_Life is unpredictable._
_My decisions are more. _
_Now I'm joining strangers._
_On a journey to nowhere._
_With him, who's no longer him._
_I should walk away._
_But what if my feets are too heavy? _
_With unwanted memories._
_Life's a mess, I'm a mess._
_But I'm moving forward._
_No idea what's next._
_But I'm going anyway._
"It was almost poetic." I commented turning the page.
I stood staring at him in surprise before I slowly felt my vision blurring with moisture.
I didn't make any movement before I realized that there was a tear sliding down my cheek in no seconds.
"I found you!" I breathed, wrapping my arms around his waist in a tight hug instantly.
"You've also become so taller than me, just like Dhruv." I muttered, feeling a bit overwhelmed by his broad frame.
As I slowly broke away and took a step back, I took in his appearance.
He wore a leather brown jacket over a crisp white tee, paired with faded jeans.
My gaze wandered up to his chestnut-brown hair, which was perfectly messy, with a few strands grazing his forehead.
At the end, I went for the best thing.
His eyes.
His charcoal eyes that were still as calm as ever as he stared at me.
Only then, I realised, his whole face was calm. Or more like emotionless.
"Don't tell me you didn't recognise me." I said pointing my index finger at myself in disbelief, stepping closer to him.
"Look carefully.." I said standing on my toes to come almost head to head with him and looking in his eyes with my enlarged once.
"I can give you a very big hint if you say please." I spoke again before realising it's only me who's reacting and he's been standing like a stone with his both hands in his pocket.
That means he really didn't recognise me.
Or no way he wouldn't jump and scream loudly in excitement like I'm controlling myself from.
"Remember?" I sighed finally getting down on my feet again after it started paining.
I shook in a sharp breath when he took a step closer to me and suddenly bends down.
"You're older than me idiot! You don't need to touch my fee..." I tried my best to act like I never spoke when he stood straight again with my camera in his hand that I had dropped.
"You broke the lens." He observed my camera after picking it up and tapping the dust off it if any.
I didn't extend my hands to take it back from him cause I was too invested in staring in his eyes and wondering the possibilities of if he really didn't recognise me.
Have I really changed so much?
But even if I've changed whole, my eyes haven't.
Couldn't he tell by that? Like I did?
I kept staring in his eyes don't know for how long, but I see nothing. He's looking at me too, but.. it's like...he's looking right through me, but not me.
He looked away soon when a guy appeared from soemhwere and nudged him on the shoulder.
"Yeah, I was waiting for you. Here." He said handing him a key that was most probably his bike's and helmet. "Let me show you where I parked it." He said giving me a last before going somewhere with him.
He's even learnt to walk in a sexy way.
I slap my cheek lightly.
"He didn't recognise you Dia! Do you understand?" I nodded to my inner voice.
I do.
Dhruv was indeed right then when he said that he won't even remember us.
Dhruv!
I gasped!
Dhruv!
I turned around to look for my bag that I had placed on a nearby bench and pulled out my phone from it.
What am I even doing here?!
I scrolled down till I found his name and called before sticking it to my ear.
THE NUMBER YOU'RE TRYING TO REACH IS CURRENTLY SWITCHED OFF.
PLEASE TRY LAT-
Shit shit shit.
I ended the call and tried again while cursing over the loud train horns peering my ears.
THE NUMB-
No no no.
I kept trying for over six times and finally pulled away the phone from my ear in disappointment and turned back to find him again in front of me.
"Go back home."
Freaking, GO. BACK. HOME.
Is all he said before turning his back on me and stepping inside the train that was standing right in front of me since forever.
Where the hell is he even going without even visiting my home.
Couldn't he even ask me what am I doing this late out alone, that too in a wedding lehenga?
Then I looked at me up and down, I chose the lehenga to be minimalist cause I believed so much that the marriage will be postponed again anyhow, so I could post few pics in it on my Instagram.
So other than this light pink lehenga, I'm not even wearing any jwellery cause I had opened them all in the car earlier, except the few bangles in my hand cause they weren't agreeing to come out.
Even my low styled bun would have become a mess by now.
So I'm nowhere looking like a bride at all but more like a homeless.
Good.
Really?
I don't know.
