Chap 10- Gifts
They finally arrived in Kalka. The hotel was pretty decent. Anya and her were going to share the room. They all went out later to the market. Imlie bought things for everyone , she didnt tell them its for the group she went by herself while everybody was busy shopping.
She got ladies the bracelets with charms . She was little biased so she decided to extra charm bracelet to Ahana. For Raja , she got wallet she had seen his almost tored wallet. It would be perfect. For Sumit it was hard because they had hardly interacted so she got him a simple souvenir - it was snow clad mountains with two beautiful couple statue at the foot. She kept Aryan for the last. She had come prepared. She bought a very heavy wooden carved frame it had inticrate designs . The word Family was carved on base. She took out a picture she had gotten from Mr Anil before they had left for the trip. It was a beautiful happy photo of Mr Anil his wife Narmada and Aryan. It was as if the frame was made for this picture it fit perfectly. After paying the shopkeeper, she went to look for the group. Imlie had decided the right moment to give them these gift would be when they will hike up to the mountains and lit a campfire.
Next day , they drove to Shimla it was a exhilarating trip everybody was singing having fun and pulling each other legs. Imlie had started to feel little jealous because Aryan hardly spend time with her. But ofcourse she had to remember her feelings cannot overpower their friendship and she has to be normal.
They visit the snowy mountains, Imlie even tried skiing but she kept falling on her butt. Same with Raja. They had snowball fight which ofcourse Imlie won. Imlie felt free of inhibition. She took a pose by putting both her arms out and looking up at the sky and just consuming the peacful atmosphere. Aryan sneakily took a picture of this moment nobody noticed.
Anya was an ok roomate, Imlie felt inferior. She looked so good everyday with clothes styled perfectly. Imlie wore her salwar kaameez .
Sometimes Anya's talked hinted that she doesnt like Imlie. Like once she said " Imlie pura time salwar kaameez how come? Try something new yeh behanji look" this could have been said in softer tone but her voice insuiniated something else. Imlie gave her answer ratherly rudely " i can whatver i want . I did not know wearing traditional gives anybody to judge them."
Aryan came to Anya defende which irked Imlie.
"Imlie she was just trying to"
"Its ok " anya said innocently.
In Imlie mind, she wanted to drop the hot sizzler on her lap. This whole fiasco happened at day four of the trip. That night Anya did not join in her room she went out to look for her worried that she was too rude. She heard her voice in Aryan and Raja's room. She put her ears near the door. "You know Raja, Anya had huge crush on me in college infact i dated her for week. " Aryan called out
"Ya, he was so shy back then but after he dated me dont know where the overconfidence came from he was changed man"
"Of course! You were the hottest girl and i was lucky one to go out with you." Pride in his voice.
"Aap single ho kya" Raja interrupted
"Ha"
"Mere saath chalo na date" Imlie laughed Raja sounded like a teenager. But also a lone tear dropped from her eyes.
She went into her room . Why is it that she had to fell in love? Kyu Sita Maiyya maja aavat rahe tohre ko? She wiped her tear. Envy was churning in her heart. Jealousy wasnt a good emotion it has abilty to break relations. Imlie had hard time sleeping but she also thought of new friends she made in Ahana and Raj. She was thankful for that to Aryan. Anya came early morning, she was drunk she fell on bed and was knocked out. Imlie got up removed her shoes and tucked her in a blanket. She has have good sleep as tomorrow was hike day and they had said they wont reach the mountain too until late evening.
When she woke up, she was surprised Aryan was sitting across on a chair staring at her.
"Uth kumkaran, everyone is ready except you. I came to wake you up but you looked so cute like a child so waited so you wake up on your own" he said.
"Aaj dost ki yaad aagai tumhe?" She taunted upset by his behavior this whole trip.
"Matlab" he asked
"Kuch nai Aru. I will go freshen up and meet you downstairs" she said sighing.
She got up before he says anything else and left.
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Brace for the next chapter it will be emotional and heartbreaking.
