The Promise

Riya and Anjali had been best friends since kindergarten. They shared everything, their secrets, their dreams, their joys and sorrows. They promised each other that they would always be there for each other, no matter what.

But life had other plans.When they were in tenth grade, Riyas father got a job offer in another city and they had to move away. Riya and Anjali were heartbroken. They hugged each other and cried on their last day of school. They exchanged phone numbers and email addresses and vowed to keep in touch.

For the first few months, they called each other every week, texted every day and video chatted whenever they could. They told each other about their new schools, their new friends, their new crushes.They felt like nothing had changed.

But as time went by, things started to change. Riya got busy with her studies, her extracurricular activities and her new social circle. Anjali felt left out and lonely. She tried to make new friends but none of them could replace Riya. She felt like she was losing her best friend.

They started to talk less and less. Their conversations became shorter and more superficial. They stopped sharing their feelings and opinions. They stopped asking about each others lives.They drifted apart.

One day, Anjali decided to call Riya after a long time. She missed her so much. She hoped that they could reconnect and revive their friendship.She dialled her number and waited for her to pick up.

"Hello?" Riya answered.

"Hi, Riya. It's me, Anjali".

"Anjali, oh,hi."

Riya sounded surprised and distant. Anjali felt a pang of sadness.

"How are you?"Anjali asked.

"I am fine too"

There was an awkward silence.

"So, what's up?" Riya asked.

"Nothing much. Just wanted to hear your voice"

"Oh" Another silence.

"Listen, Anjali. I'm sorry, but I have to go.I have a lot of homework to do."

"Okay "

"Maybe we can talk some other time."

"Sure"

"Bye"

"Bye". They hung up.

Anjali felt a tear roll down her cheek. She realised that they had nothing left to say to each other. They had grown apart.They had broken their promise.

She wished that they could go back to the way they were before. She wished that they could be best friends again. She wished they could keep their promise of everlasting friendship.