I thought it was over until it continued to persist.
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Summers of 2023
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Shriya's POV

"Just send me the final draft " , I say to Nikhil, my assistant before cutting the call.

I have grown accustomed to reviewing the accounts when it isn't even my responsibility. I don't know why or maybe I definitely do .

It's that time of the year again when the snow of Mussoorie starts melting along with the asthmatic patients worries .

It's been years but my mind still wanders off to the summers of 2013 . Exactly, 10 years ago on this day , I arrived on that heaven of a place which was to decide my existence for the entirety.

She was A 16 years old girl holding her cardigan to herself as if her life depended on it .
She probably didn't have the slightest of idea what she was getting herself into or what life had in store for her .

Overwhelmed emotions , hot temperament , indecisive and low on life feels - Bizarre - I can't find a better word for her .
And if you ask her now , has she moved on from him ? Maybe not , maybe never coz he was her bestie whom she sought solace in . When she will meet him again , maybe she will hate him , refuse to talk to him but will eventually and again return to his solace .

Coz The antonym of love is not hate but Indifference .

April, 2013

A car stops infront of an one storey building surrounded by a beautiful garden . A slim tender teen girl comes out of it holding on her cardigan tightly followed by a mid - aged lady holding the trolley .

"Shriya why don't you take a stroll around the neighborhood until I clean the house " The mid aged lady speaks .

"Yes , Annie di (sister) " The girl, shriya takes out her mini bagpack from the trolley, hangs it on her back , puts on her earphones and starts walking aimlessly.

The word house did hit her because ofcourse she wasn't in her home anymore and there wasn't a home left for her to go back to .

The roads are clean with cool breezes blowing off . After walking for some minutes , she stops getting interrupted by a group of girls probably of her age .

"Are you new here ? Never seen you here before " One of the girls speaks eyeing her from head to toe .

"Yea"

"Wow those earphones, are they of Sound Magic" The girl speaks .

"Mhmm"

"Lend them to us and we will show you around "

"Sorry , it's gifted " Shriya replies apologetically.

"Arrogant much huh! Rot alone " The teen girls move ahead with this and Shriya continues her walk again trying to not get affected.

After walking for some time, she sits on a bench outside a small store that reads
Music Heals

Warm tears start dropping out of her eyes as she sits there crying hysterically.
An old lady comes out of the store and cups her cheek . Shriya gets touched and astonished by her actions.

"Sorry " The lady speaks .

"For" Shriya speaks between her sobs.

"Such a cute baby of my daughter's age is crying and I don't know the reason to calm her down " The lady speaks with a smile and Shriya stops crying.

She takes her inside the store . The store was loaded with musical instruments and gave vibes of an old vintage store .

"Strawberry shake ?" The lady asks her .

" I don't like beverages or shakes " Shriya answers.

"Chocolate?" The lady again asks and Shriya shakes her head in denial .

"Ice cream ?" Shriya again shakes her head in denial .

"Hmm. Meeting someone for the first time and that also a teen girl who doesn't like chocolates ,shakes and ice cream. It's gonna be tough for your boyfriend " The lady jokes casually.

"I feel the one who cares would search for lillies instead of rose to give me "
Shriya speaks with a spark in her eyes .

"Hmmm . I get it , poetic stuffs " The lady passes her a glass of hot milk and they both talk for some time while drinking it .

"You can come to me whenever you feel distressed. Too old to be a grandma but coolest to a grandma " They both laugh in her this statement and Shriya bids her farewell promising to visit her soon.

"Ohho , where were you Shriya . Been searching for you in the neighborhood" Annie di speaks with concern on seeing Shriya at the door .

"Ahh Nothing, was just strolling around " Shriya speaks while getting inside .

"Wash your hands and eat dinner first , tomorrow you have your first day of school. Your business arrives at 7. Are you excited for it " Annie di speaks excitedly.

" Nope " Shriya speaks with a not interested face and moves back to her room .

Next Day

Shriya wakes up at 6 in the morning and gets ready by herself. She has never been an early person,her entire life . Until her grandmother used to wake her up with morning songs and message , she wouldn't wake up . But here , she didn't want to be a liability to Annie di as she knew she was doing enough for her afterall she wasn't her family but cared for her more than anyone.

" Shriya , take your tiffin" Annie di runs behind her with the tiffin .

" I am taking it today , Annie di . Next time sleep for more and don't do this " She says while taking the tiffin and running up in the bus .

Her bus rude was a quite one . Students were as usual amused by seeing a new student enter the bus but no one cared to introduce themselves to her and Shriya sat alone in the last seat .

She gets off the bus after a while and watches the large building standing ahead of her . It's her new school, the banner reads The Malvern School, Mussoorie. Her grandmother wanted her to be here someday but sadly she is not here to witness her first day . She smiles sadly and enters the school premises searching for her commerce section Class - 11 D

She takes a document from the counter which has her class , section and other details . She was so engrossed in the document that she didn't notice when she tripped on the stairs .

"Ouchh" Shriya let's out a scream anticipating the pain she is gonna experience as soon as her body touches the ground due to her clumsiness.

But when she doesn't feel the pain , she opens her eyes and feels her back being supported by someone's back and her wrists being held up a strong pair of hands keeping her from falling.

"Are you planning to stand " A heavy voice startles her as she stands on her feet .

The other person leaves her hand and leaves when it suddenly strikes Shriya that she hasn't thanked that person .
She turns back to thank him when he sees him already stepping down the stairs with his back facing her .

"Thank you " She shouts a bit loudly making other people eye her but there comes a no reply.

Shriya reads his back side of the Hoodie which reads Ball in the basket is all I care .

Shriya stares at his retreating figure for a while and especially His hoodie .

"Should have seen his face " She murmures to herself before climbing up the stares again.

(Vedang's position in stairs )

..................To be continued

Author's Rant .

fell in love with him at the basketball court . Writing with  my love for him and my  passion for writing. And bcz he is not gonna read it , Kashyap I really adore you , like you and be my friend, you will for sure witness a best friend in me  :)