A tale of Pia and Rishi, two completely different souls who met for the good and ended up being a crucial part of each other's life. But got drifted away... Will they meet? Or will the separation tear them apart completely?
Pia's Dad was back, and she was in no mood to even look at him once, she was in her room all day. Kamla asked her to go and talk to her Father once, but she denied. She had been studying all this while. Even in school, she did not talk to Rishi or to anyone in particular. In the night her Father entered her room, he came and sat on her bed silently. She was studying, and she knew he was sitting behind her but pretended as if he wasn't there. "How are you Pia?" "Oh! Hi! Good!" She replied without looking away from her book. "See, I bought you chocolates! Varun uncle said that he misses you alot." "Oh really!? Is that why you are planning to shift to Australia? So that he doesn't have to miss me? Is it Dad?" Pia turned and looked in his eyes.
"Pia, it's for your studies. Overthere, you'll be able to do your graduation from one of the best colleges! And-" ''What best are you talking about!? What is best? Where is the best!? And how can you decide what's best for me? Did you ask me once? Even once?" Pia said fiercely, cutting him off. "And... it wasn't just you, right? Rishi is also into all of this, you both planned it! Am I right?" "Yes, he knows about it but because-" "I don't want to go! And I am not going! That's final!" Pia said and turned back to her study table. "Pia, listen to me, I am your father, I know what's best for you. And I always want you to be happy, that's why I decided to take such a huge decision. I will set up a new business there, and then-" "Oh! So this is all because of your business! Now I know why all of a sudden you are so concerned about me! How.. how.. could you do it!? I.. I.. hate you Dad!" Pia got up from her chair and ran out of her room.
Just as she opened the door she saw Sita, bent over. Pia knew she was trying to eavesdrop their conversation. She pushed her and went to the park.
The only person whom she thought about was Rishi. She called him and asked him to come over as soon as possible.
Rishi
Rishi was worried and did not think once before leaving his house, Pia was crying on the call, and was alone in the park at 8:00, it was already dark and Rishi wanted to reach as soon as he could. He paddled his cycle, and reached the park. He entered, and saw her sitting on the ground and crying. He called her out and she came running towards him. She hugged him and cried. He wrapped her around his arms and brushed her hair with his fingers. "What happened Pia? Why are you crying?" "Rishi, I know why Dad is doing all of this, it's because he wants to set up a new business there. He is.. he.. is doing all of this for his business!!" "No Pia, it's nothing like that! You are taking it the wrong way! He's doing it for you! For you Pia!"
Pia pushed Rishi away, "Oh no Rishi! What's wrong with you! Why can't you understand?? It's clear! He is doing all of this-" "For you Pia! For you!" Rishi said, cutting Pia, mid sentence. He could not understand what was actually wrong with her and why she was acting that way, Pia was just not ready to believe that he and her Dad were thinking of her and not being selfish. It felt as if Pia was adamant. He wanted to shout at her, and tell her that he too wasn't happy with all of this and wanted her to stay, but he knew it would be better if she left. Rishi filtered his thoughts for a while and was about to speak, when he saw Pia, her eyes were sparkling, maybe because of her tears, her tiny stature, the innocent face, the sweatshirt whose sleeves were long enough to cover up her whole hand, the hair strands that rested on her forehead, and those chubby cheeks, melted his heart. He felt weak, words didn't escape his mouth. He wanted to be gentle, he wanted to deal with Pia with utmost patience, the way she did with him.
He placed his right hand on her cheeks and wiped off her tears. "It's okay, we'll talk about this, stop crying. I am here for you." Said Rishi with a sweet smile. He held her hand and asked her to sit on one of the benches. She sat there, her phone rang, it was her father. "Pick it up!" Rishi said, Pia ignored. Rishi then answered the call himself. "Yes Uncle, she's with me, she'll be back home in 15 mins... Yeah. Okay... I'll talk to her.. Yeah!" He said and hung up. They sat in silence for a while. "Rishi, this house, it's not just a building of bricks and cement, it's got my Mother's memories. I was just six, I don't remember much, I just remember a few things, and the ones that my father told me. I live with those memories... And my Dadi, she played the role of my mother, she took care of me, she did so much for me. I can't leave her behind. I don't get to see her that often, but atleast I visit her sometimes. If I go to Australia, I won't be able to see her for years."
