A Chance Reunion
Avantika wasn’t too keen on going to the school reunion. Mostly because she would have had to face him. Even though it was over a decade ago, she still felt heavy about what had happened. But Mudita insisted they go since she was very excited to meet all our classmates after so long. Of course she would, she was friends with everyone. She kept in touch with everyone even after high school was done.
Avantika, on the other hand, was simply glad she got out of that place. She purposefully cut contact with everyone the day she left high school. That place left her with bad memories and a ton of guilt. However, no matter how much she tried, she couldn’t get rid of Mudita.
Mudita was Avantika’s safe space since she was 10 years old. Mudita always took care of Avantika. However, Mudita couldn’t save her from what had happened. As much as she loved Mudita, Avantika wanted to lose contact with her after the debacle. However, Mudita did not leave her alone. Avantika regretted the months she was away from Mudita. But Mudita never held Avantika accountable for what she had done, and over the years they got close again.
She had forgotten what had happened and now this reunion brought back all the memories she had painfully repressed. Avantika looked at herself in the mirror and took a deep breath. It was all too long ago and she had wasted a good number of years on that. She was finally in a place where she was proud of herself. She had a reputable job, a good place in the city, and finally in a good mental space.
It’s just for a few hours, she thought to herself. She can do it, even if it might be a little or a lot uncomfortable. She had so much to show and she will not be afraid this time.
Mudita had everything planned to the T. They would attend the reunion and then make a road trip out of it. Avantika liked the idea as well. She needed a break from her work. The last project she worked on drained her. Now that that was successfully completed, she wanted to put work away for a while and focus on relaxing. Even if it meant attending the reunion.
Mudita and Avantika thus started on their first-ever road trip. Mudita had recently learned to drive and Avantika was a seasoned driver. They had decided to start their day early from Bengaluru to Hyderabad, planning enough pit stops so that they both could drive enough and take breaks to rejuvenate.
Their first stop was a small hole-in-the-wall idly shop on the national highway. It was not any bigger than your average living room, run by an old couple, Hari Anna and Lata Akka. This place was suggested by one of Avantika’s colleagues who she had a little crush on. He was a blue-eyed Australian who had now lived in Bengaluru for over 8 years and had pretty much become a Bengalurean at heart. He had mentioned about this place in one of their conversations which Avantika had slowly typed down on her notes app. Now, here they were.
The place stood up to the hype. More than 20 people were waiting outside the joint and about 15 were seated inside. Mudita was skeptical about waiting but upon her friend’s convincing she decided to stay back. This was going to soon prove to be either the best or the worst decision of her life so far.
The queue moved at a rapid pace. Lata Akka was a master at the cashier’s counter while Hari Anna ensured his two helping hands got hot steaming Idlis and chutney onto their customer’s tables at a rate of knots. Avantika was lost in thoughts when a familiar voice snapped her back to reality. Almost shocked her back to reality.
A whiff of a familiar cologne caught her attention. She immediately knew what, or rather who was on the other side. A million memories rushed to her mind. She turned to look back and there he stood. Leaning on his bike, speaking to his friends, passionately about something. “No, this cannot be happening” she exclaimed dragging Mudita closer to her. Mudita, befuddled, “What?”
Avantika responded, “Shaurya, Shaurya is standing behind you”. Mudita slowly turned to look at the reason Avantike became sheltered and reserved. Mudita had half a mind to give Shaurya a good whack on his face but held back for the sake of Avantika. As much as Avantika loathed Shourya, Mudita knew Avantika still held him close to her heart.
Mudita suggested they leave the place immediately but Avantika was adamant. “We were here first and I am not leaving here until I have had my idlis,” she declared albeit with a shaky voice. Mudita turned Avantika away so she wasn’t facing the guy who broke her heart into a million pieces. She quickly diverted the topic so Avantika didn’t have to focus on what had happened.
Fortunately, they were called in to be seated and Mudita thanked their lucky stars. Mudita didn’t remember what had happened. No matter how hard she tried, Avantika never opened up about that time. It broke her so much that Avantika even tried to push Mudita away. But Mudita knew her friend needed her. So she stayed, however hard Avantike tried to cut her away. They quickly finished their food and quietly left the place, not before giving their compliments to Hari Anna and Lata Akka for the wonderful food they served.
