Adiya's POV

"What is it? Why did you wake me up so early?" I asked Sahil as he stood outside my hut. With a sad smile on his face.

"Don't you remember? Today is my last day of the ashram." He reminded me.

Ofcourse I remember! How much I had dreaded this day!

"Come on let me show you something!" He said as I followed his lead into the dark jungles. The sun had not risen and the moon was clearly visible.

As we reached nearer to the spot, the sound of waterfall became increasingly louder.

"This place has crocodiles!" I tried to remind him but he just chuckled.

"Come!" He pulled my hand and we both dived into the small river with the waterfall.

We students were taught how to swim in the nearby river of the Gurukul. However for some reason, I was given an independent training by Acharya ma probably because I am a girl.

As soon as in dived in, I felt ice cold water paralysing my skin for a moment.

"Don't worry you would get used to it after sometime" Shouted Sahil as he clearly enjoyed the water.

Thankfully water wasn't that deep and I had never felt so relaxed and so alive.

We both ventured near the waterfall where the water sprayed wildly around us and we both laughed like kids getting their new toys.

Soon we started hearing the sounds of the birds and the crickets. It was still a night time but I wondered if we must get out of the river and start walking towards the premises.

"Wait!" Said Sahil as he held my hand  to stop me from walking towards the shore. My back was facing him. He set aside the wet hair from my neck and gently put something around my neck! I looked at it and realised that it was a necklace made of beads!

"Wow it's so beautiful!" I gasped.

"I found these beads over here a year ago" he admitted. "That's why I didn't want you to come here. Because then you would know my secret."

"And there's one more reason" he said.

"What?" I asked.

"I didn't want the other boys to see you drenched into the water" he gave me an intense look.

And suddenly I started  getting self conscious about myself. Realisation hit me. I was wet, the fabric hugging my skin, exposing my curves. I almost got goosebumps thinking about it.

Sahil started kissing nape of my neck. He held me by my waist and then kissed my lips.

There we were, sheltered by the countless stars of the pitch black sky, under the moon light. The roaring noise of waterfalls and sounds of crickets sang for us.

I closed my eyes to feel the moment.I knew I would never get to meet him. I didn't even know his real name. But I would always cherish the memories of his.

We both hugged each other then, feeling each other's breaths. He was like my mentor, my light, my guide and now he was going away from me!

"Promise me! That you would never ever forget me!" I begged him.

"I promise you. That I would never ever forget you! You would always be my first love!" He replied back as he kissed the back of my hand.

"And always remember one thing in your life! You are the most beautiful person in this whole world. Know why? Because you are not just a mere pretty face. No. You have got a strong personality. Never ever underestimate yourself like you always do."

We both came out of the waterfall, walked towards the premises. Throughout the whole way, we were quiet. Happy with each other's company and sad with the thought of parting.

We both reached to our huts. Sun had not risen yet and no one had woken up yet. I hurried to my hut and changed my clothes. I ensured that my worn clothes would dry by morning so that no one would doubt me.

The next few hours witnessed my seniors getting emotional goodbyes from everyone... from our Guruji to Aacharya ma and then from us.

I saw Sahil, walking away with his minimal belongings, and his pet pigeon turning around to look at me for the last time. I gave him a tearful smile. For some reason, my heart knew that we would meet. Soon. Very soon.