❝  It's not an end.
It's neither A Beginning.
It's just the end of the beginning.
Saw him just once for the first time, positive to never see him again,
But Destiny already had made the plans."

It was the first time when we met...
Then we met again, & again...
It was our Destiny...

Our Heart's chosen a crazy way, &
We realized What Falling In Love Is...❞

_____________________________

MEERA'S POV

It has almost 5 months since I started my academics at 'Trinity's University, Ohio. '

I get along well with Jenny and Tara. They are like my family now. We usually hang out together on Sundays with some other classmates.
Life's peacefully hectic with college assignments and work commitments.

Making new friends isn't my USP but I don't stop trying. I get along well with all, but I prefer not getting involved personally. I hate being cheated and deceived and most of all I hate liars.

Hence, I don't actually have a good rapport in making Boyfriends and I gave up doing that about 3 years ago.
Coz, If having a boyfriend just gives you security and belief that there's someone loving you out there and you won't die single, then it's crazy.

I don't want a security, I want a person who just makes me feel special with his presence around and loves me for who I'm, rather than transforming into a person that I don't wanna be.

That's what I've observed and experienced. People change when they are in relations and for what it's worth it's a change for worst.

Long story short, I stay aloof most of the time. It's not that I'm proud of that but that's how I'm.

Jenny informed me the other day about our neighbouring University, which happens to be a renowned Film School. That's what everyone call it.
It's Academy Of Film Arts.

One of the best in the country. It's an intriguing topic, always for me. I loved watching movies and most of the credit for that goes to my sister. One of the other reason why I wanted to line my own skills in that direction.

Mostly we had our classes four days a week and Jenny was with me since the lunch break. She had some work so she left. Our designing professor had called me for a meeting. I quickly had my ham and cheese sandwich and went to his cabin.

It was on the first floor of our vast spacious building.

" May I come in Sir? " I asked like a 7-yr old little girl.

It was too formal but after all, we were students and that's how students behave.

" Of Course Meera. I called to inform you that since you have been one of the most consistent student till the mid term you're selected as a volunteer to assist the selected team of University. The 'Mentors', as we address them happen to be in their final year. "

I was bewildered. It was a great opportunity. The Masters was a 2 year course and getting such an opportunity in the very beginning sounded great.

And Yes! Of course, I was excited. I didn't know what work I was to be entitled but I felt so overwhelmed.

" So sir, what is the task? "

" It's just that we are helping the Film School to organise their annual event. The trustees happen to be close friends.

In this you have to volunteer the Mentors with your skills in building up the entire setup for their event with your expertise in your designated area. This job will bring a great responsibility on you. You'll get all the help from the other professors. Also, since the event takes place in their campus you will be working there itself. Don't worry about the academics, we'll help you out with it. The event is really important to them as well as to us as you all are representing us. " I nodded as he explained me.

" Ya sure sir, I understand. And it sounds great. "

" So the preparations will began from tomorrow. Your team leader is Alan Anderson. He will feed you in with the extra details. And Jenny is also selected. Catch up with them. It's a big event which involves stars, coming in from Hollywood - Bollywood and glamour. So, Enjoy. " He explained in his american accent.

Hollywood-Bollywood gel well but organising an event involving both the parties isn't gonna be a piece of cake.

" Thank you..."

I was happy that Jenny was also with me. Alan seemed a decent guy. I knew him. Hope we all can make up a good team. I was excited to meet the others too.

I texted Jenny and she was equally rejoiced. Tara was more than excited hearing about the event since it involved working closely with celebrities, which of course wasn't true completely. It's cheesy though but I happened to be looking forward to it.

I called mom to inform her about this. She felt good that I was involving myself socially and was not that isolated which scared her for some reason.
Work in office was at a slow pace so I was able to juggle between all these things. But now I knew that work load was going to increase. I had to gear up for it.

🌟🌟🌟

" Tara, wake the hell up. It's my first day for our new project. Why do you always have to spoil my first days? If you are not getting your butt out of the bed at this instance then I'm leaving now....."

" Yes, ma'am..." She shouted.

Finally after all the fuss, Tara and I headed towards our respective Universities.
I was running 15 mins late, again. I ran towards the class room and saw the team members waiting.

" Sorry guys..." I was panting. It was awful on my part. And, moreover I was sweating profusely. The weather here can be extreme at times, and today it wasn't in my favour.

" It's Okay... You aren't the only one. Jenny is not to be seen either." Alan sighed.

Thank God I was not the only one who was late. Our team comprised of 3 Mentors along with 4 volunteers with included me, Jenny Stan, Ron Cameron and Adam Gills. We all were of the same year and I knew them pretty much well. I felt proud for that part. I wasn't that aloof after all.

