I land in Gwalior and take a cab to my home. I've not seen this place in a decade. I open the lock and get in. I am resting for the day, after making my room stay-able.
I wonder where my friends would be. Do they even remember me now? It's Diwali, they may come home. I go out to have my dinner since there are no groceries at home. I return home and sleep. Tomorrow's agenda is going to be- going to visit my long lost friends.
The next day, it is 8 AM, I have woken up and am preparing breakfast for myself. The bell rings. I open the door. Rajat, Pratyush, Shubhit, Aarvi, Jay and Ana. All of them are here.
"Sup, busy bee?" Aarvi says.
"You are big man now, huh? You don't have much time right?" Jay teases me.
"Why would he? He is an NRI now." says Pratyush.
"Shut up guys. Stop teasing him. Do you want to get a punishment?" Shubhit jokes.
"Sorry professor Sehgal." Rajat says.
Everyone burst out laughing.
"I missed you man." Aarvi says.
"I've missed you all too. To be honest, I wanted to meet you all so badly. I came back here after my graduation, but I couldn't meet anyone. None of you were here. But I'm so happy to see you all today!"
"Me too kid, me too." Rajat says.
"All of us bhai. And take this."
"What's this Ana?"
"Maa ke haath ki biryani."
"Holy Shit. I missed it so freaking much!"
I instantly start eating it.
"Arey slowly, you'll choke."
We all sit down to talk.
Aarvi is a lawyer now. Ana has her own school in Bhopal. Jay works as a freelance photographer. Rajat works at Infosys. Pratyush is an event manager. Shubhit has his own Supermarket chain in Madhya Pradesh. They're all so successful, my babies.
When we last saw each other, we were these immature teenagers and today we are grown up adults.
Aarvi, Ana and Shubhit are married too. Shubhit also has a 1 year old son. Time has passed. We've changed, our lives have changed.
"So when do you plan to get married? asks Shubhit.
"I don't know, man. I don't have anyone in mind. Not dating, no crushes, nothing whatsoever. So yeah, not getting married."
"Arjun, you can find someone only when you're looking for them." Ana says.
"Stop being Reena aunty now, okay?"
They give me a weird look.
"See, I am not sure if I want to get married. It's a very big and difficult decision."
"Baby, you got to do it. You've spent most of your life alone. It's time for you to settle down now." says Aarvi.
"Argh. Fine, whatever. I'll look into it. Okay? Can we chill now?"
"Of course." Yelled everyone.
For the next three days, I am going to stay here. Gotta catch up with my friends. After all, they are all I have! The thought of marriage still lingers in my mind. Do I settle down now? Should I really think about it? Am I ready to start a family yet?
*THREE DAYS LATER*
After spending Diwali in Gwalior, now it's time to go back to reality. As I leave for Delhi, I hug everyone goodbye.
It's so hard saying goodbye. You don't know what may happen while you're gone. All we have is this moment. This one moment, which you have to live to the fullest, for life is pretty uncertain.
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