The Distance Between Us

Track Sixty One - Aankhon Se Batana

Track 61 - Aankhon Se Batana, Dikshant

"Shall we?" Rahul asked, offering his arm to Armaan, who laughed, but took it nonetheless.

"We shall," Armaan agreed, and together, the two best friends stepped inside... Back in time, back home, back in Sanjeevani... After so many years away. Armaan stood there, right at the entrance, the locker room to his left, the nurse station straight ahead, just a few paces away, and breathed in deeply. The familiar smell of antiseptic mixed with the citrusy freshness of Sanjeevani's orange flavoured air freshener welcomed him home. It was soothing, he realized, the knowledge that in the time he'd spent away, Sanjeevani had stayed the same. The walls were still the same yellow he remembered them being last, the locker room still as red, the nurse station just as he was used to seeing it.

When he closed his eyes, he was sure he could hear Muskaan's weird laughter echoing in the air at one of Champ's songs, while Anjali cribbed at her husband, Shut up, Atul! reverberating in his ears. A second more, and he could hear Nikki argue with Abhi, both of them calling each other stupid names. One more moment, and Rahul's voice called to him, Ruk, saale! his best friend was shouting, running after him, because he'd been teasing Rahul just a moment before. And finally, finally, finally, there was the faint hum of his heart thudding wildly in his chest, the tinkling of Riddhima's payal surrounding him as she ran away from him, blushing deep after he'd kissed her cheek. Oyye hoyye, he mumbled in his dream, and opened his eyes when he realized he'd said it out loud.

"This place has not changed one bit," Rahul commented, gesturing to the pinks and blues they were surrounded by.

"It hasn't," Armaan whispered. "It's still home," he added, his hand automatically reaching to his chest, as he rubbed the skin over his heart. Being back here, it felt as if no time had passed at all. As if he was still in 2010. For a moment, he still felt like the Armaan who was getting ready to marry the love of his life. A strange sort of peace settled in his entire being as he looked around and took in more of the familiar surroundings. Home, everything in him breathed, achingly heart-breaking. This place was still his home, no matter how hard he'd tried to deny it.

"It will always be home, won't it?" Rahul wondered out loud, stealing the words right out of his mouth.

"It seems so," Armaan agreed. "But what a beautiful home."

"The best," Rahul answered.

The two of them walked side by side, mapping corridors that they knew better than the back of their hand. Every step unlocked a new memory, every breath bringing with it the laughter they'd shared, the tears they'd cried, the life they'd shared in those three glorious years.

"Hero!" Muskaan cried, pulling the duo out of their trip down memory lane.

"Heroine!" Armaan shrieked in return, opening his arms as she ran into them, hugging him tight.

"Welcome back," Muskaan said. "Sanjeevani has missed you."

"I've missed Sanjeevani," Armaan replied.

Rahul cleared his throat, making Armaan laugh, but he didn't let Muskaan go. Muskaan chuckled, hugging Armaan tighter. After another moment, fed up, Rahul pulled her away. "I'm here too, in case you two remember," he pouted.

"Awwww," Armaan cooed. "Sorry, Jaana. Are you feeling left out?"

One look at Muskaan and the two of them jumped on Rahul, hugging him tight enough to block his air. "Not so much!" Rahul managed to cry, pushing them both away.

Rahul turned to Muskaan, and for a moment, nobody else existed, not even Armaan. Muskaan blushed and ducked her head. Armaan laughed. Clearing his throat loudly, he said, "Okay mere Raj aur Simran... I get the message! You two want some alone time. I'll go!"