buddy. You make me happy and whole. I am glad that you chose to be with me.” I finally manage to say. When I feel him yawning against me, I chuckle. “Come on, time to sleep now.”

I keep checking my mobile the next morning even though I know that it would be afternoon by the time Kiddo reaches New Zealand. I am desperate to get some kind of contact from her. Finally at 4 in the evening, I see the notification about a video-call from an unknown international number. I do not think twice before attending it.

And there she is, my Kiddo, looking jet-lagged, hair all over her face as usual. There is a tired look on her face but her eyes are lit with excitement. That look is so familiar and endearing, I almost shout out that I love her. Almost. Rather, I clear my throat and exclaim. “Kiddo! Reached safely? Is this your new number?”

“Yes, I reached an hour ago. It took a while to get my number activated. Arjun, the airport was LOTR-themed! Oh, how I missed you when I saw that enormous Gollum there!” She exclaims.

I frown. “Gollum? That creature reminded you of me? That is so unflattering.”

She rolls her eyes. God, if that doesn’t make me miss her more!

“No, I thought about how crazy we were about the movies and the number of times I watched them with you at your house.” A wistful look comes over her face. “I miss you.”

Three words said so simply, but the way they pierce my heart!

“I miss you too, Kiddo. You have no idea how much. Make good use of your time there, but return soon.” To make matters light, I add teasingly. “Otherwise I will have to find someone as a replacement to being my best friend.”

“As if you can find someone to replace me!” She says with a smirk.

“No, there is only one Kiddo and no one can replace her.” My voice threatens to break at the end. I take a deep breath to compose myself. “Take some rest. Show me where you will be staying. Give me a missed-call after you catch up on your sleep. I will call you then.”

“Okay. I need to get things sorted now. I will call you later.”

I do not want to disconnect the call. Every vein in my body wants me to tell her that I love her. But I grudgingly realise that this is not the moment.

“Take care. Bye.”

“Bye.” She says and disconnects the call.

Well, Kiddo has safely reached New Zealand. Now I just have to wait a zillion years for her to return to me. I lay my head on my desk, feeling the weight of the whole world settle on me. 

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