LOVE OR FRIENDSHIP?

The trip

Salman's POV

The first week of April flew and I did nothing. I was bored to the core. Once in a while I have a group chat with my friends and seemed like they too were the same as myself, but I couldn't meet any of them and I don't think they too met each other. I miss them all but kept myself reminded that this is a short separation and the holidays will end very soon.

I looked forward for the family trip what my dad was planning with two of his sister's families which is going to be fun. During the April season the climate is very warm in most of the places in Sri Lanka except for the upcountry region, so people visit there and spend a few days because the 13th and the 14th of this month is a public holiday since it's the Tamil and Buddhist festival. Its a season for tripping especially at Nuwara Eliya which is located in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. It's like an annual custom. No matter how many times we've been there, it's a must for most of us to go there during this season. The crowd at this season is massive because people from all over Sri Lanka come there.

The people at Nuwara Eliya too had organized special carnivals and many other events during this month welcoming the visitors from other cities and towns. The climate there is too cool and since we aren't used to it we have to hide ourselves in sweaters, gloves, mufflers, socks and boots to feel the warmth inside. Its colder at night which make us cuddle up in thick blankets.

So we started our journey on the 12th evening and reached there by night. My family in my dad's car and both my aunties in their own vehicles with their families. We had pre-booked three hotel rooms for the three families in the same building. The staffs at the hotel helped us take the luggage to our rooms. By the time we reached our destination we were too tired and It was late at night which made us sleep immediately.

The next morning we went around the town after having breakfast at the hotel. Varieties of stalls were put up where people bargain. We too roamed in the crowd buying a few wares. Later we had lunch in a restaurant and went back to our hotel to relax.

It's a huge hotel which consists of three huge buildings and each building has five floors along with a parking lot in the basement. We had our room in the middle building on the second floor along with nineteen more rooms. The room next to ours was my elder aunt's and the room next to theirs was the other aunt's. Every room was like a mini house with a master bedroom along with an attached washroom, baby room with an attached washroom as well, a hall with couches and a television, air conditioned and free Wi-Fi. There is a garden by the hotel too.

Wherever we go, we go together with the other two families. This evening we planned to go on a pony ride, so we headed to a park which is beside a lake with green grass and wooden benches with wooden tables on one side. There are a few games in one corner of the park and a few ponies with their grooms. They take us on a pony ride along the pathway in a side of the park by the green lake on condition that we pay some amount. I was the third on the queue for the ride when I saw Omar on the queue parallel to mine which surprised me. I called out to him

"Omar!"

"Hey Salman!" he moved few steps towards me and we were few inches away from each other.

"Nice to meet you again after a week or two"

"Same here... Its like ages"

We had a quick chat, mostly about our trip and the plans for the next few days and so, till it was my turn for the ride. I was glad that I met Omar. I knew my friends would come to Nuwara Eliya because they said that they usually go there in April. But I expected to see Juliet. I didn't see her for more than a week or two nor did I hear her. I wish she's here with me. I feel lonely without her. I miss her the most, even though she doesn't talk to me, her presence means a lot to me, just looking at her pretty face is enough to make my day. I wish I tripped with her. Especially when the days are cold and when I feel like snuggling, I remember her and want her to be with me.