The Perfect Photo

Chapter 10

"What the hell happened to you? Are you alright?", asked Neha as she rushed to me. I was breathing heavily.

"What the hell happened?", she asked. I pointed in the direction of my phone.

"Do you want me to bring that to you?" She quickly ran to my bed and fetched my phone and gave it to me. It was like I had suddenly gone into seizures and getting me the phone was the only remedy.

I unlocked my phone and showed it to her. Right on the top of the screen read, 'Pritam has accepted your friend request.'

Neha looked back at me. Her look spoke volumes of what was going through her mind. I was far from being rescued in this case, and she knew that. Not she or anyone can talk me out of this one.

She gave me a hand to lift me up. I took it and slowly stood up.

"Hopeless you are Harsha", she said.

"That's true", I agreed shamelessly.

"And what did you just do?"

"I think I tried to emulate the same moves that you did the other day and I guess that I failed terribly."

"Whaaaat?", she cracked up. "What you did was hilarious, bordering on concerning actually."

I laughed.

"So is this how it is going to be? I don't think you are letting this go."

"I am not sure if I can. I cannot rationally explain why I am attracted to this guy. Maybe that is how it works. I have thought hard. But I couldn't explain any of my actions thus far. I have never been in such a situation before."

"You were a different person when you were around him. It was totally evident to me. Just make sure it doesn't affect you much, because I feel it already has. God forbid If things do not work out, then it will be impossible for you to be the self you once were. All this, coming from my personal experiences."

"Hmmmmm......", I kept nodding.

"Who knows, maybe this is a short-term attraction. A week into your routine and you might not feel this same way again."

I stumbled a little. She held me from falling again. "There, Go rest on your bed, I'll get you some water."

I got the water bottle and emptied half the can in one go. I was feeling the chills running through my body. I might actually start shivering if I continue like this. I tried to concentrate on my breathing and nothing else. I slowly calmed down. Neha sat on her bed looking at me observantly. Once I became usual, she said she had to leave to get some personal chores done. She double checked if I could take care of myself. I felt better, and I asked her to proceed with her plans.

Once she left, I went ahead and washed my face. I was sleeping less, and I could see that reflect on my face. I came back and opened my textbook.

'Aaaaaah, forget it. I am going to give myself a break. If I skip one day it is not going to hurt my grades', I thought to myself. I went back to my laptop which was still playing the same song over and over again in repeat mode.

I opened Facebook and navigated to Pritam's profile, going through some of his posts and pictures. 'Have I become a stalker? No..., I still have a long way to go for that', I self-asserted. 'This is probably something every person does in this digital world.'

I opened his profile picture. The edge of the world picture. There was a feeling of accomplishment on his face, his eyes beaming. I could still hear the song play in the background.

'Your eyes, they shine so bright
I wanna save that light

I can't escape this now

Unless you show me how.'

It played. So true imagine dragons, so true. I felt a connection with that song. If I was to hear that song again, I am sure I would be thinking of him. A song which makes you reminisce about something or someone. This was going to be that song for him.

I looked at the picture again. I have never done rock climbing. I haven't traveled much in my short life. No one motivated me to be adventurous. Maybe if I were to be with him, I might start becoming that person. He was standing alone in that picture. I did not like that. I wished I was there too, standing next to him. It would be perfect. A perfect picture. The perfect photo.

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Hello reader, If you have read this book till here, big massive thanks from me for sticking around. You are almost near the half way point. I hope the continuation of the story does not disappoint you too much.

With that said, feel free to comment on parts you like or did not like and it will help me better my writing.

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