From Howrah to Brooklyn

Chapter 5

It was the next morning, the day when Neil was going. He was all packed and was ready to leave for the airport. Last night it was decided that the Mukherjees would go to the airport to see him off. So there were four members in total. Neil had three big suitcases, two of them would fit in the boot of the car and one will be kept on the back seat.

Raina had come early in the morning to meet Neil and to have breakfast with him. Her driver dropped her to his house and left.

Neil and Raina were talking to each other when suddenly Shekhar entered Neil's room, 'Neil beta, shall we start keeping your bags in the car?'

'Yes sure Kaaku. I'll help you with the bags.' Shekhar took Neil's small bag and went downstairs.

Neil was busy locking his other bags when suddenly Raina spoke, 'Neil baby, I want to come to drop you at the airport.'

'But Raina, there is no space in the car, you are yourself seeing that I have three big suitcases.' Neil said.

'Alia is going with you right? May be I can request her. I am your girlfriend and it is only fair that I see you off at the airport. And plus yesterday you spent the whole day with her so I guess I am entitled to come and drop you off at the airport.' Raina had already thought of an idea.

'But Raina ... Why don't you come in your own car? I mean it won't look right if at the last moment we tell Alia to not to come at the airport.' Neil was not in favour of Raina's idea but he was too timid to dismiss it directly.

'Oh Neil.. I'll call for my car directly at the airport and it doesn't make any sense I go into my car alone. The whole point of me coming to drop you off is so that I can spend time with you. You take your luggage down and I'll go and talk to Alia. She is a very sweet girl and I really don't think she would mind.' Before Neil could utter any more words, Raina rushed downstairs to Alia's room.

Neil was disappointed. He didn't ask for all this. The plan was made, everything was decided but Raina had to create trouble in the end. But he didn't say anything to her as he didn't want any drama before leaving.

Neil brought his bags down and was helping Shekhar to keep it in the car. He could see Alia's room from outside window where he saw Raina hugging her. So he assumed that Alia agreed to let Raina go into the car.

Raina came outside and spoke, 'See I told you. Alia didn't have any problem.'

Raina was talking to Shekhar and Tapur, explaining them the whole scenario. Since those three were busy talking, Neil went towards Alia's room to speak to her before leaving.

Alia was engrossed in her books, when Neil knocked. She looked at the door and said, 'Neil, since when do you feel the need to knock before coming into my room?'

He looked at Alia for quite sometime and said, 'Aloo, come with me to the airport. We will all adjust and you will easily fit in.'

'Leave it Neil. There is no space for me ... not in the car and also not in your life.' Alia smiled.

'Oh common Aloo, you know that is not true. Raina is being a bit clingy. I am sorry for this sudden change of plans. I didn't ask for it. In fact I even told her to just let it be. But she just doesn't listen. You know what you mean to me and no one can replace you in my life.'

'Neil, relax. you don't have to worry so much. I understand. Raina is your girlfriend and she has full right to come and drop you off at the airport. And compared to her I am just ... I am just... nobody.' Alia shrugged.

Neil came and hugged Alia, 'Dare you ever say that  you are a nobody, if only you knew what you mean to me.'  He hugged her even more tightly and kissed her on her forehead. Something was different that day. Neil had left Calcutta post holidays a zillion times before but today he felt he was leaving something behind. Today he felt he was guilty of how unknowingly he has hurt his best friend.

Alia too was very sad when she saw Neil leaving and she had tears in her eyes.

Neil grabbed his laptop bag and checked all his travel documents for one last time and left to go outside. Alia followed him. They all sat in the car and waved bye to Alia whose eyes were just fixed on Neil, who too was just looking at her.

Once Shekhar's car was out of Alia's sight she locked the main door and went back to her room. She was all alone in this big house. Tears came rolling down her eyes and she couldn't herself understand what effected her so much. Was it Neil's leaving for the UK? Or was it her not being able to drop him off? Or was it Raina who ruined everything between them?

After a few minutes drive, Neil reached the airport. Shekhar and Tapur were busy putting the luggage on the trolley while Neil was saying bye to Raina. She was all over Neil and didn't shy away from her PDAs. Neil was however conscious of Alia's parents' presence and told Raina to behave herself.

Soon Neil said bye to Shekhar and Tapur and proceeded his way into the airport. Raina too left with her driver in her own car which her parents had sent directly to the airport.

After finishing all his airport formalities, Neil called Alia, who surprisingly picked up the phone in just one ring.

'Hello Neil. You reached airport? Ma - Baba left you? Done with all your formalities?' Alia asked the minute she picked up the phone.

'Gosh Aloo, so many questions. Yes I am done with my formalities. Are you okay? Not sad anymore?' Neil asked.

'Sad ? Who me? I wasn't sad Neil. Don't give yourself so much of importance.'

'Aloo, don't lie to me. I saw your teary eyes. You can say you miss me. I won't mind.' Neil chuckled.

'Very funny Neil. Then I can also say you were also sad. I saw you constantly looking at me when you sat in the car.'

'When am I denying that I am not sad? I do miss you Aloo and I am sorry for all this last minute shit that happened.' Neil said.

Alia felt satisfied when Neil confessed that he was missing her and she said, 'Don't worry about it Neil.'

Suddenly, Alia's home doorbell rings. 'Neil, I think Ma and Baba are back. I need to go and open the door for them. Have a safe journey back home and message me when you reach.'

'Will do. Bye Aloo.' Neil bids goodbye to Alia.

Neil was glancing over all the photos that he had taken in this past year and suddenly he came across a selfie of him and Alia when they went for Durga Puja shopping. He stared at the picture for good 10-15 minutes and then suddenly he shared it on his social media with the caption "My Best Friend Since Always to Forever <3 #friendsforlife #willmissyouthemost #mycalcuttabuddy #mysafetyblanket"

After few minutes, Alia was checking her social media and she saw this notification of more than hundred likes. She opened to see and was really touched by Neil's gesture. She started reading all the comments and was very happy to read when people wrote things life "Looking great together", "Made for each other" etc.

Alia too liked the picture and commented "<3 Will miss you too Neil".

The moment Alia posted the comment, Neil instantly liked it as if he was just waiting for Alia to give her reaction.

Soon Neil boarded his plane and was on his way to UK.