CHILDHOOD MEMORIES

We ordered lunch for everyone and had our lunch with them. We spent little more time there with kids and then we drove to a lonely place from where we can see the whole city of Mumbai and sat on the car. We sat there silently watching the city. After sometime I said, "Veer, it's so peaceful to be here. I was very worried yesterday that if I could make it or not. Had I not come yesterday then I couldn't forgive myself. I really wanted to be with you on this day, so I did whatever I could to be with you but in that process if I hurt you then I'm sorry. Even if you don't express, I know how hurt you're after knowing that I came with Nikhil."

He side hugged me and said, "Misti, I cannot lie and not atleast to you. Yesterday was very overwhelming and traumatic for me. When I got to know that you came with Nikhil, I was very angry because I don't know he is and also I was very worried for you. What if something might have happened to you? What if he hurt you? I didn't understand how did you trust him and agreed to come with him? Because as far as I know, you would have asked uncle to arrange a car for you and come in that. But instead you came with Nikhil, whom I don't know. You not even told me once that you met him and became friends. That's the exact point where I got hurt. But I was also happy that you did your best to be with me and came to me. You had a chance to back off and go back to Delhi from Ahmedabad but you didn't. You travelled for 8 hours just so that you can be with me. And I couldn't ask more, I'm lucky to have you. Love you Misti."

I turned around and hugged him tightly and said, "Love you too Veer, I'm the lucky one here." and we stayed like that for a minute and broke the hug.

Then I heard him saying, "Misti when mumma left me, I was very alone. I didn't know what to do and was very dispressed. Because Mumma was everything for me, she still is. She was very good at business. Before I was born, both Mumma and Papa used to manage our businesses. But the moment she got to know that she was pregnant, she dedicated all her time to me. When I was 3, papa asked her to join again, but she refused him saying that from now all her time will be mine. I remember her telling me once that she always wanted to start her own company. She gave up all her dreams for me. She did everything for me, but left me when it was my turn to do something for her. I really miss her, Misti. Why did she leave me alone?"

I replied, "No Veer, you're not alone. Aunty is here with you, in your heart. She might be watching you from up there and would be feeling proud to have a son like you. You don't need to do great things for her, just be happy and spread happiness like you always do. She'll be happy seeing you happy."

He smiled at me and said, "I'll always be happy if you're there with me. Last time when Mumma left me I wasn't sure if I could live without her or not, but I'm sure that I'll not be able to live without you."

I hit him on his back and said, "Veer, don't talk such stupid things. If you do, I'll kill you."

He said, "Okay sorry. I'll not talk such things. Let's talk something else. Tell me about Nikhil."

I smiled and said him how I met him in the business party, our conversations and then how we met yesterday in the flight and how we spent our day. Lastly he asked me, "Misti do you love him?"

I was shocked would be an under statement. I looked at him shocked and asked, "Veer why did you ask like that?"

He smiled and said, "the way you're telling me about him, I felt like you feel something for him. Because you never took anyone's help, but yesterday you accepted his help and came with him alone. You don't need to answer me now, but think about it and tell me"

Yes, I do feel something for him, but I'm not sure that it's love. Let's see where it leads us. Veer bought cool drinks from the car, and we sat down there drinking and looking at the city.

He told me about his meetings and the deal, we talked like that for a while. While talking to him, I realized that we missed talking to each other like this. Now that we're grown up, we're busy in our own lives. Not that we don't spend time with each other now, but we miss our times, when we used to just sit and talk and do nothing.

I said, "Veer, I feel that we've grown up too fast. I miss our childhood days, our college days everything. We had so much fun together, I still remember all the pranks we've played together."

He replied, "Yes, do you remember? Once we both made Kheer for Uncle, on his birthday. We were just 12 then, Mumma was also there with us. We all went to farmhouse, but instead of sugar we added salt unknowingly. But uncle ate it without saying anything, then mummy, papa and aunty also ate. They didn't let us eat that Kheer because they didn't want us to feel bad. But at last you tasted it after they left and said that we added salt instead of sugar"

I chuckled and replied, "Yes, I remember. And then I cried a lot that I made everyone eat that salted Kheer. And then Aunty took us to kitchen and helped us making Kheer again and we all ate it. After that I never made Kheer again."

And then I continued, "And once we said that we're going to friend's house and went to movie. There we met your father's manager, we warned him that if he tells uncle about this, then we'll cut his salary. But he still said to uncle and papa. Ramu kaka informed us before itself and then we started crying even before they came home. Seeing our tears, they didn't say anything and we escaped slowly."

We both laughed remembering all our pranks and the fun we had together. And then I said, "Veer that girl and boy in the orphanage are same like us. The way they both are taking care of each other is commendable. They have no one in this world except each other, but still, they are so happy in their own world. They felt complete with each other, they don't need anyone. I really wish that they have a bright future and their friendship continue till their last breath."

He replied, "Yes Misti, I've also decided that from now on all their expenses will be mine. I'll take care of everything and also the health of that boy. I'll make sure that he will speak normally. When he'll become successful in his life, then I'll make him stand in front of his parents and make them realize their mistake. I really felt bad when I came to know that their parents left him just because he couldn't speak properly. In that case I feel that we're very lucky that our parents are so understanding and they let us do whatever we want to."

I replied, "Yes, when you said you want to become doctor instead of engineer to uncle. He refused at first but then after knowing your passion, he let you study MBBS. And I'm proud of you too, you became a doctor following your passion, but to help uncle you also attend meetings whenever required. I'm very proud of you."

He smiled and said, "It's just that I want to help him because he understood me and let me follow my passion, so it's my responsibility to help him whenever he needs me. That's what I'm trying to do, helping him whenever I can. I anyway couldn't do anything for Mumma, so I should at least do something for papa for all he has done for me. Now tell me what are you planning to do?"

I replied, "I'm thinking to join in any company, work for 6 months and then join our company."

He said, "Why to join some other company, you can join our company right? It'll also be helpful for Papa. What do you say?"

I said, "But I want to earn the job, not with any recommendation."

He chuckled and said, "You're crazy you know. Then get ready for interview, give your interview and then join. Will that be okay?"

I smiled and said, "Yeah, perfect. Now let's go to restaurant and have dinner"

Then we went to a restaurant and had our dinner and we were leaving and I bumped into someone.