Twists of Fate.

Drenched in rain, at 11:00p.m, on the High Street of Shimla, with a tinge of fear on face, stood Sanaya. She was waiting for a cab to come, murmuring prayers and saying to herself “ I will never do this again. I should have told mom about the party. Why does this always happen with me?”

She took out the phone and dialed.  The number you are trying to call is out of reach. Please try again later. Hell scared she was! What was to happen next? How would she get home?

She could see a car coming. “Should I ask for a lift?” She pondered.  As these thoughts  raced in her mind, the big car stopped. A big, black SUV. Who was it? She could see a figure. The figure of a man. Why did he stop? She never asked him to. He rolled down the front windshield.

It was him. But he was gone… never to come back.

She stood dumbstruck, completely numb. He was right in front of her and she could not utter a word and she had so much to say! She could not be wrong. It was him, Ryaan Sareen— The guy she loved in high school and probably still did.

The memories of the High School Ryaan flashed in front of her eyes like snaps of the past.

She was happy— happy to see him, glad that he stopped for her and remembered her and anxious to know why he was back after 5 long years.

“Umm…Hi,” she said in a hesitant tone.

“Hey. Can I drop you somewhere? Getting a cab in this odd hour is pretty difficult” he said in the same husky voice she loved.

She had never got a chance to interact with him personally, he being the stud of the school. But now she had something to say to her old buddies. She could say that he remembered her.

Unwillingly she said, “I don’t want to trouble you. I will manage.”

“You are in no way troubling me. Get in.” he said.

Overjoyed with one good thing happening in her life, she got in.

The car started and he played a beautiful song.

Aankhein teri kitni haseen..ke inka aashiq main ban gaya hoon mujhko chupa le in mein tu..

Was that for her? She felt special. She didn’t know how to start a conversation but knew he would never initiate it. An introduction was of course not required, after all they were school mates. More importantly he remembered her.

“So what do you do?” she asked though she knew he was a photographer.

“I am a freelance photographer and you?”

“I am a legal advisor in ABC Firm.”

“Wow, lawyer then! Help me out someday. I am in need of it.” He chuckled.

“Sure. Anytime. Umm…Please stop here. My home is just round the corner. Thank you so much for your help.”

She didn’t want to but she got down from the car. She had never reached home in such a short span of time. She shouldn’t have today too when she wanted the journey to be a long one..

“My pleasure lady! Good Night.”

“Good Night,” said she with a grin.

She turned to leave. “Excuse Me?” He called from behind.

Her heart skipped a beat. She forgot to breathe for a moment as she thought to herself— May be I dropped something, maybe he wants my number, maybe he’d ask about our other batch mates.

“Yes.” Taking a deep breath she turned to face him again, smiling to herself.

“It was a pleasure meeting you. I am sorry but may I please know you name?”

She was stunned. All that she thought was wrong. He didn’t remember her.

Gathering all the courage she had, she said, “Sanaya Khurana. I am sure you too would not mind asking me your name?”

“Oh! Not at all. Ryaan Sareen. Okay bye.”

And he drove away!!