January 14th, 2001.Streamers decorated the school hall, fairy lights adorned the trees, while bright smiles were plastered on the faces of each of the students. As soon as the curtain lifted all the students assembled in their seats. Our farewell function had finally started. Shreyansh and I could hear the applause and laughter as the function proceeded but none of us much cared about that. We sat in our hideout slurping at Ram kaku's special masala lassi, occasionally having a bite of the fresh mango that we had stolen from the school garden. Tears trickled down my cheeks, as Iocked my pinky finger with his. "I promise I will come to meet you here after 20 years, whatever happens", I said sniffing. "Tora stop being a crybaby, I am not going to be there to babysit you anymore." I glared at him almost killing him with my eyes.
That was the last day I had met my best buddy. Many years have passed now. We had exchanged a few letters, and later few test messages but that was all. I had heard that he was an established doctor now. My peanuthead friend was no more my dumb classmate but Dr. Shreyansh now. And I had pursued my passion to write, and earned a meagre amount publishing my novels and daily magazine writeups.
Tears brimmed up in my eyes as I walked ahead. The notification on my screen said I had reached there. And the screen also flashed the date 14th January 2021.A huge dumpster had developed there. Behind the thick canopy of grasses stood the building. Bricks had come off, a huge banyan tree grew up on its walls, the shabby board at the gate said MANIKANTIPUR VIDYALAY. Memories flashed back in my mind as I reminisced my school life."Tora is that you?" I turned around to be greeted by the strikingly handsome face of a young man. I could still recognize the mischievous glint on his eyes and the hearty smile.Immediately tears rolled down my slim cheeks. "It is definitely you, who else would cry like this,out of nowhere." I kept staring at his face. I had missed him too much.We decided to settle down in the café in town. We talked for hours, slowly sipping at our coffee. It was time for us to depart again. I brought out the beautifully wrapped gift, and handed it over to Shreyansh. "Take this, and don't forget me. Goodbye."
Shreyansh took my gift home. Unwrapping the colored paper he took out my book - OUR PROMISE by Tora Sen, it said. An excited glimmer appeared on his face. Flashes of lightning were followed by loud thunder roaring outside. He carefully turned through the pages.
*Tora Sen born 1985 ,renowned writer. Well educated in philosophy, mythology as well History.But unfortunately we lost her in 2018 in a sudden bus accident. But her writing shall remain immortal for us.*
Lo...st l..o..st her three years ago?? No this cannot be.... I met her today...Amidst the loud thunder he heard her sweet voice say "I promise I will come to meet you here after 20 years, whatever happens"She had kept their last promise that day....
