Bounded by the Stars

Kanika

I wasn't aware of things that were happening in my life at that time, but one thing I knew for sure, that it was leading us to the path that we were never meant to be.

One day I was sitting on the bench in the corner of the lawn, 9-year-old me, when my friend Gargi approached me. Paper boats in her hands, giving me one. "It's about to rain, we will sail the ships," she said with bits of excitement in her voice. The weather being cloudy and thundering with light. Tiny droplets started touching the ground. I stood up and started running towards my home, trying to hide my tears as I swept them away. Running away, Gargi called my name from behind, but I left.

The paperboat was wet and sunken in the mud; I picked it up. It was the next morning; everything was quiet and peaceful after last night's storm. Or, to say a little too lonely, I sat there with the boat in my hand, crying my eyes out.

That was the last time I saw my childhood best friend, Gargi Ghaggar. She moved back to India.

The Present

Dadu called me; he was sitting on the balcony of the garden area. I approached him, rubbing my eyes. I just woke up. It's 7 o'clock in the morning.

"Yes dadu?"

"Sit," he said, patting the couch beside him. I joined him. It's a fresh morning with the sun shining in the sky. A slow gust of wind passed, moving my hair slowly.

Dadu touched my head, patting me. "Did you sleep well, beta?" he asked.

"Yeah, Dadu, you guys are back. I slept very peacefully," I said, placing my head on his shoulder and tangling my one arm with his. He sat straight, staring at nowhere.

I asked, "Dadu?"

"Hmm?"

" Are you ok?"

"Ofcourse, Why won't I be" he said.

"You seem stressed."

"I'm not; I'm just thinking."

"What?"

"That. What if I sent you to India?" He said this, turning towards me. I sat up straight. All the sleep is gone now.

"Um, why not? I would love that!" "But why?

"Because you would love that," he said.

"Wow but-

"I'm not kidding."

"I doubt." "Last time you guys told me that we're visiting India, you took me to the world theme park, to the Indian stall, not again." I rest my back on the sofa, crossing my arms.

"Well, now you're big."

"Oh yeah? I haven't traveled to any country alone, and guess what? I'm 23."

"Oh, I thought you were 18."

"Come on, dadu!" "Please, in the next months, I'll turn 24." "I'm aging so fast."

"So am I."

"No! you're not. You're not allowed to age."

"Yes ma'am"

*silence*

We sat quiet for a moment.

"Why, all of a sudden-