"The Visitor"

Diya: What a surprise Karti!? When did you come back from Surat?

A tall boy stood in the car shed of Diya's house wearing a white shirt and blue denim. He shook his absolutely wet hair spilling water on her. 

Diya(giggled) : I just took a bath dude! Don't ruin my clothes!

Kartik(looked at her) : Get me a towel you fool. 

Diya rushed inside to grab a dry towel and tossed it to him. He dried off his face, hands and legs. He was about to enter the house when Diya snatched the towel from him and started drying his hair. 

Diya: No wonder you catch a cold every time. This must be the way you dry up after a bath. 

Kartik(smiled and closed his eyes): Aaaaah! Are you drying my hair or pulling out them? 

Diya( ruffled his hair): You are supposed to say 'Thank you sweet heart'. 

Kartik(pinched her nose): 'Thank you' is fine. Who is the sweet heart here? I can't find any. 

Diya: See..

Neha(called from kitchen): Why are you guys hell bent on arguing outside? You can get inside and continue the same. Come inside Karti.  

Kartik: Coming Aunty! I can smell something yummy anyways..

Neha: Yep! Veg cutlets. Wait, I will get you some. 

Kartik: Oh my! I am starving. 

Diya(pulled out a chair next to him): How is grand pa? 

Kartik(sighed): He is better. Just a little fracture of the leg and a minor head injury. Doctor says that its sheer luck. Or else, falling off the stairs in this age could have been terrible. 

Diya: Yeah. Actually. Why did you return so soon? I thought you would stay for some more days. 

Kartik: Exams Diya! I don't even know the exact syllabus to be honest. I am going to have a tough time. 

Neha( gave him a plate of cutlets and tomato sauce):  Where are you coming from now anyways? 

Kartik: I went to school to submit my physics record. On the way back, got caught in the rain. There is no way I can walk from bus stop to home without an umberella. So, thought to grab one from here and board the bus again.

Neha: You did good. You don't have to catch hold of that stupid cold again when exams are approaching. Make sure to stay away from rain as well as cool drinks. Clear? 

Kartik(munched on to the cutlet): Yes boss! Uuhhmmm.. Damn tasty! 

'And no football too. You don't need more injuries before exams' 

Kartik( turned back): Hey Uncle! Came early today. 

Diya: Dad!

Nithin: Yeah. Hey champs! 

Neha: Ohho! Brought chicken? 

Nithin(rolled his eyes): Yes. 

Neha: Tomatoes? 

Nithin: Yeah. 

Neha: Atta? 

Nithin(kept the bags from supermarket on the table): Yes! I have not missed anything.

Neha: Ginger? 

Nithin squeezed his eyes shut and mouthed a genuine sorry. He had indeed missed out something this time too. 

Diya(chuckled): Oh no. I thought you really did win this Dad.

Nithin: Very close this time dear. Just a minute. 

Neha caught hold of Nithin's hand before he could go to market again. 

Neha: Its okay. Its not that urgent. No need to go now. Sit and have cutlets. 

Nithin(smiled): You made them? 

Neha: Yeah. I did.

Nithin(turned to Diya): Make sure you always demand all these from your Mom. I can have some delicious stuff! 

*

*********

The evening was a complete laughter riot and had lots of fun. Rehaan also joined them as soon as he came back from his football match at school. Diya and Kartik also discussed about their study plans for the next three months. 

Expectations are dangerous. They stress you out yet make you work hard. They pressurise you yet motivate you. Once you don't fulfill them, they demoralise you. This was the peroid of life when people - especially their families had started to grow hopes and expectations on them. Hence, they - like every high school graduating student were tensed. 

Kartik was Diya's classmate. Her dear friend who stayed just a few kilometers away. He used to randomly drop in to her house whenever he passed by which maintained a steady friendship. The rain had subsided and Diya walked off with Kartik till the bus stop. 

Kartik: So, what did you do in the morning? 

Diya: Just whiled away the time. Watched the rain. 

Kartik: What is there to watch in rain? It just dampens everything Diya. See my clothes. Stupid rain. 

Diya(smiled): Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. 

Kartik(sighed): You and your philosophy! 

Diya: No. They are some emotions which only some people can understand. 

Kartik(smirked): Like Abhi?

Diya: Yeah. Sorry who?

