The Last Embrace

“Hey Bhai…hey Bhai…what happened?" the driver is shouting. "A car hit a small boy with a cycle," said a man. “Is he safe? How much time do you think will it take to clear the traffic?” he asked. “Luckily he jumped off the cycle but is injured a little, he needs first aid so it may take some time for the traffic to clear," the man said. “Thank you, sir” he replied. “Dada do you have any first aid kit in our bus?” a soft voice slowly came from the back. "Yes madam" he replied politely. "Dada, could you please take me to the boy? I'm a pharmacist and can help him doing first aid" she said. “Sure madam, please come”. She cleaned his wounds and did a band-aid. “Go to the doctor, use proper medication and be careful when you come out next time” she scolded him softly. “Okay didi, thank you so much," the boy said. Everyone left the place. She placed her earphones and slowly slipped into sleep.

“Radhika didi… please wake up…we are getting late, we will miss the bus…wake up” Kaveri shouted at her sister pulling her blanket. “It’s my first day of college, I don’t want to miss it and we have to arrange my new room at the hostel," said in excitement. “Hmm… I will be ready in 10 minutes, till then check your luggage”, says Radhika getting up from her bed. Kaveri is the younger sister of Radhika who is aspired to study law and it’s her first day of college so, Radhika is accompanying her to the hostel. She is unaware of the surprise waiting for her on the return journey.

“The room is too good and the beach view is awesome, right didi," said with a happy face. "Yeah, it's so pleasant here. But what should I do here alone till the evening?" she asked. “Why don’t you visit your friends and have fun?” she suggested. “Sounds good. I will ask Punit if he is free to join me for lunch or not” she said calling Punit. “We are going out and I will see you in the evening, Okay. Bye take care" she left saying goodbye.

“So, how is your first day? Have you made any friends?” asked her sister returning to the room in the evening. "It's quite a great day and yeah I made a few friends. The lectures are also interesting. Our campus is so clean and green” she replied. "You adapted so fast here. I think I should start now or else I will be late home" she said lost in her thoughts. “He’s here… should I text him that I’m here and leaving in a while? We never spoke after high school, I doubt he forgot me… let’s give a trial” she sighed taking out her mobile. Doubting his reply she finally texted him “Hey, Hi I’m here… came to leave Kaveri at her new hostel… I’m leaving in 20 minutes and will catch the bus at the main bus station”. “Hi my duty is off today and I’m planning to go home” he replied instantly. “So how are you going?” she asked. "I gave my bike to servicing today, so…I have to go in a bus” he replied. She is happy that she got a chance to travel with him, hiding her excitement she asked “Then would like to come with me??” “I have some work, will start when it’s done and it might take an hour” he replied secretly wishing her to wait for him. “It’s okay I will wait at the bus station then. I too have a small work and may also take the same time as yours” she replied faking an excuse to wait for him.

It’s 5.40 pm she is waiting for him. She called him “I’m here. Where are you?" He said, "Yeah coming, 5 minutes away”. Later she saw a tall, dark, strong young man with black hair and big round expressive eyes approaching her. She is staring at him with immense admiration and came back to the world with his “Hello”. “Hi How are you? It’s been a long time…and you look the same Keshav," s

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aid softly. “Yeah I’m good but you are not the same," he said. “Not same?” she questioned. “You look so chubby” he teased her. Both chuckled and got inside.

“So how is your practice? Where have you been posted??” she initiated the conversation. “It’s going well. I was posted in a government hospital, 20 kilometers away from the city. The bus journey and a 24 hours shift are exhausting me daily. So I didn’t get a chance to go home lately” he replied. “What’s your field of interest?” she asked. “I have got some other plans and my MBBS degree is enough for it," he said. “And what’s it???” she asked curiously. “I always wished to join as an army doctor and serve the people," he said clearly. “Sounds great. The serving nation is a noble idea” she appreciated. “Thanks. And tell me about you” he asked. "Recently I resigned from my job. My parents are planning to get me married this year” she lowered her voice. He seemed upset and silence occupied the space.

 “So… if you are not planning to go home today then you wouldn’t have met me right??” she asked breaking the silence. “Seriously…? The text I’m leaving in 20 minutes. What does it mean??” he questioned. She remained silent. “I wanted to go home but not today. And when I received your text I suddenly made up my mind because I don’t want to miss the chance to meet you. Even if I couldn’t make it today, I would have come to see you at least for a few minutes” he cleared her doubts. They are desperate to meet each other as both were traveling on the same cruise of loneliness and missing one another badly. All these years they were hiding the pain behind their smiles. He was humming. "Still you have the same magic in your voice," she said. "Most of my friends don't even know that I sing well. And whenever someone praises me I used to remember my first ever compliment you gave me back then and happily told them that my magic was first discovered by my love" he said remembering the old days. She was amused. "You owe me something and I will take it whenever I get a chance," she said. “And what is it exactly??” he asked. “A hug…that one last hug you missed to give me when we parted our ways," she asked firmly looking straight into his eyes. “I thought of hugging you immediately when I saw you but I hold back myself thinking about your reaction” he replied. They were surprised on learning the fact that their hearts are still feeling the same for each other. They became the same high school children again and enjoyed the company, fighting cutely and holding each other’s hands, remembering the funny memories and their destination arrived, again they missed the last embrace.

"Arrived Chandigarh…arrived Chandigarh. Passengers please check your baggage and get down" the driver shouted. Everyone came out of the bus. She collected her baggage and took a cab to the army hospital. “Excuse me… Hi. I’m Radhika and this is my posting order" she said to the receptionist handing over the letter. “Hi madam. Kindly meet the in-charge doctor, he’s on the first floor, left side third room in his cabin" she replied. "Thank you," she said. She is walking through the lobby to the doctor's cabin, she knocked on the door pushed it gently, and said "Excuse me". A voice replied, "Yes come in". She went inside and was surprised to see the doctor, it is him. “Keshav” she shouted in excitement. He then turned to her and said “Radhika” with double excitement. They came forward and embraced each other without any hesitation. Their souls are filled with happiness by the warmth of the embrace they missed years ago. And a new story is about to begin.