It was a Tuesday evening when Divya all of a sudden got a call from Simran. It had been a while since the two of them had really talked to each other. For a while Divya felt as if she was talking with her after years but did she realize that the last that the two of them had talked was in march.

Life seemed to have moved on so quickly. With hours turning the days and days to week and weeks to months. If things would go like that and time was to be spent the way she did for the last few months it won't be surprising that the people who once were the part of her daily life would be guests or even just a lost contact in her never ending contact list.

Divya quickly picked up the call and greeted Simran with all the enthusiasm she had within her. "Hii, how have you been Simran?"

"I am good, how about you, it's as if you aren't even alive."

"Yeah I was busy with the office and since most of the work is done on call it used to be difficult to go back and get in touch with any one. I used to be tired like anything," Divya explained as she set aside all her things and wrapped up her work space.

"Same, earlier I still used to have some time but since the last few days and especially with the whole cyclone that had come in june it was so difficult, we had almost got hit by a tree."

"Ohh yes, and the area around your place has a lot of trees. how can I forget that, even here there was no light for almost 3 days." The two kept on talking for a while about the weather and caught up with all the things that were going around with Simran finally taking up her classes for yoga teaching and getting ready to give the exam and try out opening her own yoga classes.

Divya was quite happy for her, she then shifted to her room and asked ,

"And how are things between you and Mustafa?"

"Ohh him, we broke up again," Simran replied.

"What do you mean by again?"

"In April he had came back and had apologized I wasn't ready but then we had talked out a way out, but than later on he fucked up again and I was like this is it I don't want to get involved into it again so I broke it off. He was again trying to get back with me but then I was firm on what I wanted."

"Hmm seems right I guess. I don't know what to say to be honest. It's been almost two years and I have seen the same pattern happening, right now more than me you are the one who has the first hand experience and knows better as to what is best for you."

"yes. That's true, by the way, when are you going to come to Bombay?" Simran asked.

"No idea, I haven't got vaccinated yet and everyone seems to be busy so I will really have to think of a time when I can finally look back on things and come and meet you all."

Divya and Simran talked for a while as to how things were going to be like for them and hung up the call. Divya herself felt good to have talked to someone out of her regular circle and was in a good mood when she decided to call it a night and to watch an episode of Kdrama. She quickly plugged in her earphones and played a drama when all of a sudden the screen went blank and then there was Madhav Khandelwal flashing on her screen. She had almost screamed in fright for she had never expected to receive a call from him.

For a moment she wondered what it was that he wanted, and she couldn't really think of anything. Disconnecting her earphones she quickly picked up the call before it could get disconnected and the moment the call got connected Divya could hear a bit of disturbance at the other end as she said hello .

"Hellooooo" The long dramatic hello that fell on her ears, she could never get over it, Divya thought and shook her head. She wanted to ask straight away that what was it that he wanted but she waited, she didn't wanted to seem uninterested in the call, but things had changed, she now didn't really preferred to talk on calls late at night days would do, weekend days would do, but not night as that would be the only time that she would have for herself.

"Hello Madhav, How are you doing?"

"Ohh I am doing great, can you tell me anything exciting?" Madhav said as she head yet another movement over there, she thought may be he was busy so she asked,

"Are you busy right now? We can talk later if it is so."

"Ohh no, we were just smoking hukka and had winded up so I thought maybe I would give you a call."

"Ahhh haa Hukka Party, that too at home?" Divya stood up and went out in the living room. Everyone had gone to sleep, the living room was all empty and glistening with the reflection of the street light. It looked pretty, like a little hope in darkness. She sat back in the swing as she heard Madhav's story.

"Yeah at home, my mom doesn't know, we hide it obviously but yes she does has an idea that we smoke and drink,"

"And she doesn't say anything?"

"See now the thing is, obviously it's not allowed, but the main thing is that they know throughout my life I have been out, I have habits and a way of living and principles that are different from theirs and they have to accept them, they can't expect me to adjust immediately to their norms, and for mom its better that we do right there in front of them rather than going somewhere else while I hide things from her."

