Until We Meet Again - I

Chapter 4: After Years

I looked at where she was pointing. My hands were cold. My heart was beating a little fast. The DJ had changed the song and slowly the tunes of "Can't help falling in love with you" filled the room. There she was, laughing, she wore a beige jacket and trousers with black vest. Everyone faded, I could hear my heartbeats clearly as i saw her after such a long time. I was mesmerized by her, she had not changed much, except her hair were now shoulder length and she looked more beautiful than before.

I was smiling like an idiot looking at her, when she noticed me and raised her eyebrow suspiciously. Kalpana aunty who was standing beside me waved her hand and asked her to come over.

She made her way towards her and I again started feeling warm, as she came beside me, and the feeling of summer time washed over me. She reminded of the blossoming mango trees in my backyard, and just like that i started missing the summers.

'Yes mom?' Anaya said to her mom as she took notice of me.

'Anaya, meet Dev. You remember him, you both went to farewell together.' Kalpana aunty said introducing me to her again.

'Oh yes, how can I forget him? Hi Dev, now I realise why I felt like I have seen you somewhere, you have changed quite a lot.' She said as she shook hands with me.

'I know, from being the sleek slim boy to a healthy and fit man, I have came a long way. But you haven't changed a bit, well except your hair are shorter than i remembered.' I said.

'Really!? Many people say otherwise.' she said sounding shocked.

'I guess they haven't seen you during our school days.'

'Really!'

I smiled as she saw my mother, hugged her. My mother initiated a conversation with her, as I was listening to their conversation, Emma came she had a happy smile on her face, as she stood beside me.

'You wanted to meet Anaya, right? She's here.' i said to Emma as she looked at me with her big brown eyes.

'Emma, I want you to meet someone.' I said to her as Anaya finished her talks with my mom.

'Anaya, meet one of my best friends from NY, Emma and Emma, meet my childhood friend, Anaya.' I said as I introduced Emma and Anaya.

'Oh, so you are Anaya, I have heard so much about you.' Emma said as she shook hands with Anaya and looked too excited to see her.

'Is that so? I hope all good things.' Anaya said giving me a what-was-that look and all I could do was smile like an idiot.

'Oh yes! All good things.' Emma said as I nudged her.

'So you two were together in your photography academy?' Anaya asked.

'Yes. I was his only friend there, he is such a dumb guy, he couldn't even manage to befriend people. If it wasn't for me approaching him, he might have died of boredom over there.' Emma said and laughed, while i stood there trying my best not to smile like some idiot.

'Oh.' Anaya said and suddenly things became awkward.

Seeing her after so long, i had many things to talk to her about, but had no idea how to start a conversation.

There was this tense silence between us, i was about to say something to break it, when a tall guy, with proper trimmed beard, wearing a hell lot of perfume joined us, making me sneeze.

'Where had you been? I was waiting for you at the bar. Here's your drink.' He said to Anaya.

'Sorry, I got held up. But here, meet Dev, the star of the evening and Emma, and Dev, meet my soon-to-be fiancé, Ranbir Sharma.' Anaya said with a big smile as the guy put her arm around Anaya's waist.