Forever Together......???✔

Like Old Time!!!

      We were standing in front of the main building of V.K.M.G. Meera was standing behind me. I was looking at our classroom, particularly, at our bench on which we used to sit. Some lecture was going on, I was looking at a boy and girl who were sitting on our place. I was seeing us in them. I remembered each and every moment we shared in that classroom. Then I came into reality and remembered Meera's behaviour with me, and my mood was spoiled. I threw a quick glance to her and she was also looking at the same bench. This made me sure that she remembers each and every thing, but then why she is refusing our relationship? I was in these thoughts when someone said,

"Excuse me, Can I help you? What are you looking for? You can't stand here when the lecture is going on.", a lady, in her sixty's spoke.

"Mmm. Sorry Miss. Actually, I am alumni of this college. I was just remembering my old time.", I replied.

"Are you by any chance Ashok Avasthi?", She asked.

"Yes."

"Oh great. I am Sathe mam, I used to teach you Economics."

"Oh yes. Sorry I didn't recognise you. How are you Mam?"

"Are it's Ok. I am fine. How are you?"

"I am fine too. I came to India for some business meeting. I stay in America. But, how do you recognise me? It's been a long time."

"Yes. But, few days ago I read your interview in Forbes. We all are pleased with all the progress you made."

"Oh, Thank you so much mam. It wouldn't have been possible without you all, mam"

"Yes. But your hard work finally paid off. By the way there used to one girl with you always. Mmmm what's her name? I totally forgot her name? She had taken admission in midterm."

"Yes. It was Meera."

"Yeah. Right. What's going on with her? Once you guys graduated, there was no news on any one of you from your batch."

"Yes. I don't know anything about her after she disappeared without saying a word, all of a sudden before our final exams." I said, while looking at Meera. She started looking at somewhere else. She avoided eye contact.

"Hmm. Yes, she didn't give the exams. Don't know where she is."

"By the way I almost forgot to introduced my assistant, 'Meera', she is from V.K.M.G. too. We graduated from same batch, but never met, isn't it weird?", I said while looking at Meera.

"Ha-ha. World is small, you don't know whom you will meet again.", said mam.

"Yes. It is 100% correct though.", I said in little sarcastic tone. "We will leave now mam. It was really nice to meet you."

"Yes. Do visit again. Best of Luck for your future."

We left. We were roaming in college premise, when we came at our usual place, where we used to spend our most of the time together, behind the main building of college, on the cliff. I sat on the bench and gestured Meera to seat. There was 2 3 minutes of awkward silence before she spoke,

"I remember everything Ashok. I knew it was you since I saw you at the interview. But, I was not sure about how to react after the gap of this much years. Don't misunderstand me, please. I remember each and every moment I spent with you. I remember each and every conversation that we had sitting on this bench. I remember everything Ashok, I remember everything.", she said in a deep voice.

"Oh, you remember. I thought you must have forgot everything after you dashed off all of a sudden. You didn't find me worthy to tell what was going on in your life. You didn't even care to say good bye to me. The important person in my life left all of a sudden and I came to know this from some other person. Do you have any Idea about how I spent these years? And as this was not enough, that you refused to even recognise me when we met?"

"Ashok, you have right to get angry on me. But, try to understand, I had some family issues going on, and you knew it."

"Yes. The issues about which we never spoke. The issues which were so personal, that you couldn't even tell me. The issues about which I always kept quiet, hoping you will tell me one day."

"Ashok, Calm down. I didn't want you to lose your focus from study."

"Yes. So, you left all of a sudden. That helped me a lot to concentrate on my studies. Thank you so much!", I was still angry.

"Ashok, I wanted to tell you this at that time only but...."

Our conversation was interrupted by a phone call. It was Rahul (Battery), again wrong time bummer,

"Hello, Ashok Avasthi here."

"Hey Ashok, It's me Rahul. Why so formal? You don't have my number saved, do you?"

"Actually, I am in the middle of something. Kind of Busy."

"Oh, Sorry. I just wantedto know whether you landed or not. We all are waiting for you."

"Oh Shit. I almost forgot. I am at Lonavla right now, I will be there in 1hour.", I said, miming Meera 'let's go', and our conversation remained as itis....