HER PAST & HIS FUTURE

Chapter-17 An Absurd occurrence and Improbable Disappearance.

-Alara  Ashish

29 Feb 2020:

“Hey You!! Alara from 2052” Alara hears someone yelling she turns around someone approaches her. “so is this a new kind of prank? At least tell us where the
camera is” he says. Alara tilts her head in Confusion. “what Camera? why would I have one I...” Alara pauses midway “No one’s going to believe me if I go around
saying that I’m from the future” she think’s in her mind .“Nothing… I’m sorry it is just a prank” she says to the man standing in front of her “So why didn’t you tell me it’s a prank when I asked you’re telling Ashish about it now Vicky asks frowning “well, I don’t know maybe
because It’s not a prank, but I don’t want to fight with this guy” she points at Ashish “And I’m sorry I’ll leave now” She says.

Alara turns around and runs. For the first time since the past hour Alara feels scared she starts believing she has time travelled for real she realizes there’s no one she knows in the Country she’s not familiar with. “I am going to find a way back for sure!!”Alara thinks. Determined she starts thinking about everything that happened before she time travelled. But her stomach starts growling and she goes into the mall she sees the opposite of where she’s standing. She comes across a coffee shop in the mall. She enters the shop and orders an iced americano and a glazed doughnut. Then arrives Alara eats, still thinking about how to go back. When she’s done eating a waiter arrives & hands her a bill.

“Where do I scan?” Alara asks mouth. Stuffed with a doughnut. “Scan what exactly?” The waiter asks,“Well my ID Since I have no money to pay now” Alara says and holds her wrist out displaying that screen in the air again, the waiter stumbles back. “Mam we only take cash
payments” he tells still surprised by what he just saw“But I don’t have any so scan this and take the money from my account” Alara says everyone turns to look at them “I Don’t know where you are from, but bills aren’t paid that way here. So please pay using cash and leave without disturbing the ambience of the café”. The waiter says, “So do I need to pay?” Alara asks. She looks down trying to figure out what to do. “You need to pay.” The waiter says patiently. Right then the cafe’s manager approaches them “Excuse me mam? You don’t need to pay. Today is our first-year anniversary so as our 100th customer today. You can have your order for free” he says. Alara Looks up eyes wide open “for Real?” she asks. He nods.
“Thank you very much” Alara says and turns around in a hurry to leave embarrassed by the scene she has caused.The manager turns around and smiles at someone. Who actually paid for Alara’s order. The person smiles back and mouths a thank you. The manager
nodes “So there’s no concept of Digital Screen in 2020??” She thinks about getting out of the cafe. But, when she gets out of there Alara doesn’t know what to do. No
clue about what to do and what will happen Alara walks towards a bench she sees besides an elevator and sits there half sleepy and half scared.

“But I don’t want to fight this guy” Alara says and leaves. Ashish stands where he is confused about what seems so scary about him that she didn’t want to fight.“But what does she mean by ‘It’s not a prank’ So, she’s not lying?” Ashish says his thoughts out loud. “Mama I’m telling you she’s crazy I’m sure she escaped a Mental hospital nearby” Vicky says. “But what about that digit screen that she showed you?” Ashish asks “Damm dude! I shouldn’t have told you about it. Let’s
just go. Don’t even think about it. I missed my class because of her” Vicky replies. Ashish node. “Sure. Let’s go”, But he doesn’t stop thinking about it. It might be a habit of his ‘Overthinking’. “Also let’s get filter coffee on our way home.” Vicky says “Hmm... okay we’ll see about it.” Ashish says. “Are you like me too? Will you
go back to the future in a little span of time too, what was your name??... Alara yeah!!” Ashish thinks deep inside his mind that he takes a few seconds to even
realize his thoughts.

29th FEB 2052
6:00 PM:

Ronak goes back home looking wrecked. After searching for Alara at the airport for about an hour. He finds out Alara’s name’s not in the departure list and hope blossoms in his heart. He runs around the whole airport and its surroundings until his legs give up. “Ronak here are your clips from the wedding! his cousin hands him a few photos Ronak takes them, but they slip from his hand. All of them scatter around on the floor half of them
being photos of Alara and Ronak together. Ronak looks at them eyes pooling with tears. He walks away to his room.

“Why would you cut off contact with me if you’re still here? Did I do something??” Ronak says to himself. He flops on the ground and leans on the bedside. He sits there motionless, not even breathing too
After sitting in a trance for about an hour. Ronak gets up.

He walks Straight into the washroom. Turns on the shower and stands under it. when the water runs through the shower head Ronak let’s it all out. Tears starts
following out of his eyes, He starts sobbing, so loud that the walls barely stop the sound from going out. Ronak fits in the shower. weeping for hours till he’s totally exhausted. “Let me see you one last time” Ronak says voice frail, he faints.....

All I STAYED WITH YOU,
IS FOR A DAY OR TWO,
AND YOU MADE ME FALL FOR YOU,
ARE YOU THAT OBLIVIOUS,
COZ I MADE IT HELLA OBVIOUS.
I WASN'T AWARE OF THE CONSEQUENCES...
AND NOW YOU FADED IN TO COMPLETE DARKNESS...
WHERE DID YOU GO, MY DEAR LARA ?
ME DUND LOONGE TERE LIYE DUNIYA
SARI...
WHY WOULD YOU, LEAVE DEAR LARA?
COZ WHEN YOU CAME,
MY LIFE TURNED SABSE PYARA...

- RONAK.