Echoes of laughter filled the corridors, memories etched on the walls, emotions and silent promises innumerable trapped within the compounds. One building that stood tall, holding all of it within all through the years \u2013 school. Just like everyone else, Avantika, Aryan, Mudita and Shaurya or the infamous \u2018Fantastic Four\u2019 had major parts of themselves attached to Daffodils High School. That\u2019s where their friendship began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Batch of 2010 was known for the bond that the Fantastic Four shared. They were inseparable, almost like magnets. But, like they say, all good things come to an end. When their school life drew to a close, the four friends made a promise to be by each other\u2019s side in the face of whatever life threw at them, for all the years to come. However, little did they know that their friendship would fade away within the gates of Daffodils High, without standing the test of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With starkly different choices in life, the four went their own ways. Avantika chose to pursue her passion for art abroad while Aryan immersed himself in social work. Mudita chose to carry on her family business and Shaurya began to navigate the challenges of becoming a travel photographer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One fine day, the four were going about with their routines when a mail caused them to unexpectedly pause. \u201cDaffodils High Batch of 2010 Reunion\u201d<\/em> – read the subject line. Avantika jumped in joy, almost dropping her phone. It wasn\u2019t long before emotions took over her and memories flashed right before her years. \u201cIt still feels like yesterday,\u201d she thought. Little did she know that her dear friends were experiencing emotions no different from hers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The reunion was exactly a week away. The four friends cleared all their schedules and made sure that they would make it to the reunion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Time went by like a breeze and it was soon D-Day!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mudita was the first to arrive. As she made her way past the school gates, memories came flooding back and she couldn\u2019t hold back her smile. She knew exactly where she wanted to go first \u2013 the big banyan tree on the school grounds. That\u2019s where the Fantastic Four had spent most of their time in school. She grew impatient as each minute passed and none of her friends turned up. \u201cWhat if they choose not to come,\u201d<\/em> she thought. But, she pushed the thought away and convinced herself that there was no way they wouldn\u2019t make it to this very special occasion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Well, she was right about that because it wasn\u2019t long before she heard Avantika scream her name. In a second, she was engulfed in a bone-crushing hug.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI haven\u2019t seen you in ages!\u201d<\/em> exclaimed Avantika.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI could say the same,\u201d<\/em> said Mudita, her eyes gleaming. \u201cHow have you been? How\u2019s Ayaan?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The gleam in Avantika\u2019s eye quickly faded away when she heard her husband\u2019s name. She paused before she gathered herself and answered her friend, \u201cYes, all good.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Although it had been a while, Mudita could immediately sense that something was wrong. She made a mental note to ask Avantika about it later. Her chain of thoughts was quickly broken by a wind of familiarity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, well, well. Who are these two gorgeous ladies?\u201d<\/em> came a voice from behind them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShaurya!\u201d<\/em> They both exclaimed in unison.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was indeed Shaurya, and his charming ways hadn\u2019t changed after all these years. He sported a camera around his neck and his casual attire spoke true to his profession.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He smiled at the two women, before gesturing them to come in for a hug.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The three friends quickly got chattering away as if they had never left from under the big banyan tree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIs Aryan not coming?\u201d<\/em> Avantika asked after a while as she glanced at her watch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow could I not come?\u201d<\/em> answered Aryan as he made his way towards the group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, you\u2019re late as usual,\u201d<\/em> said Mudita as she playfully hit him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Fantastic Four got into a group huddle after what felt like an eternity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI hate to admit it, but I missed this,\u201d <\/em>said Shaurya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI think we should hurry before we miss the programme now!\u201d<\/em> said Avantika.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They made their way to the auditorium where the reunion was all set to happen. The school felt warmer, as familiar smiles were exchanged, memories shared and moments reminisced. All of the former students took to the stage one after the other to narrate anecdotes and fondly recollect the time they spent at Daffodils High.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Soon, it was time for dinner and everyone made their way to the grounds. While Avantika was going for a third serving of her favourite dessert, she didn\u2019t notice Aryan standing next to her until he remarked, \u201cSome things don\u2019t change.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHuh?\u201d<\/em> she asked, startled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou and Gulab Jamun. It\u2019s an eternal love story,\u201d<\/em> he said smiling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou remember?\u201d<\/em> she asked surprised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOf course, Avantu. How could I forget?\u201d<\/em> he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Avantu. <\/em>No one else ever calls her that. It sent chills down her spine as she looked away from his piercing glance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow is Ayaan?\u201d <\/em>he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe\u2019s good,\u201d<\/em> she said in haste, still avoiding his glance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGood to know. I\u2019m happy you got what you wanted,\u201d<\/em> he said with a mocking undertone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was enough to trigger Avantika.