Where do you go???????

It was the professional life calling for Riya, and she was off to her first job. She was super excited about the opportunity and the challenges it was going to bring in her life.

As soon as she joined her new company Riya got terribly sick and was almost on the verge of collapse. Ronnie was in touch with her and kept a tab on her health and was praying that she gets to her pink of health as quick as she could. Riya was back to herself in couple of months and back to her normal routine.
One day she got a call from Ronnie, ‘Hey Riya where are you and how are you doing’? Riya was leaving from her office and told him the same. He told her to give a call back once she reached home back. As soon as Riya got down from the bus, she gave him a call and asked ‘Yes Ronnie I am almost reaching home, tell me you had something to say’?  ‘Yes Riya tell me where are you’, Ronnie chirped. ‘Tell me something Ronnie what will you understand even if it tell you the place.’ And suddenly someone tapped from behind, she turned and to her disbelief it was him. She was bedazzled for the moment and could not move. It was Ronnie standing in front of her. She started to shake her head and laughing hysterically.
‘Ronnieeeeee.....OMG!!’ that was all she could say.

‘How come you are here and you never told me that you are coming, so bad of you.’ Riya asked. ‘If I would have told you I am coming, how would I have seen this priceless expression on your face?, Ronnie was smiling now. ‘I am here looking for a job’

But as the conversation and the walk proceeded, Riya waved her hand towards a guy coming towards them. ‘Ronnie meet Ankush and Ankush this is Ronnie, my college best friend i have been always telling you about’, Riya introduced. Ronnie’s face fell flat as it was beyond his expectation of sharing his moment of Riya with someone.

Days passed, Ronnie kept looking for a job and meeting Riya. He was not able to get full attention from Riya. Every time he met Riya someone or the other accompanied her and it frustrated Ronnie badly. Ronnie was used to Riya’s undivided attention and her personal time. But since the day he was here Riya was not only his, there were other people in her life as well and other priorities to attend too. It was building huge frustration in Ronnie. But they still kept meeting day after day once Riya was back from the office.

And then one ill-fated day Riya heard Ronnie left the town, without meeting her or dropping a note. Riya was restless and trying all his available contact numbers and networking sites she knew. But it seemed Ronnie vanished in thin air and out of Riya’s life. And left Riya wondering what went wrong and why did Ronnie left without meeting her.............

Kabhi main kahoon, kabhi tum kaho.....

If Riya and Ronnie had to ever vote for the greatest invention even made, they would have made Telephone the sure shot winner. Kissed Graham Bell for being so thoughtful and making lives of people like them so easy. The lives they were leading was incomplete without the telephone. It was the only medium of connection for them. Being apart it still gave them the feeling of being together.

Riya would talk to Ronnie for hours and still magically the talks would never end. Riya was the world of Ronnie and Ronnie was the only thing Riya could think throughout the day.

One day just to tease Ronnie , Riya kept calling him and giving him missed calls. It was more than 20-30 times when Ronnie stopped looking at his cellphone and waited for the fun to stop from Riya's end. Riya was in a jovial mood and kept teasing Ronnie. It should have been 60-70 calls when Riya got tired and stopped.  While Ronnie was out for dinner with friends one of his friend said 'Hey Dude pass on your mobile i need to make an urgent call'. Ronnie took his cellphone and gave to his friend and continued with his dinner. Suddenly he heard a riot of laughter at his table and noticed all his friends starting at his cellphone. 'Buddy we never knew you were so serious about Riya that you even made her pic as your cellphone screensaver',Ronnie's roommate said. Ronnie immediately took his cellphone and looked, his cellphone got hanged due to the constant missed calls from Riya and leaving her display pic looking like his cellphone's wallpaper.Ronnie was made the butt of joke between his friends and was told it was sign to be noticed.

It could have been considered just a coincidence until these incidents became a routine in Ronnie's life. It seems Ronnie's life was some or the other way linked with Riya. Ronnie's  final semester was around the corner and he needed some help in 'Compilers'. And as what you call fate, Riya knew the subject quite well. She taught Ronnie over the long calls and in the background it was Ronnie's roommates who found the 'distance education' quite amusing. But the love was the unanimous emotion they saw throughout. But the people who were yet to realize were living a far distant dream. Living in their own sweet dream world called the magical kingdom of Riya and Ronnie. Just the rule of the kingdom had to be decided. Was it friendship which prevailed or the mighty love... IT was the FUTURE where the FATE rested.

