Year: 2020

"Only one thing, You can't change in life. That's the change."

He opened the eyes, He's in the same location, the same waiting area where he was waiting for the plane to take off on the same day before 17 years. Everything changed, But one thing which didn't change was the tears in his eyes thinking about their beautiful last few seconds in the same spot. But quickly the speed of time and the responsibility he has now diverted him but the intensity of the pain when his fears finally came true still the same as before. He heard the announcement, He got up from the seat and proceeded the way. The second announcement and his I-phone, He attended the phone call. 

"Yes, Ani. The plane is about to take off." - He replied in the phone. 

"Yeah, I know, It's a covid situation, I am wearing masks and gloves. Looking exactly like a doctor in the operation theatre." - Shivaay said with a chuckle in the phone. 

"And sanitizer in my front pocket. I know you're excited to see me after the whole lockdown mess. Isn't it going too far, Ani?" - He again asked with a chuckle. Before a while, He felt like someone holding his head tightly but now, It's different. After having the conversation with the most special person of his life, He's feeling relieved from all sorts of worries, He has. 

He sat in the plane, Due to the new covid rules, He got the whole row of the seat in the business class only for him. People were socially distanced. He smiled at the change. He never thought a virus has the ability to give a break to the busy world. People got back to their comfortability, Home became the office and weekends lost its charm. But the irritating thing is the mask, He's wearing. He really waiting for that one day when he could throw all the masks he's having from the balcony and breathe the fresh air. 

Last six months, He was literally stuck in London due to this lockdown, and now, He going back to India, Finally. Going back to his family. He took off the mouth mask and kept it away. He ignored the air hostess words who asked him to put on his masks. For the next nine hours, He's not ready to hear anyone's words. He took his Earbuds from his pocket and hanged it in his ears and played his favorite songs one by one in his iPhone. At one moment, He couldn't stop himself going to the past when he tends to hear that horrible news. 

The first few days of the holidays went great, Anika called him as soon as she reached Chennai. And she called him in every stop of her way to the hometown where her parents living. He got to know about the different places in Tamilnadu and its specialty because of that. Once she reached her hometown, The calls he gets from her became limited. But whenever she calls, She summarizes everything which tickled his curiosity to a higher level. But after seven days, She told him that her childhood friend Maran visiting her house and she was too excited about it. She told him that he was the first friend in the school from the First grade. He was jealous but didn't show it in his tone, He conveyed her even He's excited about his visit. But on the next day, She called him hurriedly saying she's coming back as her parents started the preparation for her wedding without consulting her. She said she was ready to elope. He was shocked but supported her every decision, At last, She was doing to live with him.

He immediately called his brothers who were apparently in India, He already told them about anika but didn't meet her in person not even once. He called them and told them about the whole situation, They said, They are waiting for her in Chennai. He conveyed the news to anika. She was ready to elope. And his brothers Omkara and Rudra were waiting in Chennai and shivaay booked his tickets to India. Everything was set, But Anika didn't arrive. 

His brothers called him the next day and conveyed the news, He was shocked, He knew she left the house but she didn't reach Chennai, Yet. He was confused and tried calling Sneha again in the name of Ananya. But he got the shocking news instead which turns his life upside down.

His breath choked in an instant when he relived that moment once again in his thoughts. He felt difficult to breathe. He felt like he's taking oxygen with the help of the nose but his lungs were not responding, He felt severe pain in his chest. He couldn't call anyone for help. His eyes automatically started to shut down, He could tremendously see the darkness frequently in his eyes. He cried out for help but the words didn't help him. By then, He felt the touch in his shoulders from his back row. Everything stopped for a while, Even his pain stopped when he felt the touch he longed for happening in the most unexpected moment. 

"Are you alright?" - She asked him holding his shoulder tighter moving next to him. The darkness, He felt before a while faded away leaving no traces when he heard her voice after so many years. He attempted to open his eyes, He finally accomplished and the smile formed in his lips. It was her, Standing next to him with a worried face. He had no idea, Whether he's hallucinating or not. But at last, He's happy to see her in front. 

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