19 Dates

Chapter 36

Dev tried to speak with Shalini but she did not respond to any of his calls, he left her a message that he was going with his dad to Dehradun . When he reached Dehradun, they went straight to the hospital to see the friend. He had got a minor heart attack; he was Mr. Sinha's best friend from the club. Mr. Sinha was involved speaking with the doctors about his friend's health, while Dev waited out for him. He was thinking about how to make it up to Shalini as she had not returned any reply to his messages when he heard someone calling out his name, he turned around and saw a girl walking towards him.

Girl ( with an American accent), "Dev is that you? Oh my God, I can't believe I am seeing you after such a long time."

Dev, "I am not sure if I recollect who you are, my apologizes for that."

Girl, "Dev it's me, Pinky."

Dev (excited & amazed), "no ways, Pinky, gosh how long has it been, look at you."

Pinky, "yes it has been long. I am so glad I finally met you, I went to you house this morning & the caretaker informed me that you live in Mumbai now but you were here for a couple of days."

Dev (smiling), "yeah that's right. Pinky it's really you."

Pinky, "look at us, we are all grown up now. It has been what? 19 years now?"

Dev, "you left when we were eight. I remember bleakly how much Shalini & me we cried on the day you were leaving."

Pinky, "hey where is she? There is some other family living at her place now."

Dev, "Well Shalini lives in Mumbai as well. Her mom & dad are no more, aunty passed away 2 years after you left for U.S. & her dad passed away 4 years back, he was sick for a long time."

Pinky, "oh that's really sad, I am so sorry to hear that."

Dev, "yeah, me & dad are family for her now. Hey but you know what? You got to call her."

Pinky, "for sure, give me her number."

Dev, "here but don't tell her I am here. We had a terrible fight yesterday, so I don't want that to spoil her mood."

Pinky, "fight? You guys (laughing)."

Pinky called Shalini:

Pinky, "hello, is this Shalini?"

Shalini, "yes it is."

Pinky, "hey it's me Pinky, remember we were friends. Dev, you & me, I left with my family to the States."

Shalini, "I am sorry, I am not able to recollect & I am kind of busy at the moment, I am sorry but you need to call me back later this evening." She hung up the phone.

Pinky, "woo that was super rude. She has forgotten me dude."

Dev, "really? That weird, she has a good memory, anyways we will speak with her in the evening again, she must be busy with something."

Pinky, "OK cool, hey where is your dad?"

Dev, "Oh he is inside, one of his friends had a minor heart attack. I am waiting for him."

Pinky, "OK, I will meet him later. If you are free this evening, I will come to your place."

Dev, "yeah sure thing, I will see you this evening then."