As we say goodbye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

“Distance never separates two hearts that really care, for our memories span the miles and in seconds we are there. But whenever I start feeling sad cuz I miss you I remind myself how lucky I am to have someone so special to miss.”

With endless meetings and calls, the day was nearing when Riya had to go back. Her course got completed and she had to go back home. They never reassessed how close they became, with just the words and moments shared together.

It was Riya’s last week in the college and with each passing day she was realizing how much will she be missing the place, from coffee shop to the canteen, every place reminded her of the years she spent. From the day joining as a fresher and undergoing the fun ragging sessions, to becoming the senior and conducting the fun ragging for them, Memories were passing like a flash. And amongst them there was a prominent face she remembered Ronnie.

It was not a long time she had known him but the proximity they had developed within couple of months was remarkable. She found herself when she was with him. At last the day came when she was leaving the city and the night before they spent it on call, cherishing each moment left together. Ronnie broke down on the call and kept crying for Riya was leaving him.

But as they say ‘You know that you are in love when the hardest thing to do is say good-bye!!’

Riya went back home with the memorized they shared and cherished them. But time would only tell what it had in store for these two.

Baatein Kuch Ankahee Si

"Baatein Kuchh Ankahee Si, Kuchh Ansuni Si Hone Lagi

Kaabu Dil Pe Raha Na, Hasti Hamaari Khone Lagi"

Seems Riya and Ronnie were humming the same tune in their life. Moments became seconds, seconds to minutes and minutes to hour. They were loosing track of time and things around them.

This makes me remember a song from Kal ho na ho

"Rang Chamkilay Saaare Lagte Hai

Raah Mein Bhikre Tare Lagte Hai

Phool Ab Zyaada Pyaare Lagte Hai

Mehki Hui Si Jaisi Hawa Hai

Kuch To Hua Hai

Kuch Ho Gaya Hai"

Riya and Ronnie started meeting regularly and they didn't require any excuses now. Ronnie's friends used to call and tease him. Instead of calling him they started calling Riya and checking if he was back for dinner. Ronnie was defensive of all this, since he didn't wanted Riya to take this otherwise and mess with their relation.

On the other hand Riya was finding him only as a good friend and was not romantically inclined towards him. Ronnie was an obvious reason for it, a condition laid by Ronnie long time back was holding her back. It was some couple of months back when Riya and Ronnie started talking as friends. Riya was going back home for vacations and she texted Ronnie 'take care buddy, will miss you a lot'. Bang was a call back from Ronnie, in which he explained the philosophy he believed in 'Riya, I just got your message, what is this miss you and all? Am I your Romantic interest to whom you are writing Miss you?’ Riya was perplexed, 'See Ronnie I have no romantic interest in you, its just a write miss you to my good friends and if you find it disturbing, I promise never to send a message like this’. Ronnie grinned 'Riya its not disturbing but I feel committed girls never make a very good friend with a guy, since her boyfriend would slowly start getting jealous of her male friends and slowly she will drift apart from her friends or later she may develop feelings for her male friends or vice versa. I just don't want anything like this to happen with us, and i share such a nice friendship with you and never wanna screw it'

So it was a mutual agreement between Ronnie and Riya never to step outside the boundaries of Friendship. But sometimes life doesn't tread the same path you decided for yourself. It takes it own course of trail and ends up where you would have never thought.

The Companionship

They were relishing each moment spent together, though they were physical distances but slowly their worlds were merging together. Riya was going through a rough patch of break-up and Ronnie was her anchor for support. Riya was finding a true companion in Ronnie.

"Hey Ronnie", Riya replied and a smile came to her face as soon as she saw Ronnie's call.' How about a Movie in the evening?' ,though he already knew the answer still he checked. 'Of course, see you in the college', Riya rushed to get ready.

They started around 4pm for the movie, 'Shootout at Lokhandwala'. 'Hey Riya, would you mind if we go somewhere else rather than going for the movie?', Ronnie was little uncertain about the answer he was about to receive .'I am perfectly fine Ronnie but where shall we go?', by the time Riya and Ronnie could decide where to go they were already on the road to Mussoorie.

They stopped at the famous Shiv Temple on the way to Mussoorie. As they were having tea which was the prasad, A sweet voice said 'Billi', and Riya and Ronnie saw a very cute and small kid of almost 2.5 yrs pointing her finger towards Riya and giggling 'Billi Billi'. Ronnie got the chance to christen his sweet Friend Riya and started calling her 'Billi'. Riya couldn’t stop smiling and so did Ronnie.