Ron was always teased coz of him being a namesake with Ron Weasley from HP. He wasn't a red head though neither was he as dumb but Yeah! He was Ron and that was all that mattered.
And we have HP Fans all around the world for that matter.

Along with Alan Anderson there were Rohan Arora and Bob Smith in the experts faculty. I was well acquainted with them. I didn't share a brief talk with anyone other than Jenny but I was hopeful that we can make a good team.

" Hey! Guyzz Sorry.... I'm late coz I forgot my car keys... "

" Oh! Stop lying... We all can see your extra makeup face. Why don't you just say that you were busy getting all decked up to impress the those douches from the Industry..." It was Ron as always. He and Jenny end up quarrelling with no reason.

He wants to rebuke Jenny Coz she's always a nuisance to him. I wonder how we all are gonna work together. It's going to be difficult but rather more of fun.

" Enough, Ron... Stop fighting like 5 Yr Olds. No one wants your opinions. By the way... " Bob said.

" I think we are all 30 mins late. We need to be there by now. Let's Get going as we have only 4 weeks to plan the entire thing. Hurry up... We can't disappoint our Dean. " Alan shut them up.

He was correct we had to hurry. Our Dean, Mr. George was a perfectionist. We had to keep our levels up to the mark.
So we all set out for our goals. We had to meet the team in charge of their University to verify all the plans and blue scripts.

We started walking towards their campus, it was only 10 minutes walking distance from our campus.

We were just about to enter the through the gates when Alan spoke,

'' Hey! Shit. I forgot the planning sheets in the discussion room..... We have to show them today. Meera, I have faith only on you that you will be back in a jiffy. Please can you get it. I have kept those on the desk itself. Can you fetch them?" I looked at him like 'Really?'

" Ya, of course. " I didn't have a choice after all.

" We'll be gathering in their Activity Room. Be quick. " He yelled as I briskly walked.

" Don't go roaming, Meera." Jenny commented, giggling.

I hate all these meeting malfunctions. But then I ran with godspeed to reach our premises. The discussion room was on the third floor. I didn't have the leisure time to wait for the lift and took the stairs. There laid the file on the desk. I was already sweating, puffing and panting. It wasn't a good feeling.

It's so ironical that, that piece of paper doesn't even know how valuable it is for me today. It was clicking 9:55 on my wrist, which means we were almost 1 hr late. I ran towards the desk almost tripping and slipping as if there's butter all around me.

Why all such things happen to me only, I wonder some times. Anyways I had to rush. Then I saw a pendrive lying on the chair.

Oh God! How could Alan forget the pendrive? It had the presentation on which we worked till late night. Oh! Our hard work. Thank God I noticed it.
Grabbing all the stuff in my sweaty palms, I ran, again.

The university which was 10 minutes away seemed miles apart now. Perspective changes fast, with respect to the situation.
It always happens. Whenever we want to desperately reach somewhere, the place seems too far beyond our reach.

I was exhausted. Finally, the iron gates came into picture. I rushed inside the huge campus.
I realised that I didn't know where the Activity Area was.

GOSH...

There building is a huge and wide one, running in all the four directions with a quadrangle in the middle and never ending corridors.

Why the hell I don't see any alive soul around?

I searched the ground level running in all the directions when I finally came across a board hung on the wall.
My eyes fell on the word Activity Area. It was in a white print, quiet noticeable for that matter.

And I was choked to see that it was on the Fifth floor, that too West Side. Where the hell was West Side and the elevator?
Was I the only one around here? I couldn't find a single person to help.

What was it here? A Curfew?

I could only see the welcoming stairs right in front of me next to the board. They were glowing like those golden stairs which are a gateway to heaven. I felt it was a vital option.

I climbed up till the Fifth damn floor like a madman. Then I saw a long corridor stretched in two directions.
Finally, the four stretched ones merge into two.
I was tired. I got irritated.
Why the hell they make such large schools.
Where to find West side? Can't they clarify it by putting up the sign boards?
How uncreative, who says that they teach 'How to Make Movies' here, when they can't do such a simply thing.

It's the 5th floor and still no sign of any students. I feel the alien here.

Aarghh.... I need water. My throat is a dry barren desert.

The sunlight through the long French windows was making the entire floor glow in its illuminous, painting streaks of yellow and orange stripes. I took a moment. I realized that it had the most beautiful view from here. The green patches of fields were looking like a painter's canvas of picturesque scenery with butterflies. Our University was visible on the opposite side and far behind I could see the Cleveland Skyline far away. We were quite a few miles away from the city centre, towards the countryside.

