If They Parted Ways

.14.

Looking around, the changes were noticed.

The ground was no longer a cemented floor. Now, it was converted in a platform of tiles. There were glass panels here and there. In the parking area, chairs were placed. The gardens ahead of the parking lot were nowhere to be found. In conclusion, the whole school was changed physically. However, it still held the warmth of old and strong relations formed here.

Preeti and Naina were walking straight but stopped suddenly. Feeling a pull from behind on both their dupattas, they turned around.

The surprise was no less when they saw a woman, aged no different from them, dressed in a black and red suit with matching accessories. She also had a bindi on her forehead and vermillion in her hair matching to the dressing style of Naina.

Both the sisters looked into each other's eyes and exclaimed, "SWATI!"

Swati grinned as Naina pounced to hug her while Preeti could not react as fast.

After a whole minute, they finally let go of each other. Little tears were on corners of both of their eyes.

The only words Naina could utter in a hoarse voice were, "I missed you".

-"I missed you too"

Naina was very emotional seeing her best friend because she rarely got to see her after marriage. Maybe twice or thrice. The last she could remember was in Swati's very own wedding.

It was like Naina lived extremely far even after being in the same city.

They started walking beside each other hand in hand.

No one said anything after that. There was complete silence until an announcement was made on the loudspeaker.

It said that the special program has been delayed for another 30 minutes because of the delayed arrival of their chief guest.

There were some schoolboys in the basketball with whom Sameer, Munna and Pandit started playing the game.

However, Sameer could not focus on the game because of his mind being the other way. He missed either the ball or the basket every time.

The students were getting irritated. A boy to get them out, said in a mischievous tone, "Uncle, you are old now. Go rest on that bench." He said pointing towards a bench.

The other continued, "Yes, he is right. You can go and let us play."

Sameer was annoyed by the comments. He started running after the boy.

Meanwhile the girls were talking and walking in the corridor, a boy in the uniform ran past them. Swati being on his side, got a push on the shoulder and collapsed.

She did not fell face first on the ground; instead, she fell in a pair of strong arms.

Her hair came in the way of her view and with the sudden reaction of her body, she closed her eyes.

She felt one hand behind her back moving.....it reached her forehead and moved her hair to the back.

The touch on her skin felt familiar and special.

She opened her eyes little by little, mentally guessing who it could be. Since, she was facing him, the moment she would open her eyes she could see him.

Swati finally opened her eyes and gasped seeing the face of her savior.

"Oh no! it was him." She thought.

Before the other two girls could react on this situation, Naina too bumped into someone.

The one with she bumped also came from the same direction as the boy. Perhaps they were after him.

The only thing she could register while falling on top of him was his familiar scent.

After she was finally settled literally on him with her hands on either side of his body, legs tangled with his legs and her bosom on his broad chest with her opened hair falling on his face, she saw and instantly recognized him.

That is the update for today. We finally moved ahead in the story. Do not forget to vote and comment.

Thank you for reading, stay tuned for next update.