"That's true, its of no use, a lot of times I feel that it's better that they know, you never know when they would come to know about things, it's better you tell them rather than someone else telling them. I believe that what worst would happen if we tell them most of the things going on in our life, they would restrict a few, and let the others be, and after some time they might even give in, and waiting for that time is much better than the disappointment that they would have in me if they were to know things from others.. I for once know that if there was something that my parents should have told me, I would prefer for that to come from them rather than someone else, than surely even they would expect that to happen."

"yeah that is one thing, but for how long will you keep on telling your parents everything, till when will you wait for that permission? At times you have to do and then tell right?"

"Well Madhav that's a given, in such a time, the parent needs to be understanding, but you know, when you and your parents understand and believe in each other, when there is a clarity between the two of you, most of the time our parents trust our judgement.... At least mine have and for more than once."

"Well I guess that's a nice feeling yeah, to know that your parents trust you." Madhav's voice sounded a bit distant.

"I am sure even yours do, else they wouldn't have let you stay on your own in a hostel and then in Mumbai, and it's natural now for them to wish that they want their son to be with them, they are growing old, and its equally natural for you to want the freedom that you had while you were growing up, but now we are adulting and with that comes responsibility, and the first part of it is our parents, our family, and our career. You will work out, I am sure you are enjoying your time Madhav."

There was a silence for a long time, Divya herself didn't say anything because she wanted Madhav to accept it, she knew he had accepted it, because if he hadn't then he wouldn't have gone MIA for such a long time and came back, he knows about it, that he is enjoying it that he is liking it leaving with his parents, he is enjoying his work at his fathers business, and staying in Jaipur, he for once must be able to live the life that he once missed while being away.

"soo what else?"

"what else... nothing much, my days are filled with endless work at office."

"Ohh yes and you were even promoted, Nandu told me." Divya then explained to him her office tasks as he would then question her a few things. About a few minutes later they would than go back to saying what else quite gelled up Divya than said,

"You know when I saw your contact flashing on my screen I was like Ohh Madhav, and then I legit exclaimed in my mind like ooh hoo Madhav!!!" the two laughed as Divya continued, "I was even going to ask you if you needed something but then you were on your house expedition, opening those never-ending doors to your terrace."

"Arey no, I called you because it had been a while that the two of us had talked. In the mornings I don't get much time and my schedule is completely packed even on weekends so I thought that lets call you now."

"Ohh, good that you called, I did miss you at times, but then I used to think that maybe you might be busy hence I never called you. I still don't know when I can call you, so may be time and again do give me a call." The two of them weren't still ready to let go off the call, however it was getting late and Divya had office the other day, Madhav was hungry and just like that the two disconnected the call.

Having friends who stayed far away and would call on weekends wasn't something new for Divya, but it seemed like since past one year, all her friends have turned out to be the long distance friends. It was a bittersweet feeling. To know that she had friends and to know that they were so far away.

She wished some day she would just have her friends coming at her home unannounced, while her mom would make snacks for them, as they would be as comfortable as if its their house lying down claiming tappu tapees on pillows, making plans with her family on her birthday, coming down at her place for festivals and staying over for lunch, or just lying there talking life joking about, teasing each other, playing cards or board games.

But that was a far fetched dream. She stayed at one end of the city, while her friends stayed at the other...and it was almost impossible for them to do that. She was in agreement with this fact, however at times she just wished that she would have stayed somewhere closer to them so that they would be there near her.

As she once again wrapped her blanket around her, she found herself smiling at the thought of the call with Madhav, it seemed that she was slowly getting in terms with her feelings, with the fact that they have to be friends and that she has to move on. She knew it was going to be a gradual process, and that she would have to go through a lot of heart breaks and she knew she was ready for all of that.

