SOMEWHERE IN THE JOURNEY OF LIFE

PROLOGUE

"Friends are the sibling
That god forgot to give us"
                                 -Menicus.
RIYA POV:

The warm salty sea breeze fanned my face. The sun was rising slowly behind the calm ocean. As I stood in the balcony of the beach house, I couldn't help but feel the immense pain that has been haunting my heart for the past 3 years.
           Today is the day we dreamt of for 4 years,today is the day we thought would  be our greatest achievement. Today is the day that should have been one of the happiest days in our lives.

                       Yet... Here I am standing alone in our dream house recalling the wonderful memories that are etched in my brain. The memories that we had made during those 4 years. The same memories that had always managed to bring a smile to my lips...even during the darkest times.
               I turned away from the rising sun and made my way into the house. This house was one of our biggest dreams. A beach house ,away from the buzzing city. A place where we could spend our vacations peacefully together. A place where we could be a family. A place to call as 'our home'.
              Today the dream has come true. But I don't have 'them' to celebrate this day with me. I miss them.... I miss them terribly.
I walked past the rooms which are specially designed for each one of us. Carefully made according to our tastes. Of course they were not with me when this house was built. But I know them like I know my soul. So I designed their rooms.
                         I came to a stop at the top of the stairs that lead to the massive living room on the ground floor. I slowly descended the stairs .
                  On the wall beside the stairs , hung the most beautiful days of our college life in the form of photos. The memories of those 4 years are the only thing that kept me going on in my life for the past three years.
                     I traced my fingers along the frames of the photos as I descended the stairs. My fingers stilled on a particular photo.
            My mind automatically brought back the day during which the picture had been taken.
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"Hurry up you idiot! Shakthi would be here anytime soon " yelled Meera to Shivani who was taking out the cake from the cake box.               Meera had a very serious expression on her face much contradictory to her cheery self.
       Seeing this  Ananya chuckled and said " Relax Meera! Sam has gone with Shakthi. She will distract her and will buy us some time. You don't have to worry. Now come and help me with this bunny!".
        She gestured towards the balloons she was working with.
        "Yeah sure Anny." Said Meera as she skipped towards Ananya to help her with decorating the room. 'Now thats the Meera we all have known ' I thought to myself with a small smile.
          And the reason for all these chaos is because today is Shakthi's birthday. We were preparing a surprise for the birthday baby shakthi . We have invited everyone from our class. They would be here anytime soon. And Sam @ samyuktha had taken shakthi away saying some silly reasons and keeping her distracted . There is one 'tiny'  problem in that. Shakthi has a patience that is no bigger than that of a finger nail.
                So,we had  to finish these preparations before her patience becomes non existent.
               The preparations were almost finished  and our classmates have also come. We have done all these preparations in our class room.
              "Riya  can you call Sam-" Anny was cut of from whatever she was saying to me when Shakthi came barging in to the room saying that Sam was wasting her time.
              See.. What I told you? Arghhhh.....
Sue her and her impatience.
              We all stood frozen in our spots and so was Shakthi. Ananya was the first one who broke the frozen state and ran towards Shakthi squealing 'Happy Birthday!!!!!!' And crushed Shakthi in a bear hug. We all followed suit and wished her happy birthday with a bone crushing hug. Shakthi hugged all of us happily.
             Then our classmates wished her. Some of their faces were painted with envy. Because no one has celebrated their birthday like this in the college. One reason for that was because it was still the first year. Everyone was still getting accommodated to the change. But that didn't stop us. Why? Because we 6 girls have bonded very well  unlike others. We became close to each other  very soon.
             It was time to cut the cake. We all were ready for the attack that was gonna take place.
Target: Red velvet cake( birthday cake); Attacker: Meera.
           Yes! That idiot would attack the cake even before we finish the birthday song. And guess what? I was right!!!
         The cake was attacked by that stupid and soon a cake war has started. Like always it was Meera who won it. That bunny!
         And then Sam started jumping up and down like a bunshee yelling that we should take a selfie.
         Ananya was the one who took that selfie. Ha... Perks of being the tallest  one in our group.
          At the last moment of. Clicking the capture button, Sam and Shivi took the left over cream and applied it on either side of Shakthi's face. The picture was taken exactly when  Shakthi opened  her mouth to scream.
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         I chuckled  at the memory of that beautiful day. At the same time, a lone tear escaped my eyes and fell down my cheeks. I hastily wiped it away and continued towards the front of the beach house.
       As I stood there , in front of 'our home', I recalled the day everything went downhill. The day  that was the cause of the pain in my heart,the reason for my loneliness today.
       But now after 3 years, when I think about it, I realized that no one was to be blamed for what happened that day. Because,the mistake was with the circumstances.
Had we been more rational and mature that day,that wouldn't have happened. I wouldn't be standing here alone recalling the happiest days of my life instead I would have been celebrating this day with them, making yet another beautiful memory to add to the list.
              No! The past will no longer affect me. Because I am going to set it right.
              An important event is gonna happen next month. An event which is going to change my life. An event which would be the reason of my being.
              But without them, I will not be able to rejoice the happiness the event is gonna give me. I need them to be with me during that day.
              I am determined to make things right,no matter what the difficulties are and I swear I will bring them back.
             But a question keeps echoing in the back of my mind and I need answer for that.

"Is our friendship still alive?
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A/N:
Hello fellas...
We are really excited to know all your opinions... Please let us know... And I would like to dedicate this prologue to tharunpriya who is celebrating her birthday today... Happy bday!!!
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Until then,
With love
Tacies.