"..Mr. Dhruvjyoti Dutta. This is the final call for Mr. Dhruvjyoti Dutta. Please report at gate no. 3. Mr. Dhruvjyoti Dutta..."
The announcement startled me and I realized that I had completely lost track of time.
Shoving the diary inside the bag, I quickly made my way to the check in gate. Once inside the plane, I was welcomed by an airhostess, her arms folded in a welcoming Namaste and a smile broadly displayed upon her lips. I didn't feel any inclination to return the gesture and instead motioned her with my ticket. She led me towards the business class where I took my seat beside the window.
No sooner had I settled down did the pilot start the pre flight procedures. The seat belt lights came on as the unknown man's voice spoke through the speakers. I held my bag close, feeling the weight of the hardbound diary upon my lap.
Minutes later, I found myself thousands of feet above the ground, amidst the blurry clouds. Looking out the window at the blinding darkness I saw the illuminated world beneath tilt in my vision. I stole my gaze away.
Putting my hand inside the bag I took out the diary. A new wave of heart numbing nostalgia hit me as I saw the inscription upon its cover. I lightly brushed my fingers over the engraving, feeling a chill against my fingers. Then I flipped it open and began reading once more.
As I sat there, turning page after page, images of my childhood flashed before my eyes, like an age old photo album shown on a bioscope. Sid's description of events matched each and every one of the memories that I had not remembered to have retained. It was like recollecting the fragments of a long forgotten but beautiful dream.
By the time I turned the last page over, my vision had gotten blurry. The diary had ended just after our high school farewell party, memories of which were fresh in my mind. I took my spectacles off to clear them, but they seemed spotless. Instead, as I touched my eyes, I found them to be moist.
I got out of my seat and went towards the washroom. My head felt strange. Images swirling in an out of them. Kavya. Siddharth. Their faces flashed before my eyes.
I went in, closed the door and stood for a while holding the sink. Splashing some water on my face I tried to wash off the feeling before coming back to my seat. I put the diary in my bag and put it aside. Then I laid back and closed my eyes.
Over the slow humming of the plane I could hear the cheers and applause from the audience, as Sid and me got off the stage along with the rest of our small group. We had just performed the song 'When I'm Gone' by Simple Plan and that too twice (on demand). I could feel the wet spray of colddrink as we sprayed them out of the bottles. I could feel the pain of those last hugs we shared and the blankness of the hollow promises we made to stay in touch no matter the circumstances. I was there again. Living those moments anew.
Then, suddenly, I saw Dhruv's face. His eyes red with anger and hatred. He stood at my doorway and was yelling at me. His voice loud and clear that cut through me like cold sharp knives. "You betrayed me Dhruv. You betrayed our friendship. I despise the moment I first met you. Infact, I wish we had never met. I fucking hate you." With those words he had stormed out of my house.
There was a heavy lump in my throat as I felt a single tear roll down my cheek. I quickly took out my handkerchief and wiped it off.
"I never betrayed you Sid. Never betrayed our friendship."
The words escaped my lips on their own as the plane touched down on the grounds of Delhi.