A few days later Divya was relieved off her job, yet there would be days when she would wake up panicked that she forgot to ask if the postings are done or not, or that she had to report to her work and the worst of all was when she had texted back one of her teammate that she had to call one of the clients. It seemed that she was too invested in the work than she herself would have ever known.

As days went by Divya began coming back to herself, she began working on analyzing what all things she liked, what all things she didn't approve of for herself and yet had accepted when she was with her friends. She would list down the things that she felt that she was forcing herself into and would stop right there. However there were yet a few things that never changed. Like the fact that her mom ruled the major final decision in her life.

Divya thought it was high time now that she could take up a few decisions on her own. It was good to ask her parents, but then she needs to know how it was that a final decision was made, especially for herself. Hence she started off with small things like ordering books for herself without consulting with her parents or buying something for her sibling or herself. And the biggest step that she took was to go on treckking.

For a long while Divya wanted to try that however never had she ever got a chance to do that. Earlier in second and first year she had things to do in college and in the third year they didn't plan anything. Hence this time when Nandini asked her if she wanted to tag along with them for the trek, she immediately said yes. She didn't really have to worry about the money as she had a good amount of it with her from her salary.

However there was one problem. The trek was to start at 5 in the morning and Divya stayed in Borivali. It was practically impossible for her to reach there so early in the morning. For days the two of them kept on tossing and turning wondering what could be done.

Divya's mom much to her surprise didn't argue over her going out for trekking but rather enthusiastically asking her what the place was like and what all things were they going to do.

"Why don't you stay over at Nandini's place on saturday and then on sunday you can go from there directly. That is if Nandini's mom has no problem with that." Divya's mom suggested it on a random afternoon. The whole environment at that moment was weird.

Divya was reading a book, her sister was studying, and her mom was drying the clothes. The sudden suggestion had made Divya wonder whether the lady was being serious or testing her out.

"I'll check with Nandini and see what can be done."

A few minutes later while Divya was going to give Nandini a call, she herself sent her a message saying - "Bro I need to tell you something, are you free?"

"Ha, wait let me call you."

The call rang for a few seconds and then an over-excited Nandini answered her call.

"Bro guess what?" Nandini said as soon as the call got connected.

"Bro, I am not at all good at this guessing game, tell me what it is."

Divya at that point of time would have thought of so many things she could have guessed that maybe Madhav would have told Nandnini that he liked Divya, but that was something really absurd and one thing that would not happen now. But of all the possible things she would have never thought of what Nandini told her.

"Madhav is coming to Mumbai on friday, he is going to join u s for the trek."

The two girls squealed and jumped about, Divya excited that they would finally meet and Nandini excited that her friend was coming back after such a long time.but it was then that Nanidni and Divya realized that how Divya was still not over Madhav, she still liked him, and cared for him. It was a realization that shouldn't have happened now, but now that it had happened Divya wondered what and how was she going to be like with Madhav.

Reaching Charni road wasn't a problem, however surviving the heat and making it to Nandini's place surely seemed like one. The house was empty, for Nandini's family had gone out, Divya walked in and slouched on the sofa as if she would have walked a thousand miles in just that one day.

"You have got your face mask right?" Nandini asked, handing out a glass of water. It was surprising how she was voluntarily offering the water as never had it been other than the first time that Divya had come here that Nandini herself would have given her the glass of water.

"Yeah, so what do you plan to do?"

"I want us to have a proper girls out, let's start with ordering some food I am hungry, and then we can put on these masks and the rest can be figured out later on."

Looking up over Zomato, Nandini and Divya ordered a good amount of food, something that they could stuff in their system even at night. And as the two conversed Nandini narrated her all the stories and frustrations from the days that they had not been seeing each other.

"Alright, so now you two aren't really on talking terms." Divya asked.

"Nope done with that phase of my life. You know I had really thought of him as my friend and hadn't thought that things would go that way."