Pia
"And... you.. I don't want to leave you.. I want to be with you, I want to be your friend, your best friend. I want to talk to you everyday, I want to sit with you in school, I want to meet you in the park more often, I want to talk to you like this everyday!.... And! I saw you talking to Rhea! Don't talk to her much! Okay!? She's not that good!" Pia said, narrowing her eyes. "She asked me about the Chemistry Practical, I was just-" "Yeah! Whatever! Still.. dont!!" Pia said in between. "Okay Madam! I won't! You continue what you were saying." "Yes.. so.. I was saying that I don't want to go! I have a superb plan, I'll study hard! Very hard! I'll memorize all the formulae, all the concepts and every exception that exists! And then, I'll Crack IIT, and then, I'll let Dad and Sita go.. and I'll live with Dadi, and then I'll earn a lot, and I'll set up a huge business, and then, I'll hire you, don't worry I'll give you a good position, because you are my best friend." Pia said winking. "IIT's difficult Pia, and.. the paper is in a month, then, we have our boards as well.. how will you manage?" "I'll try.." Pia's voice had lost the cheer it had. She knew where she stood and how difficult it was to dream of IIT at this point of time.
"You should go Pia, there, they don't ask for a good rank, or excellent scores. Their education system is better. So many career options, better knowledge, better pay... you should go." Rishi left out a sigh. He knew she wouldn't understand this easily. "Rishi... please!" Pia pleaded like a five year old. Pia turned towards him, made a puppy face. Rishi stretched his arm and moved her face 90° and then moved it upwards. "Look at the stars! And stay quiet!" "Okay!" She said and started gazing at the sky. Rishi knew how to handle her very well. He knew how much she loved the stars and it was a good way to make her feel relaxed. It also made her quiet for a while, leaving Rishi with some minutes of silence to think.
After a while, Rishi asked her to go back home. "Be a little tolerable at least!" He said joining his hands in front of her. "And, don't just dash out of your house anytime!" He said scolding her. "Okay!" Pia said with a smile, and went back to her place.
Rishi
Rishi reached home and got a call from Anil. "Did you talk to her? Did she agree?" Asked Pia's father, worried. "I did talk to her uncle, but she's not ready to listen. She still wants to stay. I tried to explain to her but she started crying." "Oh.. so.. what should I do now?" Asked Anil. "Uncle, please don't pressurize her, we have our exams, and at this point of time, let her just focus on her studies. She'll understand gradually, how good, going Australia would be for her." "Yeah.. you are right, for the time being, I won't talk to her about this." "Okay!" Rishi hung up the call.
......
A week was left for the Jee exams, Rishi's preparations were going well. He had taken a week's off from school in order to prepare. Pia had asked him to not talk to her or meet her as she knew studying together was impossible for them. He got to know by Asmita, that she had been studying really hard, Rishi felt content to know that and he too studied with utmost dedication.
......
A day before the exam, He was on his bed, but there was something in his mind that did not let him sleep. He had to wish Pia! He had to boost her up, before the exam and he too wanted wishes from her. He picked up his phone, and was about to text her, but he thought he might disturb her. Hence he placed his phone back and tried to sleep.
Rishi woke up to a text from Pia, which was enough to make his day!
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Rishi was now all pumped up, Pia's word literally did magic to him. He did not feel nervous, he wanted to just go and 'Rock! as Pia had asked him to. Before leaving, he stood in front of Lord Ganesha's idol, and prayed for an easy paper, and also that he and Pia scored good.
