Reunion

"I love you," he said in a slow tone...

It all started the day we shared an auto rickshaw. I was returning from college when it suddenly began to rain cats and dogs. I didn't carry an umbrella. My PG was just a 10-minute walking distance, so I decided to wait near the college gate. A rickshaw stopped by me. That's when I first saw him. He said in a hurried tone, "Please get in fast, the rain won't stop soon. You'll get wet." His tone was so calming that I just couldn't say no. I went inside the auto and thanked him. "Oh, no need to thank me, Aisha." I was shocked—how did he know my name? I asked him, "Do we know each other?" He said, laughing, "Yes, of course, Virus." Virus! How does he know this? My school friends used to tease me with that name. Is he one of them? I asked him, with confusion on my face, "What is your name?" He said, "You need to guess it yourself." Confused, I asked him to give me a hint. He said, "One that flies high in the sky and is full of gas." I shouted, "Balloon!" Oh God, it's you! We haven't met in ages! How come you are here? I had so many questions, but he interrupted, "Oh God, calm down, please. Let's go to the Shanti Hotel first. I'm hungry, I didn't have my lunch. Should we?" I nodded, "Even I'm hungry."

We reached our destination in the next 5 minutes. He paid the driver, and we headed to the entrance. It was 6 in the evening, and the hotel was crowded. We went to the terrace of the hotel. "Oh, what a view!" I complimented. "What would you like to have?" he asked me, sitting on the chair. "Anything you wish... but no non-veg." He raised his eyebrow, "What? No non-veg? But you loved eggs and chicken infinitely..." I said in a low voice, "I've been a vegetarian since I joined college. You can have it if you want to."

He called the waiter and placed an order for momos, Manchurian, and noodles. "Did I miss something?" he asked me. "No," I replied, "you still remember my choice." "Yeah, of course, I do," he said. We talked about everything—family, friends, college. He's a student of business management in this city. We had a good time together, accompanied by the spicy food.

Our conversation drifted to school, where we first met. "It was an awesome time," he said, full of excitement. "Yes, of course, and the best part was the 8th class." He nodded in agreement. The blanket of silence surrounded us. It was almost dark, and many people had left...

Finally, he said something that brought the whole past back.

"I never had a girlfriend after school. You were my last choice. I'm still stuck on the same path where we separated..."

"I love you," he said in a low tone.

For the readers. The parts goes like this :

Reunion 

First meeting 

The process of FRIENDSHIP 

Beyond Friendship 

Precious moments 

A tragedy 

Journey ahead 

The present