First Impressions

Chapter One

Mumbai

'H-hello, Easy Cabs?..I needed a Cab for Mumbai Airport in One hour...Yes...okayy...Thank You!'
'Rhea, are you sure this is your final decision? Haven't I told you that decisions taken with celerity often have a long lasting impact on your life and relationships?'

'Neha, This is my final decision. I can't wait here anymore.'

'You can but you don't want to' Neha's face was drooping. They had become very close friends in the past six months and She hadn't predicted that Rhea will have to leave her so soon.

'What will the others think if you disappear so suddenly? I can't hide this fact from them for long, Rhea'
'You have to. You have promised me. '
Yes. Neha had to hide the whereabouts of Rhea from Everyone. At this point of time, She felt too helpless. On one hand, Rhea was leaving and She doubted if she would see her again in the coming years. Moreover, on the other hand she had to conceal this fact from Everyone and cook up a fake story.

'Let's have dinner. I have cooked Mushroom Chilly.'
'Woah! For me.'
' I can't miss even the last of the opportunities of being admired for my cooking skills, by you.'
'Neha, I ll miss your food. Your new dishes and all your cooking experiments on me.'

'Then don't leave. On whom will I try my new cooking recipes after you?' Neha's face saddened as she served the dish in to their plates.

'That's why I tell you it's time that you found the perfect guy for you who will taste all your new cookeries and of course, admire them with utmost pleasure and love.' They laughed.

'Your hands are magical Neha. All your dishes are just way too tasty'
'Thanks.'
.
.
.

'Hello..yes..oh I ll be down in five minutes. Thanks.
Neha the cab is here. Hope I haven't forgotten anything' Rhea checked the room for one last time to make sure nothing was left.

'Rhea please let me accompany you to the Airport'
'I already told you No. I have to decide the journey ahead all alone by myself.I need to be self reliant. And yes, I don't want people at the airport seeing us pretty girls with moist eyes. It's just too embarrassing.'
'Oh come on Rhea! Stop giving excuses. Let's get going. The Cab driver is waiting down.'

Grabbing the handle of her suitcase and her favourite leather handbag gifted to her by her aunt, Rhea stepped out of the house that seemed to be so inviting, turned back to have one last glance of the house She has been sharing with Neha for the last six months and the house which holds thousands of memories with Neha..and with....
'I ll miss you. A lot.' Her thoughts were interrupted by her dear friend.
'Keep in touch' said Neha.
'of course' Rhea's voice choked.

The driver loaded their luggage. The girls hugged each other with moist eyes and bid farewell to each other.
'Inform me when you have reached the Airport and when you get landed'
'Sure' Rhea Waved a goodbye from the Window as the Car speeded up and turned round the corner.

Neha's eyes were shedding tears. As she re-entered the house all the memories they had spent together in the house came alive and she started missing her even more. The selfies they had clicked in the balcony....the exams they had studied together for....their late night gossips...the time they had spent together, all seemed to come alive. Now those moments had turned into memories. And they had started to miss those memories. These are the memories which make one's life worth living.

In the car Rhea was reminiscing all the moments she had spent with the new people in the past six months. She recollected how she met Neha for the first time and how they had instantly become good friends. Her first encounter with the bully groups of the college, how she had been scared to death by their forced dares or it would be better if stated how she had to 'pretend' to be scared.

She opened her window as the car geared up over the bridge towards the Airport. The cool breeze blowing through her fair, pretty face.

And then her thoughts travelled to the time when she had first seen him, how eventually she had got to know him and his friends. She was deep in thoughts when her phone started ringing.
She opened her bag to take out her phone to see who it was. And it was him.

She let out a small sigh as a lone tear trickled its way down her left cheeks.
The wise words of her Dad were ringing in her ears 'life is too Short to start a day with Broken pieces of yesterday'

She was staring at the phone blankly, not picking up the call when suddenly she saw that the driver had lost control of the car and plowed into the guardrail. On top of that a fast moving truck smashed into it.
There wasn't time even to panic.....And CRASH!
The car was sent flying into the air and onto the sea beneath.
It was all a matter of seconds.
The phone lay there, at the edge of the bridge, Ringing.
Indeed life is too Short.