Kartik(laughed): Like Mr.Abhishek Menon. Oh..you may not know him right?

Diya(looked at him shockingly): You..How.. 

Kartik(winked): I enjoy this more than you enjoy rain. 

Diya: Enjoy what? 

Kartik: Knocking out the air from your lungs!

Diya: Karti yaar! 

Kartik broke down to fits of laughters soon accompanied by Diya herself. However hard she tried, she was not able to get more details from Kartik regarding how did he knew this. She readily took a promise from him about keeping this a secret between them. 

Promise. This simple word once meant everything to us. Breaking a promise was considered the most difficult task until people invented breaking hearts. There was immense trust hidden behind each of those promises. But then, as time passed by, people unlearned the good and mastered in the art of lies. Innocence is something that should be never forgotten or left behind.

Diya(sighed): When is Asha aunty coming back?

Kartik: Mom will be back the day after tomorrow early morning.

Diya: Do you want me to bring lunch for you tomorrow? 

Kartik: No no. Thats fine. I will manage on my own. 

Diya( saw the bus coming): Then, come over when ever you feel hungry. You can do that at least. 

Kartik(standing on the steps of the bus) : Sure. Where else will I go? Bye! 

**********

As the exams neared by, the number of special classes or more specifically, 'clear-the-doubts' sessions were huge in number. Students went to schools for about two hours before every exam for a last hour fresh up of the chapters. Diya and all of her friends worked really hard for this life changing exams. 

Kajal : I am so done with Physics. 

Diya(sighed): So am I.  

There came a fair and tall boy with neatly tucked in uniform. He wore rectangular frameless specs and a charming smile. He came and bent his head to have a look at Diya's book. 

'What is the problem? Let me try helping you.' 

Diya looked up and swiftly glanced sideways to meet the teasing eyes of Kartik who had just now lifted his focus from his notebook at this turn of events. 

Diya(looked up again): Conservation of momentum. 

Abhi sat down next to her and Kajal explaining the derivations and complex problems. Diya stealthily looked forward and saw Kartik mimicing her loud heartbeats with actions - Dhak dhak. Dhak Dhak. She threw a stern look at him pleading him to stop this. Kartik blinked his eyes and asked her to focus on the book. She suppressed her smile and shifted her gaze to the notebook in front of her as well as the handsome face next to her. 

Kajal: This looks way better now dude. Thanks Abhi. 

Abhi: Anytime dear. 

Diya: Still, I am scared. 

Abhi: Don't worry. You will do well. 

He blinked assuringly at her instantly bringing out her genuine smile. Diya got up from the seat and suddenly slipped backwards stumbling due to the legs of the chair. Before she could hit her back on the desk, she was caught by Abhi in a flicker of second. He instantly steadied her and asked her if she was okay. She nodded in a yes and went to Preeti at the back of the class. Kartik came near her and pulled her up from her chair. 

Kartik(whispered in her ear): What an awesome way to learn physics!

Diya(raised her eyebrows): Huh?

Kartik:  Yeah. Free - fall. 

Diya: I just slipped okay? 

Kartik: Did I say no? 

Diya: Karti! Shut up. 

She walked backwards and turned only to collide with Abhi yet again. 

Diya: I am sorry. 

Abhi: Thats okay. Are you fine? 

Diya: Yeah. 

Abhi walked past her and Kartik came rushing to her. 

Kartik(in mild whispers): This must be a 'perfect collision' right?

Diya(pulled his ears): And this is the property of 'elasticity'. 

Kartik(shreiked): Aaaah! Its paining!!

Kartik sidehugged her and laughed with her not before teasing her unknown to everyone. 

Kartik: Now thats enough for today. Come, let us leave. And tomorrow, soon after the exam you are going to explain me the meaning of those poems in English. 

Diya: As you wish. 

Kartik(smiled): Good girl. Come, lets leave. Kajal? 

Kajal: Yes? 

Kartik: Shall we leave? 

Kajal: Yep. I am coming. 

**********

'You wrote this?'

'Yeah. What happened?'

'Give it to the school magazine yaar. It's beautiful.'

'Anyone can write this. What is so special about it?'

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It's almost half an year since I updated this. Sorry guys. Will try hard not to be late anymore.. 

Lots of love
Megha 💞