The Enchanted Christmas Skit...

Chapter 24

A year had passed since those unforgettable days. Our bonds had only grown stronger, and the love between Sharith and Safreen, Aryan and Jiya was thriving, wrapped in the comfort of familiarity and the excitement of young romance. Our friendship, as solid as ever, remained our sanctuary, and even though we weren't together in the same halls anymore, the memories kept us connected.

Sharith and Aryan were now in their 2nd year of Pre-University at Mount Carmel College, enjoying the thrill of college life, while we 10th graders had also moved on to new beginnings. As the summer holidays came to a close, we all felt the pull of nostalgia, longing to relive the old days. On a whim, we decided to gather at our favorite spot—the school ground—to refresh the memories that made us who we were.

"Feels like ages since we did this," Avani grinned, looking around as we all gathered under the old banyan tree that had witnessed countless secrets, endless laughter, and the occasional tears.

Safreen and Hafza had brought along some snacks, a mix of spicy chips, samosas, and sweets that instantly took us back to the carefree lunch breaks we used to cherish. We all plopped down on the grass, feeling the familiar comfort of our spot, shaded from the sun by the tree's sprawling branches.

"This feels just like old times," Jiya said, her eyes twinkling with the warmth of shared memories. "Except, you know, minus the panic of last-minute assignments and Aryan's endless flirting."

"Hey, I resent that!" Aryan laughed, tossing a chip at Jiya playfully. "My flirting skills were what got you, remember?"

Jiya rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling. "Yeah, yeah, keep dreaming."

"Honestly, though, this place still feels like home," Hafza said, munching on a samosa. "Even with all of us in different colleges, it's like nothing's changed."

Aryan leaned back, hands resting behind his head as he looked up at the tree. "Speaking of college, I've been dying to know—where are you guys all headed?"

"Yeah, spill!" Sharith added, glancing at each of us with keen interest. "Can't wait to hear who's going to which fancy college."

We all exchanged a mischievous look, barely able to contain our excitement. Avani, Hafza, Jiya, and I had been keeping this little secret, waiting for the perfect moment to surprise the boys. After a quick, silent nod, we shouted in unison, "PES College!"

Aryan's jaw dropped, and his expression quickly shifted from surprise to mock annoyance. "No way! You're all going to PES? Together? That's so unfair! You guys are going to have all the fun without us!"

"Yeah, it's going to be amazing," Hafza teased, nudging Aryan with a smirk. "We'll be chilling in the same campus, hanging out every day, while you two are stuck in your boring classes."

Aryan put a hand over his heart in mock offense. "This is betrayal. I can't believe this. And here I was, thinking we were all in this together!"

Jiya laughed, playfully ruffling Aryan's hair. "Aw, poor Aryan. Don't worry, we'll FaceTime you while we're having all the fun."

Sharith, laughing along, suddenly turned his attention to Safreen. "What about you, Saf? Which college are you getting into?"

All eyes turned to Safreen, who had been quiet through the excitement. Hafza, without missing a beat, grinned and answered on her behalf, "Obviously, she's coming with us. We're all going to be living our best lives together!"

Safreen smiled faintly but didn't say anything, and for a moment, we all waited for her to confirm it. When she didn't, Avani nudged her gently. "Saf, come on, don't keep us in suspense. Tell us!"

But instead of the enthusiastic confirmation we expected, Safreen hesitated, her smile faltering. After a long pause, she finally spoke, her voice soft. "Actually... I'm not going to PES."

A wave of confusion swept over us. We exchanged puzzled glances, and Avani, always the first to speak her mind, asked, "Wait, then where are you going? Did you get into some super fancy college we don't know about?"

Safreen's hesitation only made us more curious, and it was clear that whatever she was about to say wasn't easy. "I'm going to Stanford University."

The name hit us like a bolt of lightning. Stanford. The realization of what that meant dawned on us in slow, painful waves. "Stanford?" Hafza repeated, her voice laced with disbelief. "That's... in the US?"

Sharith's expression darkened, and he stiffened, the shock washing over his face. "The US? You're going to America?"

Safreen nodded, struggling to meet his eyes. "Yeah... My dad got a big promotion, and we're moving to the States. I got accepted into Stanford, and we'll be leaving in a week."

The atmosphere shifted instantly, the cheerful mood replaced with a heavy silence. None of us knew what to say. The thought of Safreen leaving felt unreal, like something out of a bad dream.

Jiya's voice wavered as she asked, "But you'll come back, right? This isn't forever?"

Safreen's eyes filled with unshed tears as she shook her head. "I don't know. It might be for good. Everything's so uncertain, and I—" She couldn't finish, her voice cracking under the weight of it all.

Sharith, who had been silent until now, suddenly stood up, his face a mix of anger and heartbreak. Without a word, he walked away, leaving Safreen calling after him, her voice filled with pain. "Sharith, please! Just... just talk to me!"

But he didn't stop. The hurt was too raw, too overwhelming. We all watched as he disappeared, feeling the sting of helplessness.

Safreen's tears finally fell as she turned back to us, her strong facade crumbling. "I don't want to go," she whispered, her voice broken. "I don't want to leave any of you."

We gathered around her, pulling her into a group hug, trying to comfort her the best we could. "We'll always be here for you, no matter where you are," Avani said, her voice firm despite the tears in her eyes. "Distance doesn't change anything."

Hafza squeezed Safreen's hand, adding, "And hey, Stanford is amazing. You're going to do great things. We're just a call away, you hear me?"

We spent the rest of the afternoon sitting under that banyan tree, reliving the old times and clinging to every moment. We laughed, cried, and made silent promises to each other—promises of unbreakable bonds, no matter the miles that would soon separate us.

As the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the school ground, it felt like the end of an era. But deep down, we knew this wasn't goodbye. It was just the start of a new chapter—one that would test our friendship, but never break it...