CHAPTER 5

Veena and her five friends finally finished schooling and they were about to split up due to college. They wanted to gather before they leave for college. So everyone planned to gather at Maya's place. They were silent and was worried.

Vinod broke the ice, "We'll definitely be in touch with each other, don't worry."

Maya was emotional and she started crying. After all, they were together since kindergarten. Though Veena became friends with them only a year ago, she was sad. Hriday was watching all these leaning against the wall and giving a 'whatever' look. Akira was holding back her tears and Nitin, who never stopped talking had his mouth tightly zipped.

She never thought that she would become so much attached to these people. After all, friendship is not about how long you spend time with but how deeply you feel it. Memories, it is not just a word it is like water amidst a desert. Not every person whom we meet makes the best memory, only a few who are meant to be in our lives and special can make them.

Veena played back the days spent with her friends. After watching the movie, they also shared a lot of things together.

The lunches that they spent together, the trees which gave shelter to their hangouts, the places they had fun and many more memories. Hriday, he hadn't confessed his feelings to Veena.

Veena was expecting a small conversation with Hriday but he seemed not in the mood to talk.

Everyone was engaged in talking and Veena slowly walked towards the balcony. There were lots of plants and the evening sun was shining pleasantly. She was lost in her own world. She wished that she had a life of a bird. It has no boundaries and it just flies, eats and lives its life. It can remain in a flock.

She felt someone behind her. She turned around to take a look. Akira was standing there and informed, "Let's go. We're gonna go out."

She sat in the middle of the seat, sandwiched between Akira and Maya. Vinod was beside the driver seat and the other two boys sat behind the girls in the car. It was so gloomy inside the car.

"There it is, please stop here. "Vinod told the driver.

The friends entered the park, Akira and Maya were into some topic and Veena always used to be out of topic. Sometimes she felt being avoided by them. Though they cherished their friendship all in the beginning, eventually she felt that they were bored of her. The guys were relaxing.

She volunteered herself into the girl talk. But she couldn't cope up with them. She felt all alone even though she was sitting with them. Her face faded, she decided to excuse herself from that place and they didn't stop her.

She started walking around aimlessly and found herself lonely at the garden. There were beautiful flowers and all colourful. She wanted to get lost among the flowers. She wanted to be noticed for the first time and her expectations were broken. She was hurt but she didn't know how to express it.

Anger rushed one side but she blamed herself. She was angry that she was not like other girls; she was angry that she couldn't explain herself. That depression cornered her to loneliness. It pushed her tears out and she started crying out louder. There was no one anywhere near to watch her crying.

"I was better off myself but they ended up getting along with me. I never asked for their friendship. I knew that it was gonna happen one day. One day, I'll end up being alone again but I have already started caring about this friendship. They don't even know how do I feel."

But she decided not to utter a word. She returned to her friends. Nitin asked, "Where were you? Just now Vinod, Maya and Akira went to have something from that canteen" he pointed out the canteen.

"Where is Hriday? "

"Yah! He was supposed to bring you back. Haven't you met him?"

"No!" she looked back looking for him.

"He'll come back... "

" I'll go search for him" Veena went back into the park.

She searched for Hriday everywhere and finally reached the garden she cried. She was not sure if he would be there but when she entered there, he was standing there in the middle of the garden and was taking pictures of the scenery. She harrumphed to get his attention. He looked over his shoulder and continued with taking pictures. Then he turned towards Veena and took a picture of her. "What are you doing?" Veena asked.

He shook his shoulder and said "Just clicking some pictures." he smirked and said, "Can't you see that?"

Suddenly, Veena asked him to come out of the garden. He was perplexed and stood there frozen. She walked towards him and took his hand and ran out of that place.

"Why would you do that? " Hriday was blushing. She showed him an ophidian passing by.

" Oh my God! Thanks! "

Veena just smiled." Let's move everyone is already in the canteen. Why are you standing here alone? "

"I was wondering what made your heart open in this place."

Veena was startled, "What are you saying?"

"I saw you here and you were crying. Your eyes are still red."

Veena was embarrassed and said, "I got dust into my eyes."

"Shut up! You were noisy, I heard you mourning how others ignore you."Hriday put his hands in the pocket and turned to go back.

"Why does it bother you anyway?"

"Should it bother me?" Hriday smirked.

"Weren't you?" it was too awkward.

Hriday laughed and started walking. Veena followed him quietly for a while.

"Will you avoid me after joining college?" she asked.

"Maybe..."

"Maybe?"

"Yes. Maybe, I will not forget you." Veena stopped after hearing this.

"I won't forget you. And I don't want you to forget me ever in your lifetime."

Hriday was surprised. "Is it a proposal?" he mussitated.

"I think yes." Veena couldn't stop blushing. She covered her mouth with one hand. "I am afraid I'm gonna regret not telling what I feel."

"It is out of blue... uh...you're not worst..." he cleared his throat and was flushed. "I won't say that I don't..." he took a pause. "I'll meet you tomorrow."

"Sorry, it is an unplanned confession."

"I wasn't aware that you were brave enough to propose a guy." he laughed with his eyes shrunken and covering his blushing face.

Both returned home after having a long evening with their friends. Veena had a day left for college to open. She took her mobile and was staring at it for a long time. She was in a dilemma whether to start a conversation with Hriday or not. But he said that he would answer her the next day. She tossed her phone beside her on the bed and laid. Akira and Maya didn't talk much that day. she was worried about them.

Though Hriday wasn't beside her, Freddy always reminded her of him. She asked Freddy, "Will you be my side forever?"