Nirali made a face as her alarm went off for the third time. She recalled her decision to date a week back and then going back on it. Sunny had approached her again, and she had agreed for a date, but all changed the moment he started opening on his feelings. Nirali wasn't comfortable about it, her mind and heart fought and then she halted his feelings once for all. She made it clear that she considered him a friend and nothing more. Moreover, Lakshay's picture with some random girl on his social media had put her off badly.

Sunny had been heart broken for a week and avoided her like plague. She was thankful but AMisha went mad at the stunt she pulled. Nirali took everything quietly; she was to be blamed for being heartless . She agreed, she was heartless as Lakshay held her heart for life.

The sound of rain drops against her window made her leave the bed. She stood against the glass watching the water droplets hitting the glass and sliding down but they kept coming back even after being defeated. Lakshay was the same , he always came back however hard she pushed him back. She smiled and then lost it completely . 'Will he reach her again?' her heart replied, ''you pushed him and he is gone. He is not coming back.''

Nirali slid open the door stepping into the balcony. She allowed rain to drench her form from head to toe. Her eyes closed and lips parted, she went back to the time when their first rain connected the two hearts the different way.

2009

''Why are you here? And if you were planning to come, you could bought an umbrella.'' 13 yr old Nirali chided Lakshay as they tried to save themselves from heavy downpour.

''Nirali, I was worried about you. Your phone went unreachable and here you chiding me about an umbrella.'' Lakshay replied, his eyes boring into hers. 

''I am not a kid Lakshay, and I know my  way home.''

''Yes, you are not a kid and that worries everyone. Your mom is paranoid, you dad dialled all possible friends and don't even ask what I have been going through.'' 

''If you are here to fight, go find your own tree.'' She tried pushing him away. He glared at her once before stepping out in the rain in style. He moved his fingers through his wet hair , his eyes still on her. Lakshay was a year older and her senior in school, but above all, they were best friends . At least Nirali thought that, but Lakshay's feelings had been growing for years. Spunky , funny and smart Nirali had been growing on him for years and as they had started stepping on adolescence, he knew his feelings would grow further . She was special but he couldn't express the same

''You look ugly when angry.'' Nirali said scrunching her nose. Lakshay stared at her, his hands on his hips. It was all empty around them, it was just Nirali , the rain and him.

He smiled and her expression and she returned it. ''You know that you are important and you use it.'' He said

''You should do the same thing who stopped you.'' She shot back. Lakshay stood close to her. ''One day I will.'' She giggled. They stepped out once the rain stopped making their way to their home.

''Tum Baarish si ho...asmaan se nikalke dil main utarti ho.'' He said as they approached their home halting her steps. Nirali stared at him. ''Is this your new song.'' Lakshay shook his head, either she was too stupid or was trying to push him away. ''Yes, its my new song.'' He waved at her walking inside his house.

''Are you crazy, look what have you done. Everything is wet here.'' Amisha chided her friend trying the wipe the room floor and the stuff close to balcony. Nirali huffed, yes: all was wet, just like her weeping heart and her eyes.

''I will clean it AMisha. Its my room.''

Amisha froze, she stood closed to her friend. ''Yes, its your room and life ; I have nothing to do with it but I will keeping butting in till I set all straight for you. Now, move your butt, pick up a mop and clean with me.'' Nirali smiled , Amisha wasn't the one to leave a step away. She protected what she loved rather too fiercely , but sometimes certain things about her surprised Nirali. She tired to dig in, Amisha never relented . ''Move Nirali or I throw you off the balcony for making this mess.'' 

Nirali chuckled joining her friend in cleaning the mess she created. Though the memories were sweet and romantic, the mess in her room made her curse self for spoiling her off day.  After a half an hour lecture, Amisha made her way to her room and Nirali's mind moved in another direction.

***

The group jammed for their next show but beats seemed off. They decided to take a break and got busy with their phones. Varun coughed vigorously staring at the picture he had clicked on a profile. Lakshay ignored but the other 2 members, Naman and Arun knew it was something related to Lakshay. Varun rolled  his eyes and the other two understood. After a min, Lakshay threw his phone walking out of the room.

''Why can't they grow up?'' Naman asked

Varun smiled. ''He got what he asked for. He had uploaded a picture with a random girl and she answered by putting one as a response. ''

Arun shook his head. ''Must say, we three are world's biggest wastrels'. We don't have a love life and we are enjoying the pain of our friends.''

''All we are doing is trying to put some sense in him.'' He can call her and tell her what he feels but no, he will only take a step if she takes one. ''

Trio sat thinking worried about Lakshay. They had been friends for now a decade and they were a second family to one another. ''I have a plan.'' Varun said.

''And what?'' That came collective. Varun smiled. ''We haven't held any shows in India for long.'' After a min, the other two nodded.

Lakshay didn't realize that he had been walking directionless. He took a deep breath moving to the side walk. ''Why Nirali? What are you trying to prove?'' His mind again went to the profile picture she had recently updated. She wore a short dress, posing with a guy. 

She never understood what he felt and how deep it went. Lakshay blinked a couple of times to get rid of his tears when old memories came back in full swing.

2010

''You can do your 10th and 12th here, why a boarding.'' Lakshay asked, his voice held accusation . It was lunch break and he had been desperate to catch hold of her. His mother had told him that Nirali had qualified for a prestigious school in Dehradun and was leaving after her finals. 

Nirali huffed. ''Lakshay its my dream school. I always wanted to be there and after trying for 3 years, I am finally in. You should be happy for me.''

''I am, but you never told me.''

''I was going to, but my mom couldn't control her excitement. And what makes you this angry.''

He stared at her for a min before turning his eyes away. ''You are important for me, you know it.''

''And you mean a lot to me Lakshay but our dreams and career matter too. If it were you in my place, I would have been happy as well.'' 

''Still, I am not okay that you kept from me.'' He replied. Nirali offered a morsel as a piece offering. ''We will always stay the same Lakshay, nothing can change what we have.''

''Do you promise.'' She nodded. 

Present

  ''You promised that nothing will change but everything changed.''  Lakshay leaned against the wall rubbing his chest. He wished for a magic that would bring back the days he had spent with his Nirali. 

He pulled out an old picture from his wallet , it was them at the last year of their school. He had followed her to boarding and those had been the best 2 years of his life. He wanted those moments, he wanted that laughter and love back but she pushed him away and he was going to keep the distance till she asked him to come back

***

Lucknow

Asha answered the wireline phone , her face going from surprised to being happy. ''How are you lavanaya?''

''I am good, but worried about Lakshay. Asha, did Nirali confess her heart.''

''No, even after pressurizing her for marriage. She isn't ready to confess that its Lakshay in her heart.''

''Shall we arrange the match for them?'' Lavanya asked.

''No Lavanya, they went separate ways. Let them decide, I don't want them blaming us for ruining their life.''

Lavanya huffed. ''All round them know that they miss each other. Only if these 2 realize. They don't know that we know all about them.'' 

''If nothing works, then we will pitch in.'' Asha concluded. The two friends made plans before ending the call. While they had their plans of ending the misery of their kids; Lakshay's friends had already started making the plans to end his misery.

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Next will be a glimpse after years.