The calm of love in the midst of a storm!
The chilly winter mornings of the 90’s.
With changing weather and the longing to discover the plans that the future holds for them, Avantika, Aryan, Mudita, and Shaurya set out to live the last day of their school life. Time spent together with your best mates is always precious- especially when those times have been from the start of your school life.
Friendships and school life go hand in hand. These institutions hold the core of building our personalities for the better or for worse. Our 4 protagonists are no exception. With the journey of almost 12 years as friends, they couldn’t hold each other any dearer to their lives.
Connections were real and times were different.
As they all set out to define their lives in the next phase, a lot of emotions and decisions crept in. The feeling of leaving everything behind and starting a journey without their support systems seemed scary.
Avantika and Mudita, two sisters, planned their lives around their parents’ wishes. The best of lifestyle and the best of education pushed them to achieve far more than they could have ever imagined.
On this last day, announcing their plans to Aryan and Shaurya, they both said, “We couldn’t have been any more devastated to move away from you both and this amazing place we call our home.” Feeling the energy lowering, Shaurya in his usual carefree way announced, “We’re always going to be friends, remember? After all, you always return home after a long day!”
Aryan, however, was inconsolable. His budding love for Avantika over the years with his shyness could not have been any more of a hint.
Remembering every little detail about her, Aryan was always the silent protector. His true feelings never came through from his acts, and he was just as shy as a young person in love would be. As beautiful as Avantika was, he always feared that his advances would be turned down if he came clean with his confession. But what he did not know, was Avantika’s love for him. She fancied his soft heart, and his innocent advances, but held back to save the friendship. Mudita knew but never mentioned it to her sister for fear of ruining their bond.
Time passed, and there they were at the crossroads of fulfilling and starting their journeys into the world, building their lives, with no time to keep love and friendships by their sides.
Soon, everyone took to their own paths, Mudita and Avantika set out to pursue their communication and Engineering degrees, while Aryan and Shaurya pursued their journalism with a passionate heart. At first, letters came and meetings happened, but time took its toll. Avantika moved abroad, and the feelings faded with time. Aryan and Shaurya joined the same firm, becoming excellent news presenters and excelling every step of the way. Mudita on the other hand, grabbed a great opportunity and became a well-known engineer in her field.
When something is meant to be, it sure finds its way even in the most unfavorable circumstances. The year of the millennials rolls in, bringing the infamous technological advances we see today into existence.
Well, in this case, it truly was the hero of the tale. Rekindling a long-lost romance, technology played a well-deserved role.
The unfortunate 9/11 attacks struck the world with a shiver, rocking the Samaritans around the world to their core. Avantika, who was still in the US was unfortunate enough to have been in the vicinity of the towers and was struck as a victim.
Journalists rolled in from all around the world, trying to cover this unfortunate incident. Aryan, who was asked to report this, was unaware of Avantika being present on the scene. Trying to report the live instances, Aryan was immediately tapped on his shoulder and asked for help. A familiar voice struck him, “Please help me, I might not survive this.” Turning around, he saw the very familiar face he once chose to protect with all his might.
Avantika stood there, asking for help, losing her consciousness. As soon as she saw Aryan, her mind gave up, losing herself from the sense of security she felt from him, and collapsed in his arms. Even that timeless gap of 10 years could not have been any more futile in eroding their feelings for each other.
The miracle of finding a familiar face in the midst of chaos- is what they both found. Lost in his thoughts, Aryan’s instincts kicked in and he left everything to tend to Avantika. Rushing to the hospital, he was sure to hold onto her and never let go of her like the last of the school. Memories came rushing in, and that ambulance ride could not have been any more of a remembrance for the pious feeling of love and appreciation he had for Avantika.
Back in India, Mudita, who was called in by news panels to take part in a discussion regarding the structural integrity of the trade centers was unaware of her sister’s condition.
News clips were being played left and right by every single channel, displaying the pandemonium of the attacks. Looking at the clips, Mudita suddenly spotted Avantika & Aryan. She exclaimed, “That’s my sister! What happened to her? Is she alright?” She collapsed and started to sob.
Back in the hospital, chaos ensued. Aryan called Shaurya and explained the situation to him. He asked him to fill in for him and fly to the US immediately. Shaurya, who knew about his feelings for Avantika, asked him, “Are you alright Aryan? I know you have always loved her and cared for her. Seeing her in this condition might hurt you and I want you to hold on for her.” He could not say much, since he always held back on his emotions. But this situation got the best of him. His decade-old regret of letting her go without a word always came back to him, and this was the moment he decided to make up for it.
Staying by her side, Aryan saw Avantika’s phone ringing. It was Mudita, trying to get a hold of her and know if she was alright. Aryan picked up and said, “Hey Mudita, long time!” Mudita was taken aback at first, trying to make sense of the unknown circumstances. She said, “ I don’t know how you are there with Avantika but I am just grateful that it is someone that she knows in an unknown country.”
“How is she now?”, she asked with a depth of deep concern in her tone. “She is fine now, her injuries were not severe but the shock is holding her back. The doctor said she’ll gain consciousness soon.” Mudita heaved a sigh of relief, telling him that she would fly to the States as soon as she could.
Memories rolled in, and every single one of them revisited every memory of them being together and present for each other in times of need. This sudden reunion sparked the ever-long bond, and Aryan could not have been any more grateful. Sitting by her bedside and waiting for her to wake up, he whispered to himself, “I am really sorry Avantika. There could not be any worse timing to tell you this, but my love for you has only deepened with the years. Although we could not stay in touch and took very different paths in life, the person you were and the person you are is someone I might never let go of. Please wake up.” What he did not know was that Avantika was very much conscious.
Listening to his words brought back her long-lost feelings, which was something that she missed over the years being buried in her work. She missed the bond of simple things that brought her pure joy and happiness, and she could not have been any happier.
Their environment was as chaotic as it could be. But their hearts were calm.
Soon, Avantika woke up, and Aryan was so relieved that he started to cry. He was overwhelmed with the feelings in his heart and the stressful situation that surrounded them. She was soon discharged, and Mudita and Shaurya flew in the next day to take care of both of them.
They all found each other in the safety of Avantika’s apartment, reminiscing old memories and overcoming the intricacies of this stressful situation. This unplanned reconnect rekindled the lost spark of the bond that they shared, catching up on the lost details of each other’s lives.
Avantika, aware of Aryan’s feelings for him, pulled him to a side when Mudita and Shaurya were busy with their own conversation. She asked, “I don’t know if you’d accept me with all this time and the bridges between us, but I heard everything you said to me when I lay on that hospital bed. If it has not faded till now, I bet it will not fade now too.” She embraced him in her arms, asking him to accept her as his partner.
Dumbfounded with this sudden expression of love, Aryan could not hold himself anymore. He embraced her quickly and promised to never let go of her again.
Fast forward to next year, Mudita and Shaurya couldn’t have been any more elated to make arrangements for their best friend’s marriage, and the start of an unbreakable bond of friendship and family.
Contact details- anahitaverma32@gmail.com
Linkedin- https://www.linkedin.com/in/anahita-verma-575aa71aa/