The Winter Breeze

I could see her long hair, small spectacles, sharp features, and the enchanting smile. The girl coming towards me from far away, I suspected was Navya, my childhood best friend. I came down from my terrace, stood out the main gate, waiting eagerly for the girl to pass and confirm my predicament.

As she was approaching near me, the veins in my forehead were pulsating the way they never did. The moment came, I stared at her and she was Navya as I suspected. For that instant, I just couldn’t think anything else. I smiled.

But she passed even without reacting.

I was taken aback. How could she not react? We saw each other maybe after 7 years. Maybe she was lost deep in thoughts or maybe she was under work pressure or maybe she was so tired that she didn’t look up. I confronted myself by every justification I could think of.

That winter day, the breeze bought my past with winds.

It was the first day of the 3rd standard; I reached school early because I wanted to know if my old friends were still enrolled and if some new admission is my friend. To my surprise, a girl was sitting in the class along with a fracture. She didn’t look familiar. I wanted to talk to her but as I stepped forward and opened my lips to speak, a hand smacked me on my shoulder. I looked back; it was Hrithik, an old mate of mine. I got engaged so much in the talk, the bell ranged, and I didn’t realize.

The teacher came, we wished her and as she knew us because she taught us last year as well, so, everyone needed not to be introduced. She wished us for getting promoted and asked the new admissions to introduce themselves. The girl with a fracture stood up and introduced herself as ‘Navya.’ The teacher told her to sit with me as I could assist her she believed. And that’s how it all started. We spent the whole day together and became friends. We used to share our lunch, bench, stationery, etc. But all this continued only till 9th standard. She suddenly started to remain absent from school for months. I didn’t know why? I supposed she was into some coaching.

I inquired other girls about her, but they also knew nothing. Only Samaira was the one who told me that her father died. After knowing that I tried everything to contact her, but all went into vain.

I got occupied in my studies and then later in my job as a doctor. But somewhere I still was wondering about her.

Getting even a glimpse of her was a marvel. Now I was sure she was alright.

After that day, I saw her passing by my house many times. Every time, I believed she would smile but she even didn’t saw me.

 I got engaged to my love, Manushi. She is my present. I know that I love her but still I cannot stop thinking about Navya. I still wait for her to pass and smile, knowing that she wouldn’t.

Our marriage was fixed on 25th October. Everyone was happy. Relatives started gathering over our house for the Mehandi ceremony. The wedding rituals started with that.

The night before the wedding, I was spending some me-time to prepare myself for the new responsibilities when I was Navya passing by. I thought it was my last chance to talk to her. I screamed from my terrace, “Navya, it’s me Varun!”

As expected she didn’t react. I didn’t know why. I saw her slowly fading in the darkness of the night. Then I went to my room tried to fell asleep, not knowing what the fate of my past and present was and what was waiting for me beyond my fate.