Here she was. She’d come after almost a month.
Dressed in blue jeans and a white t- shirt, she looked as pretty as ever, but she didn’t look the same somehow. Something was amiss. As she dragged her feet across the parking lot, I noticed smile missing from her rosy lips. I missed seeing her toothy smile, which would make her glisten in the morning sunlight. Her face seemed ashen compared to the glow she had a mere month ago.
She waved to Ashi, and was standing 4 inches in front of me now. She tried to smile, the pain clearly visible in her eyes. I couldn’t bear to look into her eyes. I could sense disappointment and anger… towards me? her friends? or the entire world? I couldn’t tell. I looked away and tried to join the discussion going on, but to no avail cuz as soon as I had turned, I saw Mr Nanda walking towards us.
I announced his arrival and people rushed to the classroom in our two storied, excuse for a building tution center.
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As we walked out of the class discussing our lesson, I saw her almost trying to run out of there. But, thankfully, Ashi pulled her towards our usual adda just outside the door , exactly where we were standing in the morning.
We were all curious as to where she’d been for a month. I’d heard Ashi telling Saru that her parents had told her she was unwell. She repeated the exact same story, and everyone accepted without any questions.. but I couldn’t. There was something wrong.. worse than any illness..
She seemed in a hurry and started walking towards the car her father had sent, leaving me restless till the next time I’d see her.
P.S. If this was interesting, do tell me so that I keep working on it.. otherwise I think I’ll desert this story..
Back and Forth 