PIHA'S POV:

I continue driving, though I sense my legs trembling and my hands shivering. I don't know how to feel or how to react. It scares me so much. How can things get so identical?

Frustrated, confused, I turn my car towards Shivajinagar—a locality in Pune—and take the vehicle near the Model Colony Lake. Peeking out of the car, I crawl out as well. There's no one around, and I can continue with my musings for a while here. It's usually this way at the spot. It is considered to be the most peaceful place in the entire city.

I glance around and soak in the familiar surroundings. As silver as a diamond flame, yet soothing, as still as a yogi, the lake in front of me stood in all its glory. The silence around is mostly broken because of the occasional stridulation of insects. But there is one more sound reaching my ears. Glimpsing here and there, I discover the source—it’s the squeak of a squirrel.

I sit down beside a Banyan tree and pull my legs together, closing my eyes. It can't be like this; it shouldn't be like this. Why does everything in this world keep me reminding of Roman? I'm not strong enough to face it. I can't pretend like I wasn't affected—the incident flashes across my mind.

Colliding.

Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine.

You look familiar.

The same raw emotions.

I open my eyes, and a stream of tears make their way down my cheeks. As much as I tried to control it, a sob escaped my mouth too. Why does it have to be me?

"Tell me, Roman, what does this mean? Today, I met your idol, Raghvansh Birla. Do you know? The entire scene was a reminder of the way we met. He looked at me the same way you did. Thank God I ran away. Otherwise, he would have yelled at me. I have heard what people say about him. He does look like an angry young man,” I say, giggling.

Wiping the tears off my cheeks, I glance around the serene surroundings once more.

"Roman, I feel very hopeless today. I have pretty much gotten used to you not being around. Everyone at home takes care of me, but I feel like I need someone who can be with me, who can understand me, in front of whom I can be my vulnerable self, who is as messed up as I am, who will understand my pain and not just say it's okay.

"I miss you, Roman. I miss you so much, not as my partner but as my best friend who would make me feel safe, make me feel beautiful, who would tease me and comfort me.

"I can't deal with this loneliness anymore. It makes me feel sad; it breaks me from within to know that I can never have someone like you. People in this world aren't as good and pure as you are. It feels as if I'm just living. I don't have an aim; I don't have a path to follow. I'm lost, Roman.

"Tell me; what do I do? Where do I go? Come back, please, come back!" I yell like a psychopath.

My shrieks reverberate in the surrounding, echoing multiple times over, only to be interrupted by the ringing of my phone.

Di.

I disconnect the call and send her an audio message via Whatsapp. "Give me ten minutes, okay? I'll be home."

__________________

"Pihu, sit down and tell me how your first day was?" my mom asks me, not forgetting to add a tinge of dramatics.

Dad chuckles at her cuteness, and she glares at him.

"It was just studying reports. I didn't have any appointments," I say, grinning. "I enjoyed it. It felt very nice to forget everything that happened and get back to what I love."

That was a lie. I didn't forget anything. There wasn't a moment Roman left my thoughts.

But they look happier than me, content with my answer. They proceed to feed me dinner, probably worth a thousand calories. I chuckle at their special treatment.

My Mom takes salt in her fist and circles my head a few times. Seeing the superstition she believes in, I break into fits of laughter. I can't thank God enough for this family.

I don't get why some people don't like their parents or family. Everyone has flaws, that doesn't mean you stop living with them or start hating them.

I quickly have my dinner and simultaneously tell Mom and Dad about my day. They grin unknowingly, and that gives me another reason to work harder. I want my parents to be happy and give them the life they desire.

After I'm done, I keep my plate in the sink and join Di, who's busy with some assignments. She passes me a sad smile and raises her eyebrows when I throw her questionable look.

What's up with her?

She gestures to me to sit on the bed and says, "Pihu, did something happen? Your eyes are swollen, and you look a bit flushed."

Why does she have to understand me so well? "I was just missing Roman today." I dramatically gesture and sit on the bed.

"Tell me what happened." She gives me a curious look, and I pull her cheeks. "Ah! Stop! don't change the topic."

"Well, I don't know… whether I should tell you."

"Shut up and tell me." She throws me a warning glare.

"He's the same as Roman, Di," I say as the memory of the man with deep ocean blue eyes flashed in front of me. "Di, the way he was looking at me was as if he was peering at my bare soul as if his eyes were trying to say something, the way he made my heart skip a beat, which even Roman couldn't." There was a hint of sadness in my demeanor.

"Pihu, are you in love?"

I stare at her as if she has grown two horns. "What nonsense? I met him a few hours ago. I've never spoken to him. Anyway, he doesn't seem like someone who's easy to deal with." I sigh. "I haven't thought of a romantic involvement, and I'm not even going to."

"Who's this guy?" Her curiosity was at its peak. I know how she's going to react.

"Raghvansh Birla."

~√~√

Picture note*

Model colony Lake

Piha's parents

Author's note*

Hey, hope you're doing well!
Do vote and leave a review if possible.
The next update will be out on 29th, Saturday.
Take care!