Divya wanted to say a lot of things but bit back her words. It was better not to say something that wouldn't be understood, her thoughts were something that she knew wouldn't go with Nandini but she knew for once that each relationship had their own limitations and space.

What was transpiring between her and Rohan was surely going to suffocate the two of them, especially at a time when Nandini wasn't sure of her feelings.

"Wait, I guess it's mom and dad, let me go and open the door." Divya nodded her head as Nandini went off to open the door, while Divya thought about the days since last year when Nandini and Rohan had become close friends.

Little chats that had turned out towards video calls and then moving out to gaming sessions on discord, Nandini was already confused with her feelings for one of her crushes and then there was Rohan who was each day and night falling for her.

When Divya got to know of this, it worried her. For she knew the kind of guy Rohan was as well as how serious Nandini was about her crush. It was no less than her situation, where though she claimed that she was over him,, she really wasn't.

It wasn't long enough when Rohan could as well see that, and later on when Nandini finally realized about it, their relationship had turned into a sour one. Such that their group was almost on the verge of breaking off.

Juggling with the pressure of her job and trying to understand her friends, Divya had then decided not to meddle into their things, and not just there for that matter but for anyones.

If someone needed her she would always be there to listen to them, but for any kind of suggestions, she wasn't available, how and why should she really be when no one was really going to take them up.

"Hii beta, how are you?" Nandini's mom walked into the room with huge bags in her hand. She quickly picked them up and helped her with the rest.

"Hello Aunty, how was the puja?"

"Tyring, first all the set up and the hours of havan and then driving,my back is paining like anything. You tell me did you two have anything to eat?"

Divya assured her that yes they had a hearty meal, however as any Indian mom would she still fussed over the details, made a face over the junk food details and enquired what would they have for dinner,or if the Pav bhaji was enough.

The clock ticked by as divya, nandini and her mom talked about stuff, first sitting on the sofa, then sitting in a half sleeping position and then finally with nandini and Divya laying down completely fast asleep.

But even in her drowsy sleep, Divya could feel her heart beating wildly in nervousness. Madhav would soon be here. She would be meeting him after such a long time, after all the things that had transpired between them.

She wondered on how would their meet be like. Would it be him who would wake her up in his inhumane manner with all the drama, screaming right from the door of the house calling out for Nandini and her name as Aunty would tell him that the two of them were sleeping.

Then somewhere through the time Divya opened her eyes frustrated with herself that she wasn't able to sleep as well. She looked up the clock only to see it was already 7: 30. It was past 1 hour that the boys had told them that they would be here.

It was past the time that she had expected them to be here.

Dejected she sat up

"Arey, you are already up? Here, have some chakali." Nandini's mom offered.

Divya was in no mood to eat anything at that moment, she was flustered, and excited and nervous. Just how was she supposed to act ? or be herself?

"See i wont keep on telling you again and again. I have already told you this is your house you can do whatever you want. The chakali is here, take it or leave it."

"Aunty you are full of drama, no wonder Nandii is the way she is." Divya said as she picked up the chakali and sat back. She then nudged Nandini a few times in an attempt to wake her up. She was bored and really needed to distract herself somehow.

"Divya let me sleep." Nandini yelled and pulled up the blanket over her head.

"Nandu wake up, I am bored."

"Nandini is this the way you behave, wake up, if you wanted to sleep why did you even call her?"

"I know right, why call me when you were only going to sleep?" Divya winked at Nandini's mom who laughed brightly at her, all the while continuing with her painting task.

"Shut up both of you. Let me sleep for some more time."

Divya was about to shake her up again when she saw Nadini's phone ringing, it was Jignesh, one of Nandini's friends of whom Divya had known for a while, however they had begun talking quite recently.

"Bro Jignesh is calling. He must be calling for the things that need to be brought for tomorrow."

"Yaar, talk to him na,I want to sleep."

Nandini's mom began chidding her, as Divya picked up the call, at the same time the doorbell rang as Nandini's dad began asking...

"Who is it? Can someone please open the door?"