I again turned to look at the train he went inside.
Will he ever come back if he leaves this time? Or will I ever see him again?
I shook my head internally, what's the difference if he has to act like that?
Now I really hope he didn't recognise me, cause I didn't imagine him to be like this.
15 years.
We met after 15 years and this is what he had to be like?
How dare him order me to go home without knowing my situation?
I can't!
I don't want to go back home..
I have no clothes.
No cash.
I have nothing.
That means I will really have to go back home..
No, what if they get me married the next day?
But then,
I don't know where to go. I got not friends good enough to let me in their house knowing the fact how my father will react to them for helping me in this situation.
Nor Do I dare to go back home.
Ofcourse, I'll have to go back in few days, but not this soon atleast. Now that I'm out, I can't miss this very little moment of freedom.
I again tried calling Dhruv.
"Please utha-" "THE NUMBER YOU AR-" I pulled away the phone from my ear angrily and was about to throw it but soon sticked it to my chest.
This is the only thing I have now, I can't lose this too.
But where do I go now?
I stood there in confusion for several minutes before the train in front of me again blowed a horn signing it's departure.
I turned around and looked at it.
People change.
I turn ahead again but again turn back to look at it cause those two words could not convince me enough.
But friends shouldn't.
"Is this yours?" I looked towards the voice to find an old lady and man standing near the bench I was standing to and realised she was referring to my bag.
I nodded grabbing it and started walking somewhere.
Somewhere. I don't know where. Just not on the tracks atleast.
My eyes casually went inside the bag and widened when I was about to zip it closed.
My camera.
I turned to the train that had not started, atleast yet.
That gold fish can't take my camera with him!
I was about to shout his name but then closed my mouth because it would feel awkward to call his name and show I even remember his name while he doesn't even remember my face.
So dumb, Dia.
I know.
"VYOM!!" I called but he didn't come at the door.
"VYOM!!!" I shouted louder and my I but my lips frustratingly when the train suddenly started, at it's slowest pace so I had to hold the handle of the door he went inside and slowly walk with it too while carrying up my lehenga.
"VYOM!!!" I screamed again and everyone except him on the station and in train was looking at me without popcorns and a guy looked at me before calling someone I think and then he appeared.
"My camera." I reached out my hand to him with an intentional rude voice while slowly running now and he looked at his hand that was still holding my camera then held it out in my hand's direction.
He was just about to put it in my hand and I don't know what, or why, he looked up at my face while raising a brow and that gesture did a little something to me, but what his later act did to my entire body had my blood boiling.
He walked in.
Without returning me my own belonging.
How dare hi-
My thoughts were cut when a hand suddenly gripped my wrist that I still hadn't taken back and the next thing I know is I was pulled inside the train from the other door, forcefully.
"Fuck." Someone hissed when my head hit their head and I rubbed my forehead after instantly stepping back.
"Why would you pull me in without my permission?!" I yelled irritatingly before looking up at the person.
She's so freaking pretty.
Not my fault that's the first thing that came to my mind as I looked at her face and brown orbs before looking down at her maroon cropped top followed by a white cardigan and denim shorts, her black hair with few purple highlighted locks coming downer than her shoulder.
"I..thought you were trying to catch up with the train.. Were you not?" She asked awkwardly.
"No!" I exclaimed turning back to step out but gasped when I saw the speed.
"Don't tell me you're planning to jump down at this speed." She muttered from behind me and I bit my lips to suppress the urge I felt to cry right now and here.
"What will I do now?" I muttered placing a palm at my forehead and turning back to her.
"D-don't stress out. You can get down on the next station." She said in a guilty tone and I couldn't even take out my anger on her now.
I sighed covering my eyes with my palm in defeat.
"It's all because of him!" I greeted my teeth in anger.
"I'm..sorry.." I looked up at her again and shook my head calmly. "You didn't did it intentionally." I mumbled vulnerably.
"Who the fuck are you apologizing to?" Another guy appeared with his eyes on her before it fell on me.
"Someone named, None of your business." She replied not looking at him while I maintained my narrowed eyes at that guy who looked at me with same politeness as I.
"Who's she?" He pointed out at me and I looked at her to know if this is also not his business.