After an hour they headed back to town and Ronnie showing Riya his stunts on bike. And Riya couldn't stop giggling at his antics. In some time they reached Tapkeshwar temple. Both were not in a mood of worshipping, but this was a place none of them had visited before. And it was more of each other's company they were looking for rather than the places they were visiting. Riya and Ronnie were discovering each other with every single moment they were spending together.

It was almost 7pm in the evening when Riya decided to take Ronnie out for dinner and they went for a fancy dine together. Each second passing was watching what they couldn't see. The Togetherness and the bond they shared.

The ride back to home was a cherished moment for Riya, but for her not being the fancy types, when Ronnie was about to drop her back she accidently said 'Wish I could have a cup of tea'. And Ronnie being himself suddenly took a U-turn, by the time Riya could have understood, they were at a local Chai Wala stall at ISBT, Dehradun. And Riya was watching Ronnie in awe.

It was 10pm and the night did not seem to end for them. Ronnie dropped Riya back and went back to his room where lot of questions and smiles awaited for him. All his roommates were waiting for him and each had the same question?

I'm not in love...

Last meeting of Riya and Ronnie was just the tip of the iceberg, they started meeting quite often.

“Hey Riya”, Ronnie waved.. ”what are you doing here...??”, she was standing at a local shop for her project work.”Nothing much..the semester exams are near, just getting my project report finished. Tomorrow I have to submit my report.”, Riya replied. But suddenly the shopkeeper told Riya her project report could not be completed since he was overloaded with other students report.”Now what do I do??”, Riya got worried..tomorrow was the last day to submit the report.”I am going to the other side of the town for finishing the report, see you Ronnie”, Riya moved to catch an auto.”Riya can

I come too with you, just give me 5 mins and I’ll get ready and join you. Seems your going alone, I can give you company too.” Ronnie rushed to his room to get dressed.

Riya and Ronnie went to the town, chatting and laughing. Both had a lovely time together. Riya told a lot about her to Ronnie that day. It was one of the days when they had ample of time up their sleeve. Ice creams, shakes were on the menu that night for them. Around 11pm Ronnie dropped Riya to the hostel like a perfect gentleman. The sizzle could be heard that day.

Suddenly the call frequency got high..higher..and highest...Riya and Ronnie were on call almost all the time, the nights were filled with words, memories, laughter and emotions. They were discovering each other. Ronnie being the introvert one, was actually opening up to someone. But to his dismay someone was watching him transform....yes roommates..they were watching him and were quite sure he was falling in love, but Ronnie was in a state of denial. He kept repeating the same Riya is my good Friend.

The beginning of the Journey......

Ronnie was guilty as he usually kept his words....'what a a** i am... promised and slept..like a lazy bum'.

Somehow he wanted to set the things right.

Next day in college, he saw Riya.."Riya, can i speak to you for a moment.?" "What is it Ronnie, if you are here for an apology i am not interested.I told you i am not angry. But Riya listen to me once...." Ronnie pleaded."Lets go for a movie,please..".And to Ronnie's surprise Riya agreed. "But the movie is on me",Riya stared at him.

Something above was conspiring to bring them together,evening was perfect, Ronnie came to pick her and both went together to the movie theather.Riya was the host of the evening though Ronnie planned for it.It was going to be Riya's treat. Movie was great and it even bought them a step up on the staircase of the freindship they were standing at. But  this was happening at some cost....emotions..

The night was drawing, both moved to a grab a quick bite and headed towards McDonalds, the burger joint Riya liked a lot. Conversations and laughter were growing endless and both were getting fond of each other quickly.

Ronnie felt it was getting late and he thought of borrowing his friend's bike living nearby.They decided to take  a walk ,not hand in hands though, but the fondness of each others company was entwining at a rapid rate. It took few minutes for them to reach the place but the silence of the time, the moon in the clouds, conversations and the giggling stayed with the time..and may be for quite a long time.

Ronnie got the bike asked Riya to hop on so that he could take her back home safely.Riya was smiling....as she saw a new Ronnie today, someone she could trust and feel safe with.She never expected him to be so caring...and so concerned about her..Somehow the same Ronnie who made her so upset a while ago..was making her smile and that too without a reason.

Their day came to an end....but iwas thinking what are the ingredients of a perfect date are...a romantic movie,hot popcorn,someone sitting next to you,a beautiful smile,a munch, a walk on an empty lane and on top of it a long drive under the moon.

Wasn't everything there for them..preplaned, who did it? Riya or Ronnie or....

Just the realisation was left.....may be few things realised with due course of time makes a ever longing effect.....