Safar

Chapter 9

12:15 a.m. Giving Didi a swift hug, I carefully pulled my suitcase through the door and outside.
"Pahaunchke call kariyo. Akeli jaa rahi hain... kaheen bhi chale mat jaana. Apna dhyaan rakhna. Kuch bhi bahaar ka khaana mat khaana..." Didi began repeating all the instructions that had already been said a million times. I kept nodding. Sometimes I did feel irritated by these lectures, but I knew that very few people were lucky enough to have such a loving and caring cousin sister. After all it was only because of her my parents never had to think too much before leaving me here with her.
I was on the way to the gate when I looked back and saw her standing in the balcony, waving at me. I smiled and waved back.

The society watchmen were angry because I had woken them up, and also surprised to find me going out at this hour. I smirked. "Ab main bachchi nahi rahi" I said to myself, feeling like a grown up.

On reaching the bus stop, I kept my suitcase against the wall and sat myself down. Texts from Bhuvan said that he was a bit late because Bancho was late. Bancho's reason to be late was Sameer being late because some Italian girl called Alessia left his house late. Not knowing this Alessia, I didn't know what had made her leave late or what she was doing in his house in the first place.

Fifteen minutes later, a cab arrived. I looked at my watch, sighed and opened the door... and -

"Ayruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu" shouted a girl's voice from inside. I yelped, and then began to have hiccups. They started laughing. It was Arpita who had shouted.

"Tu chal rahi hain humare saath...?" I yelled, delighted.

-"Nahi nahi... see off karne jaa rahi hoon airport tak" she put on a forced laugh.

Bancho went and took the front seat with Sameer. Bhuvan, his guitar, Arpita and I sat at the back. The cab zoomed out, leaving the bus stop behind.
My watch said the time was 12:45 a.m. Our flight was at 3:00. Hopefully we'd reach the airport on time....

* * *

The driver stopped the car right in front of the entrance to the airport. We got off. Luggage were taken out from the back of the car. Bags were being counted. Bancho was on call with Sakshi. Sameer was paying the driver, who demanded more. Arpita constantly kept on showing all of her 32 teeth in order to make us believe she was not sad. However, she did begin sulking at the end.

"Bhaag ke aaja" Bhuvan was saying to her.

-"Aise kaise..." she made a face.

I smiled and left the two of them to talk privately. I was waiting in the lobby when Bhuvan caught up with me and said, "Ro degi bechaari. Tumse baat karna chaah rahi hain..."
I went back to her.

"Jaldi aajayenge hum" I tried consoling her.

-"Haan..." she mumbled

"Has de" I requested...

"Sun..." she said, ignoring what I said. "Bhuvan ka khayaal rakhna" she held my hand, her eyes trying to express a lot of things.

-"Promise. Kuch hi dino ki to baat hain..." I comforted her.

"Usko khaana banaana nahi aata... pata nahi kya karega" she shook her head, miserable.

-"Hotel mein rahenge hum. Khaana milega wahaan. Tu tension mat le..." I smiled.

She nodded heavily.

Before leaving, I managed to get a glimpse of her smile. I wish Bhuvan could too....

* * *

Security check took quite long. After one and a half hours, eventually, we were seated comfortably inside the plane. The bustle inside the airplane made it impossible to guess the silence of the night outside. Along with being happy, a wild feeling of adventure filled my mind. Going out alone wasn't new, but flying alone was. Maybe all this was actually an adventure....

"Hum finally Goa jaa rahe hain bancho" Bancho was bursting with excitement. "Jhurjhuri si chhoot rahi hain bancho... hainaaa...?"

"Wahaanpe Brafilian ladkiyaan bhi honge... ohh yeah" Sameer breathed loudly.

Announcements from the pilot said that we'll be taking off soon. I looked left. Bhuvan was humming....
"Nikla hoon main ghar se
Kuch paane ki chaah mein..."

Yayyyyyy.... and off we were!!!!!