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat do you mean by that, Aryan?\u201d<\/em> she retorted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, you know, a good marriage and a life with a well-settled man abroad. Just like you always wanted,\u201d<\/em> he said, stressing on the word \u2018always.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy career is what took me abroad, Aryan. You of all people should know that,\u201d<\/em> she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSure,\u201d<\/em> Aryan said as he smirked and walked off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tears that had been held back for years quickly began to flow out of Avantika\u2019s eyes and she quickly ran away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mudita had been noticing this altercation between her friends from a distance and went after Avantika as soon as she saw her go. After searching for her, she found Avantika in their old classroom, crying in a corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She went over to her friend and held her as she cried. After Avantika gathered herself, Mudita asked her, \u201cDid Aryan bring up the past?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe taunted me for the choices I made, Mudita,\u201d<\/em> Avantika said shakily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe was really hurt when you left. He was a mess,\u201d<\/em> said Mudita.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo was I! You think it was easy to leave him behind? I always thought he was the love of my life, my one true love,\u201d<\/em> Avantika exclaimed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThen why did you leave him?\u201d<\/em> asked Mudita.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI had to. When I got that career opportunity abroad, I knew I had to take it up. It was a breakthrough for me. And all I expected was for him to be excited for me. Instead, he was more worried about how our relationship would work if I moved,\u201d<\/em> Avantika\u2019s voice cracked as she replied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDid you both never get the chance to talk it out and come to an understanding?\u201d<\/em> asked Mudita.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt was too late. He was travelling for a project and I had to leave in a week. Every time we tried to communicate; it would end up in an argument. It got tiring after a point,\u201d<\/em> Avantika replied in between her tears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI am so sorry I couldn\u2019t be there for you, Avantika. I always thought you and Aryan would end up together, eventually. Even when I did get to know you\u2019d parted ways, I assumed it was temporary. That\u2019s why your marriage to Ayaan came as a shock to me,\u201d<\/em> said Mudita.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAyaan\u2026\u201d<\/em> Avantika said, her voice trailing off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat about Ayaan?\u201d<\/em> questioned Mudita.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re getting a divorce. The marriage was simply to satisfy our respective families. It couldn\u2019t withhold<\/em>,\u201d sobbed Avantika.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh Avantika, you poor thing,\u201d<\/em> Mudita said as she tightly held onto her friend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, Aryan had strolled off outside the school gates to gather his thoughts. He was soon joined by Shaurya who began to crack lame jokes to lift his mood, just like the old times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI feel like I messed up the whole point of this reunion,\u201d<\/em> Aryan soon confessed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo, you didn\u2019t,\u201d<\/em> said Shaurya reassuringly. \u201cWith you and Avantika under the same roof, this was bound to happen. You can\u2019t keep your feelings chained forever.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThings have changed, Shaurya. We\u2019re not in school, anymore. It all started getting complicated after school. We\u2019ve made very different choices in life and there is no looking back now,\u201d <\/em>Aryan replied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI do agree that you can\u2019t undo things. But for the sake of the love that you two once shared, can you not begin again? Can you not go back to where it all began \u2013 to being friends?\u201d<\/em> questioned Shaurya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shaurya\u2019s words sank in and hit Aryan like a truck. Friendship was always the core of his relationship with Avantika. He now understood why he was so bitter. When their relationship ended, he\u2019d also lost his best friend. He\u2019s lost the one person who\u2019d been an integral part of his childhood and eventually his early adulthood. And he also realised that it was not too late to mend the friendship. He thanked Shaurya for knocking some sense into him and made his way to Avantika. He knew exactly where she would be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When he entered the terrace, he smiled seeing her there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAh, the number of times we\u2019ve sneaked up here,\u201d<\/em> he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Avantika took a second to register his presence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGood old days,\u201d<\/em> she responded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDo you still believe in miracles, Avantu?\u201d<\/em> Aryan asked as he made his way to stand by her side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMiracles?\u201d<\/em> Avantika laughed wryly. \u201cNo, I don\u2019t even believe in anything close to miracles.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI can\u2019t believe you\u2019re saying this. You\u2019re the one who made me believe in miracles,\u201d<\/em> said Aryan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSince when did you start believing? You were quite the realist,\u201d<\/em> mocked Avantika.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSince the moment I saw you today,\u201d <\/em>Aryan said as he looked straight into her eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Avantika was immediately rendered speechless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou have something that belongs to me and I\u2019d like to have it back now,\u201d<\/em> said Aryan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n