Let love find you, while you find yourself

Flashback - Farewell

As Anika entered her college premises a new sense of nostalgia hit her. She had never felt this weak. Not even while leaving her school of 13 years. This college, was stacked with all a mix of emotions. Reliving memories, from how she entered the college nervous and aflamed, how she made friends in instant, how much fun she had during night stays, festivities, and culturals, how she always found support in her friends and lecturers to how she met Daksh. How over cups of coffee and silly conversations they became the closest buddies. Their friendship was envied amidst all, and astonishingly still how his one smile made her heart flutter and summersault. She was remniscing and exulting everything with a content smile and tears brimming in her eyes. Her trance were broken by Akshara, another close friend. Unable to contain herself anymore, she hugged her tight to calm the tempest brewing in her eyes. Akshara knew that Daksh was the only person who could stop her crying and she immediately called him. He was taken aback why Anika's state, after all he had never known her to bawl or let her emotions go all over the place. Anika thought emotions make a person weak. Worried, he carelessly accelerated his bike to reach college.

The college was never so full. The college brimmed with groups of students practing songs, dance, speech. Students running all over perfecting the volunteer job of allocation and such. Corners witnessed chit chatting, filling slam books and making out. The environment was rightly carefree, it was the last day at college.

He spotted her making an unsuccessful attempt to busy herself. Her body was agitated and restless, furiously wiping away her tears. Without any second thought he dragged her to a secluded place and hugged her tightly, she squeezed him back, feeling all the anxiety leave her body.

He calmed her demons by rubbing her back continuously while he was lost in his thoughts, "Life is not as easy as we think it is, its a rollercoaster ride of adventures and monotonity, of the known and unknown. He very well knew this is not going to be easy for anybody and she was not any exception. She is a simple girl who is always chirpy and enthusiastic. Her contagious smile and positivity always making everything vibrant. There had been many worse incidents where one would breakdown irrecoverably but she handled every situation in a cordial and enigmatic way. But today it was different the surrounding looked gloomy reciprocating the storm inside her".

She snapped him out of his trance. He cupped her face and wiped those pearls with his thumb determined to make her speak. "Whats this Anika..? Why are you crying? Are we all going to a war? It's just an end of our college life. Yes I accept it's difficult but we cant forever live in this campus? right?" She shook her head in a no with a cute pout. "Then why are you crying? Actually, I'm shocked that Miss Anika Mehta is breaking down over such a petty issue?" She smirked "whatever" and hugged him tightly again, a silent conversation was her rescue today. Surprised at her not speaking, he hugged her back with the same fervor. She withdrew herself from the hug pecked him on his cheeks thanking him for being there. They both left for their respective works with a content smile in their faces.

By 4 in the evening, the preparations were finally in place. They both left to change. Since Daksh's place was closer to college, it was only rational to choose his place to change into their evening wear. He looked impeccable in the black 3 piece tuxedo teamed with a red tie. "Haawwwt" was an understatement. And she wore a black and red netted saree. Her attire was elegantly complimented with minimal makeup and accessories. She had put her hair into a messy bun exposing her badminton raquet kind meshed backless black blouse. He was spellbound by this stunning visual. He couldn't take his eyes off her and yet no word of compliment left his mouth. He could only open his mouth in a "o" and stare. She shivered under his gaze. She came close to him "would you like to compliment or just stare"?. He quickly composed himself, mouthed "you look great" and ran hurriedly towards the door clicking his car keys. She followed him with a shy smile and they left for college.