My cousin Waahi was back in town for the holidays. When the news reached me, I couldn't hide my excitement. It had been so long since I'd last seen him. The thought of meeting him again filled me with anticipation. I quickly got ready with my Amma (granny), my mind racing with memories, and soon headed to his house, eager for the reunion.
As soon as I got into the auto rickshaw, my mind began running through countless versions of what I might say to him, rehearsing conversations over and over, each one playing out in my head.
When we finally reached, I couldn't see him anywhere. I met his mother, who told us that Waahi had arrived early that morning and was still asleep in his room. She called out his name, saying that we had come to see him, but there was no reply.
I waited, waiting and waiting... For more than thirty minutes. The elders sat together, talking about family stories, while my heart stayed fixed on the doorway. Eventually, my granny said it was time to leave. I didn't know what to say, but a small part of me still hoped to see him, even just once.
With no hope left, I walked toward the gate to exit. Just then, I heard him call my name. For a moment, it felt like a dream. When I turned back, I saw him standing there, smiling.
"Sorry,"he said softly. "I was so tired and just woke up. When did you come?"
My granny asked the rickshaw driver to wait a little longer, and we went back inside. The moment was filled with butterflies. I asked him how he was, but instead of answering, he smiled and said, "No - you tell me first. How are you?"
I wanted to tell him that I wasn't fine, but the words never came. Instead, I smiled and said I was okay. He told me he had come only for five days and would be leaving again soon. I wasn't even sure about how long my own college would last.
I asked him when he would come back after this, and he replied softly,"Not anymore. Four years of engineering… and after that, I'll probably move to another city for work."
The moment I heard this, sadness washed over me. I felt numb, as if my thoughts had suddenly stopped. He then asked me about my plans. I shrugged and said I didn't know—that I would pursue whatever my dad decided for me.
Just then, his mother walked in and interrupted us. "Okay, Waahi, go to the shop and buy some groceries,"she said. His expression changed instantly, and he didn't say a word. It was the 90's - talking back to parents was never an option, respect came first.
Soon after, I returned home with a heavy heart, my mind filled with thoughts of him and the unspoken feelings I carried with me.
We hardly had four or five conversations nothing more. I wished we had been given more time.
The next day, I went back to school. After my friend Niru left, I never really made any close friends again. I attended my classes, came home, and later met my street friend, Khushi, who came over to play. The moment I saw her, I felt happy again. We started chitchatting about school while playing Ludo and Snakes and Ladders, laughing over every small win and loss.
Later, we went up to the terrace, which felt like our own little world. Watching birds was our greatest entertainment and our source of peace. We always hoped the high-flying eagle would land on our terrace, carefully placing food for it but it never did. Instead, we were greeted by the familiar crows and pigeons, every single time.
I was about to open up to her about Waahi, but before I could say a word, she stopped me.
"I want to tell you something very personal," she said.
The words hung in the air, heavy and deliberate. In that instant, I froze. What…? My mind went blank, my heart racing. I couldn't speak, couldn't move—everything seemed to stop.
Then she whispered, almost shyly, "It's about the love of my life."
And just like that, a new story began. .
The boy she was talking about turned out to be our next-door neighbor. I could hardly believe it. And It never occurred to me that it could be him. He came from a very wealthy family, and his parents never allowed him to play with us. Someone who barely glanced at us, someone who never interacted with "commoners" like us… and yet, here he was, the love of her life.
If you like, I can also smoothly continue the scene, showing her confession in a way that keeps the tension and emotion high.