The breeze was cooler here and swayed my hair. The sun wasn't blazing anymore, it was calmer now. Perhaps because I was at peace for a moment. I pushed my saliva down the parched throat and stared at the sun rays.

Then it suddenly struck to me.

Shit!

The sun!!! It was the East Side. The sun was shinning in the East. That means the West side was just opposite to it. I just had to cross the corridor.

Whipeee!!

I felt like I had solved some kind of mystery. The happiness was beyond explanation. I was neve so relieved.
I ran to reach my destination with full vigour and zeal. With the energy the sun had imparted. It felt good.

I was so engrossed in running through the corridor when suddenly I felt a hard push on my right side. It gave a hard pain in my head as well as my arms. My files fell down, well the pages were filed so it wasn't a dramatic fall with papers flying around, it was a painful one, crushing my left hip.

I had bumped, or rather crashed into someone, that too someone so muscular that the push made me to trip off my route.

" Ouch! Do you have eyes for button? Can't you see and walk?" I yelled without even looking at that person.

I was helping myself up. I was burning with anger. I picked up the fallen files.

" Are you blind or is this some garden? It's our school not a playground where you can Jog, this bright beautiful summer morning. Are you insane? A person looks up and walks but I think you happen to be an exception."

How can he speak to me like this. I got up and shouted.

" Didn't your school teachers teach you some manners. It was all your fault. Can't you see and walk around. You Idiot..." I was perspirating, I was late, I was hurt and adding fuel to the fire I was furious.

What the hell was he? A bulldozer?

Or Did I just hit Mike Tyson?

Finally, I saw him through the glistening sun, as I turned around. Our eyes met, flooding with anger.
He was no Mike Tyson though. But, he was definitely a 5'11 and well built. No doubt, and I was still in the pain.

" How dare you call me that... You were the one running straight like in a horse race without looking around. "

I couldn't deny that fact but I'm not accepting defeat, that too from him.

" Coz, You are one. And How dare you call me insane. Look, I'm already late for my meeting. I don't speak to brats like you. Move your shitty shelf away I need to go...
I swear, next time when we meet I'll teach you some manners, on how to speak properly... "

" I'm also not free to chat with arrogant people like you. And about teaching me, first look how you talk with people when you are at fault too. Even, I'm preoccupied with work. And who the hell are you? I haven't seen you before? W-Wait... I get it. You're that mysterious night thief stealing our midnight cheese sandwiches..." He said in a stealthy manner.

" What? Do I look like a thief? " He is surely a crack peice.

" You're behaving like one. Running through the corridors. Also, not a trait of a person who's here for a meeting. "

Shit! Why am I even listening to him?

I threw a disgusted look at him. Turning around I started walking, it wasn't a run anymore.

I made peace with the fact that I've burnt enough calories early in the morning. I'll walk to the room now.

" If you're looking for the cheese sandwiches, you won't find'em. I found a place protected by the Gods. "

" Whatever.." I said, rather yelled.

Really?
Cheese sandwiches? Do I look like a sandwich thief?
And a place protected by Gods.

What a douche, drama queen he is?

Film makers and their imaginative heads with weirdest stories ever.

I'm surely I'm at the right place now.
His entire face shouted that he was into film making and perhaps a part of him could be an actor, but I don't think so.

I was pissed but then cheese sandwiches was rather funny if given a thought. J like cheese sandwiches.

Then, Finally, I saw it. Activity Room, it was written outside a gigantic Room. The feeling of finding it was beyond my scope of expression. As if 'The Room Of Requirement' was finally found after tripping, falling, perspiring, crashing and being accused of stealing midnight cheese sandwiches.

I look at the watch said it was 10:15.

I gushed inside saying my apologies, "Sorry, I'm late. An Idiot bumped my way..."

" Sorry, I'm late. An arrogant girl got in my way..."

At the same instant I saw him entering through the other comparatively smaller door across the rear end of the vast rooom. We spoke almost simultaneously . He was on the other diagonal side. Again our eyes met. There was this weird air of tension between us although we were meters away. Other occupants in the room were busy glancing both ways.

We both were panting with heavy breaths, while our foreheads were dripping with beads of salty drops. I was still looking his way and he was looking towards mine.

Frustration was transparently visible.

I hoped that it was the last time I saw his face when we crashed but actually it was the very first time.

The Crash Was Just The Beginning.
The Journey's Not Gonna End So Soon.

------------------------------

Hey! Guys...

So, Meera & Kush finally meet or rather its a Crash.

Next Chapter : 🔜

Till Then...
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Luv... ❤️
Vruksha.