Avantika and Mudita ran to their car, but it was all in vain as they saw Shaurya standing there, waiting for them. Mudita held Avantika’s hand, afraid she might have a breakdown. Surprisingly, Avantika stood strong. Together, they slowly approached the car. Avantika went past Shaurya to the driver’s side.
“Avantika”, Shourya called. There was so much history and heaviness in that one word. Avantika did not stop nor turn back to see what that was about. Mudita could see defiance on her face and felt proud of her friend for coming a long way. Shaurya ran to catch up with Avantika and stood in front of the car, blocking Avantika.
Avantika finally looked up meeting Shaurya’s eyes. She had been preparing for this moment all her life, but she never expected Shaurya’s eyes to be filled with so much regret, guilt, and love. Avantika almost faltered. While her heart forgot, her mind didn’t. She had given him her heart, time, and effort. He threw it all away and mocked her. Above all, he didn’t have the guts to say it to her face.
“Avantika”, Shaurya called again. “I have searched and searched everywhere for you. The past 10 years without you have been hell. I was hoping and praying that you would come to the reunion so I could finally tell you what happened and how I feel about you. Please give me a chance to explain.”
Mudita wanted to intervene to save her friend but she knew it wasn’t her place to. Moreover, something in Shaurya’s voice stopped her. His words sounded sincere and she could see he meant every word he said. She was, however, fully prepared to butt in if things went awry.
Avantika stood still. If she was angry, she did not show.
“I am sorry. I know it doesn’t compensate for the time and tears you lost but that is all I can offer besides an explanation. I am extremely sorry for putting you through all that shit. I had no idea what happened. It was all Aryan’s doing. He did it to hurt me,” he continued.
“Why would Aryan, YOUR best friend, lie to me about you bad-mouthing me to your girlfriend?”, Avantika continued. “I trusted you with my secrets and you spilled them in your little gossip group.”
Shaurya, visibly upset, pulls out an old phone. He says “I have kept this phone for 10 years just to show you what actually happened” Almost on the verge of tears, he continues “My so-called best friend Aryan, and when he realized that you liked me, he went behind my back to sabotage us because he liked you. Here, I took this phone from him when he confessed what he had done to me 6 months after you left the college.”
Avantika was perturbed by all this new information and thousands of questions grew in her head with each moment. She collected herself and asked “But why would Aryan do that? Why would he suddenly confess to something like this?” Shaurya, wiping a tear from his eye says “While he betrayed me, he still loved me and he couldn’t see me be depressed and lonely”
Avantika’s gaze softened. Mudita who was standing afar, watching them like an audience was getting eerily curious too. She moved closer and asked “Why were you depressed? Why did Aryan do what he did?” while taking the old phone from Avantika’s hand and checking the messages that Aryan had sent to their friend group. Avantika nods in agreement and asks “Yes, why?”
“It is because…” he stuttered “because I was in love with you, Avantika.” His voice now shaky, he continues “I’ve been in love with you for as long as I can remember. Aryan knew he would never have his chance with you had I confessed my love to you. So instead, he childishly decided to do the worst thing he could”
“I love you, Avantika. And if I lived a million lives I would find you in each one of them”
Avantika’s heart skipped a beat. The millions of arguments she had in her head over the years ended with him confessing his love for her but hearing it from his mouth made it a million times better.
“I have always loved you too, Shaurya. I still do and I always will. I have lived my whole life in the moments we shared. I have spent my every waking moment thinking of you. I am in love with you, Shaurya”, Avantika admitted shyly.
Shaurya took her palm and pulled her into a tight hug. It was filled with thousands of words that went unsaid over the past decade.
It was a good 10 minutes before Mudita cleared her throat. “You guys do know that we are getting late for the reunion, right?”
“For now”, smiled Avantika, letting go of Shaurya.
The three of them then got into the car, with Mudita driving, and Avantika and Shaurya in the back seat, holding hands. As the car picked up speed, there was a serene smile on Avantika’s face that Mudita hadn’t seen in a long time. Mudita knew she could now sleep peacefully, knowing Avantika was finally happy.
As for Avantika, her heart finally found its place. She got her miracle. Her true love appeared in front of her and confessed his love for her. She knew she was going to cherish every second with him.
Suddenly, the reunion didn’t seem so bad to Avantika. She was looking forward to it. She knew she was going to love it
Greeshma Sunkari