Soulmates

"Avni, be careful!" exclaimed Aditya. Listening to his sudden voice, Avni was just saved from a road accident.

"Thanks, Adi. You just saved me," Avni sighed.

"And you just gave me a heart attack! Were you blindly crossing the road?" asked furious Aditya.

Avni continued walking towards the college premises as if she did not hear Aditya's question. Aditya, being aware of her situation, chose to remain silent.

During an ongoing history lecture in college, it was one of those rare days when Avni was not answering any of the questions asked by the professor. The brilliant student was lost in her own world. This change in Avni's behavior was concerning for her family and friends. It was only her best friend, Adi, who knew it all.

After the class ended, Aditya asked Avni if she wanted to have her favorite masala tea in the college canteen. Avni denied, and Aditya interrupted her with a question, "Are you still the same Avni? Or did Rishabh take away my best friend with him?"

Avni: "Adi, just stop calling out his name."

Adi: "Can you stop continuously calling out this name in your mind? Can you just stop thinking about him?"

Upon hearing this, she sat down on the classroom table with tears in her eyes. Adi sat next to her, and after a brief moment of silence, he said, "Avni, I'm sorry. But I don't know how I can help you get out of this situation. It's been 3 weeks since Rishabh left the college, and since then, I have never seen you smile. It's not just me; even uncle and aunty are worried about you. You need to get over your break-up and start a new beginning."

After a pause, he continued, "I understand what you have been through. I understand how much you loved him, but now that it's over, you need to move ahead in your life. At least for your parents?"

Another moment of silence followed. Adi's phone rang, but he rejected the call. Avni wiped her tears and uttered in a low voice, "I'll try."

"I'm glad," said Adi.

Avni: "Let's go home, Adi. We are already late."

Adi: "Sure."

Both of them walked towards their homes. They were neighbors, so the path was the same.

Avni: "How's Niharika? She didn't come to college today."

Adi: "Yeah, she has caught viral fever. She'll be fine in a few days."

Avni: "Ohh! Then you should visit her. Why don't you go now? I'll inform aunty that you'll be a little late today."

Adi: "Okay. Sounds good. And what excuse will you give? Some stupid assignments?" (Laughs)

Avni: "Hahahaha! Yeah, something like that."

Adi: "Okay then, I'll leave."

Avni: "Sure, bye."

Adi turned back, but he immediately turned around and asked Avni, "By the way, are you fine? Will you go home alone? Will you reach safely?"

Avni smiled and said, "Yeah, I'll reach safely. Don't worry."

Adi: "Just ping me once you reach home."

Avni: "Sure, buddy."

After saying goodbye to her bestie, Aditya left to visit Niharika (his girlfriend). When he reached her home, he found Niharika partying with her friends. Niharika was delighted to see Aditya

. She gave him a warm hug and welcomed him to the party. Aditya, surprised, said, "I thought you were suffering from fever," to which she replied, laughing, "Not at all, I just wasn't in the mood to attend the boring lectures. I thought if I told you I'm not well, you would immediately come to meet me. And see, you are here."

Aditya smiled at her, but a sudden thought ran through his mind, "I think Avni needed me more. I should have been with her rather than attending this party!"

Aditya reached his home by late evening. He was about to open the gate when he noticed Avni in her balcony with the same sad face. He immediately sent her a message, "You said you'll try?" On receiving his message, Avni started looking around and found Aditya near the gate of his house.

He smiled at her, and she smiled back.

Text from Avni: I'm fine. Did you meet Niharika? Is her fever down now?

Text from Aditya: Yes, she is fine too :-)

Text from Avni: Okay then, see you tomorrow in college.

Text from Aditya: Yup, take care of yourself. Bye.

Text from Avni: Bye.