Noori's POV :

16th July, 1998. Because of the scorching heat, i decided to not go about my usual day as such. The idea of Sunday laziness resting in my mind influenced to make the decision. Except, it wasn't Sunday today. I woke up three hours late on purpose and my two storied apartment was filled with serenity, serenity of the heat, the wind, the sun. But, inside i wasn't feeling that way. There was a silent chaos in me. I was lying down, still, on my undone bed and staring at the slow fan moving repeatedly on it's continuous motion. My eyes weren't blinking and my hands were stretched apart, welcoming any inch of air to fill me in. The room was partially lit due to the open windows, which was open for some air to pass by but apparently the sunlight made it's excuse to intervene instead. My mind was empty with only one thought in it. It was present at the moment. Strange. my mind's rarely been this way before, which gave me a sudden uneasiness inside. So i immediately took my small cellphone which was lying just like me on the bed and messaged Aliza. 

[ Hey, come to my place!]

Aliza's POV :

My eyes were shut into a complete black endlessness when i was lying down on the table until i heard a slow buzzing of my cellphone. I impulsively shot my head up and ended up putting my eyes in pain when they hit the sunlight. I was already having a bad day. With yet another impulsive action, I covered my eyes placing my palm on it. After my pupils finished dilating, i noticed the dust dancing on the spotlight of the sun. Cynically clashing with each other. Like they intended to do that. It was beautiful. Anyways, i made to distract myself and focus on my cellphone, on the message i just received.

[ Hey, come to my place!]

That is from my close friend, Noori. At least she could've asked how am i doing before ordering. But, it was the best thing that have yet happened to me since morning. College was so boring, or the weather made it look like. I don't know, i usually don't blame the weather. I silently stood up in order to escape my ongoing lecture, praying not to get caught by the professor who will taunt the life out of me later on. I missed my lecture, yes. Her flight will be in another two hours, before i see her off. It's a weird kind of anxiety i'm dealing with right now, i don't know if it's even anxiety anymore. A sudden kind of restlessness. Her house isn't that far away from college now, so why do i feel like every passing second being almost an hour. It annoyed me watching a man cycling beside me as slow as i was walking. can't i walk faster?

Wait! i have to calm down. I stopped suddenly, keeping both of my legs together and took a breather. The weather wasn't that bad, when i looked around. I made conscious effort to not walk faster. Looking around the road, the same bus, we took just came by.

Oh, crap. i'll miss that bus.

I was almost near the bus stop, and rushed as soon as possible.But i missed it! i couldn't get it and it passed by near me. These days, everything just feels like it's moving so fast. Everything i can't control is getting out of my hands. It's not that i feel bad about it. I don't. I feel nothing about it. Or maybe, i feel so much that i don't want to feel anything about it.

I noticed the same man, holding a bunch of bouquet of roses on his one hand and holding the hand of his girl child on the other. Selling the flowers again, in between the moving traffic. It immediately reminded me when Noori bought a rose from him, claiming she likes roses, but then immediately handed over to that sad little girl. Just to see a smile on her face. I did the same thing since then, just to see a smile on Noori's face. Today also, i bought them. A whole bouquet in fact. When i will see her off, hopefully she'll smile and not cry. Sadly she is one year older than me, but gladly we were in the same college. We got to create so many memories. That is what matters now. I took another bus, back from where i missed.

Noori's Pov:

It's been forever since i have texted her, why hasn't she replied to me yet. Since then I've been lying on my bed and since then i couldn't think of anything else, but her. Can Aliza get anymore annoying. It was time for me to go back home. I checked my wrist watch, one and a hour until i will have to catch my flight. I got up and sat still on my bed. This laziness has held me since afternoon. What did i eat ? Aloo ke Parathe?? oh, that's why. I gave my body a little stretch, gladly all of my work was done and I was all ready. I tried to distract my mind with thinking random things. Hopefully better. It's been three years, and this city has been a delight to me. I stood up and moved towards my half open window. looking outside... oh, god no. My frustration made me push myself away from the window, when i turned around. All i could see was my empty apartment. Undone sheets, clean kitchen counter and that same little sofa whose cushions we used to beat each other up and sometimes, hold it too tightly while watching horror movies. This was not just an apartment, it has been my Ghar (home). I was so scared of being judged, or being myself. But, here nothing could stop me.

Just then, the bell rang and it was Aliza at the door. who else could it be? I was nervous when i opened the door. Why? but that didn't matter, because she hugged me tightly as soon as the door was opened.

"aw, why are you being the sentimental one today"

"because you're the one, who's going!" She replied, with that same little push and amount of attitude on her nose. 

" You done with your packing yet?" She moved inside and tossed away a bouquet of roses on the kitchen counter, asking an obvious question.

"why? should i not be done with it?" i tired to tease her, but she looked at me curiously, making me nervous, again. "I am making chai (Tea) , care to join me?" i asked again moving forward towards the kitchen counter and placing a bowl, half emptied with water on the gas stove. Opening the upper cupboard, I raised my toes.

"That depends, if you will be able to reach for the chai patti (tea leaves)" I couldn't notice when she reached behind me, leaving little distance in between and placing her hand just beside mine, resting and supporting on the counter. She reached up, grabbing the jar of chai patti before me as always. Yes, she is a little taller than me. but not tall enough, she just likes to show off more i guess. I turned around,and she handed me over, the jar.

"Believe me, i'm letting you make the tea because you are good at it." She moved back to where she to sitting, on the middle of my undone bed.

There was an uneasy silence, sorrowful. While i stared at my tea being boiled, she asked. "Will you miss your home?"

"But i am going home.." I replied immediately.

"right!"

After which i regretted my immediate reply. "Yes... yes, i will miss my home." i started stirring my boiling tea to finish making it faster. Why was i, in such a hurry? i had no idea, and neither the time to think.

After i finished straining the tea, i turned around and saw her sitting at the balcony door and staring at the half emptied transparent bottle of water. I had a very small balcony which was adorned with some greens i grew. We usually sat there when it rains, with these very pair of teacups. But today, was different. I sat on the other side, in front of her. Took my own cup and gestured an obvious offer.

Today, Aliza was silent. Strange. Only our eyes talked. They asked no questions like will i take care of myself? as such. They said something else. They were hesitant. Which is why it was difficult to understand clearly. They were desperate. We held our own cups together in our hands, they were now, half-emptied. The sun was almost setting, and the strange anxiety in me, was now gone.

I liked being at home, i liked my Ghar. My flight you ask? it was halfway on it's way to board.

I almost made the decision to leave.

Until, i didn't.