"None of your..." She let out a deep breath. "I pulled her in in a misunderstanding and now she can't get down so we need to look after her until the next station.." She explained then the guy again looked me up and down with narrowed eyes.
I'm not a child, you don't need to look after m--
"Dulha kahan hai tumhara?" He asked my head jerked back to him surprisingly. So I'm not that messed up atleast that no one can guess I was a bride not an hour ago.
"Ghar pe" Maybe.
"Knew it. Bhaagi hui dulhan hai ye. Better stay away from her." I gasped at his confidence and the way he held the girl by shoulder and was about to go before she wiggled out from his grasp.
"Then what? She didn't want to get married so she didn't." She turned to me and put a dramatic hand over my back in an appreciating gesture. "You did right!" I rose my both brows at her in disbelief of receiving appreciation for this thing.
"And yes, it might be good staying away from her, but for only a selfish person like you." She spoke turning to him with her hand now wrapping around my shoulder.
"Do you know where to go?" She asked me and I shook my head before regretting cause it really makes me look vulnerable that I will never accept.
"Okay then, she's coming with us." She offered me a killing smile before turning back to the guy standing right in front of us who did not looked much amazed by her declaration.
"What?" I asked with a scowl.
"You won't feel odd one out. There are many individuals in too. We got the entire coach full with our trip mates. It'll be fun! You'll enjoy." So I did really make mistake by asking what instead of where.
"Don't be dumb, Jhanvi. She can create trouble for all." He again warned and I greeted my teeth in patients.
I would have yelled at him without hesitation to not try to sound over smart if only there was not a chance that my dad's men can really show up anywhere, hence bringing trouble.
"Where?" I asked looking back at her, or actually Jhanvi.
"Manali, it's a 10 days trekking tri-" I replied even before listening her completely. "Can I?"
"No." I scowled and was about to turn to that guy angrily before the voice hit me and I looked ahead to find him standing few steps away from me.
"Guess what? Your opinion doesn't matter." She replied taking off her hand from my shoulders.
I slightly turned my head to her, without straying my eyes from him cause however much I try, It feels like if I look away, He'll vanish.
Just like he did 15 years ago.
"Is he also going with you? Anyhow?" I whispered in her ears and she nodded. "Unfortunately, they both are coming with us." I looked for the other guy who was not at his place anymore.
"What are you doing in here?" Vyom asked suddenly walking to me and I took in a sharp breath.
"Why would I tell you?" I questioned lifting up my chin to look directly into his eyes.
He opened his mouth to say something but then closed back as his jaw tightened.
"Get off the train at the next station then." He ordered and was about to go inside again when I hurried to him and held him by his shoulder, turning him forcefully to me.
"What do you think you are doing while trying to order me around like that?" I glared with gritted teeth.
I couldn't help the sudden pull back of my legs when he leaned so close to my face all of a sudden, ending up at the edge of the train door.
"What do you expect me to do then?" He asked so genuinely as if he really didn't know as I felt the cold air hitting me from the back and my hairs were now coming all over my face.
"Can't I just expect my fifteen year old friend to sit with me for even ten minutes and talk or just.. ask me how I've been doing all these years? Or just.. anything other than this strange ignorance!" I blurted frustratingly.
His eyes wondered all over my facial features. "Not from this friend." He spoke and was about to go and I again hated myself for what I did next.
"Why the hell are you behaving like this? What are you trying to do by acting like you don't know me at all." My voice was shaking by now, and I blinked my eyes rapidly to avoid that moisture in it.
I might be mature by age. But not enough to accept the fact that he's changed.
I've always waited desperately to meet my friend that left me at a cliffhanger in the middle of the night while my eyes were filled with sleep.
I haven't even asked him yet about what I saw in his eyes cause I was too young to recognise it.
He didn't turn to me completely but just looked over his shoulder.
"Go home, Dia."
I'll kick his ass and make him forget the spelling of home.
Soon.
Just not today.
I turned my head to the other side.
"I'm Dia. And if it doesn't bothers you, just you. Other's don't matter. Can I come with you?" She nodded rapidly, and was lucky cause my brain was pissed too much at someone else to smell any suspiciousness in her attempt for hiding that sparkle in her eyes that she failed at.
Miserably.